How to finish a hard year well
As you reflect on a year of unprecedented challenges, here are some good ideas to help you finish the year well
What words come to mind about ministry in 2020? Hard. Different. Brutal. Sad. Exhausting.
At an EFAC (Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion) youth and children’s minister’s webinar in October, brothers and sisters from Victoria shared their struggles and heartache after four months of lockdown and four months of no face to face relational discipleship.
2020 has challenged us in a myriad of ways. We have considered the unknown impact of a deadly virus on our family, friends, and church. All our prayerfully made plans were cast aside. We have all experienced loss. The cancellation of significant events, the inability to travel or meet with friends and family, ministries paused or cancelled and no singing to the Lord whom we love. 2020 will be remembered for a long time.
The most common reflection I hear is, “I can’t wait for 2020 to be over”. My immediate reaction to this is, “Amen”. Like a washed-out sporting match or a never-ending Monopoly game, let’s write this year off and start again.
But as Christians, we don’t run away. Our faith and our Christian worldview enable us to live wisely in the good times and in pandemic riddled years. We have a theology of loss. Creation and the human experience are no longer very good, and will not be new, transformed, renewed until Christ returns.
The fall constantly impacts individuals and creation. We are separated from God, struggling with each other and creation. The unfairness of life, frustration and loss, sickness and death are the normal experience.
The joy and comfort of living in the overlap of the ages, with Jesus enthroned as Lord (Philippians 2:9-11), death and sin defeated, does not mean that life in the present will be without loss. Working harder does not remove the possibility of loss.
Too often young people buy into the secular myth that personal happiness is a human right and can be achieved in this life. The gospel of Jesus debunks this lie and enables Christians to live in the world where life is hard.
The Apostle James wrote some remarkable words to God’s people, scattered throughout the Roman empire because of persecution and politics:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:2-4
There is joy to be found in hard times. This is not trite, self-help advice. James proclaims that God grows persevering faith in hard times.
In the midst of persecution or a pandemic, God grows his people to be more like his son, dependent in prayer, reliant on every word that comes from God’s mouth, seeking first the Kingdom of God, and ultimately seeing that in Christ we lack nothing.
God has grown a generation of persevering leaders throughout 2020. We may not see the fruit now, but it will be seen in seasons of trial and persecution in the future.
How do you finish a year like 2020 well?
As tired as you and your leaders are, it’s not the time to run away or let the year fizzle out. Here are three ideas to consider:
1. Finish well by celebrating what matters
Celebration is thoroughly Christian. God is good. We know that objectively and personally. There is so much to give thanks and rejoice about as this hard year closes. Let’s push beyond celebrating the restart of programs or vaccines or views of our live streams. Specifically, constantly celebrate what matters: people growing as genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus. Celebrate the new Christians. Celebrate how God has grown young people to rely on Christ, think like Christ and act like Christ. What we celebrate reflects what we think is important.
2. Finish well by reflecting on what God has taught you
Everyone is tired. Disruptive change has demanded enormous mental and physical energy from us all year. It is tempting to get to Christmas and turn off. Before you do, take the time to reflect on what God has taught you. We have learnt so much about ourselves and our leadership this year. Consider how you responded to uncertainty and change. Identify ministry patterns worth doing again in 2021, and those you need to leave behind. Pinpoint where your theological principles were sidelined by pragmatic necessity. Set concrete goals for 2021 that will enable you to grow from all you learnt this year.
3. Finish well by looking forward
We all hope 2021 will be easier than 2020. But this is not the future that drives our ministry.
Christian leaders look forward to the return of Jesus, when he comes to be glorified in his holy people and marvelled at among all those who have believed (2 Thessalonians 1:10). He will judge the world with righteousness, give relief to his people and initiate the new creation where there is no more loss.
We lead ministries, disciple young people, teach the Bible, organise camps and socials, and make videos with that day in mind. We don’t look forward to a ministry year where our plans can happen. We look forward to the day when Christ Jesus will return in glory.
As this hard year ends remember how God has worked in you and answered the prayers of many who are praying for you:
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” - 2 Thessalonians 1:11
