It sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but I’m really not. I’m tired of the 2020 bashing. (I know, I’ve done a fair amount of it myself and allow me to take this opportunity to publicly repent.)
Truth be told, 2020 was quite possibly the hardest year ever for many of us. Certainly for the Ruel family…but you know what? We made it. Not because of our awesomeness (which was definitely in very short supply most of the time) but because of God’s faithfulness. 2020 threw a lot at us, and God proved himself faithful.
In Psalm 103 we read many encouraging things about who God is and some of his benefits, but I draw your attention to verse 5 in particular
“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.”
(Psalm 103:8 CSB17)
The word translated in CSB as “faithful love” is the famously thick Hebrew word “hesed” which means lots of stuff that is hard to fit into one English word – it means loyalty, covenant lovingkindness, his faithfulnesslovemercygrace. (See what I mean?)
It is linked to the character of who our God is. It is impossible for him to be anything other than faithful. He is never unfaithful.
Note that God is not meager in this faithful love – he is ABOUNDING in it.
My point? God had plenty of faithful love in 2020, and he will have much more for 2021.
So as we start to turn the corner to 2021, call me crazy…but I’d say 2020 was the best year ever, because we got a front row seat to God’s abounding faithfulness, and there is no sign of that running out any time soon.
Happy New Year!
