Consider It Pure Joy

2020.

I have so many thoughts.  I’m going to try to put some together for this blog…it might be a bit messy.  But hey, it goes right along with 2020 or really any other year.

I personally am THANKFUL for 2020.  It’s been a tough year, but it’s been a fantastic year.  (It was the best of times…it was the worst of times).

This was a year where eyes were finally opened.  20/20 vision makes us see things a bit differently.  It gives us a picture that isn’t blurred.  It allows us to see things we couldn’t see clearly before. 

Our eyes were opened to the fact that we don’t really have control.  But you know what?  GOD WAS NOT SURPRISED BY THIS VIRUS.  We should not have been surprised.  We live in a fallen world filled with darkness, disease, and death.  It’s Satan’s game plan.  He comes to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY.

Our eyes were opened to the reality that we really don’t need to consume as much as we typically do—they were opened to what a WANT is vs a NEED.  Do we really need the luxury of cable/TV or can we survive on interactions with our family instead?  Do I really need to go out to eat 2 times a week, or can I cook a nutritious meal in my own home maybe even consisting of rice and beans?  Do I really need to buy the newest toys for my child, or can they suffice with a hand-me-down or off brand toy?  Do I really need that iPhone 12, or can I spend $1,000 in some other way?  Did you know…$1,000 could pay for 2 entire school years for a child in Africa?

Traveling the world and living out of a backpack basically for two years—I’ve learned a little bit of what a simplistic lifestyle looks like.  And it’s absolutely BEAUTIUFL and makes you appreciate EVERY LITTLE THING.  I brought along 5 pairs of socks.  I wore those socks every single day for 11 months.  By the end of 11 months, I had sewn and resewn some of them several times.  THIS IS A REALITY FOR SOME PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I was part of an organization that gifted men clothes—and they were thrilled just to have 3 changes of clothes.  They were like a kid in a candy shop with JOY.  I stayed in 15 different houses in 45 days while in Kenya.  I slept in one room houses. I slept in huts. I slept in my tent. I was thankful to have a place to rest my head every night—something some people don’t even have!

Our eyes were opened to the human need of fellowship/relationship.  Adam was given a partner because God saw that it was not good for man to be alone.  This year we saw what loneliness can do.  Depression, anxiety—mental health deaths and awareness have skyrocketed.  We saw what it was like to be a family unit again.  Both parents needing to help with different tasks at times. 

Our eyes were opened to destruction.  Poverty, job loss, abuse, theft, hunger….the list can go on and on.     

Our religious eyes were opened to the fact that the church isn’t about a building but the people and their actions.  We learned new ways to reach others (thank you live stream, zoom, google hangouts and whatever other platforms were used).  We learned about the power of prayer.  We learned the importance of praise and worship.  We realized that we don’t need the fanfare of fog, lights, and a “show”.  We learned even more about how the body is made of different parts and how as the different parts work together for a common purpose.  We learned where we need to prioritize our time, tithes, and offerings.    

Obviously, this list isn’t exhaustive.  But, I think we all can agree there were some wonderful, good, bad, and ugly things that our eyes were opened to by COVID. 

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

This scripture has been FIRE this year.  Speaking truth.  Getting rid of impurities. Refining.  I believe 2020 was a year of refining for the world.  It’s such a GOOD thing, but the process isn’t easy.  It hurts.  It’s messy.  BUT, the end product is STUNNING.  It’s COMPLETE.  It’s PURE.  But we have to be WILLING to go through the process of change.  We have to take it to heart.  We have to believe it.  We have to want it and desire it.  We have to take the good (becoming pure) with the bad (refining process).  And unfortunately, things of this world lose their shine.  However, we have the hope of a God who loves us, who wants to give us back what was stolen from us.  He will purify us so that on the day of judgement He will see PURE because of the blood of the lamb of Jesus who died to rescue us from the dominion of darkness.  All you have to do is believe this truth, ask for him to come into your life, and repent of your ways.  He’s waiting with arm wide open for you.     

So yes, this year was hard.  It was tough.  It was awful for some.  But there was also beauty.  There was also joy.  I hope that you can join me in rejoicing for the refining process and opened eyes this year! We will mourn and grieve what was lost…but don’t let it steal your joy.  Because when you let it steal your joy, satan wins.  The thief (satan) comes only that he might steal and might kill and might destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. John 10:10

Guys, let’s live life and live it fully and abundantly!  AND REJOICE IN THE HOPE WE HAVE!