Well, it’s (finally!) come time to close the books on 2020. Some of you may be looking at the year 2021 with a sense of relief, while others may be wondering how it can be any different. Not to be discouraging, but the likelihood of us seeing a huge COVID-19 related change in the first couple of months of 2021 is relatively small. On a positive note, there is much more understanding now about how COVID-19 works and how to treat it.

In the prologue to the book of Ecclesiastes, the author states in chapter 1 verse 9, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Don’t let those words leave you feeling hopeless though–remember, it is just the prologue! The epilogue is in chapter 12. There we are reminded that despite all the evil in the world that we might not see justice for in our lifetimes, God is just, and he will judge: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil,” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

So what are we to do? Ecclesiastes 12:13 tells us our simple responsibility: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” It’s not always so simple when the pressures of this world begin to mount, but it is the only place that we can truly find peace.

This Christmas we pray you will find peace in the Lord, remembering that ultimately, He is in control!

Merry Christmas,