Last week I was so focused on the beginning of the season of Epiphany that the only thing I mentioned about 2022 is that it is here and wished you all a Happy New Year.
It’s hard to believe that 2022 is here, isn’t it?  A new year with new possibilities and a whole year ahead to try to make the best of that newness.  Perhaps you are like me and hoping for a better 2022 than a 2021 and for that matter a better 2020.  I doubt any of us expected COVID to last this long.  Yet here we are in our second new year while looking at high case counts and wondering what is next.
While COVID may still be with us, and maybe to an extent it always will be, I’ll leave that up to people who are far smarter than I am to figure that one out.  As people of faith, we have known and do know something that endures much longer than that.  It reminds me of the scripture from the letter to the Hebrews where at the end the author is exhorting the people to live a Godly life and he reminds them that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).
As I mentioned in a previous letter I do enjoy listening to Christian radio in the car (KLOVE 89.1) and one of the songs that is often played right now uses this scripture as the basis for the lyrics.  The song is called “My God is Still the Same” by Sanctus Real.  It talks about how God hasn’t broken God’s promises.  How God’s kindness has never failed.  Never has, never will.  My God is still the same.  I think it must also draw from scripture like Psalm 90:2, where it talks about God being from everlasting to everlasting.
In the uncertainty of COVID, or a new calendar year, or life in general I hold on to the hope and the peace that comes from our God who is the same.  God’s love never changes, God’s love never ceases, God’s gift of life, God’s promises of new life, they are all the same and they will never change for you or for me.
I pray that you are experiencing a blessed 2022 so far and I also pray that no matter what it is that life puts in your path, whatever obstacle, or barrier, that on that path you have a God who has always been by your side and will remain with you.  I also hope that you know that you have this family of faith to call upon as well.  We are here for each other just as God is here for us.  That is the gift and the blessing of a family of faith.  Maybe share that gift with someone new in 2022 and show them how incredible and awesome our God really is.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian