To have 20/20 vision refers to a measure of sharpness of eyesight, being able to see clearly at 20 feet, what should normally be seen at that distance.  In this new year of 2020 we may apply the concept of “vision” to our spiritual eyes of what we can and can’t see, due to distance.  We can’t look out over the year 2020 and see all that it will hold, but we can put on our spiritual “glasses” to sharpen our vision.  The glasses we wear, is hope.

We look out over the coming year of 2020 with confident hope in God’s good purposes.

Just as glasses help to focus our vision, hope is defined not as vague, unfocused expectations, but as confidence based upon a sure source: God.  As a practicing Christian I know that hope comes from the assurance that God is working for good at all times, and He wants us to work with Him to reach our world.  When we see hatred, confusion, injustice and oppression we can ask God to give us His guidance and strength for the battle.  This is my vision for 2020.

“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth…  In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge… …as for me, I will always have hope.” (Excerpts from Psalm 71)

UPDATE:  None of us could have predicted the coronavirus pandemic which crept up and then suddenly sprang into view, early in the year 2020.  Our vision was not sharp enough to see it coming!  However, God knew all about it.

Despite the difficulty and dismay of what we are going through in this pandemic, God is still God, and we can still have hope.  This is our affirmation, that God has not forgotten us and He is still at work for His good purposes.  And what are “God’s purposes?”  We know that He always is calling out to us to join in with Him and get into relationship with Him.   With His direction, He wants each of us to help in some way, to lift up other people and direct them toward God’s loving care.