The Best Days Are Ahead
The Best Days Are Ahead
"There's no going back." These were my "breakthrough words" in the middle of 2022. It had been a confusing few years, with shutdowns, re-openings, shutdowns again, and color codes - all leading to people attending church much less frequently and a rapid increase in isolation and loneliness. No matter how hard I worked, there was nothing that was going to get our church "back" to how it was. My breakthrough happened when I realized there was no going back - I needed to look forward.
In 2001, a survey asked people if they thought their children's lives would be worse than theirs. 42% responded "yes." This year, 78% of people said yes – meaning almost 4 in 5 people think their kids will have worse life. The main reasons listed were economic. And while finances are an important factor, as long as we hang our hopes on the economy, our optimism will always ride the ups and down of the market.
God gives a stronger anchor for our hope. In our lowest moments, God does His greatest work. The fires forge greater grit. Jesus accepted the cross, and His followers embraced the way of suffering - we are resurrection people. I no longer want to go "back" to before the pandemic. The Lord taught me lessons about myself, ministry, and life that I don't want to forget. They were dearly bought, and they are the keys to opening bigger doors in the future.
Our best days are ahead. That doesn't mean the future will be easier but that we will be healthier, stronger, more faithful people. Our church is moving forward in hope. Lives are being transformed every week - we are in the transformation business! New people are showing up every Sunday to experience hope and connection. We are still working to build a new sanctuary and hoping to start construction in the next 12 months. The mission to reach people, serve needs, and grow deep Roots in Jesus is needed now more than ever. God's Spirit is leading, and we are running after Him. I am so excited about this next year!
Many people's favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you - plans to prosper you and not to harm you." These words were spoken to exiles, people from Jerusalem who had seen their country invaded and defeated, followed by their forced exile to a foreign land. This is an amazing verse, but God's hope is not a trite quote on a card but a light that shines in your heart when the world around you seems to be falling apart. God's hope is not that circumstances will be better but that Jesus will always be faithful. We can build our lives on God's hope.
With God's hope, our best days are ahead. We will be stronger people who look to Jesus and His Word as our guide for life. We will be peacemakers not people-dividers. We will learn to live with less and appreciate everything more. Character matters more than circumstances.
I took the picture for this blog on a recent backpacking trip. It reminded me of the Christmas star, guiding the way to the world's true hope. Jesus was born in a lowly manger, in a country struggling under foreign invaders. I got to share these thoughts with my daughter Hope. Yeah, hope is such a big deal that we named our daughter after this Christian virtue! Hold on to hope. God is not done with you. The best days are ahead!
In Christ,
Scott Nelson