2020 – what a year! It was a rough year for everyone. But as I look back at last year, I see how the Lord was my Comforter, my Peace, my Hope and my Provider.

As I look ahead at the year 2021, guess what hasn’t changed in my life and your life? The Lord is our Comforter, our Peace, our Hope, and our Provider. We all know this, but oftentimes we tend to forget it when we are so focused on the circumstances of life. Let me give you an example.

On December 15th, I routinely received my 30 or so Botox injections. I normally get my injections every 90 days. But that day my doctor asked me if I wanted to start getting my injections earlier because they have started to wear off faster. Time out!

This was something I was eagerly praying about and frankly didn’t believe it would happen. Praying for this seemed hopeless. I often thought, “Why am I praying for this?” In fact, I almost decided not to be a part of my best friend’s wedding because I was going to be very tight on her special day and I didn’t want to be a distraction. But I decided to go ahead and be a bridesmaid not knowing what was ahead. I had to remind myself again that God has helped me get through the tight season of my life before and He will and can do it again.

The fact that my doctor asked me if I wanted to get my injections earlier, before I even could ask him, made me feel loved and known by God. My doctor had no clue what was going on in my life. Anyway, I’m going to be able to get my injections in February before my friend’s wedding.

The Lord keeps bringing to my mind this verse in Esther 4:14, “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

As a Daughter of the King, it’s my desire to have faith like Esther did. She could have been killed for her faith, yet the Lord and His loving kindness and mercy protected her and used her for such a time.

We as Sons and Daughters of the King of Kings need to remember He has a purpose and plan for each one of us. Even when life doesn’t make sense, He has a plan. Even when you get an unexpected diagnosis, He has a plan. Even though you are isolated, He has a plan. Even though you feel like it’s hopeless, He has a plan.

I recently finished listening to one of my favorite books called, Hope When It Hurts by Sarah Walton and Kristen Wetherell. I try to read it every year. It has always been such an encouragement to me every time I read it. I would recommend it to anyone who is going through a difficult circumstance. This is one of my favorite quotes from reading it this time.

“Affliction will be my close companion, it would seem, through this life. But when she tempts me to despair, I have a God who understands, and who helps, and who will use her to keep me his and mold me into his likeness. She will not defeat me, for he is greater than she, and will be loving me when she is gone.”

This year, let us keep this verse at the forefront of your minds from 1 John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”