Hope in the New Year

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

Although a goal-oriented type of guy—I love check-off lists and passed along that trait to my daughter—I stopped making New Year resolutions a long time ago. 

Since I set goals throughout the year, I wondered what the point of relegating them to one day was. And then, too, the statistics of keeping them aren’t too encouraging. Many are broken within a short period. Hours. Days. Weeks. But failing to make goals on one day doesn’t mean everything has gone well throughout the year. 

Not to be pessimistic, but weak, tired, exhausted, and disgusted are adjectives that describe most previous years for any of us. Life happens. We get weak from sicknesses or diseases for which there is no cure or that seem to last too long. We grow weak and tired emotionally from working to meet financial responsibilities and still don’t have enough money to pay the bills—or buy groceries. We tire of studying for the degree, tire of writing, tire of the rejection letters, tire of editing, and tire of the late-night or early-morning hours. We get exhausted from having to care for loved ones who can’t fend for themselves, and we detest going to a job we don’t like. (Well, that sounds a little pessimistic after all.)

But Isaiah gives hope…and the key for a fresh start to a new year. “Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31 NLT).

Trusting in the Lord probably won’t make all—and maybe not any—of the stressors disappear. I trust Him, but the rejection letters still come. Sometimes, God takes the frustrations away… sometimes, He doesn’t. 

But trusting in God gives us strength beyond ourselves—fortitude we can’t muster on our own. The new strength comes from remembering He is in control—of the devotion, the article, the manuscript. He has come through for us in the past, and He will again. Perhaps not in the way we want or imagine, but come through He will.

That trust will cause us to rise above the trials and disappointments like an eagle soaring above the obstacles that would restrict her flight. Not all our writing will be rejected—and even if it is, we shouldn’t stop. 

Whatever the nature of the disappointment, God can enable us to soar when ordinarily we would crash and burn. We will run the race of life without being emotionally, physically, or spiritually exhausted. We will walk through every day, with all that it brings, without falling. Even with peace…and a smile. 

God never promised an easy life, but He will give us hope for every year when we look to Him. Put your hope in God this year, not things or people.

TWEETABLE

Hope in the New Year, encouragement from Martin Wiles, @LinesFromGod on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Martin Wiles is the founder of Love Lines from God (www.lovelinesfromgod.com) and serves as Managing Editor for Christian Devotions, Senior Editor for Inspire a Fire, and Proof Editor for Courier Publishing. He has authored six books and has been published in numerous publications. His most recent book, DON'T JUST LIVE...REALLY LIVE, debuted in October of 2021. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, author, and pastor.