A little over a week ago, I was excited to say goodbye to 2020. It was a difficult and exhausting year. I have been hoping for a fresh start and year with a declining virus and a more stable political atmosphere. Unfortunately, that hope was crushed by the events in our Nation’s capital last week. I was shocked to see the images of people storming the Capital building and causing so much destruction in a place that represents alot for our country. It was hard to not let my mind wander to all of the other events of the past year in which many horrible things happened. We saw a virus which we didn’t know anything about stop the world in its tracks as we tried to figure out how to deal with it. We saw police brutality, rioting and destruction, daily death counts, and a country that continued to become more and more divided. With all of this in my head it is hard to feel any hope at all. I am afraid for what hardships this year is going to bring.

Thankfully, God is there to remind me of the truths and promises that He gives to us. In the sermon text this week we see the passing of Jacob, his burial and his sons uncertainty of what the future holds for them. God continues to bless them so that they can carry on His story and pass on their faith. Hearing this is a great comfort to me because it reminds me that God’s story is much bigger than 2020, 2021, COVID, or the Untied States. His kingdom was around long before our time and will continue until Christ comes again. Pastor David reminded of Romans 8 on Sunday:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It is a great assurance to me that God is always there for me and nothing of this world or my actions will separate His love from me. It is my prayer for myself and the church that as we continue into 2021, we would hold onto that truth and continue to live out God's love in our lives. It is easy to be overwhelmed and consumed by the events of the day, but trust that the Lord is present in the chaos and faithful to His people.

~Stephen Siebert