2020 In Retrospect

On the last day of the year, I always sum up my year in a post. I also encapsulate the year with a word and I usually do that at the end. But it is 2020, after all, so why don’t I just share the word at the beginning?! It’s a word that I think most of the world is in agreement with me on. 2020. Unexpected.

When I stand at the end of this year, it looks not one iota like the beginning of the year did {or even what I thought the year would look like, obviously}. Some of that’s been great, some of it’s stunk, as I’m sure is the case for many. If it hadn’t been for the Lord, though, it would’ve been impossible to conquer. Thankfully, though, “nothing is impossible” for Him and because of Him, I am able to sit here, reflect on the year, and wait with anticipation for the next.

The year began with preparation for a May wedding for my baby sister, Lauren. In March, we threw her first {and last} shower and the very next day, the world shut down. The very next week, when everything moved remote, my other sister, Meredith, who was living in Atlanta, moved in with me so that neither one of us would have to go quarantine alone. We expected it would be a few weeks to maybe a month and a half; little did we know we’d relive our childhood days and be roomies for six months!

In the midst of this, while working remotely, I had the unexpected opportunity to join a different department at work, the SBC Communications Team! Taking along the same work I’ve always done, I also gained a bunch of other responsibilities and get the opportunity to brainstorm, be creative and interact with even more people around the country – from pastors/personnel in local churches to employees at our various entities—and that is what I love, working alongside the body for the furtherance of the kingdom! My favorite part of this role at work is that I get to celebrate the work of the denomination I love {basically I’m a cheerleader } and in the cancel-culture world we find ourselves in, THAT is pretty epic.

When Spring hit, the wedding we’d all looked forward to was canceled due to COVID and instead of rescheduling, Lauren and Bobby got married literally the week they canceled {which was also the week they purchased their home}! Due to Virginia restrictions combined with family size, only the parents were able to attend. And so, the very first wedding of the Young family was attended virtually! Later in October, when virus counts and restrictions were lower, we had a COVID-safe party/gala, complete with the dresses, cake, etc. at the venue the wedding was supposed to be at. It was a beautiful day.

The last half of the year saw my parents {finally} buying a home in the town they’ve lived in for four years and I cannot tell you what a joy it is to have a home to travel to now! It’s perfect for them and it also has a fenced-in backyard which Ollie LOVES! During this last half of the year, I have also had the opportunity to work on various writing/creative projects outside of work – some for Begin Anew of Middle TN, the TN Baptist Mission Board WMU, an article for ERLC, devotional family ideas for my church’s daily devotion series, and others. Being able to serve in this capacity, especially during a year where we couldn’t physically serve, has been such a wonderful unexpected opportunity!

And in Ollie news, this was a big year for him… through help from an amazing trainer, the Pawsitive Professor, he overcame his crippling fears of trucks and going outside and is leaps and bounds a different dog from where he was the first part of the year. Literally, it is a miracle. Additionally, we discovered this year through a dog DNA test that this supposed maltipoo is actually more so a pekipoo with an Italian breed mixed in…no wonder he’s so partial to pepperoni! 

Even though this year has been unexpected on so many levels, the one constant through every minute of it has been the never-ending and all-sufficient presence and love of Jesus. There have been so many moments this year that just have not made any sense and have driven me to confusion and anxiety. But not once, however, did I ever doubt that Jesus was right there with me. I’m thankful for the consistency of His Word and those who have spoken its truth to me, especially throughout this year. From my family to my dearest friends to my counselor to my church to my unexpected Bible study group that formed on Zoom, all have reminded me of the woman I am in Christ and that wholeness and joy are found only through Him.

Thank you for sticking with me through the journey of 2020 {and this long post} and I pray God’s richest {and unexpected} blessings on you as we begin a new year.

“I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

- Ephesians 3:16-19 -

Holding onto Hope

My dear friends in Christ, no matter what goes on in this life – job loss, tornadoes, COVID-19, divorce, hurricanes, moving, bankruptcy, cancer diagnoses, death, friend loss, loneliness, elections, births, and the list can go on and on and on – one thing remains constant and true. THERE IS HOPE. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

It is constant (Hebrews 13:8).
It never forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
It was before all things (Colossians 1:17).
It is with us always (Matthew 28:20).
It cleanses us from sin (1 John 1:9).
It died for us (1 Thessalonians 5:10).
It saves (Matthew 18:11).
It gives peace (John 14:27).
It serves (Matthew 20:28).
It resurrects (John 5:39).
It works for our good (Romans 8:28).
It gives joy (John 15:11).
It loves (Ephesians 5:25).
It is light to the world (John 8:12).
It came and exists to give life (John 10:10).

And it’s if you haven’t caught on by now, it’s actually a person. It’s a person who willingly suffered a hardship far worse than any one of us will ever suffer and through it gifted us with the hope of eternal life with Him forever.

“Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I'd surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail

Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost would I be”

Every day for about the last 5 or so years, I have to remind myself of this hope that is within me and of these attributes that I mentioned above. I have to remember that my hope is not in the things or situations or experiences of this world. My hope comes from above (Romans 15:13). It’s a daily battle for me because the devil does all he can to feed lies into my heart and my soul that attempt to drain my hope. It’s exhausting, emotional, and irrational. I don’t want to see that for myself or anyone else I love.

If you know me, you know my missional mindset. You know I desire to live a life of gospel witness to the world around me and see others do the same. Well, the situation we find ourselves in right now is prime opportunity to be a gospel witness to our fellow neighbor. Not only them, but the world is especially watching us as believers. Will there be unkindness, fighting, accusations or will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)?

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Jesus’ return is ever nearer, I think much of 2020 has shown us that. We have to make the time left before His return count for the Kingdom. We have to be preaching, teaching, encouraging, and reaching out serving others in His name and for His glory. So today and looking into the future, take the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians with you, “Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” That’s what counts, that’s all that counts, and that’s all that will count when all is said and done and we are in the presence of our Savior. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

What else do you know about this hope? Feel free to share! Let's encourage one another with the hope Jesus gives!

The Waiting Game

I think we all have an idea now about what it means to wait, ‘cause goodness gracious we are waitin’ something fierce to get out of our homes and around our friends and family again. Can I get a witness?

This particular weekend gives us a unique perspective on a similar day thousands of years ago where a group of disciples were in a room sequestering themselves away from other individuals. They didn’t fear the Coronavirus, rather they feared how they were going to continue on as a group of followers whose leader was gone. John 20:19a says, "On the evening of that first day of the week…the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders.” They were in fear because of how the Jewish leaders might retaliate against them for being followers of this man who had claimed to be the Son of God, aka guilt by association. They had to be feeling terrified, confused, and devastated – how would life ever be back to normal with all that had gone on? Sound familiar? Sure sounds like some of the emotions I’ve had and seen others have through this pandemic ordeal.

Having already arose, however, Jesus was about to breathe His calming Spirit into His disciple’s faces with words that permeate even to our hearts today. “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” (John 20:19b). Peace –  shalom – spoken from the Risen Christ Himself had to be an incredible, amazing sight and sound to behold! Here they faced a moment where they were isolated from the entire world, terrifyingly unaware at what the future held for them, and their Leader, Teacher, Master, and now Risen Savior was speaking the words that their trembling hearts needed to hear, “PEACE be with you.”

Waiting for the next step isn’t just something that we see from the disciples if we look at this time of history. Even Jesus knew what it was like to wait. A few weeks ago, my pastor Chris Brooks preached about waiting and pointed out to us that Jesus Himself lived a life of waiting. He waited 30 years before His ministry fully began, He waited 40 days in the wilderness, and He waited three days in a tomb before rising again. So why this pandemic, why now? God has a reason. I don’t claim to know what it is and it might not even ever make sense to us, but everything He does has a purpose (Job 42:2). God sent Jesus to earth for a time and a purpose. Jesus didn’t just come and then die on the cross for our sins. He waited for God’s perfect timing. Eventually, the time and the purpose for Him were set into motion (John 12:23) and it’s because He fulfilled His purpose – that in fact was ordained before He as even born – that He is able to offer salvation to us and why we rejoice on Easter (and every day for that matter).

Do you have the feelings the disciples did – are you scared, confused, or sad? Jesus’ words to His disciples thousands of years ago are for His disciples today – us, “Peace be with you.” In your fear, anxiety, sadness, joy, hurt, pain, waiting, or any other emotion that you might be feeling today and during the continued time of quarantine and self-isolating, may the Risen Christ’s peace guard your heart, your soul, and your mind (Philippians 4:7).

Peace be with you this Easter!