Anyone else heard the phrase “unprecedented times” more than once recently? I looked up its definition, wondering just what exactly it would give me:

“Never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled.”

Sometimes that might mean exciting things, but more often we seem to be saying (especially right now),

“We weren’t ready for this. We have no idea what we’re doing. This wasn’t in my schedule! Who would’ve thought this is where we’d be in a year? Remember when we were all talking about 2020 vision? Ha!”

Sometimes it’s tough not to get overwhelmed and frustrated by all the negativity, varying opinions, endless news reports, and just plain confusion of what’s all going on in our world right now.

I couldn’t tell you much about what I know about this chaos, but I could tell you alot about what I don’t know. Except that’s not the point. But if sometimes, like me, you struggle to see the good in all of this, I leave these verses with you from Isaiah:

“For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” 51:3

“Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.” 52:9

Too often I forget that, even though these times are unprecedented for us, they’re not for God. He’s not surprised or alarmed. This isn’t new to Him like it is to the rest of us. And there’s still so much to be thankful for. There’s still so much hope, and the most important things in life are far from out of reach.

The other night, I couldn’t sleep for several hours, which is very rare for me. And what did I do but try everything else I could think of that might help me fall asleep, before turning to God’s Word as my last resort. Too often this is the case. When in reality, nothing or no one can bring true peace and rest like God and His Truth can. He remains the same through all the chaos and confusion and all I have to do is believe. I’m so glad that He can work with faith the size of a mustard seed, because sometimes that’s all I’ve got.

And in the meantime,

God still has a vision for 2020.

He never stops working.

And what’s most important is still within our reach.

We still have too many blessings to count. But let’s try counting them anyway.