Have you ever heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, if I am honest that is how I might be feeling just a little bit about this new year. 2019 was a great year overall for me and my family. I have had years when I felt that I was trapped in a wilderness with no way out. In 2019, in many ways, after years of wandering from one trial to another, I came to a clearing in my wilderness.

My health was better than in past years. God closed the door on my previous business, and blessed me with the start of a new, less stressful business. My kids were all doing great. God brought my daughter in law and my father in law safely through health crises. There were two graduations in 2019 in our family. My husband and I got to spend quality time together in 2019 traveling and doing things we love. God healed a troubled relationship and answered more prayers for us than we can ever thank Him enough for.

The mountains God has moved in my life through the years have been huge. While I have not been surprised that He has done it, I am always amazed at the grandeur of the miracles He performs in my life. Life is so much more incredible than fiction ever could be, and that has certainly been true in my life.

Now to the new year … do I believe He sustains me and guides me, and that He will continue to do so? Absolutely. He always has. He always will. Let’s just say, I have been loving romping in the glory of this mountaintop that He has brought me to—the mountaintop that I have longed to be on for so many years. I am so thankful for it!

I also know that …”to whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48) I owe God so much. He has brought me through so much and done so much for me. He is calling me to more, to do more, to be more for Him. Maybe you are hearing that same call.

I believe that we go through seasons in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” I have heard preachers say that we are either going into a storm, in the middle of a storm, or coming out of one.

Whether you had the best year ever in 2019, or your worst year yet, time has come to turn the page. No matter what our circumstances are, one thing is certain. They will change. We can embrace the changes, or we can go kicking and screaming. Either way, change will come.

I believe that God’s ultimate plan for His children is that we become more like Jesus. I want that for myself more than anything. And just because we cannot become exactly like Jesus, that doesn’t stop God from chipping away at anything in our lives that is not like Jesus. Boy, does that hurt because there is so much that’s not like Jesus still in me. Sometimes there are lessons that can only be learned through the trials of life. He loves us too much not to keep molding us into the image of His Son until the day that we go to meet Him in Heaven.

Sometimes trials come just because we live in a fallen world. Sometimes we bring hard times on ourselves through the choices we make. Life changes. Life changes us.

One thing never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” And no matter what comes, we can rely on Jesus to help us through it all. As Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” He is faithful, and He loves us more than we can ever imagine. He is more than able to carry us through any circumstance, good or bad. He is always working all things for the good of His children and for His glory.

Ready or not, here it comes.

It is time to take off the old year of 2019, and put on the new year of 2020. You might say, “Oh, no!” You might say, “Oh, yes, finally!” Whatever God has planned for us for 2020 will be perfect, simply because He is. Whatever we face, we can face with Him.

So take a deep breath. Head high. Chest out. Fully clothed in the armor of God, step out into the new year. We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.

… And that is all we need to know.

Dear Lord: Thank You for the blank slate of a new year, and that You are in charge of every day of it. With Your help, may we grow more like Jesus in generosity, kindness and forgiveness, hope, faith and love. May we leave the past behind us, and move toward and fully embrace Your plans for what lies ahead for us. Thank You that You will be beside us all the way no matter what.  Amen

We welcome your comments, thoughts and experiences. Please share encouragement, hope and prayer for our readers.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost. May God bless you and your family with health, happiness and hope in 2020.