Holy Moly! I really skipped over all of 2020?! That’s so 2020 isn’t it? Too bad we couldn’t have truly skipped it, right!? In some ways it was good for us, though. Hear me out.
Despite being at home for most of 2020, things seemed as busy as ever. Suddenly I was thrown into the wonderful world of NTI with my elementary school kiddo. Thankfully, my kids go to an amazing school with superhero-esque teachers! Still, I was a stressed mess. The initial freak-out about COVID-19 had me on high alert 24/7 because I thought my oldest daughter was at high risk due to her autoimmune disorder. This was also before we knew how the virus affected kids. I truly realized that my initial response to anything new or uncertain was fear and panic. Even after all these years of being a Christ follower. You’d think I would have learned after the millionth panic-ish attack that Jesus is in control. Why do I tend to panic first and pray last in times of uncertainty? What does this say about my faith? I mean, faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, right? It’s true, but Jesus is the mover, not me. Who and what I put my faith in is the most important. I can either have faith or not, but can’t ride the fence.
2020 forced me to examine my faith and make a conscious decision to get off the fence. I was complacent. I was in a routine. I had made routine an idol I realized. I had a comfort zone and was content being safe inside of it. The pandemic was just the beginning. After we all became as adjusted as we could to lockdowns and uncertainty, there was unrest all across our country as many were faced with the question “do black lives truly matter?” Of course they do! We started to learn all points of view. There were truly great protests and discussions, but there were also riots by activist outliers. While parts of our country were coming together, we were dividing in other parts. The division culminated in election debates, decisions, votes, and protests. The US Capitol was stormed by right wing outliers. I have never seen the country this crazy in my lifetime. With each big event, it seemed people’s (including my own) belief systems were being worn on their sleeves. We were forced to be vocal and stand for our beliefs...whatever those were. 2020 forced me and many others I know to get serious about our faith...to get serious about sharing the gospel. It’s more real than ever to me that any day could be anyone’s last and God could decide to rapture at anytime. Where would that leave some of my loved ones...strangers...you?
Absolutely none of this was or is in my control. It’s in God’s alone. The whole year was 100% in His hands, as is every other year. 2020 just put it all on full display.
So what’s to learn? Just because things seem out of control only means they are out of MY control or the world’s control. Things have never and never will be out of God’s control. We were all stunned by the pandemic; God wasn’t surprised. He isn’t surprised by death or violence. He’s not surprised by elections and political divisions. He’s not surprised by climate changes (the world will eventually cease to exist as is after all). He knows what He is doing and we do not. We do know how the story ends, though. We know God wins. So why panic over all the stuff before that? Especially believers. Trust God. Trust the process. Nothing happens that He doesn’t allow. He causes all things to work for good for those who love him and are called according to His purposes.
Life is full of uncertainty, but we can be completely certain of our God who controls it all. We don’t have to be in control. That, my friends, is peace.
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