Start the New Year with Hope!

Dear Friends in Christ:
As God’s people we can face another New Year with the hope that our faith in Jesus Christ gives us.

I share a real-life story with you:

Sarah blew out he candles on her cake—all 35 of them. Her coworkers had planned this surprise party for her. But as she blew the candles out, she thought to herself: “This is not how I envisioned my life at age 35.” She thought back to her college graduation, when she and Immanuel were still dating, when they were still talking about marriage and kids and a lifetime together. Now, it had been three years since they’d broken up, and she hadn’t even gone on a date since then.

Sarah had imagined that by age 35, she would have been married for at least 5 years, have 2 kids, and have started her career as a school administrator. But Sarah’s dreams hadn’t come to reality. And without a husband, Sarah envisioned a difficult road to travel. She had to re-consider her life plans and figure out how to find a different way to the goals and life experiences that she wanted. Would Sarah be a foster parent? Adopt? Mentor a young girl? Babysit? Whatever choices she made, Sarah had to travel another road.

What about you? Have there been times when you thought you had life all planned out, then suddenly a roadblock appeared? Have there been times when you thought you knew exactly what to do, but suddenly encountered a tree in the road? What do you do when your best-laid plans cannot come to pass and you must travel another road? In such circumstances, you could be paralyzed by fear and forced into inaction, or you can let that roadblock lead you to a new path, a different road, a fresh way.

In this New Year, write these words of truth, from God’s Word in your mind:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:5)

Let us pray:
“God, guide us in all of our ways. Especially when we face roadblocks or detours in life, show us the best path to take. Help us to see when it is time to change our plans, or to give up what we once hoped for. Help us to see how we can take another road. Amen.”

—Pastor David Fetter
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