For the past couple years, I have chosen a single word at the beginning of the calendar year and made it my theme for that year. It’s like making a new year’s resolution; and not unlike a resolution, I forget all about the word in just a couple months.
Just recently I remembered (only because God prompted me) to look back at my word for this year.
Wow, God is funny.
My word for this year: commitment.
When I picked that word in January, committing to the World Race was not on my mind. But God, in His sovereignty, knew what this year would hold. Even though I was oblivious. And God, in His faithfulness, made this year’s theme “commitment,” even when I was unfaithful and forgot the word entirely. God has continued to work in my life even when I am completely undeserving. What a testimony to His grace, love, and faithfulness.
And it is God’s faithfulness that has been ever-present in my life since committing to the World Race journey. His faithfulness is what brings me assurance. Assurance is a sense of confidence, a promise that I am on the right path even when it’s crazy and unimaginable. God’s continuous movement in my life brings me increasing assurance that the World Race is where He has called me.
Check out 1 Peter 1:3-12 for more on assurance.
Through faith in Jesus, anyone can have an assurance of their eternity in heaven, along with a confidence in God’s protection here on earth. Through this assurance we have hope, peace, and joy. We no longer have to worry about eternity; we can rest in the promise of heaven. We can abound in joy because we know that no matter our current circumstances, one day we will experience an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance. We will reach the ultimate Promised Land. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had to wait, wander, and walk in faith for 40 years before reaching their promised land. Like the Israelites, the journey to our promised land will not be easy. Life will be hard and the unexpected will happen, but continue to trust in God and rest in His assurance. Even though we can’t see the promised land now, we can still be confident that one day we will reach it (Hebrews 11:1).
