Lessons Learned in 2020

During the month of December, I watched various people on television and social media say good-bye to 2020. I saw everything from a custom-made necklace given as a gift to friends giving 2020 the middle finger to a TODAY Show producer symbolically flushing a 2020 calendar page down the toilet. And understandably so; it was a very challenging year. We all had our chance to bid 2020 farewell as we rung in the new year last night.

2020 was a year unlike any other year and the world was feeling its pain and uncertainty all as the same time. I heard one person describe it this way, “It wasn’t that people hadn’t had bad years before, it was that everyone was experiencing the pain at the same time.”

From the millions of COVID-19 related deaths around the world to the to the passing of Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsberg among others. And then when we add on the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others, 2020 undoubtedly left us with painful scars that are still raw. Not to mention the toilet paper shortages, overwhelming job loss, school closings, state shutdowns and recreational shutdowns. For many, life became unbearable or at the very least inconvenient. But God.

Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” If we allow ourselves, we can all find solace in this verse.

We can all agree that 2020 was hard but we also know that God knew that 2020 was coming and He allowed it. We can rest in the fact that 2020 did not catch God by surprise and that it was part of his plan even though we don’t understand why.

Part of our job in 2020 was to lean in to God and hold on to Him for dear life. It was a rough, rocky, painful and unpredictable road but God was our driver so we should have been able to rest in His capable hands even though we were covering our eyes. I know that’s easier said than done.

Does resting and trusting minimize our pain? “No.” Does it bring back our loved ones? “No.” Does it bring back our job? “No.” Does it change anything that happened? “No.” But knowing that God was driving the car should bring us comfort and give us much needed perspective.

If you woke up today that means that you still have purpose and God still has a plan for your life. You might be bruised and burdened but you are alive and that means something.

Think back on last year. What lesson was God working to teach you? What was he trying to get you to see or do? What was He trying to steer your attention away from or where was he trying to redirect your gaze? I encourage you to reflect on the “nudgings” as I call them. What was God nudging you away from or nudging you toward? I think, in the midst of the pain and suffering, 2020 offered us a beautiful opportunity to collectively listen, grow and be if we paid attention and made a choice to participate with God.

Last year, one of the questions I asked God was “Why do I shop the way I do?” That may seem trivial but for me, the answer was a major revelation. You see, I am a self-proclaimed shopaholic who enjoys pretty much any type of shopping from an invigorating Target run to a full blown shopping spree at the mall. Over the years my innocent hobby has turned into a compulsion and I wanted to get to the root of “why” I wanted to shop so often and why I get excited about amassing things. The answer was multi-faceted and took time to uncover. My “why” had to do with my need to avoid boredom and my desire to always have enough of everything.

My childhood was very boring. My days were beyond routine and predictable; they reminded me a lot of quarantine. As a new wife 18 years ago, I had a nearly two year period with a very similar, quarantine existence. Fast forward to 2012, I subconsciously never wanted to experience that type of boredom again so I always kept myself busy which included shopping. Little did I know that I was shopping so much to avoid even coming close to boredom. I never linked the two together but God did. And when I leaned it, I learned.

Why was this important for me to find my “why”? Because for me, bringing this compulsion under subjection is directly linked to my purpose. Last year, the Lord told me that my sloppy shopping habits demonstrate a lack of discipline and in order to move forward in the purpose that He has for me I have to become more disciplined. Who knew?

It’s a new year and a new day. 2020 has passed away but what lessons did you learn? I encourage you to sit still and be quiet. Listen for the Lord. What lessons is He trying to teach you and will you choose to listen and obey?