Where is your hope?
I really don’t want to be the one to break it to you and I think you probably already know, but….
2021 will most likely include many positive and wonderful things, but I can also guarantee it will have some tragedies, difficulties and sadness. Yes, Jesus has overcome, but as long as we’re on this earth we still live in the presence of sin and sickness and death. And that my friend is the hard truth. We can say 2020 is behind us, and we’re looking forward to 2021. We should be full of expectation and faith for the future, but we need to put our hope in the right place. Our hope must be fixed on Jesus.
Just in the last few days, one of my close family members had sudden stroke symptoms and was admitted to hospital. A church member’s illness worsened and they were taken to the hospital. A young family in our church experienced the joy of their very first child being born – a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Friends of ours sold their house after months of wondering if they had made the right choice. A friend lost a sister to cancer, and since she lived across the country, my friend was unable to be by her side because of quarantine regulations. Some in the midst of such heartbreak and loss while others experience joy and celebration. Another friend spent the night praying for her sister who went missing while back-country skiing at a resort. Search and rescue was unable to locate them and had to quit for the night. Miraculously, she was able to get to help by hiking up the mountain all night. A helicopter was then sent to rescue the other person she was with. So many emotions that the family members would have experienced while they waited for news. As I finished writing this post, I received another text that a beloved family in our area was in a helicopter crash last night. Mom, dad and two daughters passed away in the crash leaving behind 3 children. A loss that will affect so many.
If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that tragedy and difficult times do happen, and they will happen. We are not promised tomorrow. We are not in control.
We cannot put our hope in our earthly possessions, our paycheques, our positions or our plans – if we do we will surely be disappointed. For 2021, we need to fix our hope on Jesus. When we accept Jesus, we can look forward to the glorious hope of heaven, and we have the knowledge that he will be with us no matter what life throws at us. We must fix our hope on Jesus.
“So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. When Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you. As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better.”
1 Peter 1:13-14 TPT
Praying you will all know the glorious hope that only Jesus can bring.
❤️Pastor Amy
