In hindsight we’ve all learned that 2020 was full of trouble and that hope was in short supply. So how do we move forward in a possibly dark 2021 without tripping over ourselves. The answer is this – by walking confidently with 2020 vision. What is 2020 vision anyway? It’s the realization that we need real hope in our lives; one grounded in the fact that while we may exist in this world, our faith is in something not of this world and that God himself is calling us on a journey from the Wasteland to the Garden to be with him now and forever. Yes, calling us; or to use another more intimate phrase – romancing us! Yes, the Creator is lovingly romancing us on a journey of discovery full of mystery, excitement and hope.
The Old Testament book of Hosea eloquently speaks of this romance, “Therefore I am now going to allure (romance) her (you); I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards (garden), and will make the valley of Achor (trouble) a door of hope.” (Chapter 2 verses 14-15). Do you see the beauty in these promises? God is using the trouble in this world to romance us towards Hope, and ultimately back home. That’s why the New Testament writer James can confidently tell us to “consider it pure joy when we face these various trials and tribulations (trouble)”. It is precisely in these times of trouble that God works to open our eyes to real hope found only in Him.
Undoubtedly, experiencing life through “2020 vision” is God’s desire for us in 2021 and beyond. This reality should give us a completely new perspective on life’s trials and tribulations. Think about it and ask yourself these questions; in knowing that God uses trouble to lead us to real hope, how should I respond when troubles, trials and tribulations come my way? Should I complain and ask God to immediately remove them from my life, or should I begin to see these troubles as a deliberate attempt from God to rescue and refine me so I can enter into His Garden rest. Put another way, what if instead of entering into a state of anxiety when troubles comes, you now enter into a state of anticipation about the freedom that is on its way? That’s truly considering life’s troubles as pure joy. That is walking through life with vulnerability and loving every minute of it. That is real hope, “a confident expectation of good to oneself!”
So how exactly does God use trouble to lead us to the door of hope? Simply put, it is in times of distress that we tend to reach out to God and seek His will for our lives. It is in our troubles that God is teaching us to trust and rely on Him. He doesn’t want us trusting in the world or the fleeting things in it. God has something better in store for us, and He will do whatever it takes (including using trouble) to bring us back home because He knows that’s where we truly desire to be.
I believe that’s what God has in mind as we enter 2021. I hope you are as excited as I am about what lies ahead as we engage in this journey towards something better – real hope! So let’s move forward in 2021 with our 2020 vision firmly set.
Dario L. Perla
Just what I needed for today. Beautiful and inspiring! Thank you!
So much truth in your words Dario. Thanks so much to have the courage to be vulnerable and share your walk with Father. It so much help us, as siblings, to listen to how God is transforming others’ lives and making us a safe garden for Him to rest in.
Sharing for all of us who need Him, hope:
We want to avoid the wilderness and quickly jump to the promise land. But when we studied the Old Testament, we see how the Israelites needed to be prepared to take over the promise Land. It required trust in The Lord, so fear would not lead them because of what they had seen; It required submission and humility to see their thoughts could not, by any means be better than those of God. As everything in life, it would be great if we all understand that a quick solution to our issues is not the right or best solution always. In the culture we live today we appreciate comfort, easy, worldly peace. As followers of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we forget we are in a battlefield and we always need our chief commander; we should not move or move, without His guidance. Now, we may have the head knowledge, but to transfer that into action is a completely different ball game. So, how to endure physical pain, emotional pain, financial struggles without falling into despair? We must take the decision to choose God even when, we do not want to because we have never felt loved by Him; even when, we cannot say we have experienced Him enough to believe He will come through; even when, we do not understand why so much ugliness in people’s hearts; even when, we do not understand why God allows so much pain and destruction on The Earth. But when we cry out to Him and ask for mercy, “Papa give me The Spirit to want to know You, soft my heart toward You, help me to know You as a loving Father, as my best friend, as my spouse, as my healer and chief commander” we can rest assure He will answer. We ask for mercy to have a physical breakthrough so we can listen or read or even study His word. A breakthrough, so we can spend hours, and hours listening to worship music and breathing in the lyrics, so they take root in our inmost beings. We ask Him for mercy to be able to experience Him in nature and even in others, on even in the middle of a street scene. We ask Him for mercy to help us listening to Him, to help us honor Him and love Him. We ask Him to let us see He is a joyful God; He likes jokes and enjoys romancing. We can ask Him to amaze us every day. One thing we know and for sure know because we have experienced this in our lives, is that He will answer. Now, know, that it requires and answer and commitment from you, from each of us. Every day, I must ask Holy Spirit to guide my day. Every day, I battle against myself to choose Him and not some other wants. The more I pursue Him, the more I want to be with Him…because I am seeing His beauty in the physical and in the Spiritual realms. The walk is no more a work, a must but a smooth joy. Perseverance in you, I read, in your book Dario, commitment. One thing, that is cool is that you have kept yourself apart as a man who decide to honor God about marriage. How did you achieve that when you prior were a man who would not say no to any of your desires? What advice would you give to young men who feel “pressure” in our culture to be sexually intimately with women?
Thank you!