image from Jeff Boyer
Toward the end of the often-disastrous 2020, social media got flooded with memes and posts and comments expressing joy that the crappy year would soon end with 2021. That may explain why I so liked the above meme put up by Jeff Boyer. 2021 won’t fully flush out 2020, and some of the crap will continue to need wiping away. The vaccine rollout has started, but slowly; the cases and hospitalizations have reached all time highs. Yes, we’ll likely beat it, but that will take some time, despite our impatience.
The extreme partisanship seems to be continuing. The Republican leader of the Senate and the Democratic leader of the House both had their homes vandalized on New Years’ Day (likely the night). This week MAY see a resolution to our Presidential election and the Georgia Senate races, but who knows anymore. And even apart from these two, we must deal with a fallen world and fallen people.
So, with 2020 problems continuing into 2021, how do we best live our faith?
First, we anticipate adversity. The world and all in it are flawed. We all cause problems for ourselves and others and society; often we’re just in the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time, and it lands on us. I like the advice of Jesus’ favorite follower, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Some trials are easier, some harder, but all are normal. Anticipate them. Don’t let them surprise you.
Second, cling to the King. We all have a multitude of questions of why, why me, when will it end, and more. Most can’t be answered, so we do what we can. Firm up our connection to Jesus, the one who overcomes the world. He doesn’t particularly take problems away, but he overcomes the ability of hard times to beat us down. I find myself pondering Jesus’ power a lot in these times, “And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5 NLT).
How do we do that? Maybe a good first step is to intentionally “take up our cross daily,” as we reaffirm that we most want Jesus as our Lord (see Luke 9:23). Perhaps some housecleaning should come next, as we examine our lives to see what keeps us from clinging to him, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
We need nothing weighing us down in hard times, do we?
And the best step? Focus on how the joy of knowing God and Jesus totally surpasses the pain and trouble of COVID times. Can anything overpower that joy? Fill your mind with thoughts of Jesus, and notice what occurs: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Anybody here need some peace? You know how to grab it.
Kick Starting the Application
How have the hard times impacted your intimacy with God? What brings the biggest issues for you? Will you give this process a good shot in the next week?
PS This is not a political post, and if you don’t see COVID and partisanship as problems, then just apply this process to what you do see as a problem. No political responses, please. 😊