Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.
December 27, 2020
At the end of 2019, I had some grand plans for 2020. In fact, my daughter and I had planned to start the year off abroad. We were looking to travel to Italy, among other choices. We also had plans to go to New Orleans for Spring break, and other plans throughout the year. But the world watched in horror as COVID-19 hit, and the whole world, including our plans and the plans of others, stood still.
This year has been by many accounts the toughest year in the history of the United States and the world at large. To date, in the US alone, COVID has claimed the lives of over 332,000 persons, with another 19 million infected with the virus and still counting. Worldwide, there has been nearly 2 million deaths and over 80 million persons infected with COVID.
What’s more, churches were forced to close their doors, businesses closed down, and some for good. The entertainment industry closed many of its doors. The education system and many other industries had to go completely online, and family gatherings ceased for many people.
Probably the worse effect of COVID, at least for me, is that people had to die alone and loved ones had to suffer through the loss from afar, due to the hospital restrictions. When my brother was dying from AIDS, I held his hand until he took his very last breath, even after he took his last breath. I believe that it’s so important for someone to be with a loved one as he or she is dying, if at all possible. I can’t even imagine what it was like for those who died alone- not because death was so sudden or unexpected that no one had a chance to be with them, but for those who actually wanted someone to be with them, but was told no. I also can’t imagine what it’s like for the many people who were not able to be with their loved ones as they died. I have taken care of many patients as they were dying and by what I have witnessed and have been told, dying can be a very petrifying experience.
The other thing that was difficult for me to grasp during this COVID pandemic was the patients who couldn’t have anyone with them during childbirth, except maybe one person, which was usually the dad, or another significant other. Having been with my daughter during both of her deliveries, and present for the birth of one of my son’s children, I can’t imagine being told that I couldn’t be with my child during a delivery. COVID had a huge impact on experiences and memories that can never be reclaimed.
2020 also gave witness to the ugliness in our country, especially with racism. For those who live with the stain of racism everyday of their lives, there were really no surprises. However, the world watched in horror as one black man after another was murdered publicly in cold-blood by those who took an oath to protect them-the police. The world watched George Floyd, an African American man, cry out for his deceased mother as he was being ruthlessly and mercilessly murdered by a white, racist police officer. George Floyd knew that he was very soon going to leave this world at the knee of that police officer who choked the life out of him for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, all while George Floyd and others aggressively pleaded for his life. The world heard of the senseless murder of Breonna Taylor, an African American woman and aspiring nurse, also at the hands of police officers. Breonna retired for the night in her bed, only to be awakened with her door broken down by reckless police officers, who broke every protocol and opened fire with a barrage of bullets, killing her and injuring her boyfriend.
COVID also shed light on the racism in healthcare and the disparity that it causes, especially for African American and Latino patients. Again, this is not a surprise for the many African American and Latino patients who had experienced racism in healthcare on a regular basis preCOVID. But, COVID helped the world to see the injustices.
And, as if it weren’t enough for the world to be almost blindly fighting the deadliest virus it has seen, Americans watched in shock at the repeated childlike behavior of leaders in this country during this pandemic. We watched protesters sprayed with tear gas, on orders from those in leadership, for peacefully protesting deadly racism in this country. And sadly, we watched petty tweets from this country’s top leaders as people lay dying.
Many people had to deal with loved ones committing suicide. Even those who had given their lives to take care of the sick became overburdened and overwhelmed amid COVID and took their own lives. People saw the ugliness come out in those that were supposed to love them with an increase in domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse. People also saw an increase in mental illness for a variety of reasons, especially with the stay at home orders.
In a year with such a blizzard of horridness, tragedy, sadness, and grief, it’s hard to find the good in 2020. But rest assured, good does exist. Philipp asked Nathaniel in John 1:46 Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Philip was referring to the Lord, Jesus Christ. And I say unto you, come and see the good that has thus far come out of 2020, with a few days counting.
First, it’s impossible to see the good in anything without looking to the One who is all Good, the Lord God Almighty. Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. Good is not just a description of God’s character- it’s His identity. God is Good. All good things come from God, so to see the good in anything, you have to first look to God.
Jesus said in John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. To find the good in 2020, you have to recognize who Jesus is and who you are as well. Jesus describes Himself as not only the shepherd, which is one who tends to and guards the sheep, but He described Himself as the good shepherd. This describes His divinity and sets Him apart from all other shepherds. Jesus is the perfect, virtuous, blameless, sinless, divine shepherd, the Son of God, who gave His life for the sheep, you and me and all of mankind. When you recognize that you are a sheep, then you also recognize that a sheep needs a shepherd. You look to Jesus for everything and because He is the Good Shepherd, you know that no matter what, you’re not only in good hands, you’re in the best hands.
Next God said in Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? God lets us know here that the Holy Spirit is far better than any good gift we give to our children. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter in time of need. We gain power, peace, and so many more good things through the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. To find the good in 2020 look to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Good also means something that is true, is advantageous, bountiful, pleasant, advancement of prosperity, well-being, that which is needed to achieve an end…And again, if we but look to God, we can see that in the midst of all of the tragedy, pain, death, destruction, uncertainty, 2020 still has plenty of good. For every disadvantage that was faced, God provided an advantage. For every lack, God replaced with His bountifulness. God turned the unpleasant into something divinely pleasant through the fragrance of His sweet love. God is the good that is needed to achieve the expected end to whatever you’re seeking. God is the Good that overshadows all of the bad. God is the Good in 2020.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd that He is, knew the destruction that the world was going to face, as my daughter and I were planning our getaway this time last year. I don’t have to look very far to see the good in 2020, beginning with the Lord blocking us from going to Italy and I’m so, so, so very happy and thankful that He did. Unbeknownst to us and the rest of the world at the time, Italy had already been hard hit with COVID, even while we were planning our getaway. But that’s just how good the Lord is, He protects His sheep from danger seen and unseen. God is the Good in 2020 and true as it’s said- God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
Prayer:
Dear Father God,
Thank You Lord for being a good, good God. Thank You Jesus for being the Good Shepherd that’s always watching over me, your sheep. Lord, You protect me from danger seen and unseen and I am so very grateful- humbly I thank You. Lord, 2020 has been a year full of sadness, tragedy, grief, loss, and uncertainty for so many. But You are the good that overshadows all of the bad. You are the light that shines bright in the darkness. You are the certainty in these uncertain times. God, You are the good in 2020, because You are good all the time and all the time, God, You are good. Please help me and others to know that there is an abundance of good to find in 2020, if we but look to You.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
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