Now I’ve been around a few years, more than half a century, but I cannot recall such a confusing time. There were the times of unrest and riots of the 60s-70s, that group of hippies, but now there is definitely a split. It’s not anything the nation hasn’t seen before, remember the Civil War? Half for this, half for that, half for Trump, half not for him. It’s a mess, and the worst part of it all is that Christians are involved with the confusion. However, every year begins somewhat the same. People have no real idea what will happen during the year, so we enter every year with faith and hope, not fear and despair.
“I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day-to-day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead.”
–Ira Stanphill
That’s the whole key; walking beside Jesus. He knows what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, or next month. He knows the challenges–the good and the bad that is going to come our way. If we truly believe; if we truly trust, then why all of the fretting and fear? Look at the fears we carry and we find that most all of them are over material matters. Think, the One who conquered the grave is there with us each step we take.
“Ev’ry step is getting brighter, As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev’ry burden’s getting lighter; Ev’ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining. There no tear will dim the eye.
At the ending of the rainbow, Where the mountains touch the sky.”
Part of the issue is that we really do not trust Him. One of the reasons, not all, but one reason that things do happen is for Him to prove Himself to us. He loves bringing His people out impossible situations. Listen, He cares for you, for me. He will never leave us alone.
“I don’t know about tomorrow, It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow, Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion, May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me, And I’m covered with His blood.
Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.”
Perhaps that is the problem. Perhaps we are reaching out to grasp something that is not the hand of the Lord. Perhaps we are depending on others, on the government, even the church–we need to hold the hand of Jesus.