2025 has opened up for us here in California with much loss and sadness! We have watched the devestation of the fires that are burning in our communities with heavy hearts. Every news station is covering the charred remains of what were once nieghborhoods and communities. Livelyhoods and memories that took decades to build are smoldering embers and black ashes. This disaster is no respecter of persons. From the wealthy to the blue collar workers the ravages have taken their toll. We are all holding our breath as the weather forecast for this year is not good. Because of the lack of rain hot temperatures and high winds is what we are being told to expect. As a nation we have witness hardship from coast to coast. The hurricanes in North Carolina did their worst as we mourned the damage for that part of our nation as well.
Fingers are quick to point toward who’s to blame. It doesn’t help! Theories are being formulated, and everyone is angry. Sadness abounds and we ask how, why?
As Christians these are the very hardships that must remind us of Christ’s words in John 16:33. “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 overcomethe world.” Jesus warned His followers that trouble would be part and parcel of this life. But as we abide in Him we can have an inner peace that nothing in this world can ever give. Why? Because there’s a bigger picture than our momentary light affliction. 2Cor 4:17-18 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Is God’s word minimizing our troubles? Our pain? Never! Instead He has given us hope and peace that suffering is not the end of the story. Rom 8:19-21 For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s command—will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy.
This is our hope! The eternal God who has His finger on the pulse of His divine purposes and who is with us in the fires and the floods. Isaiah 43:2
O let not this world of sorrows
Steal my only hope away
For the power of Your gospel
Shines within this jar of clay
In affliction, You bring wisdom
That my comforts can displace
How my true and greatest treasure
Is in You, the God of grace
Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace
Weary with the weight I carry
Give me wings of faith to rise
For You know each grief that lingers
Through the watches of the night
Surely, You have borne our sufferings
At the cross took up our pain
And You lead us on to glory
As we trust You, God of grace
Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace
