We ended 2020 with the hope that 2021 would be better. We could not wait to “close the books” on 2020 and put the year behind us.
Today is February 1, exactly one month into 2021. Have all of your worries and concerns washed away? Do you feel the sense of relief and exhilaration you longed for?
Yes, the election is over. Now we have a whole new set of opinions, positions and agreements to debate about. Our problems did not disappear, only the uncertainty of who would lead our country. The debates and issues are still the same and we are deeply divided and moving more and more apart each day.
If you are like me, not much has changed. My family and I continue to “navigate the uncertain waters” of online school, remote work, wearing masks everywhere, debate the timing and effectiveness of the vaccine, and wonder when our lives will get back to what we consider normal.
Our world continues to throw at us uncertainty, duress, stress, and conflict. Enemies come in many shapes, sizes, and forms. Whether it is a job loss, addiction, difficulty in a relationship or marriage, sadness, depression, or feeling inadequate to handle the challenges before you. We are “under attack” every day.
What I know is that the “enemies” we battle <insert your conflict here> are no match for our “exuberant faith” for Jesus Christ as our Savior. There is no question, we will be challenged. David tells us in Psalms 27:4-6
4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek;
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
An to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of his tabernacle He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
Our God is a loving God. We are sinful and He still loves us. We can have hope that no matter how bad we screw up, no matter how horrible our actions or thoughts, our God will provide us rest. We have “enemies” every day that divide us and try to pull us away from our God.
Explore scripture and look for the hope the Bible provides. The Bible provides great examples of those that suffered because they did not have a relationship with God or did not follow His guidance. The Bible also provides great examples of believers who followed God, worked through seemingly impossible circumstances, and were given peace and rest.
My prayer for you is to not give up on a relationship with God. Turn to Him, lean in, in times of trouble. Don’t question why He’s “putting me through this,” ask “what I am I supposed to learn from this?”
Live looking forward – not backward – and seek a relationship with Christ. Looking forward provides hope, positivity and encourages us to create our story for our future. You cannot drive a car looking in the rearview mirror. You drive a car with your eyes and attention fixed on the road ahead of you.
“Commit to the Lord, whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3
