Perhaps.
I do not know for sure, but what I do know are God’s own words in Matthew 24, particularly in verses 6-8: And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
What I do know for sure is that God has a plan. Sometimes, for His plans to be fulfilled, we need to experience an unpleasant journey to reach His glory. Is God not glorified through the cross? Was the journey to the cross something Mary and the disciples found unpleasant watching the one they loved suffer, and die in front of them? Was there not great glory after?
We will go from Matthew 24 to Revelation 21, and like many of the Saints that have walked before us, the journey will not always be pleasant, but it is a part of God’s plan. Rev. 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 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.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
My prayer for 2021 is for God’s plan to continue to unfold; however that journey may look. My prayer for you and I is strength to endure the journey accompanied by a stronger faith and trust in Him, His plan, and His faithfulness. I pray for wisdom throughout the year, a peaceful heart, and to remain focused on God at all times.
God does not promise a comfortable journey, but He does promise a successful one if we stick close to Him and trust Him.
So may 2021 hold to God’s plan for us and the world, and may we hold close to God because in the end, He will be glorified, and we will be a part of the celebration. Do not lose focus or hope but rejoice and trust in Jesus each day. I love you, dearly, and praise God that I do not walk alone. May you be blessed beyond what you imagined for 2021.
Pastor Lynne Resch