Thought for the Week

There are many beautiful scenes in Kintyre, but doesn’t a bank of brave snowdrops cheer our hearts on wintry days?

As a local Facebook comment stated: ‘They are a sign of hope for the coming year.’ Spring is just around the corner.

An encouraging reduction in Covid figures and an accelerating vaccine roll-out are also signs of hope there might soon be better days ahead.

Yet we still have concerns and the future is still uncertain. We know spring will come as it always does, but will it be like last year? The coronavirus statistics are better, but will there be another surge?

Perhaps the hope from the emerging signs of spring or the increasing curb of coronavirus is not enough.

Perhaps fear of catching the virus, of death coming knocking and of what lies beyond the grave are never far from your mind. Is there a hope to deal with these legitimate fears?

The good news of the Christian message is that the answer is yes, there is.

This week saw the start of Lent, a season that takes us on a journey of hope. ‘But how is Lent a journey of hope?’ you ask. Where does Lent end? With the historical events of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

They are why you can have real hope. By his death, Jesus dealt with our sin and failure and defeated death so that we need no longer fear it. His triumph was confirmed by his physical, bodily resurrection.

You can experience this hope by trusting in Jesus alone.

As you believe in him ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace...so that you overflow with hope.’ Romans 15:13. Reverend Dr Rodger Crooks,

Campbeltown Free Church.