2021: The Year of Fruit

Well, we made it through 2020. Finally. And while we all know the days just continue and we have a lot of messes to clean up from the year before, we can’t discredit the opportunity of the new year. We can’t dismiss the chance to do something different, dream of what’s to come, and look ahead with eyes of wonder. Because that’s what a new year does for us. It’s a fresh start at a whole new thing. A brand new year to bring in fresh perspective from the previous year and go after what’s meant for us. I’m always excited when a new year starts. But I’ll be honest, this year I’m weary. 2020 was the year that shook everything down to bones as I’ve already said many times. And while the lessons in that year were good and life giving, they also hurt a lot. I find myself tiptoeing into this year instead of running ahead full charge like I normally would. I didn’t ring it in with bells and whistles. Instead I found myself slowly peeking my head around the corner to see if its safe and asking God to hold my hand so I’m not so scared.

I hate that feeling. I’m not a fan of being so weary and frightened. I’m normally such a fearless woman, unafraid of any battle. But my armor is dented and cracked. My sword seems dulled. My shield, shattered. The way I used to war doesn’t work anymore. 2020 taught me that. It showed me my weaknesses and displayed them for all to see. And as I stand in this new year naked, raw, and a little bruised, I’m having to look to God for new strategies and plans like never before. Where do we go from here Lord?

Well, He showed me. He took off that ruined armor, redressed me, and shined new hope and light into my weary heart.

Last year I started praying and asking God for a word for the new year. For 2020 I got fearless and reckless faith. Boy did I end up needing those! So this year I prayed again and what God put on my heart was growth and fruit. What came to mind was when Jesus talks about pruning in John 15. 1-8 says, “I am the true vine, and my Father the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will bear even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the words I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like the branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

2020 was a year of pruning. It took off all the dead areas in my life, stripped me of all my idols, and broke down all the false theology and religion in my heart. I spent most of the year alone, literally, just me and Jesus. And at times that felt kind of crappy. It was lonely and sometimes full of a lot of tears (so much crying). But after I got over the initial shock of that isolation I became much more aware of the work it was doing in me. When Jesus talks about the pruning of our branches, it’s not a pleasant feeling. It’s painful. Cutting things off isn’t exactly a nice feeling. But the end result was a cleaner branch. It reared a version of myself that I couldn’t see coming until it was done. I walked out of that season a new woman without all the dead places hanging over me. The year cut me back, cut me down to size, and prepared me to grow into the new. What wasn’t for me burned in the fires of the year, and I found myself prepared for what’s to come.

I may be a bit weary from 2020. I’m pretty sure we all are right now. But I’m looking forward to what’s to come. Whatever that may look like. I’m not saying it’ll be an easy year. There’s still work to do. But I’m ready to grow into more of what I’m supposed to be. I’m ready to taste the sweet fruit of that tree of life. I’m ready for whatever God has in store for me. This new armor He gave me fits well. It’s shiny and new. The sword is sharp and light in my hand. The new shield is forged stronger than ever. Under this miraculous work I might feel raw. But the truth is thats how I’m supposed to be. Raw, real, and vulnerable so that my God can be strong for me. So He can fight for me. The armor isn’t for my protection from the blows of life, it’s made to contain the power given to me so I don’t hurt my own self. It’s a new thing. A new way. So, My eyes are fixed on Him with a new wonder and amazement. My heart is fully His and slowly filling up with excitement over what He’s going to do. And He’s holding my hand as we walk into 2021. I can’t make anything happen this year. But He can. And He will. I just have to be willing to believe. The thing about growth and fruit is we don’t have to make it happen, He does that. We just get to sit back and enjoy it. I don’t know about you, but I could sure use some of that in this coming year.