Recently, I have been wondering why God would have done this to us as a community. We try to serve Him to the best of our ability, yet He throws things our way that hinder our ability to do so. As a school we were starting to do so well, but then a road block comes, we get shut down and we lose an important member of our community, and we are given a finish line that seems to be moving every time we take a step.

But, then I take a step back and realize all of the good that has happened because of the ‘bad’. For example, when this school year began, we were told that off blocks and lunches would have to be spent in classrooms with teachers that would watch over us to make sure we were following the COVID protocols. We all hated this, and thought it would be the demise of us all. We wanted to revolt, to change the system to be in our favor. I am glad that our mini revolts didn’t change anything. Because we were told we needed to stay with certain people, friendship grew that otherwise wouldn’t have grown. I see the juniors and seniors all eating lunch together outside, fostering a community that will hopefully continue through the classes for years to come. I have seen teachers engaging with students like I never have before, and I have seen the administration listen to the students input more than previous years. Yes, sports, musicals, and off blocks may look different this year, but we were given something that other classes have never experienced before. We were given community that was encouraged to build each other up and rely on each other, which I think is absolutely beautiful.

I still struggle with everything that has been taken away from us. I wonder why God would allow such terrible things to happen to our community. But when I look on the past year and see the goodness that has come from it, I am hopeful that the trials today will become victories tomorrow.

How has God worked in your circle during the trials you face?

2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by what we see.”

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”