Move forward two spaces

Did you ever play Sorry! or other childhood games where you hoped for a card that would move you forward extra spaces, or advance you to GO, or allow you to favorably swap spots with another player? Wasn’t it awesome when your turn let you avoid dangerous setbacks and sail safely around the board?

Do you ever wish you could find one of those cards in your real, everyday life?

As a pastor, I interact with a lot of people during the painful times of their lives, times when all their cards are like Monopoly’s, “Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200” or Sorry!’s, “Move backward 4”.

It is amazing to watch these people respond boldly and courageously when life deals them a tragic hand. They pray in the face of cancer, they hope for the best in lean times, and they never let go of their loved ones. They are beautiful, humble, and faith-filled, and they often remind me of Job who worshipped his way through calamity.

Fortunately, I also get to see the other moments too. I not only get to stand with people in their moments of heartache and tragedy but also in their times of victory and breakthrough. I get to watch them run their victory laps when the seasons change and the cards read, “Move forward two spaces.”

The seasons DO change. Faith, hope, and love DO remain. And there are better cards that will still be dealt to you.

This is more than pastoral platitude it is Scriptural truth. On the night of His betrayal—the dark night of His soul—Jesus cheerfully spoke to His followers, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Take heart and never give up! You too will overcome.