Anna Moore

It’s been a challenging year for many people, maybe even most. For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to practice more gratitude as I deal with some of my own challenges. I had expectations going into 2020 that I would “thrive,” no matter my circumstances. Was that overly ambitious? Probably. I can’t say that I did it anyway, considering around March the whole country was beginning to shut down. But regardless of a worldwide pandemic, I’m not sure how I would have dealt with my circumstances this year because I’m still in a position I was in at the beginning of the year and some things have not changed at all.

“Thrive” was my word for 2020. I had high hopes of a certain prayer of mine being answered. It’s Dec. 23, 2020 and as of right now, I’m still waiting to see how God answers that prayer. Currently, He’s only said “wait,” which I guess is technically answering the prayer…it’s just not ideal. Someone at my church once said God never answers with a “no,” but a “not yet.”

If you’re anything like me, you don’t like waiting. Blake has told me many times (lovingly) that I’m impatient, and I think he’s right. Maybe there are certain things that have to be done before that specific prayer is answered. Maybe there’s more growing and maturing involved. Maybe some other people or circumstances have to be worked out by God first before He can fulfill something for me. I’m not going to try to figure it out, but if there’s one lesson I’ve learned this entire year, it’s that God is the one in control. He is sovereign. I need to lay it all down at His feet and trust and know that He will handle it. In His time. In His way.

This is where my word for 2021 comes into play. I’m going to try to surrender more to Him next year, and even starting now. I thought “surrender” would be a fitting word. I can’t tell you how many times this year I cried out to Him, pleading for that circumstance to change. There were a couple of times I remember physically feeling comforted by Him as I prayed, as crazy as that may sound. Have you ever felt that way? Like someone was holding you? One time in particular, it was a certain song I listened to that made me feel that closeness — “Find Me At The Feet of Jesus” by Christy Nockels. (Yes, sometimes I listen to worship music when I am feeling down.)

This is where I hope to be next year — at His feet. Whether I’m still in this place where I feel like I’m begging for something, or I’m just worshipping at His feet, praising Him for all things seen and unseen, that He’s already done and that He will do in the future.

Because He’s sovereign.

I don’t want to place any expectations on 2021, as I tend to do. I just want to have a closeness to Him, go deeper in my study of His word and surrender all. He’s the potter and I’m the clay after all (Isaiah 64:8).

I’m praying for a better year than this year turned out to be for me and my family, and for anyone reading this as well. Let us remember Who is in control through all things, and let us remember that He works all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).