Welcome Fall (2020)!

Welcome Fall! It’s been a while. What a great time to check in with you as we begin a new season. Fall is my favorite time of the year! It’s also when I reflect on the year. From what I’ve learned, achieved, and goals I still need to work on.

Now… for most of us, 2020 has been a year full of unexpected catastrophes. I mean whether you looked left or right you couldn’t predict what you’d see. Yeah, this year is one to never forget. After hearing so much not-so-good news, here is one to make you hopeful for the next 3 months. First, let’s ask ourselves this question… “Could it be that this year started off salty, because of all the blessings attached to it?”

I know it’s hard to see the good that can come out of 2020 due to the pain, confusion, and disappointments many of us have experienced these last 9 months. I get it! But somehow, my faith tells me you’d be surprised. For one, did you expect to hear RIP to Kobe Bryant in February? Did you expect the world would be shutdown due to a global pandemic? I didn’t. From that being said, we can’t just assume that things will go from bad to worse! Why? Anything can happen! Just like that, in a blink of an eye, 2020 can go from being the most cancelled year to becoming the greatest year. I wouldn’t cancel this year yet, if I were you? It’s no accident! Everything that has happened until now is sitting the stage for something amazing to be revealed.

When we read the Bible, time again we see the enemy coming against God’s people because of what the Lord promised them. This year is no different. The enemy knows for many of you God wants you to receive the healing, answered prayer, breakthrough, and opportunity this year. So, what does the enemy do? He plots for your destruction. He uses people, events, and things of all kinds to overwhelm your soul to the point where you don’t want to hope, pray, or believe in miracles. But when you can remind yourself that opposition is a sign of the promise that is up ahead…. the devil has no power to keep you from it!

James 4:7 tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Why? It is not only because God deserves our undivided attention. My friend when we do this we are unstoppable and the enemy can’t stand a chance to block your focus, steal your joy, or keep you from God’s goodness. Seeking God in spite of uncertainty will strengthen you to eat the fruit of your faith. This is the story of Job we read in the word. Job said something that completely blows my mind and I want to share it with you.

He said, “My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.” —Job 17:11-12

Our desire to see God move in our circumstances has to be greater than how we feel about our disappointments. I know… you’d love to believe again but it’s hard. It’s hard to do when there’s no hope in sight. It seems like things in the natural are not changing. Besides, we are in a “new normal,” might as will get used to not having what you longed for. Not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Shoot, I don’t blame you! That expired after Trump said Corona would be over in the summer. Do you know what’s also true? Even now God has been faithful. You being here tells me God did not forget about you. Which means He won’t forget to bless you. Come on, you thought a pandemic and a few unexpected events were going to keep God from blessing you? The God who actually blesses His people with more in impossible and difficult situations. Who’s to say, God allowed those things, so He could get the glory for the plot twist? Coming into the year we were confident we could do it all by ourselves. We could live the life of our dreams as long as work hard and remain consistent. So much so we often forgot to include God in our plans. If everything went according to our plan, would He get the glory?

Then, it hit me. 2020 is not our year, it’s His! It’s a year where God once again will show us He is the only One who controls the times and seasons. Though we may have plans, He alone causes them to bear fruit and succeed. People were getting too comfortable with the idea that there is no God and that ultimately we dictate our lives. We call all the shots! But, my friend, we do not! I believe God is speaking louder this year and anyone who has in ear, should listen.

Here’s one thing I believe God is saying right this moment. “ I’m not surprised by this year, you are. Now, I’m ready to surprise you with my love, goodness, and faithfulness. I needed you to search me with your whole heart so that you would remember, I’m the one who controls all things. Remain in me, trust me until the end, and you will see what I have prepared for you.”

Job said, “ In the Face of the Darkness Light is Near. ” This Fall despite what has happened choose to believe this. Like Job, God will bless you with “double for your trouble.” When we learn to have this attitude of faith when everything around us is saying there is no sign of light nor life, is when God enters the scene and causes a GLORY PANDEMIC! He did it for Job, Joseph, Esther, David, Ruth, and countless Bible figures we read about today. Without a doubt, I know He will do it for us these last 100 days in 2020. Friend, 2020 is indeed a historic year! Certain things happened that has forever changed our outlook on life, faith, politics, and justice. I’m grateful for the scales and the veils that have been removed; although, painful events had to happen for us to see what’s been there all along. Humanity needs Jesus like never before and will destroy themselves unless we rise up and proclaim The Truth like never before. Don’t you see? Even in the midst of all the bad God has been So Good to wake us up before it’s too late.

One last thing. Get excited! The year is not over! What you assumed had to happen in the beginning might be around the corner. As long as you have faith to receive God is faithful to give it to you. We’re the ones who need time to do great things; He doesn’t! It only takes God a moment to change anything around. I don’t know about you, but I still believe 2020 is my best year yet!

“Blessed is (he) she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” —Luke 1:45

Keep believing that He will do it, because He will!

Christmas is coming early this year,

-JLP