The hashtag #forget2020 has been trending on Twitter throughout December. It’s little wonder. Headlines have been dominated by COVID-19 deaths and economic turmoil for months on end. It’s been a miserable, tumultuous time for millions. Even the eagerly-anticipated Christmas holidays have been blighted by severe restrictions. 

It’s tempting to simply expunge 2020 from our memories and look forward to 2021, when the virus will, God-willing, be past us. However, this would be unhelpful. For one thing, it assumes the grass will be greener in 2021. In reality, next year will be fraught with many of the same challenges and frustrations of this year. More importantly, it implies that nothing good has come from the last ten months. As grim as the year has been, this simply isn’t true.

I don’t wish to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic. It has had a profoundly negative impact and will continue to affect us for years to come. But there is always hope, no matter the circumstances we face. Here are four things that have been impressed on my heart over the last year. I pray that they will be an encouragement to you, as they have been to me.

1. The faithfulness of God

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

The reality of the pandemic didn’t hit me until the first lockdown was announced. I remember watching the UK Government press conference and feeling a stab of fear. Turning to my wife, I said ‘this is bad’. She nodded soberly. 

As Christians, our initial fear was tempered by the knowledge that God is sovereign over all things. He has a plan and he is working all things for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. God is faithful and good to his children even when the world seems utterly chaotic.

We knew intrinsically that there was nothing, really, to fear about the pandemic. Even if the worst should happen and one of us should contract the virus and die, we are eternally safe because we are trusting in Christ. I hadn’t felt the comfort of this verse – a favourite for many Christians – so powerfully before. We can live boldly in light of it.

2. The fragility of life

“Life is fleeting, like a passing mist. It is like trying to catch hold of a breath; All vanishes like a vapour; everything is a great vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

The threat of the virus brings the fragility and finiteness of life in this world into sharp relief. This is one of the main lessons in the book of Ecclesiastes, as an old man (probably Solomon) looks back on his life and his many achievements which ultimately amount to nothing – ‘vanity’.

This may sound like a depressing thought but it is hugely important. Solomon concludes: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man”. To summarise the message of Ecclesiastes – life is short so we ought to prioritise the right things.

Pursuing a relationship with Jesus should be top of the list. Other things, though important, must not take precedence. Over the last few months I’ve began to question whether some things in my life have become idols, distracting me from God. These need to be torn down. I’m thankful to God for showing me this.

The consciousness of death also presents an opportunity for evangelism. Normally, death is the last thing on people’s minds until the twilight years of their existence, or unless illness or tragedy brings it to the fore. We can expound our faith joyfully and pray that the seed of the Gospel will find more fertile ground than it has in previous years.

3. The fellowship of believers  

“…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”. (Hebrews 10:25)

Surely a major theme of the pandemic for Christians has been how we ‘do church’. For a time, we were prevented for meeting together physically. This really brought home to me the value of meeting together in person. We often take for granted how much of a blessing and an encouragement it is to see one another each week. Perhaps we will not take it so for granted when churches are open again without restrictions.

Having to do church online also brought unexpected benefits. Many people who never darkened the door of a church will have felt compelled to tune in to a service online. How many souls were added to the kingdom through Zoom this year? And who’d have thought it possible that churches would grow when they are closed?

It continually amazes me how God is able to work through the most unlikely means to grow and strengthen his church. The continuation of church life in hard times serves as a reminder of the everlasting nature of the church. We are promised that the “gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The bride of Christ is kept by the bridegroom.

4. Forever with God

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Another big theme of the pandemic has been the separation of loved ones. Families and friends are prevented from seeing one another. In care homes, thousands of elderly people are languishing in isolation. It’s a truly hard for many people.

In the face of this, it’s comforting to know that God is present with us, his people, by his Holy Spirit. We can never be separated from God’s love. The eternal God is our “dwelling place” and underneath are the “everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

No matter how isolated we are from loved ones at the moment, we’re never truly alone. It’s awesome to be able to say this. I pray that anyone who reads this who is struggling will feel the comfort of God’s presence in these days.

Is 2020 a year to forget? Certainly not.