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Remember the Hope

Does the beginning of 2020 seem like eons ago? It may have been just 3 months ago, but, wow, has a lot happened in that time… Did you start this new year of 2020 out strong, full of hope and anticipation, only to have slammed on the brakes with everything coming to a crashing halt in light of what is happening in the world? What in the actual world…

As you can read about in my January blog post, I absolutely love New Years and the anticipation of a brand-new year ahead. Like many people, it is a tradition of mine to pray and ask the Lord for a “word” for the New Year – kind of like a theme of what I’m going to be growing in and working on in the new season. I was totally expecting Him to speak the word “vision,” or “focus,” or “clarity,” just because of the obvious 20/20 cliché. This word was practically handed over to us all on a silver platter, right? Plus, I had heard about a lot of other people declaring that over the new year, both personally or for the corporate church at large. Wouldn’t He say the same thing to me? I mean, having a clearer vision for your path sounds awesome! Sign me up!

The Word of the Year (for me!)

But, nope. That is not what He spoke to my heart. The word He gave me for 2020 was: courage. <insert heart a little deflated, and a really, God?> I’m going to admit: I wasn’t very pleased to hear that… my first thought was why would I need courage unless something potentially scary or risky was going to happen that You were going to call me to do – can I trade this in for a new word that is more fun and safe? I’m pretty comfy with this life, and not lookin’ to change things up… I got the butterflies all up in my stomach going in to 2020. However, I calmed myself down by remembering His goodness in the past, focusing on the fact that He is always with me, and that I don’t ever need to be afraid of my future – even if there are challenges ahead. < See January post >

Interpretation

At the time, I interpreted this word from Him to mean He was going to call me to be more vulnerable, unhidden, and it was going to be a year of “stepping out” more. I was given the opportunity to speak at three different churches since 2020 started, and that took some courage. Additionally, this blog has taken a TON of courage for me – flinging wide open the doors of your heart for this here world-wide-web to see and judge me isn’t the most fun thing in the world for me… As I look back on my very narrow interpretation about what this word “courage for 2020” meant, I can see that my interpretation of the application of the word was very introspective, and all about me. However, now I can see that this word is SO much bigger than little ole me – which is why I felt led to write and share this very personal treasure of mine. I pray that it encourages you in this uncertain time!

My Journal Entry: 1/17/20

As if writing this blog wasn’t vulnerable enough for me (ahem, hello courage!), I’d like to share with you my journal entry I wrote back in January when I was spending time praying about this word from the Lord and asking Him to share with me more about it. In light of everything that has transpired in the country/world since I wrote this down, I am in awe of this sweet gift I can look back on, hold onto, and I want to share it with you. This is what I wrote on January 17th, according to how I heard Him speak to my heart:

“cOURage : Do you see the word inside of courage? OUR – it is us, together! Courage is a “we-thing.” I am with you always, God Immanuel. It’s not just your life, your dreams, and your actions – it’s ours to do together. Partners. Take heart. Have courage. We are doing this together.

Hold your peace. Stay steady. Keep your eyes focused on me. Straight on… I’ve got your back. It’s covered – your backside is not exposed or uncovered – My wings are covering you. There’s new sandals/shoes of peace for your feet – for walking in a spirit of peace and restoration and the ministry of reconciliation. I’m strengthening your legs to stand firm – like pillars that can’t be moved. There is strength, power, and faith to hold fast and stay steady; arms that reach towards me with constant hunger for more of Me, and hands that are tender and compassionate – and that only pick up what I tell them to pick up, and are OK with letting things go that need to be released. You’ll have shoulders that carry the authority I place on them with grace and dignity and confidence; and thoughts that are pure and holy, and fixed on things above.

This year sets the stage. Be kind to yourself. Continue to practice rest. Sow good seeds this year. Go slow. Slow yourself down. Be at peace.”

He is unchanging

So, did you enter into 2020 with a word or a phrase that you felt would be the focus of the year? I just want to shout out to everyone – these circumstances we are now in does NOT void out that word or that dream/promise you were believing for! If your word had to do with vision or clarity, perhaps He will give you creative vision for how to recover from COVID’s impact on your life. Maybe your clarity word has to do with getting a healthier perspective on what matters most in life, and making some changes to support your clear, renewed priorities…

Remember your word over 2020. Go back to it again and revisit it. This word is still relevant to you in THIS year! Perhaps this word will end up being a necessary tool and resource for you amidst the crisis, or in recovering from the crisis later this year. Your interpretation of what you thought your word might mean or what it may look like this year may need to be tweaked – just like mine did. But, His words – just like His character – are unchanging. They are not bound to circumstances. They don’t come true for us according to how things are going around us. The Truth is still the truth. How we apply the truth or the lens by which we see the truth may need adjusted, but His word is unfailing and it will accomplish ALL that it was sent forth to do.

Feeling hopeless about the future of 2020 and the ramifications of what COVID19 is going to have on life as we knew it? Please go read my January blog post, and consider following that method I wrote about regarding how to re-align your thoughts with hope.

I may not fully know right now the full extent of just how much I’m going to need that “courage” word this year. There are still uncertainties ahead for all of us… but, I know the One who will be with me always, giving me cOURage, because it is a “we-thing.” He holds my peace and makes me steady. He quiets my thoughts and takes away any fear or anxiety. He is my rest. I’m praying especially for courage right now for you and your family!

There are gobs of scriptures about courage… Here are just a few from The Passion Translation:

“Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord, Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting – for He will never disappoint you!” Psalms 27:14 TPT

“We have great endurance in hardships and in persecutions. We don’t lose courage in a time of stress and calamity” 2 Corinth 6:4 TPT

“So cheer up! Take courage all you who love Him. Wait for Him to break through for you, all who trust in Him!” Ps. 31:24

“At the very moment I called out to you, You answered me! You strengthened me deep within my soul and breathed fresh courage into me.” Ps. 138:3

“Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage.” 1 Corinth 16:13

“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have overcome the world!” John 16:33 TPT

“I leave the gift of peace with you – my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts – instead, be courageous!” John 14:27 TPT

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Hope for the New Year

My absolute fav:

I know a lot of people’s favorite holiday is Christmas. Many will say that Thanksgiving is their favorite. But, I’m always given curious looks when I share with people that New Year’s is my absolute favorite holiday of the year. My eyes light up and I get almost giddy with excitement, anticipating the turning of the calendar! What surprises are waiting for us in the new year, just around the corner – out of our sight now, but already carefully planned out waiting for the appointed time to pop out of nowhere. As we go about daily life – what good things will sweep us off our feet in this new chapter of life?

When people ask me, “Why? Why would New Year’s be your favorite holiday? Aren’t you a Christian? Shouldn’t your favorite be a religious holiday or something?”

My response has usually been, “Oh, but it IS sort of a religious holiday to me! I’m never more filled with hope and faith than I am at New Year’s. I’m filled with an anything-is-possible outlook and a sense that I’m about to dig into a brand new chapter of a great book, and I can’t wait to gobble it up and find out what twists and turns will happen next…. Plus, this enneagram 1w2 loves lists, goals, and fresh starts!”

I had a friend challenge me one year, by sharing with me that it is hard for her to understand my enthusiasm and hope that gets supercharged at this time of the year, every year. She asked me, “Isn’t January 1st just like any other day? It just marks the end of the holidays and the return to normal routine. Nothing really changes when we flip the calendar into a new year. It is just another regular day. What makes it so special? Shouldn’t you have just as much hope and faith in April or July or October as you do now in January?”

… which led me on a journey of pondering why? Why is it that I’m SO EXCITED every time New Year’s comes around? IS there something special about this particular time of year that makes it easier to deep-down truly believe His goodness is following me (Ps 23:6), He has plans to prosper me (Jer 29:11), and that I don’t have to fear the future but can laugh at the days to come (Prov 31:25)?

WHY?

So, I began to pray and ask the Lord another one of my “why” questions, and guess what?! He showed me that actually, yes… Yes, there is a reason why it is easier to be hope-filled at this time of year! The first thing that He showed me was simply pointing out that we just spent an entire month focused on Immanuel, God with us. We have sung it in our Christmas carols, we have driven past the nativity scenes in yards and churches declaring that He came, and He is here! Our entire culture has been saying it, focused on it (whether consciously or subconsciously), marinating on the truth: Immanuel, which literally means God is WITH us. Immanuel, God is WITH us. He is WITH us. Marinating on that, and soaking in it has got to increase your hope and faith, knowing that as you step into a new chapter, He is WITH you. No matter what comes your way. We have been building up our faith muscle for a full month, without even realizing it! I can face tomorrow because I know (more than any other time of the year because I’ve been singing it and saying it for an entire month) that Immanuel is WITH me, and I’m not facing the unknown alone. Billions of people have been celebrating this fact, shouting out: He is here! He is with us! Gosh, no wonder I’m so full of faith by the time January comes!

But then… it gets even better! He began to show me that New Year’s is very much connected to the entire holiday season in a much greater, significant way than many of us realize! I heard Him whisper to my heart, “I am the One who was, the One who is, and the One who is to come!”

3 Holidays: paralleling WHO He is – in the past/present/future

Thanksgiving: the holiday where we take time to look behind us, to reflect on our blessings, to remember the year we are wrapping up and give our thanks for His faithfulness. He is the God of the past, worthy of celebrating! The One who was…

Christmas: the holiday where we declare He is Immanuel, God with us. He was sent to us, and has restored relationship with mankind so that we are no longer separated, but now are living in this very moment in communion with a God who never leaves us or forsakes us, and is so close, so very near at all times – our very present help. He is the God of the present, worthy of celebrating! The One who is…

New Year’s: the holiday where we look into the future boldly, without fear, full of hope and promise – because we first spent time remembering and rehearsing His goodness and faithfulness to us in our past, and then we spent time remembering and rehearsing His nearness to us now, His promise to always be with us, closer than close… it is because we have spent time reflecting on Him in our past and Him in our present that we can fully celebrate the God of the future, who is worthy of celebrating! The One who is to come…

Celebrate ALL of Him!

By the time January 1st hits, many of us are tired and partied out from the Holidays, and are ready to put them behind us and get on with life! But, I’d like to challenge you with this: if you cut short the New Year’s celebration, then you are missing out on celebrating ALL of who God is (and wants to be) in your life! We spend weeks prepping for Thanksgiving and focusing the entire month of November on being grateful. We spend almost the entire month of December celebrating Christmas. Yet, New Years is almost skipped over. What if we spent the entire month of January celebrating who God is in the future? What if we thanked Him and worshiped Him for all the things He is going to do this year, all of the ways He is going to grow your heart and character this year, all of the new revelations He is going to teach you and challenge you in, the provision and faithfulness He already has laid out for you, the plans He has to prosper you and give you a hope (that doesn’t let go) and a good future… Do you think if you spent an entire month celebrating the God of the future, it would impact how your new year unfolded? I’m thinking yes!

Application

This is kind of a stretch, but I also was thinking in a bigger picture sense about The Bible, and how it is laid out… One of the main characteristics of The Old Testament is that it is full of stories of His faithfulness in the past, and gives us hope for the future. One of the main characteristics of The New Testament is that it tells of God being with us in the present, and gives us hope for the future. As Christians, if we stop right there and our faith journey is only just about receiving the Old Testament and the New Testament, without looking and applying it towards our future – then, we are missing it! A crucial part of our Christianity walk is not found in the Bible – it is in the future! We have hope in things that are still yet to come! The Bible tells us some clues as to what will happen, and certainly the book of Revelation gives some broad strokes of what is to come. But, we hold in our living hearts the hope and promise that He is coming again, that He will make wrong things right, that we will have eternal life with Him – we grasp onto who He is in future – it is the evidence of our believing.

Feeling hopeless instead of hopeful?

If you are having a hard time being expectant and hopeful of this new year, can I offer a suggestion? Go back and start the cycle again. First, spend time meditating on Him in your past. Rehearse His goodness that you’ve seen towards you. Second, spend time meditating on Him being WITH you, closer than close. Spend as much time as you need in those first two steps, until you feel soaked through. Then, face your future knowing deep down that He is faithful and that He is with you. It is from that place, that you will be able to hold His hand tightly, find true courage and take your hope-filled steps with Him into your bright future!

You never know what GOOD things are waiting for you, just around the corner!