“The Worst Year Ever.” That’s how Time magazine described 2020 in its December edition, and justifiably so. No one will miss a year marked by a global pandemic, business shutdowns, social unrest, natural disasters, and a divisive election cycle. The New Year’s ball couldn’t drop fast enough. But adversity is a great teacher, so before moving on to the new year, what spiritual truths did you learn or better appreciate as a result of going through last year’s adversity? Here are my top four.
Lesson #1:
Regardless of how prepared we are or how hard we work, we are never in control. No amount of money or technology could stop a microscopic virus from closing businesses, draining savings accounts, and claiming over a quarter million lives. Within the same households, I witnessed some family members mildly affected by COVID, while others fought for every breath. It was a powerful lesson that any sense of control I feel is an illusion. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV).
Lesson #2:
There’s no shame in listening, postponing judgment, and extending the benefit of the doubt. The generalizations we read on social media and hear on cable news outlets are often recycled stereotypes peddled to the masses to get clicks, votes, or advertising revenue. When I took the time to listen and engage with people different than myself, I learned that nobody fits the nice, neat labels we’ve been led to believe are real. Applying labels to strangers such as racist, liberal, socialist, and ignorant based on a 10-second soundbite, yard sign, bumper sticker, or snippet of a Facebook post is lazy. Yet, it happens all the time, even in the church. It takes more effort to reach out and seek to understand before being understood personally, but it’s worth it if you gain a brother or sister. Better to be quiet or say, “I don’t have an opinion yet because I don’t have enough information” than to say something I’ll regret in the future or that would unnecessarily wound my brothers or sisters. “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10, ESV).
Lesson #3:
The Body of Christ is a precious gift. I missed having our entire church family physically together for Sunday worship, but just seeing some of them on a computer screen every week is a spiritual boost. Digging into God’s Word together, laughing, and being able to pray for one another is a blessing, whatever the medium. And it’s even better when done with believers from other congregations. Conceptually, I knew that the church could be the church without physically gathering, but this year, I learned that it could be even better in some ways.
Lesson #4:
The human family cannot save itself and desperately needs Jesus. Like you, I saw incredible displays of sacrifice juxtaposed with shocking displays of selfishness and indifference (fights over toilet paper and face masks). But I also saw my own hypocrisy. I conveniently glossed over my inconsistencies and the risky decisions I made that put others in harm’s way. Self-righteousness and self-interest are deceptive, destructive, and totally justifiable without the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The world needs Jesus, and no one needs him more than I do. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).
The year 2020 may go down as the worst ever, but Scripture reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I’m exhausted, but I’m better. This year I’m humbled and honored to serve as the president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The support and encouragement I’ve received have been nothing short of amazing. Hopefully, being the first African-American to hold this position will inspire us to worship the God that has used the convention for 200 years to expand His kingdom, despite its flaws. And He’s still working within us to make us look more like the kingdom. That’s my prayer for 2021, that we advance the kingdom together for the glory of God, which could make this year the best year ever.