Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!
The New Year seems to always give us a glimpse of hope and a fresh new start. New year means “new me”, writing down our new year’s resolutions, looking forward to new opportunities and new beginnings. I don’t know about you but when 12:00AM hit on January 1st, we celebrate, we cheer, we laugh and we toast for a new beginning. This time signifies that a new door of hope is about to open and who knows, it could FINALLY be a year full of so much joy, love and peace.
It’s especially true this year in 2021. 2020 was a tough year for the world: the spread COVID-19 pandemic, political differences arose, racism was magnified and personally, many people suffered financially, small business shutting down, and people losing their loved ones. It was tragic, almost like a nightmare that that people didn’t want to be in. But the end of 2020 gave us SO much hope and joy. We wanted this year to end and we wanted to start over!
But is it really a Happy New Year?
Great question! I certainly wish this statement can stay true for the remainder of the year.
Let’s be honest- the year just started and as a nation, we are already facing so much chaos in the world. It’s depressing to see such situations arising but friend, do not lose hope.
Jesus knew this was coming and He was not surprised. In fact, He gave us a word of encouragement:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)
- Take Heart
Take heart means to have courage and be of good cheer. This does not mean that we should “fake” being happy and ignore the problems of the world. Rather, we can remember that in spite of what is going on around us, we can be rooted and anchored in the truth that God has for us through His word. We need to declare and preach the Gospel to ourselves. When we are discouraged, we need to sing songs of psalms, recite scriptures in our homes and declare the promises of God as “YES” and “AMEN”. In Christ, we can find a reason to “take heart”. Yes, we can mourn with those who mourn, but our joy and our heart is deeply anchored in Christ that not even the waves, the storms or the wind can shake us.
- In Christ, We Find Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14:27 (ESV)
When we are in tribulation, it is human nature to self-soothe, find a way to cope and regulate. There’s nothing wrong with this, we were made to seek peace! We can try every “good” thing to do this. If you are like me, you have already tried staying off the news, maybe watching a movie, staying off the social media, doing some exercises or even calling a friend- these are all really good things! In fact, we encourage it! But, don’t miss the main thing friends- seek God in prayer. Be alone with God, find solitude in His word, and find community and accountability with the body of Christ. Now is not the time to seek other “answers”. Now is the time that we should see God in prayer. In fact, the word of God encouraged us to do this:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
Family and friends, let us hold on to God’s promises. We need to root our peace, our hope and our joy this year in 2021 in the only One that never changes and that is Jesus Christ. Don’t put your hope on broken cisterns that run out of water, rather, run to the living water!
2021 may be off to a rough start, we feel you and we mourn with you. But let’s hold on to the words of our Savior, take heart, He has overcome the world.
