If we haven't met yet, my name is Bethany and I'm one of the leaders around here.

And if you would, turn with me and your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9.

2020, y'all, what a year, huh?

Now, I know that there are many of us who would like to forget it altogether, but as the

year quickly marches to an end, I'm finding that it's hard not to reflect, at least at

some level, on all that we've walked through, we've endured, and really I think survived.

COVID-19 has affected and impacted every person, every family, every government, every

system, and every structure on the planet, and its reach is still unmeasured.

In recent Forbes article, psychologist John Everly, who teaches mental health and resilience

at Johns Hopkins, noted that the coronavirus pandemic will be the most psychologically

toxic disaster in anyone's lifetime.

All right, George, strong words, but I don't know that any of us would disagree or that

is yet to be seen.

2020, while layered has been in many ways the closest thing to war that many of us, especially

those of us in the West, have, or may ever experience, Lord willing.

We've seen incredible death, social unrest, political polarization, and the literal infrastructure

and fabric of our society change as we know it.

Governments have failed us, economies crashed, and leaders disappointed us to put it lightly,

all of which I think has left us, at least at some level, to experience that war-torn reality,

the limits and failings of this world and the humans in it.

This year has been to put it lightly, disruptive, and no matter how much we wish it wasn't,

life changing.

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