Begin Again
“The year begins; and all its pages are as blank as the silent years of the life of Jesus Christ. Let us begin it with high resolution; then let us take all its limitations, all its hindrances, its disappointments, its narrow and common-place conditions, and meet them as the Master did in Nazareth, with patience, with obedience, putting ourselves in cheerful subjection, serving our apprenticeship.”
George Hodges (b. 1856)
We turn the last page of the calendar and take a deep breath, closing the “book” on all the disappointments, failures and heartache of the past weeks and months. Of course there were times of joy and blessing – but, for most of us, it is the places we feel we haven’t measured up that prick our hearts.
Another deep breath and then an exhale in relief – in the knowing we have a brand new year stretching out before us filled with possibilities and the opportunity to get it right. Perhaps we write them down, the list of resolutions we’re determined to carry through. Or perhaps we simply carry in our hearts the hopes and dreams we are determined to live out. Either way, we are thankful for the chance to begin again.
For a little while all goes well, but inevitably we do the very thing we resolved we wouldn’t do or we fail to do the things we longed to do. It probably isn’t our fault. Things just haven’t been going as planned. Our circumstances have made it so difficult to live out those well-intentioned resolutions.
It is at this point in the journey into the new year where we are faced with a choice. We can simply give it up as another failed effort and slip back into the old patterns. Or we can accept the mercy God so graciously offers and begin again. We can choose to extend grace to ourselves.
It’s wonderful to have a new year that brings with it the chance for a fresh start, but we have a Father who gives us that opportunity every morning. Instead of allowing discouragment to defeat us or failure to send us hurtling back down the way we’ve already come, we can wake to the tender invitation from a loving Father to walk into a new day free from the burden of yesterday’s losses.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Blessings,
Linda
Linda. I’m forgetting what is behind me and looking ahead, pressing in and trusting God to do something new! Good Word today!
So far, 2017 hasn’t been very kind to us. But I am thankful that God is walking with me through the struggles.