Someone once said; “No winter lasts forever and no spring skips its turn.” The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring. And here it is. We see new life springing up in radiant colours.
We look forward to Easter which is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life. And as Clarence W Hall said, if “Easter says anything to us today, it says this: You can put truth in a grave but it won’t stay there.”
Jesus came to show the way. He came to serve and to bring life to all who would believe. Jesus reshaped the world and brought about a great change.
As we journey through to the cross in this period of Lent, we find ourselves in an ever changing world. Two years ago, we faced Covid, lockdown, isolation, and our way of life changed forever.
Fast forward to today and we see the world is changed once more by the horrific war in Ukraine. We may feel hopeless at the sight of thousands of displaced people and the destruction that war brings. We may despair at the way the West continues to watch. We may cry out ‘how long O Lord, bring an end to this devastation – where are you God in these times of trouble. Hear the cries of your people and act now we pray’.
However, all is not lost as we hear that Psalm 31 has become ‘the key scripture for all Ukrainians’. They call upon the Lord to deliver them from the pains of death. In the Psalm David trusted in God. He said in verse 5 “into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God”.
Jesus used this phrase as he was dying upon the cross. Jesus overcame death, three days later He rose to life in the power of the resurrection. HE IS ALIVE! Christ is risen – He is risen indeed. Hallelujah.
I’m hearing that the people of Ukraine have hope, they have a new light dawning in their pain. No winter lasts forever and neither can war.
I cannot describe the pain and anguish that I felt in the lives that I fought to protect and save during the conflicts of Bosnia in the late 90’s and Kosovo in early 2000. Though I wasn’t a Christian at the time, I saw the immense power of God at work in ways that I see in the people of Ukraine. I think it all comes to this point, that Jesus Christ has the victory; death has been defeated once and for all.
Our times are in His hands. He will deliver from the hands of the enemies, from those that pursue. For He has restored and given hope for all. Hope for a future that will change our lives forever.
Therefore, let us hope for a brighter tomorrow. Let us hope for peace and for an end to this war. Let there be light for those sheltering in the darkness as they seek new life this spring. Amen.
 | David Skeet is our church team leader. Taken from the latest edition of our bi-monthly church newsletter. |