Hello and Happy New Year!
You guys—-we made it! 2020 is in our rear view mirror, for sure, and although we have new ideas, adventures and dreams to set our sights on, we would be amiss to jump past all that God showed us and taught us and grew us in through the painful squeeze of last year.
I was reflecting on the beginning of last year and how I’m always so hopeful for something fresh, something new. Beginnings have a way of doing that. But I’m not sure that I’ve been good at realizing that something new, isn’t necessarily always something that feels good. When I looked out at the horizon called 2020, that unwritten year that appeared to be full of hope, I wouldn’t have written in the year that we got. And I don’t think I’m alone in that. No one would choose a virus that not only took many lives, but shut down our world in ways we’ve not seen for a very long time. Or a political climate in our country that was more divisive than ever…or murder hornets! I mean, seriously??? And that’s not even including the ways that we’ve seen up-close and personal, humans treating one another in inhumane ways.
All of us can agree this was all terribly hard and painful, in many ways. But what if somewhere in the middle of this year there was also a gift? What if all of our prayers for something new were answered in what we got? Sometimes I think God answers our prayers with something better, even though it doesn’t look or feel that way. We ask with our own idea of what the outcome will be, leaving out the possibility that God’s ways are higher than ours.
And here’s one of the reasons why: He’s not a far off God, but a relational being who died in order to make communion possible for us. His deepest desire is for us to believe him and commune with Him in new ways and He’s willing for us to experience discomfort, if that’s what it takes in order for that to happen.
Years ago I read a story about a father whose child wanted nothing more than a horse. Their own mode of transportation that would allow for freedom that they hadn’t yet experienced. But in the time between the request and the fulfillment of it, the car was created. Of course the father knew that the car would far surpass the horse, so rather than give what they asked for, he gave them something better than their request. Their desire was met by something completely different. Was it still transportation—-yes. But was it what they asked for—-nope..
I know this analogy doesn’t fit perfectly, but I think it can still be helpful. The problem is that we can see from this side of history that the car was the better gift, for a lot of reasons. But if we look at it from the child’s perspective, we can see that it even though it was better in the long run, the father’s choice still carried with it some level of disappointment.
So, what about our requests last January? Is there a way for us to peer backwards and look at the year with a heart that’s willing to receive the blessing that might be buried deep in some disappointment?
As I look back there are a few things I thought I’d share that I noticed about my experience of this year….
*The launch of the Spacious Place podcast, early in the year, created a place for me to direct my passions and my focus as the world slowed down to an almost screeching halt.
*The wedding of my son and his fantastic new wife was smaller than it would have been in a different year, but it was intimate in a way that ‘bigger’ may have robbed us of.
*Slow made room for more. More meals at the table, more conversations about what really matters, more weight around my middle haha, but more savoring rather than rushing. More contemplating rather than checking things off my list, more prayer and less hurry.
Those are just to name a few. Was it hard at times? Absolutely! Would I have chosen it…probably not. But can I say thank you for it. YES. And in fact, I think this is what James is talking about in chapter 1, when he says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Not necessarily joy because of circumstances, but joy that bubbles up as we consider that our God will use it to conform us into something more. Our Father loves us so much that He’s willing for us to experience discomfort because He knows this is where we will be transformed into His likeness. Long-suffering will expand us, making us mature and complete. Isn’t that crazy??? As we shift our gaze from our trials, with an openness and longing for God to use it for our good and His glory, we will be moved to completeness….wholeness, not lacking anything.
As I’ve pondered this, I can’t help but think how good our God is to not only allow hard circumstances in our lives (that alone wouldn’t be good), but in order for us to recognize and long for connection with Him. Deeper trust, believing that He is good and has our best in mind, as only a good and perfect Father can.
Now that’s safety and security!
So as we look forward into what 2021 might bring, let’s do so with a broader purpose in mind. One that will allow for Kingdom, rather than simply earthly pleasures. And let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, as we take one day at a time, with Him and one another.
Peace.