Goodbye 2020, Plans for 2021

I think that for most people the New Year holiday is a time to reflect on the previous year and to plan for the next year. At least that is true for me. If nothing else, I am a planner and a reflector.

We ended 2020 with a wonderfully simple evening with our kids and grandkids, no real plan. Just the six of us, we brought in pizza and played a spirited game of Monopoly Star Wars edition. For good measure, I believe that everything that we did last night was in accordance with CDC guidance for New Years' Eve gatherings. I did not actually play in the Monopoly game, I served as the banker giving me a unique opportunity to observe the behavior of my family while they laughed most of the time but each one showing glimpses of good old red-blooded American desire and greed. Most interestingly of all was watching our 11 and 13-year-old grandkids. While they laughed the loudest, they were also completely capable of making cold-hearted business decisions or by contrast offer to lend their grandmother $500 depending on the situation at hand.

As I reflect on the larger 2020 picture, it is abundantly clear to me that our 2020 experience was different than most. While we had some challenges, we had exponentially more blessings. Those who know us best, know our 2020 story, so I will not bore you with the details. In summary, God provided for our every need and like every family, we had plenty of needs.

It would be unreasonable for me to miss the obvious reflection about 2020. Far too many people suffered hardship and loss like never before. I can't imagine what some families have dealt with in the past year. While we are incredibly thankful that we have survived the year counting blessings, we are not strangers to the "valleys" that many have experienced in 2020. It is my prayer that God will lead all of us "through those valleys" as promised in Psalm 23.

Regarding planning for 2021, I have a suggestion, stop planning! This is advice coming from a man that plans everything, I am preaching to the choir, but please let me explain.

Someone has already lined out the plan for you. Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) says "For I know the plans that I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Despite all the insanity that was 2020, the Lord knows the plan, specifically "the plans that he has for you". It's almost hard to comprehend that promise, but it is true. This was not a one-line promise with no detail included. In the earlier verses of Jeremiah 29, the details of the plan were lined out. Included in the details were instructions to build houses, settle down, plant gardens, to marry, and have kids (v4-7). Go ahead and read the entire chapter for yourself.

While you are reading the chapter please make note of who God says not to listen to. Do not listen to the prophets and the diviners among you who deceive you. Is anyone deceiving you today, or should I ask is there anyone not deceiving you today!

So here is my plan for 2021, my plan is His plan. My plan is not to listen to people who think they know what the plan is. My plan is to trust the One who promised never to leave me or forsake me, even in the face of a worldwide pandemic.