So Long, 2020

Another year has come and gone, though 2020 is one for the history books. Think about that we've seen in the past 366 days—yes, 2020 was a long year! We saw impeachment accusations, Covid-19, lockdowns, racial strife, lockdowns, more racial tension, lockdowns, a tumultuous election complete with fraud accusations, more lockdowns, and a terror attack on Christmas Eve. Did I mention lockdowns? And that's just here in America! Others fared less well than we did. I didn't even mention deaths, sickness, family strife, canceled dinners, lockdown boredom, tense conversations, job loss, and other trials that come in everyday life.

As Christians, many of us had seasons of virtual church followed by socially-distant (a new phrase for 2020!) indoor or outdoor services. Some of our churches may still be having virtual services. Some of them never shut down at all. For most of us, small groups, potlucks, and get-togethers were also canceled indefinitely. Spending quality time with groups of people has seemingly come to a halt.

But is that all we should remember from 2020?

Though 2020 was a crazy year, there is plenty to reflect upon with joy and thanksgiving. How many relationships were you able to invest in through Zoom calls, Facetime, texting or calling? Were you able to spend time with your spouse, children, friends or families? Did you meet anyone new? Perhaps the Lord used these days of adversity to strengthen you and increase your faith. For me personally, 2020 is a good reminder of Ecclesiastes 7:14:

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him."

God was as sovereign in 2020 as He was in 2019 and as He will be in 2021. We can rest in the fact that He is with us in the days of prosperity as well as in the days of adversity. He will often use these lean times to prune us and prepare us to bear much fruit. Isn't that one of the benefits of abiding in the vine? Check out John 15:2.

Though 2020 was a crazy year, there is plenty of room for repentance and spiritual growth. 2020 revealed some sinful habits and attitudes buried beneath the surface of my heart. What about yours? There were moments of intense frustration and pride because people didn't agree with me. I experienced days and weeks of melancholy and discouragement from one-two punch of Covid-19 and race discussions. It's heavy being "the black evangelical friend" who doesn't fit the mold, but I need to entrust that weight to the gentle and lowly Savior who gives me rest. I've realized that while I want people to listen to me, I am often slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger. Needless to say, I can take this all to the Lord in prayer in 2021.

God is still gracious to me in my sinfulness. If I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me. He will graciously grant me repentance when I come to Him with a broken spirit and contrite heart, because He is pleased with that. And it is by His Spirit and through His Word that He even draws me to conviction. 

Though 2020 was a crazy year, God is unchanging. God is unchanging. His character and attributes don't shift with wind of the times. When the earth crumbles beneath us, He hasn't lost control. The enemy wants us to fear that God is somehow out of loop or socially distant from us, but He is alive and well. Don't forget that. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. He's here when we need Him. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ever interceding on our behalf—we're in good hands!

As we usher in 2021, let's be mindful of God. We could face many more challenging days in 2021 than we did in 2020. If we send 2020 off with "Good riddance!", we may be in for a shock when 2021 arrives. I long for a "normal" year, even though I can hardly remember what that's even like. With continuing lockdowns, vaccine talks, presidential transitions, key verdicts, and unknown days ahead, we need to focus on knowing God. He is the only source of stability in all of this, and that gives us great hope. Though we'll still feel the weight of the days too, abiding in the vine is where our strength is found.

As we welcome 2021, keep dwelling with Christ. He will carry us through.