By: Donna Clark
…and immediately another year had passed and a new one lay before us. Many celebrations took place with all the hoopla one could afford. The ball dropped in Times Square, and an endless sea of people were rejoicing, looking forward to new adventures, great opportunities, and fresh beginnings.
I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, but I usually feel a bit of relief to see a new year unfolding before me. It’s a time for me to mentally wipe clean the prior year slate — worn, dirty, and crammed full of all the demands, thrills, struggles the year had held — envisioning a fresh, clean slate now before me, a time to start over. I see Father Time, exhausted and worn, on his way out, presenting us a newborn, sporting his sash representing the year he’s ushering in, innocent and peaceful, bringing new life. This new child stirs a hope and energy inside us.
In some ways it seems a relief to see the old go, but in reality, the clock just ticked one more second, another page flipped on the calendar, one more day came. The things that were present in the old year have rolled over into the new. The health issue still exists, the pain of a struggling relationship remains, the debts have not been canceled, and the demands of life did not disappear. No magic wand was waved and all became new. I don’t want to dampen any excited spirits over the beginning of a new year; I’d like to do the complete opposite. I want to give those who have seen all the old year’s woes rolling into the new a fresh perspective. Let me remind you there is hope for all the unknowns. That hope will come from a source that is true and steadfast, no matter what the burden may be.
As a believer in Jesus, we are promised a life covered under the protection of God in which NOTHING can separate us from His love. Rest knowing that no matter what hardship you face, God is your provider and protector! For the believer, God has given us so many promises, words that are true and unchanging. In Psalm 46:1 we are given this assurance, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The refuge, the protection, is found in God and His strength and He enables us with that strength to endure the difficult situations that we face. I love the later part of that verse, “…a very present help in trouble.”
Many times, when facing hardships, we reach out to others and the Bible encourages us to do just that, reach out to those who are strong in their faith in God. However, there is only so far one can go with us and only so much one can do when we are struggling, our ultimate help comes only from God. He is all knowing, full of wisdom, sees and understands us better than anyone can, even better than we understand ourselves. And He is always present. He doesn’t have other commitments to take His focus from us. He doesn’t distance Himself from us because the problem we’re facing is too complicated. He never tires of hearing our cries. He is there, always present, never leaving. We must place our full trust in Him.
As much as we want our problems solved, to just totally disappear, sometimes God protects us in the form of peace and strength in the middle of despair. As humans, we want to see God as a magic force field that keeps us from all harm. Yes, God can prevent any evil or destruction, but we must remember that we live in a fallen world where evil abounds. Many times, God works in ways that we do not understand. Other times, God’s protection comes as an ending because he sees something on the horizon that we cannot see. However God chooses to work in our difficulties, we must know that He is working all things for our good, according to Romans 8:28. We are reminded to commit our ways to Him, trust in Him, and He will act on our behalf. We are to find our happiness, joy, in Him (Psalm 37:4-6).
In saying goodbye to the year of 2025 and all it held for us, let me leave you with this prayer for the new upcoming year of 2026: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).
Blessings,
Donna Clark
