Happy New Year, Everyone!!!
As I have taken time to look back on 2020, I have found my mind battling between two different perspectives. I came to the end of 2020 with so many emotions. I was filled with some relief, glad that 2020 was behind us, and felt that the year had robbed a lot from me. But I felt the Lord changed my perspective.
The Lord brought me to Genesis 15. Abram has just successfully gone into battle and rescued his nephew Lot along with all his possessions. Abram also has met the King of Salem and Priest of God, Melchizedek but the Lord finds Abram hiding in his tent. At a time when you would think Abram would feel encouraged, successful, and victorious, instead the Lord finds him disappointed and fearful. The Lord first tells Abram to not be afraid because he will be his shield and reward. But Abram was still complaining about what he didn’t have and had forgotten God’s covenant with him. God says to Abram, “Stand up, come out of your tent, and let me show you something. Look up, see all stars in the sky, count them (if you can), and then let me remind you what I said.”
The Lord tells Abram to stop looking at himself, stop focusing on what he can do in his own strength, and to lift up his eyes to see what only God can do. The Lord then reminded Abram of his covenant promise to him.
So many times throughout 2020, I found myself focusing on myself, disappointed and frustrated by new situations. But when I found myself in that way of thinking, I was missing all the things God was doing around me. I had to stop and remind myself of all that God had done throughout the year.
I would like to share with you some of the ways I have seen God more clearly and have come to trust him more through 2020...
At the beginning of the year, there were people breaking into cars in my neighborhood. I chose to trust God as my protection and to trust God more than I trusted my car alarm. The Lord was faithful and none of our cars were broken into.
The government, the certainty of future expectations, and the quality of my health - all these things were proving not to be a reliable place to put my hope. When I would choose to worry about the future or dwell on all the “what ifs”, I only found stress, anxiety, and fear. When I choose to dwell on God and in his word I found God as my peace of mind and as my constant hope.
Yes masks are mandatory here, and I do wear them out in public. I had to trust God to take care of my health more than trusting in a mask to keep me safe and healthy.
I had to trust that the Lord could provide for my needs more than I could trust that there would be toilet paper on the shelves at the store. And yes when we were down to the very last roll the Lord came through and provided! In all seriousness the Lord provided in so many amazing ways over this year. The Lord provided all the finances for our new Chi Alpha building. This year I have seen God as my provider.
My trust cannot be found in man-made things. I can’t trust anything more than I trust God. I don’t look at 2020 with disappointment or dread any longer because it was a year filled with the goodness of God. I can look ahead to this next year with peace, stability of mind, and hope because I find those things in God and not in fragile surroundings.
It is such a blessing to get to reach the campus with each of you! I would not want to do this without such a wonderful support team!
Thank you for your support and partnership!
God Bless,
Alyssa
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