Happy New Year

Imagine new snow.
No one has set foot on it yet, marring its beauty.
No snow angels have been imprinted.
No tracks from a fast flying sled.

Imagine a fresh sheet of paper.
Lines begging to be filled with words.
Not a wrinkle or an elephant ear to be seen.
No smudge marks from a smeared pen.

Imagine a new pair of sneakers.
No scuff marks.
No worn down soles.
No dirty laces.

Imagine.

New snow means that no one has played in it yet.
New paper means that no one has written any thoughts or ideas.
New sneakers mean a new level of activity.

New.
Pristine.
Never used.
Never worn.

Imagine a new calendar.
No schedules.
No commitments.
No birthdays.
No anniversaries.

Yet.

No mistakes.
No regrets.
No sorrows.
No pain.

Yet.

As soon as we put our feet on the ground on New Year’s Day, it has begun.
The first footprint, the first thought or idea, the first of many activities.

The yet is now upon us.

Some dread putting up a new calendar.
Maybe the past year has been difficult.
Maybe a loved one has died.
Maybe an illness has been diagnosed.
Maybe we simply fear the unknown.

Maybe.
But God…

The New Year is His!
The old year was His!
Every year is His!

Turning over a new month on a calendar never surprises Him.
God is already there in our future.
God has been with us all along in our past.
God is constantly with us in our present.

God is outside the realm of time.
God created time for us, not for Him.
God is always in the now!

That is why we can trust Him with “then” because then is now to Him!

We can trust an unknown future to a known God, I once read.
We can!
We must!
We have nowhere else to go.

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him…On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware of what His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled Him.” From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:56, 61-69)

Lord, to whom shall we go?
Do you really trust the New Year to yourself?

Isn’t it comforting to know that you can hang up a new calendar and walk away?
Hang up a new calendar and say, It’s all right. God is already there!

God is in your January, February, March, and April.
He is already in your May, June, July, and August.
He is present in your September, October, November, and December.

Trials and sorrows.
Joys and laughter.
God is there.

You can trust Him.
Even in the difficult circumstances, you can trust Him.
To whom can you go?

Who else is sovereign over all?
Who else holds all He has created in His Hand?
Who else loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you?
Sent His Son so that you have a Way back to Him.

His unconditional Love is there in the New Year.
His constant presence is there in the New Year.
His salvation is there in the New Year.
He is there in the New Year.

It will be all right.
It will be more than all right.
Even if it is hard, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Trust Him!
A fresh New Year is waiting to be discovered.
Difficult?
Maybe.
But God is already there.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22,23)