I was originally going to entitle this post “The Gifts of 2020”, but then I just – didn’t. I would’ve, mind you, twenty years ago. Or ten. Or maybe even five. But not now. Speaking gratefulness into dark times is the right thing to do, but it’s not the only thing.

I was thinking of lessons learned over the past nine or so months (strangely the amount of time it takes from the little blue line to birth pangs). Even five years ago we were praying II Chronicles 7:14, keeping our eyes open for forgiven sin and healed land. By now we have that thing memorized forwards and backwards, and have moved from uncertain voices decreeing and declaring for evil to be crushed and righteousness to rise, to fasting and praying and calling for demonic strongholds to be broken. We have begun to understand the intense spiritual battle we are unwittingly a part of and the pervasive deception Satan spreads.

Some people got mad and said they were tired of “thoughts and prayers”. Maybe God is, too. Maybe He’s looking for something more. Not in place of, but more.

This year has been akin to a strip search. The onion has been peeled. First we repented for our nation of its many and varied sins, but it wasn’t enough. So we looked at our churches and were dismayed to more deeply realize our careless leadership and undisciplined holiness. But it wasn’t enough. And it was there that we began to see our true nature, a nature that needed an amazing amount of renovation. CH Spurgeon said, If any man could see his own heart as it is by nature, he would be driven mad: the sight of our disease is not to be borne unless we also see the remedy. We began to open our eyes.

We discovered Proverbs was right. Our speech really can kill or give life, and the consequences of either lie at our doorstep. If you don’t believe me, have a gander at social media. Better yet, consider the lives lost from governors’ orders and big pharma and medical organizations’ changing claims.

We found, to our surprise and demise, that fear is a national epidemic. It wasn’t just you worrying about one thing or another. (Are you just a little relieved you’re not the only one rehearsing catastrophes in your imagination?) It was everyone! We couldn’t seem to get past worrying about our health or someone else’s health. Fear was the heavy chain we wore night and day.

During times of introspection, we realized the toxic blend of selfishness, self-centeredness, arrogance, laziness, cowardice (is seeking anonymity a form of cowardice?), immobilized faith – oh I could go on all day, but you get my drift – that we’ve allowed to fester in who we actually thought was a pretty good person. Ourselves!

God was waiting for us to get there. Well here we are. Stripped bare. We’ve got nothing. Not one thing to show for our blessed lives. Laodicea has nothing on us.

And here is the place, yes, this is the part where we look around our diseased existence and discover the way out. Our true power begins with faith in Jesus. Not the little stuff of small prayers uttered while we’re distracted with something else, but the big stuff of struggle and tears and crying out to God. We manifest what we say and believe. If fear, well, we’ve seen how that’s worked out. But if faith, my friends, oh, if faith there’s a glorious ending to all of this! Not right away. But through. Take courage! Maybe terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 2020 really was a gift.

“If my people who are called by my Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14; Many and varied sins of the USA: abortion, unfaithful relationships, fornication and adultery, sexual perversions, gossip, lies, pornography, pedophilia, corrupt dealings, etc. “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:32; “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Prov. 18:21; “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17 Images: NathanDumlaoforUnsplash; AaronBurdenforUnsplash; ZacDurantforUnsplash; ToaHeftibaforUnsplash; Phrase: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, 1972.