We’ve Come This Far By Faith, Grace, and Mercy!
If you are reading this today, there is no doubt that you have come to the end of this year – by faith! Why would I make such a statement? Because everything that could tried to drive men’s hearts into fear:
26 …What men see coming to the earth will cause the fear of doom to grip their hearts, for they will even see the powers of the heavenly realm shaken! Luke 21:26 (TPT)
It is a fact that fear can grip your heart to the extent that you can have a heart attack that could be fatal. If you are a regular news watcher – then you have had 365 days of doom enter into your living space. If you have noticed the recent ads for Covid-19 vaccination, you will see that they flat out say that if you don’t get vaccinated, and you contract Covid you will potentially die!
I don’t know what bad news does for you, but for me it has a tendency to raise my blood pressure, something that I don’t need. When I contracted Covid in January of 2021 I had to make a decision, was I going to succumb to fear or was I going to trust God that He would be with me to live out the number of my days. By His grace, I am still here.
Please do not think that I am suggesting that any of the people that died of Covid this year, had no faith. There are some things I will never address, because I don’t understand them- (the deep things belong to God) – life and death is one of them. My point is not to express my views on whether or not Covid is a killer, or was the cause of death of of one of our loved ones, but to encourage you in the faith that you have exhibited throughout this perilous year.
I am in a place of grieving one of my loved ones even as I write. Even if we feel confident that our loved ones are in a better place, it does not take away our need to grieve their absence from us. However, since by an act of God’s grace that we yet continue on this journey, let us recognize the tools that God has given us – hope that He is with us – peace that He will take us through whatever we have to face- the love of God for all we meet – for love begets love- and joy that even “so: the Lord is still working.
I can only say again, as I have said before, He is our Emmanuel, God With Us – through it all!
Maria