2016: GOOD RIDDANCE?
As the year draws closer to its end, it's natural to look back and wonder how 2016 will appear in the history books...
As the year draws closer to its end, it's natural to look back and wonder how 2016 will appear in the history books...and there are so many historic events to wonder at!
The year of celebrity death
I won't even start listing them here, but 2016 was a bad year to be a celebrity.
The year of political upheaval
Just spend a moment thinking about what's happened in politics this year.
- Brexit
- Syria
- Jeremy Corbyn, Momentum, and shadow cabinet resignations galore
- The rotating UKIP leadership and boxing matches
- Istanbul
- Italy
- France
- Donald Trump
- Donald "I'd like to punch him in the face, I tell ya" Trump
The year of football
2016 was the year of Leicester City...for a while. It was the year that England lost to Iceland (man, that was painful to write). We had Sam Allardyce in that pub. And now we have a scandal unfolding before our eyes, and who knows what that will turn into?
Your year...?
How has your 2016 been? Are you in a better place now than you were in 2015? Or would you go back and redo 2016 in a heartbeat if you had the chance?
I've frequently returned to one thought this year. There's been a lot of change and uncertainty, but one thing hasn't changed:
God is in control.
If nothing else, 2016 has proven, once and for all, that people have issues. If we put our trust in celebrities, they will all eventually just die. If we put our trust in politics, the system simply won't work. If we put our trust in some random diversion, our only guarantees are uncertainty, disappointment and disillusionment.
But God is in control.
I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.
I WAS ASSAULTED - WHERE WAS GOD?
I was attacked one Sunday evening, and found myself questioning why God had allowed it to happen. To my surprise, he gave me an answer.
One Sunday evening, I was mugged on my way home.
(I did get my Nando’s card back – yay!)
Following the incident, I started to question God:
- Where was he?
- Why would he let this happen to me?
- I thought he loved me?
I felt very alone and needed answers. Why hadn't God rescued me?
A bearded friend sent me a short yet nourishing verse, “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
Suddenly, I realised why I couldn't feel or see God’s comfort or care that day.
He is actually always there, whether or not I sense him. When I call out to him, he'll never fail me.
God doesn't take away hard times, but we can certainly find strength and hope knowing that he will always be with us and will help us through.
If we have gone through life trusting in our own judgement, we may find it harder to submit to God and his plan for us. If we refuse to see God’s hand and direction in our lives, we may never know just how good he can be to us.
“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)
We will definitely face many hard times. Some of these are inevitable and beyond our control, but these can be endured with God’s help. Some of our anguish and affliction is self-imposed and can be avoided, yet God still offers peace as we gather the courage to make the necessary changes in our lives.
God’s forgiveness and affectionate approval can give us peace as we face hard times, even when the hurting we face is our very own fault.
He has the authority to guide us down the path of life; he has already conquered all the barriers that stand in the way!
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)