The clock strikes midnight and just as Ryan Seacrest announces that it is in fact going to be a “Happy New Year”, the illustrious technicolor ball of light crashes to the ground in Times Square! It is at this moment that we decide that the page is blank, that the slate is clean, that it is time for a new beginning. As we enter into the new year, we are fueled by the passion of radical resolutions and exhilarating goals. But 15 days into the new year what happens to our fire? In month four, why is our follow through absent and our mission still unaccomplished?
I believe that it is because we become discouraged.
We don’t see immediate results. The glamour of hard work for little return wears off. A complication arises and derails our perfect plan. We lose sight of the destination due to life’s fog.
But what if we pause for a moment? What if instead of looking forward into the daunting unknown of the future, we glean the hope and the encouragement that can only come from giving thanks for our past?
I was recently challenged to write a letter to myself- a letter from my current self to myself in the place that I was three years ago.
Dear Me,
You are exactly where you need to be right now. The tension that you are feeling, the desire for the “something more” that is burning within you, the dreams that are swimming around in your head…all of those things are stretching you to prepare you for the crazy adventure that God has planned for you. There is in fact more to life than working at a job that you can’t stand. There is a man that will make you feel beautiful, pursued, and cherished. There is redemption in the relationship with your family. The promise that God brings you from glory to glory is true. God is faithful. Over the next three years He will walk you into more freedom than you would ever think could be possible. Freedom from anxiety. Freedom from the lie of unworthiness. Freedom from codependency. He will grant you freedom in worship. You will be pushed outside of your comfort zone, you will experience heartbreak, you will find yourself on your knees in prayer. But it is in that place that God will meet you. It is in your weaknesses that the Lord will be your strength. You will be blown away by God’s provision and by the beauty of His creation all over the world. You will learn that love doesn’t need words. Love needs action. You will learn what it means to have healthy community and that you can be vulnerable with people and trust them. God is inviting you to dance with Him, to go on an unpredictable, romantic, and wild journey with Him. All that you have to do… is go!
Love,
Me
The revelation of joy and peace that was unlocked after reflecting on God’s faithfulness in my past has given me immeasurable hope for my future! God is so good!
This year my resolution is to give thanks to God for His redemption. To keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. To trust in His goodness. To abide in His faithfulness. I will stand firm on His promise to continually bring me from glory to glory.
What would you write in a letter to your former self? I challenge you to try it! You never know what new hope could be found in the triumphs of your past! Perhaps the Lord is waiting to give you a powerful New Years resolution!
Be encouraged! With God, today will be better than yesterday, and this year even greater than the last!
I am so excited to be home in less than two weeks! I can’t wait to see all of your beautiful faces…and just in time for Christmas! Love you guys!
<3 Cassie
