How do you feel about a new year? Hopeful? Excited? Maybe a bit pressured? Panicked? Or even full of dread?
Part of me likes the fresh start, but part of me is always a bit afraid of the things that might happen in the year ahead.
To be honest, I can sometimes find myself looking at a new year and feeling twinges of fear, discouragement and failure before the new year has even properly begun.
But I was praying recently and realised something: As a child of God through Jesus, when I feel a strong sense of worry, or discouragement, or oppressive fear, it’s very unlikely to be from God!
Lately, to be honest, I’ve been feeling an oppressive sense of discouragement about sharing encouragement on this website, or in my songs. Telling me it’s hopeless. Telling me I should just stop. When I listen to the discouragement, it can feel so strong: like it’s trying to strangle my creativity. I’ve been feeling it for a while, actually, and it’s begun to feel pretty normal. But it suddenly hit me the other day: isn’t this strong, oppressive sense of discouragement likely to be coming from the enemy? Of course, God is quite capable of redirecting me, or convicting me, or guiding me in a different direction. And He’s welcome to. But this wasn’t that. The Lord’s leading is kind, and wise, and loving. The Lord loves to encourage me, and give me hope. Whereas this was just strong, strangling discouragement. And I suddenly realised that it was probably coming from the enemy. Which means that I don’t need to listen to it!
And I began to realise that similar things can come in other areas, too.
It reminded me of a time a while ago when I was preparing to step out in ministry, and I needed God’s financial provision. I began to get very worried about it, and began to lose hope. But, one day as I was praying and journalling, I noticed that the discouragement was SO STRONG. It felt so hopeless. Again, it felt like it was strangling me. And I suddenly realised that the oppressive sense of hopelessness was probably coming from the enemy. So I stood against it. I prayed. I looked to the Lord. And, over time, it began to lift. And yes, God’s provision came. Amazingly, abundantly and on time! There really had been no truth in the discouraging lies!
I’m beginning to notice similar things in other areas, too.
A strong sense of fear about the future.
Fear that things will go wrong with something God has asked me to do.
Fear about what might meet me along the road in this new year.
Even fear when I’m driving on a fast road in my car (which is something I’ve battled with for years).
And I’m realising that, as a child of God through Jesus, the oppressive fear, discouragement and hopelessness I’ve been chased by are likely to be coming from the enemy.
Yes, the Bible tells me that there are trials in this life. No, God doesn’t promise me that everything will go perfectly in this broken world. But He DOES promise me His grace, His provision, His strength and His help. He DOES give me many AMAZING promises as His child through faith in Jesus.
And He encourages me to be strong, be courageous and step forward in faith.
Belonging to Him through Christ (and you can, too- find out more here), I have every reason to be confident, whether or not the road is easy.
The past few days, it’s been a bit of a breakthrough: realising that strong emotions of despair, oppressive fear and discouragement are NOT something I need to listen to as I look into this new year!
And I think God wants me to see through the discouragement and lies of the enemy, stand against them with His truth and move forward into 2024 with positivity, hope and faith!
Happy New Year, everyone! And I hope these thoughts encourage you, too! 🙂
Caroline Abblitt 