How do you feel about going into a new year?
Some people love the feeling of a fresh start; new possibilities.
I sometimes feel like that, but, to be honest, a new year can stir up other things in me.
I can feel anxiety about what the new year will bring.
Perfectionism can highlight all the ways I failed in the past year, and ways I’ve already failed in this new one.
Goals can become burdens.
A new year can bring things into sharper highlight, and weigh me down.
Can you relate?
But I think God wants to encourage me with something else.
He has been reminding me that His promises go with His people into the new year, and He will be faithful to His children in Christ.
Looking back into the old year, how many of the things I worried about were actually worth worrying about? How many of the things I dreaded actually happened?
God’s love has never been dependent on my perfect performance… even at the beginning of January, when I am already falling short. My acceptance before Him is based on the perfect performance of His Son in my place (and that’s the case for anyone who will trust in Jesus as Saviour and follow Him as Lord, and you can do that, too!).
Going into 2023, I think God wants to encourage me with His unfailing love. His grace, covering my failure. His promises, providing security and hope for whatever comes, as I trust in Him and follow Him.
His love, promising abundant comfort and mercy for whatever each new day holds, including today.
It’s not about me. It never has been.
And His love surrounds me as I go into this new year, with abundant promises for whatever it holds.
So I can take the pressure off, and breathe a sigh of relief, because of the love of God!
Caroline Abblitt 