I believe 2021 to most will be one of those years that won’t be remember very well. It’s like the continuation of the 2020 Covid19 breakout that stormed the world. It’ll however be the year we thought things would be normal again… but never came to be.

However, you may remember it for other reasons such as special occasions. Let me share a few things how God has blessed me in 2021.

Psalms 55:22 says “Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you. (NLT)”

I did just that. I kept praying and believing that God would change my circumstances and provide better opportunities. And the changes that occurred happened at the right time.

As you know inflation has taken its place in our daily lives across many aspects whether it being the places we shop or even the housing market. I was concerned about both.

I have a job that I prayed about and was blessed with in 2019. It came at the right time and because of it I was able to claim unemployment when the pandemic hit. When the pandemic hit store prices rose and the housing market went crazy. I really needed to get a house to invest in instead of paying $790 a month for an apartment. So I entered the housing arena.

A friend of mine helped me look for a house to buy but was very difficult at people were offering $16,000 or more above the asking prices, an offer I could not compete with. We’ve look at least 30 houses. Each one having its own road block. Until another friend of mine had a brother who decided to sell his house and offered it to me first being a friend of the family. The offered to me at a reasonable price and even remodeled the kitchen and had the carpet replaced to my liking. Very generous they were. I also became a landlord as there has been a tenant renting the top portion of the houses for over a decade. I went from paying $790 a month for apartment to only $295 a month on a mortgage during a pandemic. And it even gets better. A month after closing on the house I received a $4 hr raise as work as they did a company wide adjustment to our income. The increase alone covers the rest of the mortgage payment.

All this in a pandemic in 2021. I’m here to tell you God knows what you need. You need not worry about tomorrow. As we who are trusting and obeying Jesus will also receive what we ask in prayer. But things happen the way He knows is best for us and at the right time.

The job came at the right time

Friends stepped in at the right time

Offers were made at the right time

Job income was a bonus at the right time

Turing to Jesus in all we do is always the right time.

Rev G Woods

If you’re like my family we like to grow our own food and then can it. These typically are sealed in a jar and don’t intend to be open for a long time later. You first have to warm the jar and food and then store it in the jar, this is how a lot of people live their lives. They will go through trial after trial and store in their feelings and emotions without actually revealing it to God and trying to find healing. Instead it stays within their soul manifesting all types of thoughts. Even bitterness can evolve from this.

Ephesians 4:31-32

³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

This is where we need to learn to break the glass. Often people think they’re doing themselves justice but holding in their anger or pain and they end up causing themselves even more pain by prolonging it. If it leads to bitterness more than likely it’ll lead to sin. Try to love another person while holding onto grudges and bitterness. I assure you they don’t mix. Break the glass jar in your life

1 Peter 5:6-11

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers* all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are

Today I was simply reminded by a garbage truck that passed me by with Psalms 27:14 “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart…” (NKJV). Other versions such as KJV don’t have the encourage part, but that part alone spoke truth to my heart.

There are times in life when we’ll go through rough patches. One of them for me a couple years ago was the death of my dad. Pain still lingers with questions of why he decided to take his own life.

You see, I’m not in a place where I’m normally use to being. I’m an ordained pastor and have always been active in minister more than I have been. But one reason being because there’s some healing that needed to be done. Also Covid came around soon after and made life all the more confusing.

However this verse simply reminded me to wait on the Lord. He has me where He wants me. I prayed for a job that will help me advance my goals and He provided. And did so at the right time. Times can be so tough and confusing that times you might even think you’ve lost your way. But sometimes God will use the unexpected, such as a garbage truck to remind you of His love for you.

Later on in the day as I was about to end my shift. One more scripture popped up on a billboard along the road that quoted Psalms 44:21 “God would surely have known it, for He knows the secrets of every heart” (NLT). It may not be the same version I just shared but to read God will strengthen my heart and now read He knows the secrets of our hearts had brought a lot of peace to my spirit. The reason is because there’s times I’m so busy but have these desires I want to accomplish for ministerial purposes that it tends to be discouraging at times. But the fact that I want to do what’s pleasing to Him. Even if I don’t get to do it as often as I’d like, it’s comforting to know that He already knows.

And with that I say to you. You may be struggling. Don’t give up. Wait on God to lead you in your timing. Know that He knows your heart and will lead you or provide for you when it’s time.

Rev G Woods