In a few days (Lord willing), the calendars will flip to the year 2021. While merely moving to a new year doesn’t in itself bring any changes or transformation of any kind, I think we all at least have slight anticipation for the infamous 2020 to be over. It’s probably safe to assume that this has been a difficult year for everyone in some way - or multiple ways. As a pastor, I have been praying for, counseling, and grieving with so many this year, and yet, the Lord has also been taking me and my family through many hard things as well. I wanted to write out some of my thoughts and reflections on this past year in the hope that it will bring encouragement to you and your family as well.
Reflection #1 - God is still good.
Can I confess something? I almost didn’t write this point because it seems trivial to write. For followers of Jesus, this should be a foregone conclusion and it’s not something that we feel we need to hear because it doesn’t bring immediate comfort to my circumstance that is anything but good. Yet, this needs to be the first point because if God is not good, we have no hope, and if He is good, then our hope is unshakeable. There’s a famous line that I used to hear all the time and yet I haven’t seen it much this year, but this may have been the year it is most needed as a reminder. The line is: “But even if not, He is still good.” Even if 2021 doesn’t get better (or even if it gets worse), even if He doesn’t take my pain away soon, even if I don’t get the results I’m praying for, He is still good. What we believe about God in times of blessing, must also be true in times of darkness and pain.
Reflection #2 - We need Biblical community.
The line that has been thrown out there often this year is “we’re in this together.” It’s a sentiment that we can all get behind because who wants to say, “we’re in this divided" no matter how true that may appear? With the world around us at war, gatherings diminishing, more people staying home, and online “church” on the rise, I’ve realized more than ever the beauty of Biblical community. We need to meet together, pray for one another, serve one another, sacrifice for the sake of each other, bear one another’s burdens, worship together, point one another to the goodness of God (see reflection #1), and all the other things that brothers and sisters in Christ do so well. I know that for some individuals, it’s simply not safe to be potentially exposed to the virus, but I also know that some of us are losing our souls because of the isolation. We were not designed to live life alone. We have the promise that Jesus is with us and that He is enough, yes, but Jesus Himself established His Church for us to have community with as well. Fight for Biblical community - whatever the cost.
Reflection #3 - We are citizens of heaven.
Let’s start reminding ourselves that though the Kingdoms of this world may crumble, Jesus is still on the throne in Heaven and that’s where our citizenship is. This world is not our home, we are just passing through. Yes, I know that all sounds cliche, but it’s a truth that should give us peace. Love your neighbor and pursue the good of the land you’re in, but remember that you are not home yet.
Reflection #4 - Disciple your children.
All parents right now are asking ourselves some form of the following question: “How am I supposed to raise my kid(s) in this broken world?” For many of us, 2020 has given us more time to be physically near our families and I fear that many of us have wasted that privilege. Yes, I know that in some ways, life has gotten even busier and more complicated, but God has set you as parents in the primary role of pointing them to Him. Instead of panicking that the world around us is wicked and fearing it’s influence on our kids, let’s spend every waking moment pointing them to Jesus. Talk about current events and show your children how you’re holding on to your hope in Christ. Tell them that no matter what this world seems to offer, Jesus is better. This Christmas, give them gifts but make sure they know the greatest gift of all. Don’t allow anyone else to disciple your kids (they will try), make sure you are their main influence, and strive to make disciples of Jesus out of your kids.
Reflection #5 - Pain and Joy can and do co-exist.
Without going into detail, my family has been hit pretty hard in many different ways this year, and in some senses, it’s been one of the hardest years of my life. And what I’m about to say might be easy to read over and either dismiss it, think I’m lying, or just assume I’m supposed to say it. So I’m begging you to believe that what I’m about to write is not trivial or me trying to be overly spiritual. Here goes: This has been one of the hardest years of my life, but I’ve also had more joy this year than ever before. The number one reason for that is the grace and mercy of Jesus holding me when I didn’t have the strength to hold on to Him. But secondary to that has been His grace in showing me that it is only my belief in the Gospel that can carry me through difficult times. It’s only my faith in the promises of God and His Sovereignty that allow me to have joy in the midst of grief. Every Sunday as I preach from the Word of God, I’m really trying to say the same thing - Believe in and hold on to the Gospel. Every other solution offered to ease or cure your pain and grief pales in comparison to the glory and power found in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of your soul. Pain and joy do co-exist because the Savior endured the pain of the cross for the joy set before Him.
Reflection #6 - We are idol factories.
I think it was Paul Tripp that may have coined this phrase, but our human, fleshly hearts are daily trying to create idols and put them in the place of God in our lives. 2020 has revealed several of the idols that our culture held dear and some of us are still trying to desperately hold on to them. One of them in particular that I realized in my own life was the idol of comfort and security. Being a Christian in America is easy - let’s be honest. There are more Christians dying for their faith in Jesus around the world today than at any other point in history and we’ve allowed ourselves to believe we are persecuted because we have to wear a mask. Now, don’t get me wrong, we are seeing an all-out attack on Christianity in our culture and true persecution is happening and it is growing. That’s my point: I’ve seen in my own heart and tendency to think that my life will be over if our rights to gather get taken away or if true persecution did hit close to home. But the reality is that Jesus promised troubles and persecution and He also promised that He had overcome the world. I have had to confess and repent of my idol of comfort often this year and surrender that to the Lord. If more intense persecution comes, we will continue to praise Him and proclaim the Gospel. We will not back down and we will not allow the culture to cause us to deny our faith. It’s time for the Church in America to allow God to use the persecution we experience to grow our faith and grow His Church.
CONCLUSION
These are a few of the things on my heart lately and I know this post has probably been rather intense in it’s tone. So what I want to do is end it with a passage that I have gone back to several times this year because of the comfort and peace it brings me through all the chaos:
Psalm 94:16-19 (ESV)
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and has not forsaken you. Instead, when your heart is overwhelmed and your enemies surround you, His comfort and His consolations are there to cheer your soul. Cry out to Him, He is ready and able to help in time of need. I pray that your faith would not waiver in the midst of all the troubles of 2020, but that it would grow. I pray that you would see the sweetness of the Gospel, the need for community and that you would forsake all idols you’ve put in the place of Jesus. I pray you would sing the song the angels did at the birth of Jesus: “Glory in the Highest!” I pray that you would be able to take heart because your Savior has overcome the world.