Yesterday, my dear friend and I shared lunch. Over our three hour lunch we discussed politics, religion, and race relation. As we brought our discussion to an end, my friend asked a question. I don’t think she wanted an answer, but it’s a question many of us find ourselves asking in 2020: “What is God doing?”
Later that evening, my husband and I sat on our swing porch in the cool of the day, relaxing. Yet somehow the conversation circled back to what is happening in our world and my husband stared off into the distance and asked: “What is God doing?”
Last Sunday in church, my pastor was teaching on Romans 8. As he was teaching, I heard the Lord say, “I am FOR black people.”
I haven’t posted that because I know it will offend many of you? Isn’t He FOR all people? Yes. But I believe God was saying to me in that moment, I am about to redeem the wrongs that have been done to black people.
In the 60’s before the civil rights bill was written, America was in turmoil. We like to remember Dr. King’s peaceful marches but there were also rioting and looting. It was BOTH that prompted change.
The Emancipation Proclamation wasn’t the result of peace talks. It was the result of a bloody, messy war.
This country began with rebellion and destruction of property.
Our salvation was won by a betrayal and a bloody cross.
I am not a prophet. But what I think God is doing what He said He would do:
He is bringing Good News to the poor – the poor in spirit, the poor in resources, the poor in influence.
He is healing the broken-hearted. The families who have watched their sons be murdered in the streets and found no justice in the courts.
He is bringing liberty to those who have been the subject of unfair practices, racial profiling, and economic inequities.
He is setting a people free to believe in the justice system again.
He is rebuilding the ancient ruins, restoring the former devastations, renewing the ruined cities, and restoring the devastations of many generations.
He is declaring 2020 as the year of God’s favor.
I know it may seem chaotic right now. It may seem as if 2020 is the year of God’s vacation. But I have a hope! I believe God is at work in the midst of this chaos. I believe God is opening eyes and hearts and minds. I believe when the dust settles we will emerge a stronger nation. A more equitable nation. A kinder nation.
Pray this with me: “Open our eyes to see what you are doing during this time. Open our hearts to receive. Open our minds to comprehend. Lord, make this nation a truly great nation. Unite us. Heal our hearts. Bring equity to all. Let us not lose hope in the midst of chaos, but let us seek you with our whole heart. Take what the enemy meant to divide and destroy us and let it bring unity and strengthen us. We declare 2020 is the year of your favor. Amen.”
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 CSB