A lot of pundits are saying that 2012 is a pivotal year. Around the world there is plenty to get you worrying. I find myself tempted to worry every day.

Pick your reason: The European debt crisis keeps getting worse. Our own debt levels are unsupportable. Iran is close to developing nuclear warheads. The Arab street may open the door for radical elements in the middle east. Etc.

This article compares 2012 to 1932. Read it and your worry level will increase.

The alternative for those of us who are trying to follow Jesus is to recognize that when worry levels increase, people are going to be looking for the one thing we have to offer them - hope.

When things are going smoothly, we, as Robert Bork said, "slouch toward Gomorrah." We become frogs in the kettle, slowly boiled alive by a toxic culture that sneers at what we call hope.

People will anchor their souls to whatever feels secure: a good job, a nice home, or a 401k. But put that stuff at risk and they'll look for something that looks more solid. Hebrews 6:19 says, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." It's the hope that Jesus does in fact love of us and have a plan for our lives. Nothing touches us that hasn't first past through his hands.

When our anchors are beginning to scrape along the sea bottom, we look around for other anchors that are holding against life's storms. And for those of us anchored against this hope, it's a cause for optimism. We have an opportunity.

Of course, if it's not working for us, if we're just as worried about what 2012 will bring as our neighbor is, then maybe we should take a fresh look at what we're anchoring against.

Where have you lodged your anchor? What gives you hope?

Photo by Giorgio Montersino