Great is Your faithfulness to me...

​          At the end of 2020, as I looked back over the year, I remembered the challenges, the trials, the uncertainties at times, the negative things that had happened. At the start of 2020, interestingly, I was speaking with a friend of mine and she mentioned something that caught my attention. She was spending some time with God and He told her that the game had changed. At that time, Covid19 wasn’t even an issue, at least not in many countries including this one. So, when she told me about it, neither of us had a clue of what God meant but we knew He was up to something. We were expecting, I think, unexpected things to happen. And it did. By March 16th schools here were closed – three weeks before the official end of school – and the country started its first lock down. 
         During this season, there was so much uncertainty and fear. No one knew exactly what to expect because we had never been through something like this before. Stories of other phenomena in years gone by started to surface and no one seemed able to predict exactly how all this would turn out. Plans suddenly had to be shelved, major events postponed or cancelled. It did not help that millions were contracting the virus and thousands around the world were dying. Indeed, for many, the game had changed, this year was certainly a game changer.
         But where was God in all of this? Did He drop off the face of the earth, so to speak? Was He silent as the world was in turmoil? No. Actually, I think God spoke His loudest at this time. Even as church doors closed around the world God was speaking loud and clear. Things may have been happening in the physical, but in the spiritual I believe God was moving mightily. God was not clueless or helpless. He had not lost His control on things. In fact, it is during times like these that our God does unexpected and amazing things. I’m not saying there wasn’t death, discouragement, despair, not to mention loss of jobs and thus financial independence for many, or loss of loved ones. But God was sustaining His people in the midst of it all. He was keeping us, He was enabling us to go through the fire and the flood and not be burned or even drown.
         For me, it was a year not without its challenges, but I thank God for it. God’s provision during this season was amazing. Even as attacks from the enemy came my way, what the devil meant for evil God worked it out for my good. I grew even closer to God. I spent more time with Him this year than any other I think. I became so dependent on Him for everything, and I know this is exactly what He wanted. He desires relationship with us so when He allows challenges and trials to come, don’t be discouraged, it’s an opportunity to draw closer to Him and the closer you get to Him, the more encouraged, the more empowered you are to handle anything that comes your way.
         So, at the end of last year I found myself thankful for everything good and bad. And at the start of this new year, I am still so thankful for everything good and bad. With this new year brings the promise of new beginnings, fresh hope and fresh strength to face whatever comes our way. We did not know what to expect last year, but guess what? Last year ended and if you made it you should be thankful. It was a tough year but you are still standing and you are able to greet the new year standing! The devil may have tried to take you out many times last year, but you are still standing. You may feel that you are barely standing but you are standing. God is good and He is faithful. There is a song, “Promises,” from Maverick City Music that says,
                    Great is your faithfulness to me 
                    Great is Your faithfulness to me
                    From the rising sun to the setting same I will praise Your name. 
                    Great is Your faithfulness to me.
I have found myself saying a number of times, “God is faithful,” because I saw His faithfulness to me through the good and the bad. So, if you have not surrendered to the God who brought you through last year, you need to. He has been faithful even when you have not been faithful. He took care of you even when you didn’t ask Him to. God loves us and even though last year changed many of our plans it could not and cannot change God’s good plans for us. His plans for you child of God have not changed. He still wants to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Believe it!

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