I come to blogging this week with the thought of “What to even say?” I feel we’ve all reached that point where the most frequently asked question regarding 2020 now is: “Is it over yet?” Because frankly we’re over it and people are looking for something, anything to get them through it.

Personally, I love the social media frenzy that occurred over the past week with the “Banksy is Neil Buchanan from Art Attack” theory. I agree with all those who posted along the lines of “Oh please, let it be true.”

(Having looked at pictures of Neil Buchanan this week, I’m also starting to wonder if he and Kenneth Branagh were separated at birth… but that’s another story…)

There are times when people just need something to be true so they can hold on to it, for some hope in a dark tunnel. And I know many people think Christians blindly hold on to theories that aren’t true, just to try and get themselves some hope in a dark life.

I, of course, think they are actually true. I believe God exists and he means it when he says:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43

Or:

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrew 13

Or when we say:

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Nahum 1

Or:

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23

A Christian believes that such things are true, not just some theory that may or may not have any weight to it at all. And considering how strongly some people appear to be holding on to the Neil Buchanan Banksy theory, I can’t understand why they take issue with Christians having faith in a God and his provision for them.

For me, it’s the promises of God that I hold on to in the dark times. Only then is there hope, even if quite faint. They’re better than some social media theory, regardless of whether it’s true or not.

And I agree, the social media buzz about Banksy’s identity is the highlight of 2020, so far (and I’m not expecting any others). Yet, in the darkness of 2020, the revealed promises of God far outshine the potential revelation of the identity of Banksy.

Yours in searching for the highlights,

Alison

Image Credit: Image from Manchester Evening News