I’m not gonna lie. As I sit here on this cold, rainy final day of 2020, I am relieved that this year is done.

We came into this year with all kinds of 2020 vision statements. Optimism flowed freely. We knew THIS was our year. A few months in, our realities were shaken.

Our family faced change in every aspect of our lives- some planned but mostly not. Many of you faced joblessness, illness, isolation and even loss of loved ones. Some of you were robbed of your senior year and graduation. You’re not alone.

This year did not contain the hope or vision that many of us had expected.

And that’s okay.

Because God brought you through it. It didn’t look the way that we expected it to, but we got through.

For all of the complaining that I have done, it would be irresponsible of me to let the sun set on this year without listing my blessings from 2020. It may not have looked the way that I wanted it to, but God was still God. And I am still standing.

And so are you.

Before this year closes out, I encourage you to sit down and create an altar. What was your biggest blessing this year? What was the unexpected thing that God did for you? What was the song or sermon that got you through the hardest part of this year? What was the funniest thing that happened? What was the thing that you thought you wouldn’t live through- but did?

God has a plan for you. He has a purpose for your life. He doesn’t waste anything- He certainly won’t waste an entire year.

~Shiney