Your Best Year Yet?

As I was scrolling through Google images for an image to use in this week’s church bulletin, I noticed how many churches had created slogans and images for their New Year’s services.  A number of those slogans ran along the lines of, “Your Best Year Yet!” And, I thought to myself, how do they know that? Will that be true for everyone in that congregation?  Will it be true for anyone? 

I don’t want to sound pessimistic as we step into this New Year, but as much as we’d all like to believe that 2017 will be our best year yet, that may or may not be true.  Oh, for some it may be: this may be the year of your graduation, new job, engagement, marriage, birth of a child, a promotion at work, a year of travel, etc.  Some of us just may experience a year unlike any other we have had thus far in a very, very positive way.  It just may be for some of us our best year yet! 

Unfortunately, however, that may not be true for everyone.  For some of us it may be a year of struggle, sickness, the breaking of a relationship, disappointment, loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, etc.  There have been times when I’ve begun a new year with the best of expectations only to enter a year that became, for one reason or another, a very, very difficult year.  Not every year has been my best year yet!  I suspect such has been the case for most of us. 

So, how ought we enter this New Year? Do we step into it filled with complete optimism, fully believing that this will be our best year yet, in spite of the fact that it may not be? Or, do we step into it filled with pessimism, even fearful of what may come our way?  I would offer an alternative to both. 

In the end, it’s not about whether our year turns out to be a good one or a bad one, but about whether or not we can believe that the One who said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” will be true to His word.  Can we trust God to be with us at all times and help us through all things?  Will we know his presence at work in our lives through both the good times and the difficult times that this year may bring our way? 

I want to encourage you today to step into this New Year filled with faith, confidence, and courage not because you want to believe that this will be your best year yet, but because you know you have a heavenly Father who sees you, loves you, and will care for you each step of the way.   

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-30 – NIV) 

Have a great day and a happy and blessed New Year!

Pastor Tim Harris