I have to admit, it’s rather strange for the year of 2020 to have already flown by…

There are so many people who’ve just wanted “rid” of this year of 2020.

I get it. For many, 2020 has been extremely painful. ?

For many, their hearts have broken, in the year of “2020.”

But I think if we really look closely, if we ask God to help us to see the year of 2020 from His perspective—from a higher place, in a higher way…

Perhaps the year of 2020 has been more like “God removing bandaids” from the wounds of our Nation —and yes, some of the “wounds have been quite ugly—quite infected.”

Not fun to look at…

Not fun to deal with…

But wounds that are covered up in darkness won’t heal as they should.

Wounds need “air” and “light” to heal!

Wounds need time and patience to heal…

Yes, sometimes when “healing” there can be setbacks, sometimes there are uncertainties in times of unknown…

But if an infection is allowed to remain, it kills.

“Sepsis“

“Sepsis occurs when chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This can cause a cascade of changes that damage multiple organ systems, leading them to fail, sometimes even resulting in death.”

But our God is a God of restoration, and healing, and redemption!

He uncovers the things (wounds, sin) in our hearts that need to be dealt with because He loves us and He wants to see us redeemed and restored to health!

So as God has “ripped off these bandages” of our Nation, as He has shined His light into the wounds and the ugly, infected places within our society,

it has not been pleasant, it has NOT been painless,

but it has been necessary,

it has been desperately needed...

…if we want our Nation to be saved from dying a slow death.

And here’s the thing…even though 2020 is behind us,

God is still cleaning up our wounds. He’s still mending.

There is a lot of healing to be done in our Nation.

Healing is a process.

And in order to be healed, we as a Nation must turn, we must go to the “Doctor”—the only One who can truly heal our land.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”—2 Chronicles 7:14

Side Note:

As I woke up this morning, I walked into the dining room and couldn’t help but notice the eerie sound of a harsh wind, swirling around the house outside….

A rather “harsh” sounding wind.

And I thought…

“What if, the year of 2021 is even ‘harsher’ than 2020 was? What if, it doesn’t get any easier? What if it gets even harder, harsher? Will we choose to stand firm, to stand still, and remain faithful to the Lord, no matter what comes?”

Will we allow Him to see us through this deep, deep healing process He wants to take our Nation through?

He’s wanting to heal us “all the way to our bones.”

He wants to align us with His will and His way, His plan for the earth.

God has a beautiful story in His heart for the United States of America, and He wants to see it come to life!

Will we keep allowing Him to do what needs to be done, to uncover what needs to be uncovered, to expose what needs to be exposed…

Will we allow Him to keep doing what needs to be done in our “healing process”?

In our Nation…

And in our own hearts?

No matter how harsh the times, no matter the pain we may have to endure through, no matter the fears we may have to face…

Will the people of God remain faithful?

Will we choose to keep living our lives, taking those steps of faith?

Or will we “curse God” and fall away? ?

I was led to Psalm 4 this morning, “The Safety of the Faithful”:

4 For the Pure and Shining One
For the end, a melody by King David
¹ God, you are my righteousness, my champion defender.
Answer me when I cry for help!
Whenever I was in distress, you enlarged me.
I’m being squeezed again—I need your kindness right away!
Grant me your grace, hear my prayer, and set me free!
² Listen to me, you elite among men:
How long will you defame my honor
and drag it down into shame?
Will you ever stop insulting me?
How long will you set your heart on shadows,
chasing your lies and delusions?
Pause in his presence
³ May we never forget that the Lord works wonders
for every one of his devoted lovers.
And this is how I know that he will answer my every prayer.
⁴ Tremble in awe before the Lord, and do not sin against him.
Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him.
Pause in his presence
⁵ Bring to Yahweh the sacrifice of righteousness and put your trust in him.
⁶ Lord, prove them wrong when they say, “God can’t help you!”
Let the light of your radiant face
break through and shine upon us!
⁷ The intense pleasure you give me
surpasses the gladness of harvest time,
even more than when the harvesters
gaze upon their ripened grain
and when their new wine overflows.
⁸ Now, because of you, Lord, I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for no matter what happens, I will live unafraid!“

Thank You, Father. ? I thank You for a new day, a new year. I thank You that we, as Your people, can always cling to hope! Help us to see and know and understand, that You are wanting to heal our land… to restore our Nation, to heal our wounds, to address all that has been hiding so dangerously in the darkness, and Your heart is to set us—those You love, those who love YOU, onto Your path!

Help us to allow You to do what needs to be done, and help us to endure through with patience, and with faith, and with trust, and with hope— knowing that You are always good, and that You are always faithful.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”—2 Chronicles 16:9

-Heather ?