So you've made it...2021! After almost 11 months of restrictions and 3 national lockdowns, you've made it!
But what does the year or the future hold? If like me, you have prayed just to get through the last year, you would now be wondering…"and what...what now?". There has been a heavy battle...a bloody war in 2020...many ‘soldiers’ have lost their lives and civilians too! ...the last count at the time of this post, 106k people died to the virus. And sadly, the toll is set to get much higher.
But, help is at hand. The Word of God says, ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us’. (Hebrews 13v5) ...so look up, for your redemption draws near. What a sweet promise, you and I have...no matter what we may face...be it, financial, relational, health, job or career, even Brexit...yes that is still around! ...we can, and must look up. ‘Look up to the heavens from where your help comes from’… (Psalm 121v1-2). Look up to him who holds our lives in the palms of his hands. Look up to him who knows our beginning to our end. Look up to him who will redeem us.
Yes, coronavirus is out there...yes, the pandemic controls our movements, but God is coming to redeem us from fear, worry, sorrow, pain, anxiety, stress, depression and oppression that this ‘fake crowned virus’ (as I like to call it!) has brought.
So, settle your hearts and calm your minds, that one day soon, your redeemer will come….and as the old hymn goes, "because he lives...I can face tomorrow...because he lives all fear is gone...because I know who holds my future...and life is worth the living...just because he lives ".
In times of uncertainty, can we really say that?
There has been a marked difference between the first lockdown, back in March 2020, and this time around. Whether, it is due to the season...being the midst of Winter...or whether it is because we are now growing restless, tired and frustrated...and the reality of those dying is becoming more real...since it is not just a face on TV...but someone’s Father, Mother, Brother, Sister...Aunt...a relative taken so quickly and deliberately. The pain, grief and sadness hangs like clouds over us. The atmosphere is heavy. Now, when you hear someone is sick or has sadly passed, you no longer ask, “was it Cancer...but “was it Covid”!
We want to get ‘back to normal’...whatever that was, or means...and not live this restricted, lockdown life. We need to know that, there is an end in sight, an end is near to this pandemic, and it is, it really is! Maybe not quite how we imagine.
So be encouraged that, regardless of what is going on around us; whatever we may be thinking or feeling; no matter how our faith and beliefs are being tested and challenged; we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and look up, because ‘our redemption draws near’!
But what does the year or the future hold? If like me, you have prayed just to get through the last year, you would now be wondering…"and what...what now?". There has been a heavy battle...a bloody war in 2020...many ‘soldiers’ have lost their lives and civilians too! ...the last count at the time of this post, 106k people died to the virus. And sadly, the toll is set to get much higher.
But, help is at hand. The Word of God says, ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us’. (Hebrews 13v5) ...so look up, for your redemption draws near. What a sweet promise, you and I have...no matter what we may face...be it, financial, relational, health, job or career, even Brexit...yes that is still around! ...we can, and must look up. ‘Look up to the heavens from where your help comes from’… (Psalm 121v1-2). Look up to him who holds our lives in the palms of his hands. Look up to him who knows our beginning to our end. Look up to him who will redeem us.
Yes, coronavirus is out there...yes, the pandemic controls our movements, but God is coming to redeem us from fear, worry, sorrow, pain, anxiety, stress, depression and oppression that this ‘fake crowned virus’ (as I like to call it!) has brought.
So, settle your hearts and calm your minds, that one day soon, your redeemer will come….and as the old hymn goes, "because he lives...I can face tomorrow...because he lives all fear is gone...because I know who holds my future...and life is worth the living...just because he lives ".
In times of uncertainty, can we really say that?
There has been a marked difference between the first lockdown, back in March 2020, and this time around. Whether, it is due to the season...being the midst of Winter...or whether it is because we are now growing restless, tired and frustrated...and the reality of those dying is becoming more real...since it is not just a face on TV...but someone’s Father, Mother, Brother, Sister...Aunt...a relative taken so quickly and deliberately. The pain, grief and sadness hangs like clouds over us. The atmosphere is heavy. Now, when you hear someone is sick or has sadly passed, you no longer ask, “was it Cancer...but “was it Covid”!
We want to get ‘back to normal’...whatever that was, or means...and not live this restricted, lockdown life. We need to know that, there is an end in sight, an end is near to this pandemic, and it is, it really is! Maybe not quite how we imagine.
So be encouraged that, regardless of what is going on around us; whatever we may be thinking or feeling; no matter how our faith and beliefs are being tested and challenged; we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and look up, because ‘our redemption draws near’!
