It’s a New Year! It’s a new day! And time for a grand new adventure! I️ love how God doesn’t allow us to remain stagnant, like a smelly, dead pond with moss growing on the top and a multitude of mosquitoes looming nearby. No, instead, our lives are like a river where life abounds.
Each day is full of treasure awaiting us to discover God’s goodness. For God’s peace is like a river (Isaiah 48:18), constantly flowing regardless of what life may bring our way. The kind of peace that God provides is authentic rest and tranquility. Come what may, the peace of God surpasses our understanding. A supernatural peace that is calm in the midst of lions (Daniel 6), thankful in the prison cell (Acts 16:16-40), trusting when confronted by a giant (1 Samuel 17), and resolute when the outcome looks dim (Joshua 24:15).
When all else fails, we can trust that God will remain faithful! Furthermore, He will do what He says He will do. Hence, I️ can stop putting my trust in my effort, my ability, my bank account, my health, my intellect, and my kids because this is not where the joy is. True joy comes from heaven above. True peace comes from believing God’s story is being revealed just as He planned. Nothing surprises God. Similarly, pain is never wasted.
When hurt meets healing is a holy thing, accomplished only by the hand of God. It often comes with the passing of time as we change our perspective. Rather than focusing on the negative, we begin to see God’s goodness at work to sanctify us amid hard things. We start to see that God is doing a new thing. He is providing a way in the wilderness. Additionally, He is lighting our path.
So Remember,
- Look to see God working in your life! He is always working. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I” (John 5:17).
- Be thankful for your current circumstance. God can turn anything around. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
- Search for signs of His loving Presence. “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
In closing, today is a new day! God is doing a new thing! Move forward, not backward. Do not dwell on the past, but take a step ahead to a fresh start!
“But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.