March... what happened to the last year?

It is March 1st. It means that is has been almost a year since the first lockdown here. This last year has had its ups and downs. There are two questions looming in my heart and mind. The first is what happened to the last year? It almost feels like it has been an alternate reality, but in reality it is life as we know it. 

Some of you may have had a great year, but for the most part it has been a difficult year for most people. I want to take this opportunity to encourage you that God is there for you. He will never leave you, no matter what happens. God holds us close to his heart and he celebrates with us in every victory, and he weeps with us over every sorrow. He is always present with us. He will never give up, even when we are tempted to. God's love is greater than any other love in this world, and he loves you! When looking back over this year, make sure you look for the moments God demonstrated his love for you in the midst of storms, tragedies and trials. He was there even when we do not recognize it.

The second question looming in my heart and mind is what will this next year look like? I do not know the future, but I do know that God never changes. This means that no matter what happens this next year, God will still be loving us, always present. He is the one thing we can depend on going into this next year. Even if everything else in life shifts and changes, God remains the same. My only hope is that I will be watching for him. Watching for his love seeping into every moment, his peace saturating every painful moment, and his strength raising me up from my weakness. Watching for those moments when he has made his presence known to me in so many various ways. Knowing that God is unchanging whatever this next year holds I know I will make it through with his help.