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He knew better than we could ever know, the kind of troubles we would have to face; and well ahead of them, He promised us His peace and gave it freely. “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Letting us know that in the face of serious challenges to our peace, when the only thing we see is trouble and fear, He has given us peace. That peace will overshadow and calm every storm in ways that only He can. “Peace, be still…” (Mark 4:39)
Think of a gentle flowing stream which had its course well charted. Then comes a heavy rain that fells a big tree along the path of the stream. For a while, the stream struggles with the impediment and flows over and under the tree. After a while, it is possible to see another arm of the stream following the path of the felled tree. While the initial path is retained, a new path is created and the stream flows in two ways. Water always finds a way to flow. If you block its path, it finds another. Our lives are sometimes like that.
Imagine what they must have experienced, not knowing when next they were going to travel, and for how long they were traveling. Can you identify with them in these COVID-19 times? I can. I feel their frustrations. I feel their disappointment and distress. They had many questions. Maybe they expected the promised land to be just around the corner from Egypt. And the journey was taking forever! Their eyes were clouded over by what they were going through. So much that they failed to realise that their clothes were growing on them and their shoes did not fall apart.
Many emotions run through the survivors’ minds in the early days of a new year. The most common is the excitement and joy of crossing over. The exuberant cries of ‘Happy New Year’ everywhere you go, whether they are known persons or strangers. The joy is worth sharing with everyone who would care to listen. I made it! We made it!
Our lives are filled with many uncertain outcomes. We have very little or no control over what happens in the next moment. Hence we tend to be anxious. The Bible tells us not to be anxious about any thing. Instead, we should pray and bring our issues before God. There’s also a promise that in its place, we will have the peace of God. Jesus said which one by worrying can add a cubit to his life? (Luke 12:25). Indeed, we can’t.
This year, our community of believers is taking this year as our fearless year: fearless faith, fearless worship, fearless flourishing and fearlessly launching out into the deep. We intend to be bold and courageous this year, knowing that all of our strength and courage will come from God, but putting our faith in Him and stepping out of our comfort zones. We believe like Joshua and Caleb that regardless of the economy and the environment we live in, we are able to go up and take the land because God is able to deliver it into our hands.