This has been a very, very difficult year. The truth is, unfortunately, I am not altogether sure if it has had to be this difficult. Follow me on this for a second. I am baffled by all the conflicting news reports that have joyfully dwelt on darkness, death and destruction. There I said it, joyfully dwelt on darkness, death and destruction. Media outlets, news pundits, politicians, activists, actors, et cetera, et cetera have worked overtime to scare the living daylights out of us. Anxiety, depression, suicide, domestic violence, increased substance abuse have been the results of all this terror we have been subjected to on a 24/7 basis. To listen to news feeds and the talking heads one would think that we are on the brink of destruction. Are we really? Who profits from all this mass hysteria? I call it hysteria. And after almost a year of it, I call it what it is and I declare that I will not listen to any of it anymore.
Life is way too short; we are all living on borrowed time. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, nor is the next breath promised to anyone.
That sobering thought inspires me to cherish each moment, to cherish each sunrise and sunset that God blesses me with. That sobering thought inspires me to call family and friends I haven’t spoken with in years so that I can reconnect. That sobering thought inspires me to stop and enjoy the cool ocean breezes and the warmth of the sun on my skin. That sobering thought inspires me to live each moment with thankfulness. Any moment could be my last, no matter how socially isolated I am, no matter how safe I am by staying home. And no we are not alone together as the slogan goes that is being touted in my community. Truth is, I hunger for community, in person, not on a virtual screen. Truth is, nothing can stop the inevitableness of life’s ending. Nothing at all.
I am exhausted by the restrictions of 2020. I feel as if something precious from my life has been stolen. I am now trying to regain the ground that I felt I lost. I refuse to enter 2021 with fear and trembling.
I rely completely on the words of my Lord Jesus Christ:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
I refuse to be troubled; I refuse to be afraid.
I place my soul in the comforting and protecting hands of God. He keeps his promises. He never fails.
Romans 15:13 says: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 says: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
Perfect peace. Hope. Joy.
Joy. Hope. Perfect peace.
These are guarantees from God.
As I look towards 2021, I encourage you to join me in turning your heart, mind and soul completely over to the loving, unfailing protection of God.
Switch off the media’s hysterical histrionics and enjoy time with family and friends. Enjoy time outdoors in this beautiful world that God has given to us. Enjoy this brief life, make every precious moment count.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, shine his face upon you, and be gracious to you, lift up your countenance, and give you peace (Numbers 6: 24-26).
God’s peace,
Amen.
Copyright 2020 Jenny W. Andrews
Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques 
I agree with what you say here. They have been controlling many of us with fear for a long time now. But this is something on another level entirely. Isolation is the next step. Be safe, but don’t let them control you.
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Thank you so much for your comments. It is frightening and sinister the way in which there is such a push to isolate us from each other. I fear the end game. I wonder what the purpose of all this is. Stay safe as well.
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First of all Jenny, I would like to say Amen to all your declarations and thank you for this inspiring and encouraging piece. I have decided to just stay away from the media as to me it’s pretty much exhausting watching the news lately. I have observed and concluded that the media is creating more fear than necessary.They highlight the negative side of the news whiles relegating the positives and as for the politicians the least said the better.
What I do lately apart from writing is to read my bible,be in the presence of God on daily basis and I’m also trying to interact with the Holy Spirit on a personal level.
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Hi Mercy, thank you for commenting. I am also spending time daily in prayer and reading my Bible. The only way we can survive all this is through faith and complete reliance on God.
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Worth
Noting
To
Me
At
Least
Jesus
Never Complained
About The Weight
Of His
Cross
In HiStory
True Not
All Are Cut
Out To Carry
The Weight of
‘The World’
But if
Not
For
Some
All Will Fall..:)
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Thank you, everyone, for commenting.
Mercy, that is exactly what I am doing-reading my Bible and praying to Our Lord for guidance, comfort, strength and peace.
God’s blessings to you all.
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