The Year the World Grieved in Unison

The World Grieved Together

2020. It will be known as the year that the entire world grieved in unison.

Moving from the East in Wuhan, China to the farthest parts in the West – people from all over the world were found grieving together. The Coronavirus ravaged through towns and cities, refugee camps and palaces. This invisible disease swept through the tents of the lowest in our society, to the lush bedrooms of our wealthiest, quickly alerting us that it was no respecter of persons.

We Are Not in Control

The hardest part of all was the fact that we began to realize that we were not actually in control. We were faced with the knowledge that we were not the masters of our fate, or the “Captains of our souls.” The world was confronted, maybe for the first time in our lives, that we were actually created to be a “Dependent” people. Dependent on our Creator for the very breath that we take next. 

And so we grieved.

• We grieved the death of our loved ones that were pronounced to the fate of dying a death not surrounded by those who they loved. Instead they were encompassed by the noises of the infirmed and scurrying heroic medical staff that daily were trying to save many. 
• We grieved over the realization that we would not be given the right to say our last goodbyes or even the privilege of properly burying our loved ones.
• We grieved over mass confinement – some more than others. As the various governments strove to contain the deadly disease, people struggled to remain within the parameters set by authorities. 
• We grieved not being able to celebrate special events like birthdays, births, weddings, baby showers and graduations. Life was put on hold for the betterment of society. And the world grieved for what we missed. Freedom.
• We grieved loss: Loss of loved ones dying alone; loss of freedom to do as we pleased, and when we pleased; loss of jobs; and the ability to adequately provide for our futures; or even our daily needs. We grieved the loss of the knowledge that we were not actually the captains of our own souls.

The Voice of the Redeemed Rises

But in the midst of this worldwide grief, there began to rise another voice that sung in unison. It was at times faint from fatigue or maybe even fear, but it was still heard among the many.

Like the small “Who people” living down in Whoville in the Dr. Suess children’s book, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, a beautiful song began to rise above the noise of the masses.  

It was the voices of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ singing out and communicating to the grieving world the Hope that is found in Christ.

Praise Amidst the Tears

They sang the song of the Redeemed, amidst their own tears of grief.

It was heartfelt yet firm, all the while knowing that they serve a good, good Father.  And I am absolutely confident that those songs of worship, even though they were sung with tears in the eyes and a stutter in the voice, they brought glory to the One Who is Worthy. 

2020 is the year the world grieved in unison. But it also has become the year the Redeemed stood up from every corner around the world, from all the nations the Lord has made, and have come and worshiped before Him bringing glory to His name. (Psalms 86:9) 

And the world watched. And the Redeemed continued to sing.