Welcome back to a New Year and a new post! I hope you had a relaxing and fun filled holiday. We were on the go a lot (as usual!) but this year, I managed to set aside some time for just chillin’. It was a much needed “sabbath rest”. Perhaps I should post about that sometime.

However, it is not my intention to post about rest this post… in fact, quite the opposite. I’ve been thinking about power and wrath recently. Which seems far away from anything peaceful. I’ve been reflecting on some promises of God over the break, and in particular, this one:

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.”

Nahum 1:3

It’s tucked away in one of those little books at the back of the old testament; tiny writings about the prophets and their respective prophecies. Nahum prophesied against the wicked Assyrian city of Nineveh and, in turn, comforts the people of Judah, that despite what looked like a dire situation, God was in control and would not allow evil to prevail forever. He is great in power, indeed!

We went with family and friends to see the latest Star Wars movie (The Rise of Skywalker) over the holiday. Now, you have to understand, I am a gracious mom and like a good action movie, so I obliged and got a ticket — but I really have no handle on the mega underworld of Star Wars junkies. I recognize some characters, and can appreciate good special effects, but when it comes to background story, character development, conspiracy theories and general folk lore of the Empire, I admit, I am a little lost. (That baby Yoda of the Mandalorian series is cute, though!) Sensing my loss in the discussion pending the above said movie, my middle Mitton summed it up for me: “Mom, you just need to know that the good guys won.” Profound, eh?

Any good movie, book or series always seems to have that delightful conclusion: Good defeats evil and the “good guys” always win… eventually. The plot twists and turns, and there seems to be no one coming to save the underdog… but eventually the people band together and save the day. Goodness prevails!

But I recognize that storybook happily ever afters are not always as evident as we hope. Perhaps your 2019 has been fraught with pain, heartache and deceit. Maybe you have been angry that God hasn’t answered your prayers. There has been no white-horsed cavalry to come save you from that thing that weighs heavy on your heart. Perhaps you are wishing for revenge. You have seen evil prospering and it is hard to watch as it festers and grows. The guilty seem to go unpunished. But then, we come back to our promise:

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.”

Nahum 1:3

I’m claiming it today. I want to trust that God will take His vengeance on evil. That my mere fluff of anger at injustices will be but a puff of smoke compared to the storm clouds that God will conjure up. Will you join me? Will you be satisfied with knowing that “the good guys won?” Then I will raise my glass in victory with you, and toast to a new year, and an old, but comforting, promise.