The Annual Newsletter

Annual Newsletters: You've seen them, so you know the format. A recap of what happened during the year. Pictures that coincide with the stories. Almost always, the newsletter focuses on the good and fun events that happened during the year: the vacation, the promotion, the positives. We get them from friends and relatives every year, usually during the month of December. You get them too. You probably even sent a few.

But what do you do when only bad happens during the year? Do you still send out that festive, upbeat newsletter? This happened to us a few years ago. Right after Thanksgiving, my wife asked, "Are you doing a newsletter this year?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll tell all our friends what a crummy year we had."

When we recounted all the painful experiences and disappointments that happened during the year, we started laughing. That year, my wife gave up a job she really loved in order to be with me when the Army transferred me to a different part of the country. While there, she was diagnosed with cancer and had multiple surgeries. As she was recovering and going through chemotherapy, the Army sent me overseas, so I couldn't even be with her. That same year, I had an evil boss who was trying to destroy my career. One of our sons was unemployed, and our other two sons were struggling with personal issues. Bad news after bad news piled on top of us, and it seemed there was no end.

We have a pretty good idea how Job felt when he experienced horrible losses, back to back to back, one after another. No wonder he groaned and grumbled and grieved. No wonder his wife suggested that he simply curse God and die. When life gets too painful and it seems there's no end to the suffering and bad news, there's not much you can do. We understand, because it happened to us.

But Job didn't turn his back on God. He didn't lose his faith. He didn't curse. And he didn't end his life. In fact, Job 1:22 indicates that in all his suffering, he didn't do anything wrong. He didn't end his life, he didn't sin, and he didn't blame God.

In our worst year ever, we adopted similar goals. We wanted to keep our eyes on Jesus, and stay faithful in every way. When the world would advise us to give up, curse God, and die, we refused. And by the end of the year, even though we hadn't yet seen the light at the end of the tunnel in those dreadful situations, we managed to laugh together.

James 1:2-4 reminds us to remain joyful even when facing many kinds of trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces character, perseverance, and strength. 1 Peter 4:12-13 adds that we shouldn't even be surprised when life gets ugly, as if something strange were happening. Instead, we can continue to be joyful, knowing that our Lord suffered too, keeping in mind that if we are faithful during the tough days, the Glory of the Lord will eventually be revealed in us.

Job knew this a long time ago, which is why he could proclaim in 19:25,

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand." And then he adds, "And I will see Him with my own eyes."

The same is true for you, my friend. Do your best to remain joyful and faithful while you're struggling, and you will see the glory of the Lord, because your Redeemer is alive.

Copyright © 2020 Paul Linzey, used with permission.