Hope for 2021- This is the Way

Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone… Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

(1 Thessalonians 5:14b, 16-18)

As we close out what will be a year that most of us will never forget, I have felt the Spirit challenging me to evaluate all the reasons we have to be hopeful about the coming new year. Here in this passage, as the Apostle Paul moves to wrap up his letter to the church in Thessalonica, he challenges the early church in several ways. I think these challenges serve as a good reminder of the posture we can take as we move closer to a new “normal” in 2021.

• Comfort the Discouraged: As I’ve talked with different folks over this past year, I know that many of us have been discouraged at some point along the way. Some are wired in such a way that they are inclined to push ahead, keep going, and almost pretend that everything is okay. For others this is harder, their discouragement can leave them feeling stuck. Let us keep looking for ways in the new year to come alongside those who are discouraged and give comfort.
• Help the Weak: No one likes to be called weak. But the reality this year is that some folks have needed special attention, additional help, and extra care. Thanks be to God for the numerous opportunities we’ve had as a church to come alongside families needing a little extra help. Especially through the holiday season, we have been able to help dozens of families through Thanksgiving meals, Christmas gifts, and support for fire victims on the Oregon coast.
• Be Patient: Sometimes I need a reminder to take a breath and seek patience for those around me. If there is one thing that has been obvious over 2020 is that we don’t always agree on everything. But let us be reminded of our common bond in Christ Jesus. A bond that calls us to look past our differences and be united in mission and purpose as a church family.
• Pray Continually: Sometimes prayer is an afterthought. We are drawn to prayer when everything else we’ve tried didn’t work. As we enter this new year, may we be committed more than ever to seek God’s guidance in prayer first. May we also remember to lift one another in prayer, especially those already mentioned; people who are discouraged, need extra help, or that try our patience.
• Give Thanks: Finally, in the midst of all the frustration 2020 has brought, may we enter 2021 with thanksgiving. I admit it is easier to give God praise when things are going how I want them to. I need to be reminded to give thanks in the midst of the storm, when things don’t make sense, and when God’s presence may seem distant. In the passage, Paul simply says we should do this because it is God’s will, but I especially like how Peterson’s The Message renders this idea, “This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” In the new year, may this simple phrase, “This is the way,” be a reminder for each of us to give thanks and be hopeful.

Praying for you now and wishing you all a Happy New Year!

-Pastor Shawn