Before You Say Goodbye to 2020

Looking back on a year many of us will never forget, takes me back to a personal season not long ago when I wanted to fast forward to a brighter moment in time. While I didn’t want speed up my children growing up, I wanted to move at lightening speed past the pain I was enduring at the time.

I don’t know a single soul who likes suffering.

But I’ve seen some of the most beautiful stories come from the deepest pain.

It might be tempting to want to wrap up this year as quickly as possible and never look back.

But before you say goodbye to 2020, might I suggest something different?

Look back over this year and note the evidence of God, even in the most trying moments. Recount His faithfulness, even if the details of this year weren’t what you expected. Praise Him for His unchanging goodness, even if your circumstances aren’t good. Look for the ways He’s grown you and refined you through an unexpected season. Thank Him for the blessings in the midst of grief.

And if that’s a struggle, simply give the Lord your honest heart. Give him your pain, your disappointments, the wrestling deep within…run to Him, not from Him.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” ~1 Peter 5:7

Had Jesus not suffered and submitted Himself to death on a cross, we wouldn’t have the Hope available to us today in the midst of our own pain. We wouldn’t have the promise of a better future filled with dancing on streets of gold to the tune of freedom and joy. We wouldn’t have the assurance that one day pain will be swallowed up forevermore.

Because Jesus humbly entered into this messy world for a season, we can travel through this messy world knowing there is purpose in the details God allows–and knowing beauty can come from the not-so-beautiful circumstances.

That personal, difficult season I went through not too long ago?

 I’m past it now. But I can look back knowing it was not a wasted season for me or for my family. And it makes me all the more grateful today for my husband and two miracle sons who bear witness to the unwavering goodness of God.

If this year has challenged you, know that God is not absent. He is with us and for us, working things together for our good and His glory. His plan and ways are perfect beyond our understanding.

From the beginning of time, it has been His desire to dwell among us and be our God—and one glorious day, all will be right.

As we move forward into a new year full of details unknown to us, remember all He’s done for you in the past and keep trusting Him to be with you each step ahead.