New Year’s Steppin’

“It’s been a tough year.”

Either you find yourself saying this, or everyone around you is saying it.

The truth is…well…that is the truth. It’s been a tough year, following a tough year, and if we are honest with ourselves, the following year doesn’t exactly look all that promising to be much different.

And I don’t need to give details, because you know them already. You’re likely living them, and/or those around you are living them. And unless you live under a rock, you’re likely sick of hearing it too.

Well, so am I.

A wise one once said:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick;

Proverbs 13:12a [ESV]

As this holiday season comes to pass, my heart has become a little sick because all everyone wants to talk about is the global pandemic. It’s exhausting, and I think I speak for all of us when I say enough is enough.

I can’t help but wonder how we’re supposed to enter into the new year with hearts full of love, joy, peace, and hope when we are so consumed with all things pandemic-related.

I know it’s tough. People are hurt because pain and frustration are at an all-time high.

I know it’s rough. People are burnt because truth and trust are hard to find anymore.

So, what does this new year look like for us then? How do we step into 2022 with the right focus? The right mindset? The right worldview? The right anything?

Perhaps it begins with that little flicker of hope – like the pilot light on your gas furnace.

Believe it when you’re told the light in your life has not gone out.

Jesus Christ is still sovereign over all.

The Holy Spirit still dwells within you.

God the Father has a plan of redemption for all His people – that’s you and me!

And although our hearts may be a little sick due to our hope deferred, the wise one also said:

But a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12b [ESV]

God’s plans for you and for me are still in motion.

When He says, ‘walk on water,’ you confidently step out of the boat.

When He says, ‘turn the other cheek,’ you humbly turn to them the other.

When He says, ‘trust me,’ you do so with all your heart and stop leaning on your own understanding.

Our desire in life as followers of Jesus Christ ought to be lives lived trusting and obeying our faithful, promise keeping God.

If we can shift our focus away from the hope deferred as a result of the past 22 months, and begin focusing once again on the promises that God offers us through His word – promises that fulfill our desires – this coming year can be dramatically different for us all.

If I was to offer a word to us, the body of Christ, for the coming year, it would be this:

Step into love like you’ve never been hurt before.

Step into trust like you’ve never been burnt before.

Tedashii

Dust off your Bible and dig into the Word of God like never before, and pray as if Jesus could come back any second now.

Regain the love, joy, peace and hope that you once knew before this global pandemic snuck into your heart and made you sick.

The enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy, but God came to this world in the flesh through Jesus Christ, so that we may have life, and have it abundantly and eternally.

May 2022 be the year where you defy the odds and experience all that God has for you!

One love, y’all!

—

dh.