And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” -Revelation 21:5 ESV
Most of us hope that verse is true for 2021, right? 2020 was less than desirable, wouldn't you say? The virus, Kobe, Joe Diffie, heartbreak, bombings, unemployment, riots, etc...it's enough to drive someone crazy. We've probably all cried out last year in defeat, "Why God?" or prayed in earnest while feeling hopeless, "Please stop the suffering!"
In my memoir, God Blessed Texas & Me Too, I wrote in Chapter Four (The Dark Night), about another time in my life when I felt hopeless.
I can now think back to those days when I was a young man and read my own words and know that with God, I persevered. I feel confident that with whatever the devil throws at me from here on out, God has got me, just like He did with His faithful servant, Job.
Here's an excerpt from my book:
Why do we Suffer? Job was the biblical guy that I most felt a connection with during my dark night of the soul. I had read his story in The Bible when I was a kid but after what I went through, I had a deeper appreciation of his dreadful account. It also made me ask a lot of questions though. Questions like, why do people suffer? And where is God in the suffering? The book of Job begins by describing him as a just and righteous man. But Satan comes before the Lord and God allows him to test Job. Unthinkable misfortune befalls Job and his faithfulness is gauged by three different conversations with his friends and family. Job passes the tests in the end and God rewards him giving him greater happiness than he ever had before.
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” -1 Peter 3:14 KJV
I have also come to realize that God is God and He doesn’t need to answer to anyone about why. Instead we need to see His wonders of creation and need to try to comprehend just how small we really are in the scheme of things. God’s wisdom is beyond our comprehension and why He does what He does is unfathomable.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” -Isaiah 55:9 KJV
So 2021 is here and so is God. I'm going to put my faith in Him and let Him take control and guide me. And He can guide you too! All we have to do is trust in Him and pray for His Will to be done in our lives. Yeah, it's hard to accept when times get hard, but we can rejoice. It'll all work out in the end. He has a dove's-eye view and He knows about the sun that's just beyond the clouds. May your 2021 be amazing!