2017… What a year. Like many of you, my 2017 has had its highs and lows. The end of a year often makes us more reflective, so I have decided to share my thoughts on the year that has past and the year that is ahead.
When I was in Myanmar in 2014 on New Years Eve, the locals blessed each of my team members with a scripture verse to encourage us throughout the coming year. I often reflected on the verse I was given throughout 2015 and ever since then I have loved choosing a verse at the beginning of every year and letting it serve as an encouragement. My 2017 verse was Lamentations 3:22-25:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him”.
I have been reminded consistently of God’s steadfast love, mercy and faithfulness this year. Through the immense challenges and feeling at my lowest at the beginning of the year, I can confidently say I have experienced God’s victory, peace and joy. Those challenges taught me utter surrender and reliance upon God and I have come to appreciate God’s Word as my sword and strength. We understandably want to shy away from challenges and hardship, but they are often the catalysts that grow our dependency on God. Lisa Bevere writes it beautifully:
“Everything we need for life and godliness is truly found in the Word of God, but it is the trials of life that drive us to our knees so that this truth can be worked in and through our lives. In this posture, the Word of God is no longer read as suggestions for life’s best practices but as the very words of life”.
I also decided this year to have a gratitude jar and aimed to write everyday on a post it note something I was thankful for.
As I have spent time reading through each note today, I am reminded again of God’s faithfulness and His goodness in my life. Even in the the tough days, I always have something to be thankful for. This year I am so thankful for the community God has placed me in and specifically for my family and friends. I could not ask for a more encouraging support network, that have encouraged, loved, cried, laughed, challenged and believed in me this year. Relationships are so important and I am eternally grateful for the people God has placed in my life. Here are just a few of the wonderful people I get to share life with:
As I look forward to the year ahead, I am excited to develop relationships, new and existing. I cannot comprehend what 2018 will bring, but I wait in expectation of what God will do and know that He goes before me and will never leave nor forsake me. I hold fast to this as I prepare and step out to go on the world race this year.
My 2018 verse is Isaiah 55:11-12:
“…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace…”
