The other day I was chatting on the phone with a good friend of mine. They’ve been feeling a little hopeless lately and realized that one of the biggest contributors to that hopelessness was not being able to trust God.
Although they know in their heart-of-hearts that God is trustworthy, because there have been so many hurts and wounds in recent years, their heart has become calloused. Which is the natural response to pain or brokenness… to toughen up and to protect the weak and vulnerable parts of ourselves.
I assured this friend that they are not alone! In fact, they are one of many I’ve spoken to in the last month who have been experiencing this same type of discouragement and I’m willing to bet that there are many reading this who can also relate.
New Year’s Eve is a bit of a peculiar time… It’s a day that can be especially heavy as we reflect and look back at all the things that have taken place over the past year. There is a bittersweet mix of remembering times of celebration and times of sorrow alike.
It’s also a time of anticipation! A time of looking forward to a fresh start, a clean slate and a second, third or five-hundredth chance… And as the countdowns begin and that big, bright new year draws closer and closer, we all respond a little differently.
I cry.
Every, single year I get choked up at midnight. As the ball drops in New York and loved ones yell “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!” that familiar lump begins to form in my throat as we mark the passing of another year and welcome in a new one.
There is something unspeakably powerful about the potential of a new year.
There are 365 days ahead of us. Some will be mundane and blend right in with every other day, while others will leave us irreversibly changed! All of them rich with opportunities to hear from God and experience his will being done, on earth as it is in heaven…
Whether we choose to numb or distract ourselves tonight or hyper-engage with the recognition of time passing… I believe there is a divine invitation being extended to each and every one of us.
An invitation to allow our hearts to be softened by the new things that God is doing; to have those callouses addressed and healed.
An invitation to begin rebuilding trust rather than furthering the gaps that have begun to form; to move one step closer to our Father rather than two steps away.
An invitation to expect great things from a faithful and true God in the year to come; to choose faith and trust over disbelief and cynicism.
None of us know all that 2022 will bring with it. What we DO know, is that we are held together by Jesus (Colossians 1:17). That goodness and mercy follow us every day of our lives (Psalm 23:6). That when we draw near to God, God draws near to us (James 4:8). And that our help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:2).
May we look back on 2021 and pour out praises for all that God has done.
May faith arise in 2022 as we learn to put our hope and trust in Him and Him alone.
Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
psalm 111, niv
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.