If we’ve learned anything in the last couple of years, it’s that life is uncertain. The plans we make are reflections of our desires. But often, our desires and reality are not the same. My dreams can encounter interruptions, delays, -- even defeat.
I recognize that sometimes my yearnings are not necessarily God’s longings for me.
I want to think that this New Year will be better, more prosperous, more fulfilling, less traumatic, and more “certain” than what we’ve encountered the last couple of years.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m not a pessimist. But how does one accurately predict -- with certainty -- the future?
I’m a planner. At the end of each year, I reflect on my goals and accomplishments made during the year. I prayerfully write my goals and objectives for the New Year. However, I can analyze, scrutinize, and summarize my conclusions about what I think will happen this coming year.
But I cannot control or forcibly “will” my desires to become a reality. But I can trust that God’s desires will come to fruition.
The wisdom of Proverbs reminds us:
“Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. - Proverbs 27:1 (The Message)
James writes concerning our plans:
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that’.” - James 4:13–15 (NRSV)
I pray your desires and plans for this year reflect God’s desire for you. And I want to encourage you with the words of the Psalmist:
“Trust in [God] at all times. Pour out your heart before him; [because] God is a refuge for [you]” - Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
May you have a blessed New Year!