As I sat down to write the eNews article, I started thinking of all the different obstacles that have come our way in 2020. I began mentally listing them off, then heard a voice say, “Chelsea, is this a particularly helpful exercise?” (Hello, Holy Spirit!)
Suddenly, the words of a familiar song started playing in my mind:
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
Those lyrics, from Through It All by Andraé Crouch, resonated deeply in my soul in that moment. Who am I depending on in this season?
When trials and heartache, disappointment and uncertainty plague my world, where do I turn? What do I turn to? Who do I depend upon? Where do I place my trust?
Is my trust in Jesus – in God, as the song says? Do I depend upon God’s Word? As much as I’d like to respond with a resounding, “Yes!” I’m as human as they come – so the answer is more like, “Sometimes!”
Guys, I’ll be honest. It has been a long year for all of us. If I had a dime for every 2020 meme I’ve seen on social media, I could buy us all new cars. This year has sort of reminded me of riding the Boardwalk Bullet at Kemah. Have you ever given it a go? It’s a roller coaster and it’s supposed to be fun. I say supposed to because it’s a weird mix of exhilaration and exhaustion when you walk off the ride. You’ve essentially allowed yourself to undergo prolonged whiplash in order to experience those few moments of unbridled joy, racing down the slopes and barreling around sharp turns. Maybe I’m getting old, but it seems a lot rougher than other roller coasters. And the roller coaster ride of 2020 hasn’t been very fun for a lot of people.
But Jesus never promised us life would be easy. In fact, we’re told quite the opposite throughout Scripture. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The next time you start sliding down the slippery slope that is listing all that’s seemed to go wrong or has been lost this year, remember those words from Jesus. And ask Him to show you the moments of beauty, even in the chaos.
We seem to see those moments of beauty with a bit more focus and clarity when we trust in Jesus and depend upon His Word, just like the song says.
Whatever headspace you find yourself in today, I encourage you to wrestle with the questions I mentioned earlier. When trials and heartache, disappointment and uncertainty plague my world, where do I turn? What do I turn to? Who do I depend upon? Where do I place my trust?
If your answer isn’t Jesus, do what it takes to get back in alignment. It’s worth the hard work. After all, He’s the one who has overcome the world.
You are loved!
Pastor Chelsea
