Greetings Church Friends and Family,
Well, how are all you hanging in there in the midst of the pandemic that just keeps rearing its ugly head?
I know how difficult it has been as we have all had to figure out ways to navigate all of the negative impacts it is having on our lives. In the last week, Rocky River City Schools went from no sports or extracurricular activities to reinstating them. School is going to be online only as the school year begins. Both of my boys are really saddened to now know that they cannot go back to the school building. How do we cope?
Paul says in his letter to the Romans in chapter 8 verse 18, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” Paul is saying in the midst of this suffering that we are all experiencing, look forward. Look beyond where we are to where God is going to take us, deliver us, and send us.
In the midst of this, we must remember that there will be another side to it all. Isn’t that why we all love the season of spring so much? In the midst of the winter, we know that eventually the snow will melt, the flowers will start to bloom, and the sun will feel warmer and warmer. That is why we can still love winter. We love winter because spring is coming.
In the midst of this storm we call COVID-19, we must know that the sun is still shining on the other side of the dark clouds that just seem to keep circling. Even in the storms, sunlight at times breaks through. How have you seen it break through in the midst of this storm? One of the beams of light for me is all the quality time I get to spend with my family. Another is the fact that life has seemed to slow down and go at a much more normal speed.
I do not feel like I am just racing from one place to another, one appointment to another, one practice to another. I am not sure anything short of a pandemic could have slowed our country down to focus more on family. Those are examples of God’s glory being revealed to us even in the midst of the current suffering and that sends us forward into his glory.
Remember that the sufferings of today are not worth comparing to God moving in our tomorrows. See how God is moving in the now and that sends us into what’s next with excitement, hope, and great expectations. It’s not always easy. It is extremely difficult if you never look for God in the now, though.
I pray that you see sunlight piercing through the thick clouds of COVID-19 because the SON is still shining. May he shine on and in you.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dan