Why 2020 Was The Best Year Of My Life (And The Hope You Have If Yours Wasn’t)
This time last year, if you were to tell me of all the chaos that ended up happening in 2020, I would’ve looked at you like you were crazy. Millions of people losing their jobs, families losing their homes and forced to find other places to live, only being allowed to buy 2 packs of toilet paper. But unfortunately that is the reality that was 2020.
I remember in the beginning of the year, the church that my wife and I go to had started a series called “VISION”, and talking what the vision for the church and Christians should be going forward. And then, COVID-19 reared its ugly face right around the corner and ruined everyone’s vision and plans.
To say that this has been one of the most stressful years to date is an understatement. Record high suicide rates in adults that don’t seem to be ending. Children not being able to see their friends or interact with other kids their age. It’s really mad things difficult for everyone.
The other day I was thinking of everything that has gone on since the start of 2020 and started to feel guilty. Because while most Americans were suffering and it didn’t seem like things were going to get any better, the year had been nothing but great to my wife and I. After years of trying, we had finally signed the papers and bought our first home. Which was such a huge deal to us because we never thought that it would ever happen. Then shortly after that, we got ourselves a new car. A month after that we got the news that we were pregnant and were going to have a family (and she’ll be here in two weeks!). Then not long after that, I had gotten a HUGE raise where I work.
I sit here as I’m writing all that out, feeling insanely blessed, but also incredibly guilty because I know so many people are not having the same kind of year that I am. Often I sit down and try to figure out what I did to deserve the type of year we got. Blessing after blessing, and it almost didn’t seem real at times.
Don’t let this seem like I’m boasting to all of you. I am incredibly grateful for everything that’s happened. And for those who seem like there isn’t any hope, there is. Romans 5:3–5 says “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”.
There is going to be suffering in this life, its inevitable, that’s is how our world works. But God is with all of us through it all. James 1:2 says “count it all as joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness”.
Around this Christmas holiday a lot of people talk about how there was no room for Jesus in the inn when He was being born. But try to think about Mary for second. Think about what she had to go through with the birth of Jesus. People called her a liar, and thought she had cheated on her husband, and then once Jesus was here, she had to watch her child be brutally murdered, and that was the plan since the beginning so that the world could be saved through His death on the cross.
Through everything that Mary went through, she stayed faithful with God’s plan, and because she didn’t give up, through Jesus, the world can know peace and hope.
I know times are tough for most people in the world. But lets not grow weary through all the trials and sufferings that this world will bring. For blessings are coming through these difficult times, even if you can’t see it yet. There is a light at the end of that tunnel. There is peace in the arms of Jesus.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” — Isaiah 43:2 ESV
For those struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts please contact 1–800–273–8255 for more help. And God bless you all.
