When You Expect Evil to Win

There are seasons where everything feels hard.

They come and go.

In the best seasons, you think this joy will never end.

In the worst seasons, you think this sorrow will never end.

And sometimes in the worst seasons, you can convince yourself that evil will actually win.

It’s an easy trap of the Devil to convince us that our current circumstances will certainly be our future circumstances.

Next week will be one year since this season of pandemic and uncertainty began for me.

In some ways you could convince me it just started. Time is moving so quickly.

And, in some ways you could convince me we have been in this season for a decade. It feels like the season of caution has lingered.

Many times over the last 12 months I have had to remind myself that I don’t know when this season will end, but I am certain it will.

I feel more hopeful every day that these days are waning.

Most days that is enough. Just to have certainty that this too will pass. And in reminding myself regularly of this, I have learned some deep truths about living with certainty.

Certain Victory Fuels Our Perseverance

Our own strength comes to an end…rather quickly. It has become more essential than ever that I build the strength for today not on my own strength, but on the strength of the One who made me and continues to empower my living day by day.

Certain Victory Fuels Our Patience with Others

Everyone, yes everyone, sees everything much differently right now. Masks? Distancing? Government intervention? Vaccine safety? All of these things prove to be incredibly divisive.

But, when I know who holds the certainty of the future it fuels my patience with others. I might disagree with you. You might disagree with me. But we serve the King who is building a new family. I have patience for you as you see the King’s certain victory. Do you have patience for me?

Certain Victory Quiets Our Souls

It is a noisy world. Too much information. Too much conflict. Too much that is unknown. Understanding more deeply the certainty of Jesus’ victory has brought a fresh peace and stillness to my soul that has given me moments of sweet relief during a chaotic season.

Above all, I know I am not alone. Not for one second. I continue to cling to this promise, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Come, Lord Jesus. Bring your victory now and in the age to come.