Looking ahead to 2022

I'm not excited about writing this blog post, but it's a tradition that I've done since my very first January of writing this blog (in 2010), and I'm going to keep it. Looking ahead to 2022 is even more difficult than I thought 2021 was. After two years of this pandemic it really is difficult to think positively about the future, even for this optimist and planner.

We had a New Year's Eve party with friends on Friday night. The party itself was a stark reminder of how our world is currently different. Of the four married couples represented at the party, David and I were the only two who could both come. Of the rest, one partner was either in quarantine due to travelling internationally over Christmas because of family ill-health or death, or had illness in their house that they didn't want to share with the rest of us. Three of the four families have adult children in our home countries who might have visited if times had been different. Those of us who could gather were glad we could, but the party was overshadowed by the absence of those who couldn't.

As for what lies ahead for 2022 . . . I don't really want to guess. However it looks like Australia is finally opening up and allowing non-hotel quarantine, so we hope to visit mid-year. How long I will stay is still undetermined, though David and our youngest will have to return for the start of school in August (he's starting Grade 12!). I will probably stay longer to help our middle son explore some options for the future. No idea what that might look like, but it's out there as a pencilled-in plan.

But there's one thing we do know: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

There are many metaphors that underline his solid, permanent status. He's a rock, a strong tower, a fortress, and a shield (Psalm 18:2 among others). He's an anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19) foundation (story of wise and foolish builders Matthew 7).

So we are urged to: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5–6). 

As I've thought about this transition into a new year, I've been encouraged in recent weeks by some other passages of the Bible too.

2 Chronicles 20 Unusual reaction to strife

This chapter tells us about Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. A couple of groups came against him in war. The incident is relayed to us by "some people" who came to the king saying "A vast army is coming against you". Jehoshaphat was alarmed. It says, upon receiving this new he proclaimed a fast for all Judah in order to inquire of the Lord and seek God's help. And then it tells us his prayer. I love to read the prayers recorded for us in the Bible. This one shows us the king reminding God of who he is and what he's done in the past. He finished with "We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

We're in a very different situation in 2022, no vast army, but rather a complex medical-social-political situation that limits us, shocks us, stretches us, and threatens to make us bow down in fear. We indeed have no power to face this situation. We don't know what to do, but we can keep our eyes fixed on God.

After this prayer of Jehosaphat, it says that "the Spirit of the Lord came on" a Levite in the assembly and he said "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." They they fell down in worship and praised God. The next day Jehoshaphat appointed some men to sing to the Lord and "praise him for the splendor of his holiness"! The singers marched at the head of the army. It was a pretty unusual battle strategy, but it worked. The "vast army" was defeated.

Revelation 13:10 Great suffering calls for patient endurance and faithfulness

The verses prior to this contain science-fiction-like scenes. They describe a terrible calamity that is difficult to understand, however, the section ends with "This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people." Indeed, though we don't understand the earlier portion, we do know that our current situation calls for patient endurance and faithfulness.

Revelation 8:1–4 Power of prayer

This is part of John's vision and gives us a beautiful picture of what happens to our prayers. Often we feel useless and like our prayers are meaningless. Phrases like "all we can do is pray" reveal that. However, this is such an encouraging passage:

 "When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand."

Revelation 21:3–4 Longing for heaven

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

When there is much pain, the longing for heaven increases. How I long for the days that we're told about in these verses.

But meanwhile I am called to serve him here, where there is pain and suffering, and death and tears, fear and rebellion. May God have mercy on us in 2022! 

And again: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."