I’m sure the vast majority of the American population (many other countries, too, I’m sure) will agree with me in saying that this year has been one for the books. Many have suffered hardships, severe financial setbacks, illnesses, loss of loved ones, and long-term separation from family members (just to name a few). The mask, hiding deep-rooted ugliness, has been flung off and replaced with trendy cloth masks that fail when it comes to protecting from, and against, the hatred being spewed. It’s no wonder we’re looking forward to the new year – because I’m sure it will all change after midnight.
We made a big move this year, from Alaska to North Carolina. While I don’t miss the long, dark and cold winters, there are things I miss about the home we had made in Alaska. With our adult daughter at the top of the list, I can’t help but also miss things about the home we had made there. As much as I know I shouldn’t do it, I have been comparing our Alaska home to our new home in North Carolina. Storage! Storage! Storage! As I compare, I notice that I loved my kitchen in Alaska quite a lot, and I took our abundant storage options for granted. Seriously, though, you’d think a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house would have a linen closet. I catch myself thinking along the lines of being happier if we had more storage, if only my kitchen were bigger, and the HOA can’t possibly be serious.
Not to be a hope-sucker, but I hold little belief in 2021 being the answer to the struggles of 2020. There will still be infringement of Constitutional rights, a dangerous vaccine that holds too many unknowns for comfort, businesses that close for good, families financially ruined, loneliness and isolation for every age group, and intolerance for people of differing beliefs, values, and priorities. A date will not change that. A “pandemic” may pack a punch of hopelessness, but as a child of the LIVING God, I punch back.
I’ve mentioned before that this year, the year of 2020 – with all of its ugliness, has actually been a very good year for us. We went on a trip of a lifetime to Southeast Asia, we celebrated a high school graduation and wedding for our oldest daughter, were blessed to witness another significant family wedding, celebrated the news of our daughter being pregnant with our first grandchild, and moved to North Carolina. In all of that, we’ve found ourselves financially blessed, we’ve experienced God’s protective hands guiding us, and have seen for ourselves grace upon grace – even in areas that seemed darkest. You may feel like scoffing and may even accuse me of bragging, but I’m sharing all this with you, not to rub it in, but to express that God’s grace and favor is for you, too.
“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16 (NIV)
One of the things I love about this verse is where the grace is coming from. It’s not coming from a container of leftovers, but the fullness of God’s grace; He’s not holding anything back! Some translations of this verse have the phrase “grace upon grace” in place of “one blessing after another.” The phrasing from its translation implies that God’s grace is a constant and overflowing gift. Have you experienced such grace this year? Take some time to really look – do a bit of introspection.
While we do not live under a rock, we have been purposeful on what we focus on. We don’t watch the mainstream news, we absolutely do not watch The View, and we very purposely do not fill our minds with every worse-case scenario when it comes to our health. I’ve written some posts that put an importance on “garbage in, garbage out.” When I was growing up, this was mostly directed at our choices in music and entertainment, but positivity, hope, and word choice was not often part of the equation. Proverbs 18:21 holds a truth that makes a huge difference in my day-to-day life: the tongue holds the power of life and death. If you’re filling your mind with fear, negativity, and hopelessness, how do you think you’re going to live your life? If you missed those posts, I hope you’ll take a look: A Good Start, Wonder of Words, and Finding Focus.
By having any part of social media, small that it may be, there’s no escaping what’s going on in the world. Having friends and family in the medical field, there’s a constant flow of all views in medicine; the political arena has exploded this year with a tug-o-war concerning government corruption and control versus a government structure that many fought and died for to establish and protect, and legal injustices that have destroyed businesses, homes, and individuals seem to go unnoticed. And the great mask war – a hate-filled fight over masks is a absolute waste of time and money. No, I obviously do not live under a rock. With my testimony of what I’ve experienced this year versus so many who have experienced the opposite, perhaps I do have something worthwhile to say.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)
The world has given us so many reasons to live in fear – reasons that can so easily be seen (especially when paraded on every news outlet and social media scene). But God has told us over and over again to not fear and we’re also being told to not conform to this world – what has the world been doing this year? I can’t help but think of John 17. This entire chapter is Jesus praying right before He was arrested. First, Jesus does a recap and and prays for Himself. Next, He prays for His disciples. Then He prays for all who will one day believe in Him (that’s us!). The entire chapter gives me chills, but I want to turn your attention to a few verses.
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:13-15 (NIV)
Jesus prayed for us to have the full measure of His joy. What He says next is, in my opinion, even more profound: we’re not of the world any more than He is. Did you catch that? When we think of Jesus, we don’t typically see ourselves on the same level as Him, but rather as soiled while He stands pure, and as unworthy while He is absolutely worthy. In many ways, it’s hard to disagree with the imperfect saying they aren’t on level with perfection. That’s a whole other post. But we’re not of the world just like He’s not of the world! We’re not citizens of Satan’s kingdom, but citizens of Heaven and co-heirs with Christ Jesus (Romans 8:16-17, Galatians 3:29, I John 3:2)! Reading further, Jesus repeats Himself and adds a sparkling gem of truth:
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:16-17 (NIV)
God’s Word is truth. We’re not to be of the world while we’re in the world. What sets us apart from the world, or sanctifies us, is truth. What are we recognizing as truth? Is it fear-inducing medical reports or God’s promises of healing (Isaiah 53:4-5)? Is it depression in our mandated isolation or is it joy in God’s declaration of never leaving or forsaking us (Deuteronomy 31:8)? Are we seeing the bottom line in our businesses as the final say or God being our provider (Matthew 6:31-33)? If God’s Word is truth, we shouldn’t read passages as though they no longer apply or that they’re simply a “feel-good” passage that we must not understand. Either it’s true or it’s not. Similar to my stance of God being good – He’s either good all the time or not at all. God. Is. Good. Much like His. Word. Is. Truth.
I’m not putting my hope and faith in one year being a reprieve from another year. I’m putting my hope and faith in God’s Word – His truth about me, His kiddo. That’s what and who I am – I’m not someone to get sucked into the mainstream fear-inducing chaos of misinformation, because that pertains to this world. This world has no reach into my life because I keep my eyes on the Truth – and that Truth tells me that from the fullness of His supply, I have received – and will continue to receive – grace upon grace, year after year.