The Flame Within

Happy New Year and welcome 2021! As I ponder the farewell of 2020, I am overcome
with emotion! An entire year is filled with abundant memories; Many positive and many difficult!

The last 1 1/2 years our family has faced significant trials, trauma, heartache, transition, and many hardships. This all endured in the midst of Covid hitting and the world being shaken up and everything literally being turned upside down. I recall on January 1st of 2020 telling a friend that I was more than glad to say goodbye to 2019. God immediately convicted my heart. “Crystal, yes 2019
was an extremely difficult year, but I have been good! Think about all the blessings this year brought!” I took note of the firm but gentle message from the Lord and he began showing me his heart!

The latter half of 2019 was traumatic for me and my family, as my niece (who was much like a daughter) was hit by a car and was in a coma for 6 months and passed away in December of 2019. Despite the intensity of the tribulation of 2019, God was still faithful! Thus, my new year’s resolution for 2020 was to see the good gifts from God, even in the midst of painful circumstances!

I wish I could say that 2020 was a breeze, much to the contrary! 2020 brought with it a plethora of painful circumstances and difficult transitions! However, I hung to God’s conviction to continue to see the good in the midst of trials! To never fail to see God’s provision in the midst of painful circumstances! It sure is easy to lose sight of God when life is filled with stressful situations and broken hearts!

True to his promise, God remained faithful in the midst of every trial that occurred in 2020! One thing that I’ve come to see over the past several tumultuous years, is that in the midst of trials, God blesses us in tremendous ways! We only have to pay attention to see God carrying us through the hardship surrounding our lives!

In the midst of suffering God has shown up in His word and quiet times, precious moments with family, beautiful nature, encouraging friends, fun-filled trips, unexpected blessings, always meeting our needs, and showing us that he is in control!

This year, I am not “happy” to see 2020 pass by! Despite, the fact that 2020 was filled with many valley’s! It was in fact a year of trials, learning, growing, and many stressful moments! God revealed in very real ways the spiritual realization, that it is in the valley’s we grow! The year 2020 was a year our family grew closer to God and one another, our marriage flourished, we came to realize our truest friends, our trials pushed us into the arms of Jesus, and God revealed that he alone is our only constant! 2020 also revealed that God sometimes asks us to leave our homes, only to see what we left for unravel before our eyes! Leaving us questioning His plans and reasoning! Yet, God is faithful and His plans for his children are for us to prosper and never to harm us! I know this much, God has a plan! One day we will see it fully, for now we trust that He knows what he’s doing!

I don’t have all the answers and I certainly can’t read into the future; I can trust with 100 percent certainty, that God is faithful and he works all things out for the good of those who love Him!

Sadly, I say goodbye to 2020! I gladly welcome 2021! It would sure be nice to endure a mountain top experience for awhile. However, if God chooses to allow more valley’s; I know we will be just fine! God’s plans are always the best! He really does love His children and desire for us to prosper and serve and love him solely and completely!

New Year’s spiritual Resolution for 2021… “To trust that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do!”

I will pray hard! I will continue living for God! Trusting Him and His plans for our lives! Knowing that He has us on a path, a path that was especially prepared for those who follow him!

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for you to prosper and never to harm you!”

Romans 8:28 “All things work for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose!”

Blessings, Crystal