The year 2020 is finally over. At first, the whole pandemic thing seemed like an inconvenience, just a blip in our lives. Next came the economic issues, the social turmoil, and the political discord. And then, the pandemic thing just kept going, keeps going, and is getting more complicated and controversial.
Our lives have always been full of turmoil, in one manner or another. But for most of us, 2020 was a year replete with more trouble than we're used to. Who'd have guessed that so much of our day-to-day lives now happens online, or contact-less and with masks?
I've been thinking a lot about that - A Year of Hope. What does that mean and what is our hope?
Do we hope that the vaccine hurries up and takes effect, or that herd immunity happens quickly? Do we trust that our friends and family are helping to keep us safe? Or do we hope in our own good health, that surely this virus won't be lethal to me or my family?
The truth is, even when this pandemic is over and forgotten, tragedy, sickness, sin, hurt, and death are still going to be happening. And, unless Jesus returns before it happens, each one of us will die, of something. Our hope isn't in the things of this world, because they are passing away and aren't of substance.
He [Jesus] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:20-21
I know that He's at work in all that's going on around me, the pandemic, social unrest, and even my own personal struggles. He is at work to lead me to repentance, to increase my faith and my trust in Him, teaching me about my own sin and His great love for me as Lord, my God, my Savior.
As this pandemic drags on, I've been convicted a lot about my own sin, my weak faith and prayers, and my need for repentance. I can't stop the pandemic or ease our social and political tensions. But I can pray for forgiveness of my sins, for wisdom, for an increase in my faith, for humility, for a greater ability to love and forgive others, and to bear much fruit. And I know that He has promised to hear and answer my prayers.
My hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Let all our days and years be full of hope in the Lord; we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus and our hope is in Him.
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