“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33, NLT
Do you ever have a dream? A wonderful dream that you know it’s your God-given purpose to pursue?
And you just know that you need to start in the new year. Because, by some miracle, the New Year started at the beginning of a new week. How perfect is that?
So, you make a big list on December 31st of all the things you hope you’ll accomplish. All the things that the New Year will bring.
But then, life gets in the way.
Plans get disrupted, and oh, life gets frustrating.
I had these goals I was chasing, these things I was so confident were right, but life got in the way. Or, another way to put it, I’ve been attacked at every angle. A big life goal, a moving situation, my health (which led to my trip since I’d planned since 2020 – cancelled), my sweet pup (she’s well now), my finances, my life (snowbirds in Florida can’t drive, y’all), my water (my water cooler somehow internally combusted), my family, my mind, even my computer (and with that, my profession).
Every angle.
January 2024 has been a doozy.
I haven’t handled it that well. I’ve said things. I’ve shook my fist (metaphorically…most of the time). I’ve gotten really frustrated and asked the questions why.
But, unfortunately for the one doing the attacking, these things brought me to a place of surrender. Somewhat begrudgingly. Somewhat frustratingly, and definitely asking why.
But surrender. Not to the enemy. Not to turning my back on the King of Kings.
But surrender to the one who holds my life in the palm of His hand.
Everything I thought I knew, that I thought I desired, has been brought before me and put on trial the last 31 days. It’s helped me realized what goals are important: Health. Family. Health for my pup. Wisdom. Safety (again, defensive driving in Florida is a necessity).
Most of all, Jesus. Through everything, Jesus. Surrendering every last drop of it to Jesus.
Because I am a mess without Him. I have no hope without Him.
I had this physical situation that really did scare me, where I thought I was at the end of my rope, but He showed me, in His own spectacularly gloriously merciful way, that He sees me. I had a financial situation that had me really frustrated because of injustice, but you know what? He still provides. He’s kept me safe so many times.
Lots of bad, heartbreaking, horrible, awkward things happened in January. But Jesus brought me through it and rescued me, calmed my fears, and gave me hope.
There are certain things I’ll need to work on every day, that I’ll never stop praying for. But Jesus has those.
He has me. He holds me in His hands. He is my Refuge.
I know the areas I need to work on, to pray on, to pray for. I do not know a lot of things. But I know Jesus.
The enemy might come before me one way, but the enemy has been defeated, and in Jesus’ Name he has to flee seven ways (Deuteronomy 28:7).
But, praise God, it’s not my job to worry about the enemy. It’s my honor to worship the God who sees me. Who calls me His. Who reminds me that I am not alone, that He’s with me, and, because of Jesus and His perfect work on the cross, there is hope, healing, and eternity.
So while my 2024 did not start as I intended, my Savior brought me through each problem I faced. I truly saw His hand, His rescue, His protection, in the ways He rescued me.
January, I think you made a warrior out of me.
I can’t wait to see what Jesus has in store for the rest of this year.
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