Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021

What a year this has been guys. Surprisingly, even though 2020 was nothing that any of us could have expected, it flew by. It's hard to believe it's almost over. If you asked me this time last year what 2020 would look like for me, the only good news I would have had was that I was graduating from nursing school in five months. I wouldn't have told you that I would have to complete my last semester of nursing school online and graduated online. I wouldn't have told you I wouldn't get to walk across the stage and receive my diploma with some of the best classmates I've ever had. I wouldn't have told you that I would be accepting my dream job, then later having to give it up because of a pandemic. I wouldn't have told you that being a nurse in the middle of a pandemic trying to find a job was difficult. 2020 wasn't nearly what I expected, but I am so thankful for all the amazing things and people it brought me. Yes, I didn't get to graduate with my friends, but at least we got to do a virtual ceremony where I could still cheer them all on from the comfort of my home with my family. I wouldn't have gotten to see each and every one of us show resilience in the middle of a pandemic finding jobs, starting jobs as new grad nurses with a virus that was spreading so rapidly and causing the patient loads and patient's acuity to rise drastically. I am so proud of each and every one of us. Nursing school doesn't always prepare you for what's to come out in the real world working in the hospitals or inpatient care, and I will say I don't think any of us new grads were ready, but we did it. Here we are now, nine months into the pandemic, and I am so proud of how we all have been playing such a vital role in caring for our patients all while navigating the new role of being a nurse. 2020 has also brought me some of my best friends. Who knew sitting in on a Tik Tok live of a Christian content maker in a completely different state would bring me some of my absolute best friends across the world. That all the late-night Tik Tok lives, zoom calls, texts, and snapchats would bring me some of my most treasured friendships. Friendships that have helped me to grow in my walk with God. Friendships with people who are there when I need them to be. Friendships that we can talk for hours every day for multiple days in a row, and still find something to talk about. 2020 was also the year I moved out of my parent's house. It all happened so fast and I wasn't sure what to expect since I've never lived alone (minus a semester at college where I was home almost every weekend haha), but it has been such a blessing. I have been able to create a home. A safe space. A place that any of my friends are welcome when they need to getaway. A place of praise and worship. A place where the door is always open to those who need it. I didn't know what to expect at first, and it was a huge change in the beginning, but I am so proud of it. I am proud that at the age of 22 (now 23) I was able to purchase my first home. I am proud that I have been able to experience this new journey with so many of the people who are dear to my heart. 2020 has also been a year of growth. I have grown as a nurse in the last six months. Going from being unsure what to expect, to taking care of six to seven patients on my own and feeling confident. Most importantly, I've grown in my relationship with Jesus. When the shutdown first happened, I was so sad there would be no more church services in person and everything was going online. How was I going to grow on my own? How was I going to fellowship with other believers to hold me accountable? How was I going to stay in contact with my Emerge family? At first, I was sad about it, I am not going to lie to you. But when I tell you that this year I have grown so much in my walk with the Lord, just by taking time to slow down, and truly focusing on Him alone, it's been incredible. I began watching church services online from not only my church, but other churches. I was able to dig into my Bible and watch online sermons throughout the week and grow. I was able to find time to spend alone time with God and worship Him and be in His presence from the comfort of my own home. I learned that church isn't a building. Church is spending time on zoom calls with friends talking about God. I learned that church is helping those in need during a difficult time with Covid. I learned that church is joining Tik Tok lives and listening to sermons and talking to and helping Christians who are struggling, that I might never have had the chance to speak to without an app on my phone. I learned that church is reaching out to your friends who are struggling with not being able to see each other in person. I learned that church is helping one another grow, even over a device. I have learned that I have a passion for spreading the Word of God over blogs, youtube videos, Tik Tok's, Facebook posts, and text messages. I have learned so much about myself, my walk with God, and Fellowship throughout this year. I've learned that mental illness can eat you alive, even when you're strong in your faith if you allow it to. I've learned that there are a lot of people who are struggling but are ashamed to admit it. I've learned that there are so many amazing resources through modern technology to help you grow in your faith. I've learned that even when the world has stopped, God is still moving and the devil is still working to draw people away from God. This year is something I needed. This year was about magnifying God and growing as a person. This year is a year I am thankful for, even in the middle of a pandemic. I am thankful God allowed me to wake up each and every morning. I am thankful God provided me with a job. I am thankful God allowed me to develop new friendships and allow my current friendships to grow. I am thankful God provided a way for me to purchase a home. I am thankful God has helped me mentally when stress levels are so high I feel like giving up at my job. I am thankful God has allowed me to help others grow. I am thankful God has provided me with a job where I have been able to Fellowship with believers and talk with non-believers about God. I am thankful God has provided me with the gift to reach others through social media. This year has been a year of "why's" and "what's next" and unfortunate circumstances, but it's also been a year where I feel like the Gospel message has been able to reach people all over the world due to the use of technology and churches going online. So as this year comes to an end, I just want to say a few things to the year that's coming. Dear 2021, you're right around the corner. I don't know what to expect from you. I don't know what's to come in this year up ahead. I don't know if the virus will end. I don't know what new normalcy will look like. But I do know one thing, my God is in control of this year, just like He was in 2020, and I am ready to take on this year with Him right by my side every step of the way. I am ready to face tomorrow and every day after because I know my God is bigger than any circumstance that could arise and bigger than any virus that could come about. I am so thankful for each and every person who has been apart of my 2020 and I can't wait to see what new friendships and relationships are built in 2021, and how the Lord will be working in each and every one of our lives. When my grandmother was alive, I told her I wanted to get a bible verse in her handwriting tattooed on my back and the verse she chose was Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” No matter what 2021 has to offer to each and every one of us, find peace and comfort in this verse. We have no reason to be afraid or fearful of what's to come in 2021. When you have Jesus in your heart and in your life, He will be with you every step of the way. I hope each and every one of you allows 2021 to be a year of growth and finding your identity in Jesus Christ. It's the best decision you will ever make. One of my favorite Bible verses in 1 Thessalonians is, "pray without ceasing". So I encourage you to start today and going into 2021, to do this. Pray to God and talk to God about what's going on in your life. Allow Him to help you navigate this new year. Allowing my relationship to grow and flourish with God was the best decision in 2020 I could've made, even in the middle of a pandemic. I am so thankful for this last year, and so thankful I am able to go into 2021 with peace and comfort in my heart glorifying God because HE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. Love you guys. Here's to 2021!