2020 is a year that many had waited for with high expectations. I remember thinking when I was a teenager how far away 2020 was. And yet it was a year that was always dreamt about. The dream was that when 2020 comes so many amazing things will take place. We will have flying cars, be able to live in space, it will be an exciting time. Then 2020 came and all of the ideas of what it would be like went flying out the window in one millisecond. It seemed as if the world that was spinning at such a high speed came to a sudden stop at an alarming rate. No one would have guessed the whole world would be affected in one moment of time. 2020 has felt much like a Sci-Fi movie. For instance, an outbreak of a virus has occurred it is has been said, that it is unstoppable and is everywhere. There is no known cure. All of the sudden panic sets in and everyone needs toilet paper. Toilet paper is a vital necessity. It doesn’t matter that toilet paper has nothing to do with being safe or cured from the virus it is just needed. Grocery stores are quickly crowded. The once full shelves in the stores are now empty. It is as if the world has ended. Something has come over people they are no longer calm, cool and collected. They are out of sorts. In the stores, people are hoarding items and fighting with those around them over what the other person has taken. Anger in public has now become commonality. The anger appears in many forms. Violence, Profanity, Harshness, Destruction Faultfinding and Hatred. Fear, Depression, Suicide, Loneliness and Isolation are off the charts. It’s as if planet earth has been invaded by aliens. In my teenage years, 2020 was equated with Sci-Fi Movies but the reality of 2020 far outweighs any weird Sci-Fi Movie that I have ever seen. Although, I was watching The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, one of the Chronicles of Narnia movies and one of the characters who is in Narnia makes the statement, This place just gets weirder and weirder. I couldn’t help but think that this is a perfect description of the year 2020. It just gets weirder and weirder. It’s hard not to wonder what may happen next. 2020 has been full of every unimaginable thing that you can think of.

So in the midst of the swirling chaos, what should people do to keep themselves from losing their minds, or even from losing their sanity?

The solution is that we must buy up all the toilet paper and move to a deserted island where no one is and all will be well.

Just kidding. I wanted to throw in a tiny bit of humor there. But truly on a serious note, I know there may be someone who is reading this blog post who may have been going through a lot this year. You may even still be going through stuff.

You may have lost your job. You may have lost a loved one. Maybe depression, fear or hopelessness has been lingering with you and you can’t seem to shake it. You are the person I want to talk to you in this moment. I want to tell you don’t lose heart. Don’t give up. Know that you are not alone.

This is something that everyone is going through in their own way. Please know that there is one who fully understands and can help you through every emotion, circumstance and heartache. And yes this person can help you even in the craziness of this whole year. His name is Jesus.

In Hebrews 4:15-16 it says, For Jesus is not some high priest who has no sympathy for our weaknesses and flaws. He has already been tested in every way that we are tested; but He emerged victorious, without failing God. 16 So let us step boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help when we need it most.

Jesus knows more than anyone else what we are going through. Even when no one else understands or is even around when we think we need them. He is there when we are on the mountain top. He is there when we are in the middle of it all. He is there when we are in the valley. He is there in the chaos. He is there in every moment of your life.

Psalms 56:8 says, You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

Jesus is there especially, in the midst of our heartache.

Psalms 34:17-18 says, Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.18 If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, He’ll help you catch your breath.

All you have to do is ask and believe that He wants to and will help you. Proverbs 18 says, there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus is that friend. You can count on Him to never leave you nor forsake you.

I was reading through some different quotes and came across one that I would like to share with you it says this, “Some of you may be in great distress of mind, a distress out of which no fellow-creature can deliver you… I can assure you that God will not laugh at you; He knows all about that sad complaint of yours, so I urge you to go to Him, for the experience of many of us has taught us that, “the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.”― Zack Eswine

Psalms 120:1 says, In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.

My prayer for you today is that you would know that God loves you and cares about every single detail of your life. Whether you are on the mountain top, in the middle or in the valley. I pray that you would come to know that He is there to walk with you, lead you, take care of you and guide you through every situation. Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, 11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

I pray today that you would be encouraged. Know that the Lord has good plans for you to give you a future and a hope. I want to leave you with this last scripture, may it bring encouragement to you in whatever season you are in. Hebrews 6 says, It is very common for people to swear an oath by something greater than themselves, for the oath will confirm their statements and end all dispute. 17 So in the same way, God wanted to end all doubt and confirm it even more forcefully to those who would inherit His promises. His purpose was unchangeable, so God added His vow to the promise. 18 So it is impossible for God to lie for we know that His promise and His vow will never change! And now we have run into His heart to hide ourselves in His faithfulness. This is where we find His strength and comfort, for He empowers us to seize what has already been established ahead of time—an unshakable hope! 19 We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. 

He is the unshakable hope when everything around you is shaking and in chaos. Put your hope in Him and watch Him move on your behalf.