Day 35

Today is the first day of a brand new year. Perhaps you took a little time to look back over the past year. Maybe...just maybe, you chose to forget the past year as fast as you could. Time and again over this past week we have heard people talk about leaving 2020 behind. To be certain, it has been a difficult year. Most of us waited for this past midnight in hopes that 2021 will be a better year, an easier year.

Truthfully, we have no idea what the future holds for us. One of the things that made prophets so popular in the Old Testament was that they could, by the grace of God, see what was to come to pass. But we start 2021 with uncertainty. But it is an uncertainty only in the details of the future. There is a certainty that we can hold, a certainty that was with us this entire past year, even as bad as it was. That certainty is that "GOD IS WITH US!"

It truly doesn't matter how difficult or even how much better things may be in this new year. One thing WILL NOT CHANGE - GOD IS WITH US!

It is vital that we understand this. Yes, we endured uncertainty, sadness, difficulties, fear and loss this past year - but we were never alone. Yes, people began to get sick and even die in great numbers - but we were never alone. Yes, our churches were closed to us for a period of time - but we were never alone. Yes, we struggled emotionally and financially - but we were never alone. That is the one thing that we can always be sure of. God will never abandon us.

New Year celebrations often have resolutions as part of them. As we look forward to this new year with hope and with anticipation, let's make a resolution, a resolution to walk with God. If God is with us, then LET US BE WITH GOD!

In Christ

Fr. David