Right about now you may be enthusiastically experiencing the “newness” of 2022. You might be thinking about the goals and commitments you purposed for yourself this year. Perhaps you’ve chosen a word or a phrase to guide you or purchased a bright new day planner with the perfect vibrant print to help keep you motivated and organized in reaching your objectives. Or maybe you’re like me and while looking at the calendar this morning you wondered how it is that the first half of January passed you by while you’ve been digging out from under the chaos that was December. The good news is whether you’re excitedly charging ahead or exhaustedly crawling out from under the covers, God has much more to offer you than a new year.
I’ve never been one to set specific intentions for myself when the calendar rolls over each year. Probably because I know that when it comes to resolutions, I’m a way better breaker than a maker. It’s not that I don’t want to better my health or habits. But my tendency toward feeling overwhelmed when things don’t go according to plan does not reconcile well with the concept of resolutions. Admittedly I’ve too often allowed a stumble on the path to lead me entirely off course. And it’s uncomfortable to face the part of myself that’s a little too quick to throw her hands up and the towel in.
That’s the truth of my humanity, and it ain’t pretty. In fact, Isaiah 64 says that in and of myself the most righteous things about me are filthy rags. Fortunately for me, truth is what God seeks from me. He isn’t looking for me to become new every 365 days. His profoundly loving sacrifice made me new in one miraculous moment, and every day since that one is meant to be my continual pursuit of His truth. He calls me to keep moving forward in His direction, promising to be by my side in every confident stride as well as every shaky, stumbling step.
Reading the first chapter of Isaiah recently prompted me to look more closely at common attitudes and practices surrounding the new year. When God speaks to a people whose priorities are upside down – who value ritual over relationship with their Heavenly Father – I am compelled to examine my own intentions. Am I looking to better myself so that I can step more fully into becoming the person God created me to be, or to meet the standards of those around me? Is my desire to convince God how much I love Him or is it simply to love Him more? When faced with discomfort and difficulty, are my responses meant to glorify God or control outcomes?
The right answers to these and all the questions I ask myself are the true ones. And that’s the beauty of God’s grace. Instead of demanding perfection He asks for honest hearts. Instead of requiring that we become self-sufficient He invites us to lean into His care. Psalm 31:5 tells us exactly who He is, that we should put our trust in Him – “…thou hast redeemed me, Oh Lord God of truth.” So, as I look at what lies ahead for each of us, I pray that our thoughts and aspirations for the new year are rooted in hearts focused on a true year.
Carrie Joy(ful) 