Sometimes the most difficult thing about hard times is facing them alone. I shared a story about how I was not left alone in a very dark hour. When the prophet Jeremiah relayed God’s promise to the people of Israel it was: “I will make a new covenant with them… put my law within them, … write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people… I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them.” This is the promise of God’s intimate presence with us even in hard times, and even when we can’t recognize it. Hard times are often important transitions to new ways of living, new ways of seeing the world. Jesus understood, as an enemy of the entrenched powers, that he would die, but that the difficult transition of his death could mean new life for those who followed his path.
As individuals, and as a community, we have good times and hard times. Let us be channels for God’s presence and grace with one another, so we are never alone. I’m looking forward to seeing you all during Holy Week, starting with this upcoming Palm Sunday!
Peace and grace be with you,
Pastor Carol
