New Year New Choices
It is easy to reflect on the things that happened over the last year ; Celebrities who created waves around the world, natural disasters, political figures who were toppled, and television and music icons who died. It’s less easy however to reflect on ourselves and take a long hard look at our past behaviours and those close to us to see the effect they had on our personal happiness and well-being.
Some of us may have got the job of our dreams, or bought a house or a car,
travelled to some exotic location or achieved some goal we have been dreaming about for years. For many of us however, there is the heavy burden of debt: credit cards, mortgages, high interest loans and overdrafts all of which keeps us constantly imprisoned in bands of fear, desperation and anxiety.
For some of us it may be the disappearance of certain hopes and dreams for the future with the break-up of a marriage or other significant relationship. Some of us hurt so deeply that we promise ourselves never to get that close to anyone again. Others will attempt to come to grips with the fresh grief of losing a loved one while others will attempt to cope with the deep despair, shock and unending fear of finding ourselves or someone close to us faced with an illness for which there is no cure. The start of a new year in these cases can just seem to be a continuation of the problems we had in the previous year and instead of hope, we feel powerless, scared, and sometimes angry at what life throws at us.
In the midst of all these problems, there is a ray of hope, there is a being who knows more about each and everyone of us than anybody else on the planet. He is sometimes referred to as God or Jesus. Some people simply use the word higher being, however these phrases all boil down to one thing, a deity who can do things that we can only imagine, someone who will be there for us when we have run out of all available avenues for help. This person can help you because he has promised that He will be with us through the darkest times. I know it sounds impossible but you don’t have to take my word for it. Why don’t you try him yourself. Tell him what your hopes are, tell him your problems, and express your anger to him if you want but just talk to him, and see if he comes through for you. If he does then you learn that you can rely on him.
What do you have to lose?
Absolutely nothing. You may not have a lot of faith but don’t worry He said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Why not just pray and ask him to increase your faith. This year amidst all the resolutions and promises you make, try to include this one, which is simply to try God, that is all, I am not asking you to join a church or give all your savings to charity or preach on the road, just try him in whatever way you choose and see what unfolds.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.”
Psalm 34:8-9 (NLT)