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
“There’s no happy to it.” The woman snapped at the clerk who wished her a Happy New Year. She meant well. Who’d have thought she’d get such a negative remark from saying Happy New Year?
I turned to the young girl behind the counter. “Sweetie, it’s been a hard year for everyone.” I handed her my store card. “You keep that pretty smile. It offers hope.”
2020 was a tough year, but it’s behind us. Now, there is hope.
I remember the movie, Ghostbusters II when negative thoughts and frustrations were so high that it overcame a city. Bad things began to happen. It took hope – the promise of all that was good – to restore the desire of a city to pull together and be happy again.
COVID has pushed us to the brink of complete negativity. People can’t see anything positive in their future.
Christ told his disciples of His impending death. He reminded them that shortly they would not see Him, they would grieve and hurt, but that later He would return. Jesus likened their grief to the pain of a laboring mother – at the moment it would be excruciating pain but once the child was born, the pain was no longer remembered. Instead, she rejoiced in the birth. He later reminded them trouble would always be, but not to worry for He, himself, had overcome. In other words, hope. Things might get hard, but there is hope because Christ overcame the world.
Man cannot hide from the difficulties of the world but can they seek hope. There will always be hope because Jesus gave us that gift. I realize the great loss many have felt through the pandemic of 2020. Some have suffered job loss, illness, even deaths, but we cannot allow ourselves to remain stuck in hardship. Instead, we rally together, seek joy, and grasp hold of the hope promised to us through Christ Jesus. He didn’t die in vain. He died that we might have the hope of salvation, grace, and eternal life.
Currently, we feel the sting. Remember, He overcame. So will we. Stand tall, pull your shoulders back and step into a new year with hope on your side, “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only son.” Hope then, now, and to come.
~ ~ ~
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com and Anastasia538
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