At first I thought a great word for 2016 would be prosperity. I hope 2016 will be a year of financial success for my family's future, immediate family of me, Ben, and Emmalyn referred to here. But not only financially but also a time of growth as we make a new town our home and work to find our place in this community. 2015 was a year of struggles and change, but also a year of growth. God tells us that He will never give us challenges that He has not already equipped us to handle. He also says that every challenge will come with growth, and ain't that the truth! So after a year of struggles and change, I saw 2016 as a year of potential that could lead to prosperity. After further reflection I realized I wanted more for 2016 than just prosperity. I realized I was forgetting such a key aspect that a prosperous year was doomed before it even begun.
So I look forward to 2016 as a year of Promise. A year that will remind me of the promise that God made to His people over and over throughout time-'I am with you.' God has already promised my family a prosperous future if I promise to faithfully follow Him. What an extraordinary thing to strive for in 2016! Granted, I must also remember that this does not mean life will always be sunshine and rainbows. God does not promise an easy life, but He does promise a prosperous life to His followers. I must remember God's promise extends to the amazing times of life when the road is flat and one can see miles ahead and God's promise extends to the rough terrains in life where my energy and strength will be tested to its limits.
If I am faithful though, God promises to be there with me. He will not leave me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6). He will guide my steps when the mountain becomes too steep. Psalm 37:23-24 says, "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand (NIV)." One of my favorite books in the Bible is Job. For those who are unaware of Job's story I highly recommend reading it! Job was a man after God's own heart. He followed Him devoutly. The road for Job was straight with prairies as far as the eye could see. No mountains in sight. He lived a life of sunshine and rainbows. Then one day Satan decided he wanted to play a game with God that Satan could make Job curse God. God allowed Satan to do his best to change Job's mind, except he had to spare Job's life. Don't believe me? Check it out in Job 2 ! The book chronicles Satan's attempts to make Job curse God, and yet to Satan's dismay Job never did. Each trial made Job praise God more. What a testimony for me to live up to! At the end of the book in Chapter 42, verses 1-6, Job says this, and my verses for the year,
Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
The best part of the book comes next. Read it for yourself here: Job's Epilogue
I give my family up to God in 2016 and pray for a year to see God's plan for my family's life. I know it will not be easy, but that is fine with me. I also know that I can never glimpse the full splendor of God's creation if I cannot put forth the effort to climb the mountain to the very top where I can survey the majesty He has graciously laid out before me. I know God will not give me more than I can handle. I am ready to live out the promise that God is with me, my family, and our future and is working to weave us into the tapestry of His future. I look forward to the adventures and the climbs that await us in 2016.
