As 2020 comes to a close, I wanted to take some time and reflect on what this year has been. Oh, and what a year it has been!!! I can’t even count all the disappointments and I won’t because nobody has time for that and it won’t change a thing.
Although it may not have been the year I expected it to be, it was still a year full of blessings and much joy. God has been faithful even through the negatives.
The world was suddenly changed within a matter of weeks beginning in March. Most of us were forced to stay indoors, jobs were lost, the economy plummeted and rose. There was an insane election, also much death but through it all God was faithful.
As much as I would like to hop on the bandwagon and bid 2020 “good riddance” I must admit that God was good to me and has been sovereign through all this.
I ask that you too look on the bright side of this year and remember that, instead of the bad parts.
Below I wanted to share a few Bible verses to help bring us hope for the new year.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 8:18 ESV
“Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 31:23-24 ESV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
1 Peter 1:3 ESV
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:22-26 ESV
Happy New Year!!!
SDG – “Soli Deo Gloria”
Thankful for your blog. Keep it up.
Amen and so true! As Job said to his wife in the midst of his affliction, “…Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil [or perhaps better translated: ‘calamity’]?…” -Job 2:10 ESV
We may not always immediately understand why God deems it necessary to bring us through trials and suffering, but we know from scripture that He works all things for good to those who love him and are called according to His purposes (Rom 8:28); that our trials and suffering ought to be counted as a joy considering how the Lord is using them to strengthen, teach and refine us (James 1:2-4); and that, as you so appropriately pointed out, for the Christian, these afflictions are truly light and momentary in light of eternity which never ends (Rom 8:18).
I’m overjoyed you were able rejoice in God’s faithfulness this past year. May it only continue and increase in the next! -SDG