Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

Hope for 2012

By Guest Blogger January 4, 2012 Hope

The New Year comes with a mix of emotions for me. I lost a cousin who was more like a sibling and my last remaining great grandparent, but I also saw God’s Word come to life at my fingertips, had the awesome opportunity to teach a Bible study with a Pastor I love and respect, attended a Christian writing and speaking conference in the heat of North Carolina and made some new friends. If I were forced to describe 2011 with one word, it would be bittersweet.

Not very Christian, right?

I know. I know, joy in all circumstances.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” – James 1:2 (ESV)

So maybe joy should have been my word for 2011. Unfortunately, that would have been a lie. While God was gracious enough to give me peace in the passing of two relatives that I lived with as a child, there was still sorrow in the loss. Sorrow for the mother that lost a mother and a child in less than a month. Sorrow for our family that had already lost so many relatives to cancer. But mostly, sorrow that I was not confident that each and every member of my family knows Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

So, this year, I prayed for a word before life – circumstances – my own frailty and weaknesses – determine it for me. I’ve seen many a Christian friend posting their words on Facebook and their blogs and there is a joy that comes with seeing God answer their prayers.

But, as I prayed about this “word” I wanted from God, I was reminded that He has given me many over my short life as a Christ follower. He has given me “special” when I felt “different,” “peace” when I felt “chaos” from the world, and “world changer” when I felt there was nothing He could use me for. He reminded me that His Word is in me, with me in His Spirit, available to guide me and give me comfort. He reminded me that He left us all the Spirit of the Word of God – of Christ Himself as the Holy Spirit is ever present in our lives. And He reminded me that His Word, the Bible, is there for me, with the right words for anything this world can dish out.

And that gave me hope.

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” – Psalm 39:7 (ESV)

My hope is in Christ.

Hope for a lost world. Hope for all my family members to come to know Christ. Hope that I will be a more vocal witness to them and to the ends of the world.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.” – Matthew 28: 19-20 (NIV)

I leave you with this thought:

What else matters but the salvation of the world? What else matters but that we have everlasting life? Nothing here – not food, not shelter, not wealth, not what we conceive as beauty – is more important than the life yet to come in Christ… both here and in eternity.

In that, I find hope. Where does your hope lie?

5 thoughts on “Hope for 2012”

  3. LaurieLaurie Adams

    Niccol, thank you so much for sharing directly from your heart. I also had much loss in 2011 but thru it all God was faithful. Praying that 2o12 will bring much joy and comfort to you! ((hugs))