Does the thought of 2018 fill you with excitement? Dread? Fear?
Staring at a blank calendar for next year, I began to fill in important dates. Birthdays, doctor appointments, end of school (!)
I wonder what the next year holds. Our family has experienced some challenging years recently and I sincerely pray for a year of rest. I recall the year I received a cancer diagnosis. I remember the year downsizing affected us personally. I recollect the year we were told our unborn baby probably had a severe illness.
When you have lived through enough New Year’s you might approach another year with great uncertainty.
Yet, we know the One who holds that year in the palm of His hand. Nothing, nothing, happens to us outside His command.
He may not have originally authored our troubles, but for some reason He allows them. He weaves challenging circumstances into good, as only God can do.
I survived cancer, with less than a ten percent chance, I am here almost ten years later. Another job and a different career was found and it turned out to be a true blessing for our family. That baby we prayed over constantly was born completely healthy and is our vibrant ten-year-old daughter today.
As I look at the new calendar I know many important dates are not yet known for me to fill them in. Yet God knows them right now. He knows what this year holds. He knows how He will grow us, stretch us and hold us.
He knows all the concerns, and stress-filled moments that will come. He also knows all the surprising joys and love-filled minutes that will be the highlights of our New Year.
He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a future with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 is God’s promise to hold us and carry us through whatever life may throw at us. It is an often quoted verse, but if you have known it well for years, don’t the familiarity dilute the promise.
God does have plans for each one of us. Plans to help each one of us grow in Him. Plans of great gifts He wishes to bestow upon His children. Some gifts we may recognize immediately. Other we might not see the blessing in for quite some time.
But trust in His promise. Hold Him to it. He won’t let you down!
As you anticipate your upcoming year, rest in knowing whatever this year holds, God’s got this! And, He’s got you!