2020 — to say it was a challenging year is an understatement.

12 months went by just like that. 9 months at home, working. It was a sudden change and shift for me, my family, and the rest of my team.

There are pleasant things this pandemic brought to me — I was able to spend more time with my wife and daughter. This is the longest that I’ve been with them in one go. I was able to really physically be with them all the time. For the first time since we got married, this is the longest streak (and counting) that we were together in one house. Normally, I’m at work and comes home to spend a couple of active hours then we will all go to sleep. The next day, I’d be gone early again and be returning home late at night. On some occasions, I’d be out of the country for a few days or weeks. Since the lockdown, there’s no way to travel and so, I’m stuck at home with my family. I’m not complaining though. I love it. I’m well adjusted to this setup that I wonder how it would be like going back to the old normal.

Another positive thing is that I was able to spend more time with Keziah. For the latter part of the year, my wife made me involved in teaching my daughter in our home school. I saw a lot development in Keziah over the months and I’m very glad about it. Man, time really flies. She is growing up so fast, and spending almost the entire year with her is a blessing. I get to be a Dad to her.

This pandemic brought a lot of extra ordinary professional and personal challenges to myself and my family. At work, it meant losing a very important account which resulted in significant loss in our monthly and annual revenues. It meant that we went under and ultimately was forced to accept resignations of some of the best of my employees. It meant that I have to forgo my salaries and staff as well. It meant that those who are left will have to carry more load and increase the stress. Running a startup company is a big challenge to begin with and adding more pressure is tough for everyone. At home, the problems at work can be felt, we now have to carefully budget our expenses given that our family income was affected.

This year, we were made to learn a few things about character and integrity. We learned that character is something innate and built from within. And, God uses difficult circumstances to reveal and refine one’s character. We had our fair share of disappointments and frustrations. Through some contentions we went through, we further understood why the Gospel needs to be presented starting with Him, His laws, and that ends with His justice and grace. We learned to trust His Word more than ever. We learned to cling all the more to God’s provisions and trust His providences.

This brought a lot of learnings to my wife and I, in applying the hard teachings of the Bible in showing grace, in rendering forgiveness, and in standing up for the truth. Those are hard lessons we are still learning. At the end of the day God is sovereign, and we are comforted by that truth.

Certainly, this year 2020 has been one for the books. There is still a few days left before we move to the next. This year has been exhausting, action-packed, and character building for me. There are so many trials and sufferings we endured and still endures today, but I believe that this is all for the good. These are all blessings. God used all these to teach us. He used this situation to make our faith in Him stronger — that we rely on him solely. We learned to trust Him and in Him more during these trying times. We learned to have comfort in His sovereign will and grace, that nothing happens apart from His will. And, that should give us comfort knowing He is in control.

Soli Deo Gloria!