2020 was obviously a year of great change across the world. Nothing was as usual. From the stores running out of Toilet Paper to Zoom Meetings becoming a way of life. Masks have to various degrees become a way of life. Children don’t know if they going to attend school or do Zoom Meetings from week to week. Parents have had to change how they live to accommodate the changes in their children’s schooling and job situation, many having lost jobs as companies have closed down. BUT, with all the many challenges this year has brought, we are often reminded of something one of our dearest pastors, Eldred Engelsman, says, “The enemy always overplays his hand!” How true this is. We have seen it in so many ways this past year. 

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy while he was chained in prison, “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:8-10). Thank You Lord that Your word will never be chained and for the creativity of how Your word is released. It seems people have become even more hungry for the Lord. We are seeing people reach out perhaps even out of fear, but God has captured the hearts of many. So despite the hardships of 2020, we have seen the tremendous faithfulness of our Lord, really stir up His people. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  This was the word I believe God gave me when COVID started. The essence is Paul telling the church not to lose heart. 

As we have stepped into 2021 there is such expectation amongst God’s people. The deep hunger for God we see in people is leading many to press into prayer, praise and worship, and God’s magnificent Word. When we look back at the history of Revivals, we can see a couple of common threads. One is that many revivals come out of hardship, which has caused people to press into God. Another is the prayers of God’s people. While the times and places when God releases Revival are in His hands, it certainly looks like this past season has stirred up His people as they seek and hunger for more of God. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and His Kingdom as we enter into 2021 with faith, hope, and love for our Lord, His people, and a world in desperate need.