If you’ve been following me long enough you know that each year I place a stamp on the year that guides my focus and gives some definition to what God is doing in my heart.  When I do this some neat things happen.  Like 2010, the word was restoration.  My life had taken some turns that were concerning and uncomfortable.  I wasn’t really sure of what was to come and then in July, I met Mr. Paul and God redeemed and restored that which was lost.  In January of 2015, Isaiah 32:18 defined my year, “Then my people will live in peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.”.  We had NO intention of moving and had NO idea that in December of 2015 we would find that “peaceful habitation” up here on Gift Road.  Then, of course in 2017, my heart was set on Abiding in Christ.  Abide…the thing you want to be doing and settled into when you find your husband lifeless from cardiac arrest!

Usually, the word comes late in December and the soil is made ready to plant the seed, but not this year.  I haven’t really been moved one way or the other and even considered giving up the tradition of a word.  I decided to wait and be patient and consider that perhaps the word would be one that was convicting and stretched me in ways I wasn’t really open to and so I waited.

2019 the word was Behold and I really did BEHOLD…I studied God’s attributes and I gained a bigger perspective on WHY we are all here and HOW this thing of life works itself out and WHAT our focus should be on!  It’s was a good year.  Jen Wilkin’s, “None Like Him” got it going and AW Tozer’s, “Knowledge of the Holy” capped it off.

If you’ve spent time with me this last year you know I’m bound to preach to you about looking to God and not your circumstances. I’ll surely tell you that what you are experiencing is temporary and that GOD is Sovereign over all things, even your sin or the sin done too you.  You would probably say that I have strong faith in God and you might have even heard about my hang up that maybe I don’t really rest in the fact that God is Good.  Because most times God’s ways are higher than my ways and they don’t always look good or feel good…so, whereas I have faith that can move mountains, I sometimes fear that the mountain will move right on top of my house and crush us all.

Well, parenting is not for the faint of heart.  If you have an infant you know that the nights are short and the days are long and although the squishy is cute and amazing, you are a walking zombie and have moments where you wish you could put the squishy in a kennel and walk away for a day.  Or if you have young children you are about to loose your ever-loving mind if they ask you for another snack or if you have to break up another fight! Not to mention you brave parents of teens, who are being pushed around by this world of technology!!  Can I get an AMEN??  but moms and dads of adult children….you got it easy right?  I mean they are adults, they got this, your work is done.  Brush your hands together, sit back in your bark-a-lounger and sigh with relief.  Haha, well if you haven’t made it to this stage of life yet and you think that way, you will be rudely awakened.  I actually think these are the hardest years.  Especially, if you are a fixer and people-pleaser and lover of comfort.  Its not very comforting to watch your children struggle in life, lose jobs, have difficult relationships, want things you can’t give them, navigate disappointment on their own and the list goes on…

So, what does this have to do with THE WORD of 2020??

My husband said to me the other day “there are some things you can’t fix and there are times when you have to get out of the way and trust God”.

Thanks Mr. Paul.  You are right, its time to put my faith to the test and rest in GOD.  HE is over all and works in all and through all!

The Word of 2020 is TRUST!