A New Year opens up like the budding of a new blossom. Some blossoms are filled with a sweet fragrance. Some blossoms have large, colorful petals. Some blossoms unfurl with spots, scars from pest-infested days. And some blossoms open quickly, announcing their presence to the world, then suddenly the petals fall off in rapid succession. The memory of the flower is gone.

     We cannot predict how the New Year will unfold anymore than we can predict the unfurling of a blossom. Of course, with a blossom we have some control if we plant the shoot in fertile soil, feed it properly, pour water into the depths of its roots, and add a pesticide. But the New Year is beyond our control.

     Circumstances can bombard us and like unseen pests can gnaw away at the goals we set for this New Year. Or our health or the health of those we love could make a u-turn and suddenly the large, colorful life we were planning drops to the ground. Or without warning, a fierce trial that shakes our faith to its roots can leave us with shriveled petals in a season of drought.

     What a dismal outlook on a New Year you may say. Others are looking at the New Year as a time of hope and promise. And a New Year is a time of hope if we know where to place our trust–and our hand. With a well-intentioned heart and a firm promise to change ourselves this year, the best place to put our trust is in the Lord’s hand and His promise for us.

     The Lord has a firm grip on our hand and will not let anything or anyone snatch us out of His hand, regardless of how our New Year plans, resolutions, and days turn out. Knowing that He hangs onto to us even when we cannot hold on ourselves give me great peace and hope for the New Year.

     “and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30 New American Standard

     “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither height nor depth nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 35-39 NIV

     In these promises from God, I can breathe easy at the year ahead. He has me in His hand and won’t let go! Tweet This

     Some sisters-in-the Lord have been tweeting–No Fear New Year. Ann Voskamp and Beth Moore have found the security as we look ahead and move forward.

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Linking with: 3dlessons4life
Three Word Wednesday
Faith Filled Friday