What do you believe in? Are you looking back or looking forward? Are you looking at you and seeing where you are and where you would like to go? 2020 has been a tough year. I doubt that there have been too many lives that have been left untouched. There has been diversity, division and destruction. People are struggling, not just in the economy, but spiritually as well.
We need to not allow ourselves to fall into despair. We need to remember that our hope lies in Christ. That when we are weak He is strong. That we can move forward in our faith because we have hope. Hope is the glue that binds our lives together. It is the thing that helps us take the next step forward. It may seem distant and unreachable at times. It is the light at the end of the tunnel, the candle in the darkness; it is the lighthouse off the rocky, stormy shores that is guiding us toward safety.
We need to hold on to our faith and hope now more than ever. We need to remember our foundational beliefs. We also need to remember that even though the storms of life may rage against us, we have a safe harbor. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Ps 91:2 It is important to remind ourselves of this from time to time. It is easy to struggle, to get lost, to get caught up in what the world is saying and doing. It is easy to let the waves of depression cover us; especially with the onslaught of negativity with which the news is constantly bombarding us.
It is important to know when to step back, to refresh, to find ourselves and just breathe. We need to find a place of solitude where we can communicate with our Creator and be reminded of His presence and love. We need to remember it is important to soak in all that He has for us, strength, love, peace, joy and so much more. These things are what give us hope. They are what help us take the next step. We can’t neglect our spiritual needs like we often do our physical ones. When you starve your spirit, it is the same thing as what happens when you starve your body. You start to wither. You start to lose connection with what you need to survive.
Sometimes it is important to disconnect in order to reconnect. For me I find that I need to go out into nature and just exist in the moment. Stand in a field and just breathe. Take in the beauty of a raging river or the sun rising or setting. I need to recognize the leaves drifting from the trees as the season changes and the burst of life as Spring comes along. Remember that we are not dead: we may be dormant, but when the Son shines upon us, we thrive and grow. God gives us what we need; we just need to accept it. Open our hearts and our minds. Turn from what deluge that the world is inundating us with and lift our hearts and minds to our Maker.
Even in the darkness, there is hope. Even in the trials of life, there is hope. In all things consider His ways. Lean not to our own understanding. We need to hold on to our beliefs. We need to remember why we have these beliefs. Perhaps we even need to question ourselves and see if we still believe. Find our answers and remember that when all else fails, we still have hope. Hope is not just a character quality. It is not just an invisible factor. Hope can sustain us. Hope can strengthen us. Hope can be a guide to help us continue to move forward.
So as we enter a new year and leave the last one behind, I encourage you to start your year with hope and end it with love.