Sisters and Brothers
A Blessed New Year to everyone!
We have made it, through grace, to the year two thousand and twenty-two! Let us press on!
Indeed, God is with us. The past year with its varied experiences were full of opportunity to prove the Lord’s faithfulness and abundant love for his people. And so, we need never despair, even when difficulties arise, as they sometimes will this year. With God as Provider and Protector, Director and Deliverer, we shall not encounter anything outside the scope of God’s power to sustain. Nearly two years of a persistent pandemic underscores this fact. Let us resolve, then, that when we go through periods of sadness, struggle and testing, we will hold on and like the psalmist affirm: weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Ps. 30: 5b).
COVID is not over yet. We sense it; but neither is God finished with us. Let us continue to anticipate that, even through difficulty, life with God is a sort of adventure; for we travel with One who has gone before us and knows the way through what may seem like a maze to us. When we don’t know where to turn, we know that God does. So let us stay close to this unending source of Wisdom for the guidance we need to negotiate successfully this coming year of living.
Just as there will be tough times, there will be seasons of gladness. Let us celebrate them as God’s gifts. But pleasures often give way to pain which seems to last longer because of the adjustments required and demands placed on us. But every season has its value, something we discover as we trust God into the future.
Every day brings its fair share of steps to be taken, decisions to be made. It can be daunting, yes. However, when we look back and remember how God’s hand has guided in the past, we can claim the assurance that our faithful God continues to travel with us.
Let us stay on track and press on with God, keeping fellowship with God so that through the changing scenes ahead, the peace that surpasses understanding will be ours. Let us not forget God’s promise, “I will never leave you.” Through 2022, let us ever remember that our faith journey is made possible by the God of grace. It is God’s doing, not ours. Yes, we must decide to live for God, but when we do, let us not fool ourselves into believing that we can do it without God. Our weaknesses might betray us. What we can be sure, will not fail, is God’s ability to equip and sustain us as we believe. With God, all things are possible Matthew 19:26).
May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13) as together we press on towards our destiny in God.
Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor.