Looking back on 2020, what will you remember?
Or are you excited to leave 2020 behind?
It was a trying time for many of us. The pandemic placed our life at a standstill, pausing the progress of our plans and goals. It forced companies to cut workers or close businesses, resulting in millions of displaced workers around the globe. Some grieved the loss of a family member, a friend, or someone dear. Others may have struggled or suffered from stress, anxiety, and depression. Indeed, this year’s covid-19 pandemic, disasters, and calamities changed the way we live or perhaps caused a total shift in our perspective on life and on how we value things.
Despite all the negativities, 2020 had also brought tremendous learning, reflection and transition to us.
We have listed a few positive outcomes of the unprecedented 2020 crisis on our life and family:
1. The pandemic taught us to slow down
The covid-19 virus forced us to stop our busyness and slow down. Our fast-paced life and everyday struggle in city traffic left us little time to spend with our family. The lockdown provided us an opportunity to create more happy moments, longer quality bonding with our kids, to reconnect and talk, maybe virtually this time, with our family and friends. The setback gave us ample time to reflect and re-examine how we run our lives.
2. We learned to direct our focus on what is important
As we witness the global impact of the pandemic, we understand more the value of life, family, friends, and the people around us. Feeling helpless and unsure of what will happen next made us accept the things we can’t control. It reminded us of our dependence on God, the Creator and Supreme Ruler. Our world may not be a safe place to live in, but believing God is in control of everything, and entrusting our life to Him gives satisfying security and peace.
3. Amid uncertainty and fear, we put our hope in God
Isolation and the feeling of not being in control brought us worries and mental stress. Amid uncertainty and fear of the virus, we turned to God for protection and refuge. We spent more time to pray, worship God, read the scriptures, and meditate on His words. This calmed our heart and mind, gave us peace and hope during anxiety attacks.
4. We experienced God’s providence and generosity
In this tough time of worldwide crisis, we had a closer look at how God works in our lives. It was full of difficult moments, but we survived the year and blessed with God’s providence.
5. We learned to be more grateful
The pandemic taught us to appreciate the simple things in life and the blessings we forgot to thank our God. The drawback led us to new discoveries for personal and spiritual growth, a reason to be more grateful to God.
How about you? What lessons have you learned from the adversities and challenges in 2020?
No matter how chaotic our life was in 2020, we have to rise, move forward, and welcome the new year with resilience. A second wave of the virus may threaten us in 2021, but let us put our hope in Jesus Christ, our Lord, keep our faith in His goodness and persevere in prayer. He is ever faithful God who will never abandon us. We survived the year 2020, we shall embrace the new year with strength, dependence, and trust in our God who is the ruler of all creations.
Are you ready for 2021? You can share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.
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