2020: The Partial View

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

We’re now ten months into 2020, a year that many would like to see end sooner rather than later. If you spend any time on the internet or social media, you know that there is no shortage of memes, jokes, and other takes on “how bad is 2020.” Yet, Scripture makes clear that we are limited in our perspective and in the reality of what is truly taking place in this year.

“Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!

But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-10

My encouragement is that while we can see what is happening in the news and in the world around or we can ask God to SEE what he is doing. God gives revelation and discernment of what He is doing to his people. Maybe prophesy conjures up some fear or connotations for you but I propose that God continues to speak to us, in so many ways, that all we have to do is ask and listen. Lord, what are you doing this year? Where are you leading your church? Where are you leading me? There is more to this story than what meets the eye…

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

If there was ever a year to feel like a wasteland, maybe it’s 2020? (Can I get an “amen”). Yet, in the midst of all circumstances, whether loss, fear, hopelessness, despair, loneliness, God is making a way. The wilderness and the wasteland remind us that we may not see through the trees, we may not be at the clearing yet – meaning we can’t see the big picture entirely. But God is making our way, he is blazing our trail through these surroundings. Springs and streams speak life. God is providing us with life as we stay connected with Him. He is doing a new thing and we have every reason to be encouraged!

Many of us have experienced major change or difficulty this year. And just from five minutes of watching the news, it’s easy to see that it’s not just you. For the body of Christ, for Americans, for the world, 2020 has truly shaken so many of us. This is no coincidence that change and fear are so widespread. It is a source of great encouragement, that God’s ways our not ours. And the craziness, the downright difficulty that has been this year, has caused many of us to pause and ask God what he is doing. If not, maybe now is a good time. Who God is will never change. He is all loving. He is all owerful. He is all knowing. We can take great comfort that God has the complete picture of what He is orchestrating in the season. Let’s be encouraged and receive joy when we ask God what He is doing TODAY?

Reflection Questions:

God what are you doing in this season, in my life?

God, what are you revealing to me through the circumstances of 2020?

Lord, what is the “new thing” that you are doing in America right now? The world?

Father God,

We thank you that in the midst of a global pandemic,

Economic stress, chaos, that you are still sovereign.

God, we thank you that there is more to this story than what we see.

For we know that you are always at work.

You take what the enemy meant for harm and you make it good.

Lord, show us what you are doing right now so that we can partner with you.

Next time: So what do we do now??