It is hard to realize that the new year of 2022 has arrived. In many ways, it seems like it was only yesterday that we were celebrating the new year of 2021. The past year was a consequential time in several aspects.
We sought to return to some semblance of normalcy - perhaps the so-called new normal - while contending with a winter surge in early 2021 of COVID-19 followed by a late summer and fall surge brought about by the Delta variant of the virus. And as the year ended, we faced another potential surge resulting from the continued Delta variant and the new Omicron variant. One step forward - two steps backward? In many ways, that seems at times to be what we are experiencing with the COVID-19 virus.
On December 11, we experienced the historic level tornado devastation here in Taylor County as well as several counties in western Kentucky. Labeled as the worst tornado activity to ever hit Kentucky, our friends and neighbors suffered substantial losses of homes and property. Some 76 people across Kentucky were killed along with one local person. A positive outcome from the tornadoes has been the outpouring of donation of items and money and the generosity and compassion of Christian believers.
The year 2021 also brought heightened levels of tension in our country. The January 6 insurrection, racial and ethnic tensions, political instability, divisive and vitriolic political rhetoric, increased numbers of people turning their backs on the church and becoming part of the growing “nones”, random shootings and violence, our life expectancy decreasing 1.8 years, record numbers of drug overdose deaths, etc. - on goes the list of concerns our country is facing - and we many of these situations are expanding.
So what lies ahead in 2022? How should we as believers in Jesus Christ handle these challenges? What can we do individually and collectively to address the challenges and opportunities we face in our community? Are these conditions a sign of the Lord’s imminent return - a sign of the times? These are among the many questions that come to mind as we move forward in 2022.
It goes without saying that only God knows in detail what lies ahead. As believers, we are called to place our trust in the Lord and to be remind that His grace is sufficient in all times. He will see us through to a victorious end. No matter what comes our way, God will take care of us. We are His people, and we have both abundant and eternal life in Jesus Christ. We must live as victorious people in 2022 and be about His missions and ministries.
Here are some words for us to live by in 2022: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Amen.