Dearest Readers,
Happy New Year! I wish you much joy and many blessings in 2025!
When the lights and trees come down and your joy starts to fade, let the spirit of Advent follow you into the new year. Advent was more than just counting down the days until Christmas; it was remembering God’s promises when He gifted us with His Son. Christmas was and is a beginning, and it doesn’t have an end. The celebrations have come to an end, but God is still here to love and take care of us.
God has good plans for our lives and we can be excited to see the surprises He has in store for us this year! But we can also expect to have days that aren’t perfect. Difficulties and suffering are part of being human, and there’s no way of getting away from it. But we can hold onto the blessings of Advent for the strength and courage to get through it.
Hope
He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. (Philippians 2:7 ICB)
God’s hope is different from a wish; it’s a confident belief that His promises are true. The greatest promise was sending us a Savior. Jesus left His place in Heaven to suffer the same things we do so we would have hope, and the comfort of knowing we are forever connected to Him. He was mocked and betrayed, false accusations were made against Him, and some of His best friends abandoned Him in His darkest hour. Jesus felt the same pain and hurt that we feel, and He won’t abandon us when we need Him most. No matter what we face, He walks with us to comfort us and give us the courage and faith to get through things. He knows good things are coming!
Peace
True peace comes through faith and trusting in the goodness of God’s plan. Things don’t have to be perfect, or even good, to find peace. Mary faced scorn and disgrace when she was found to be unmarried and pregnant. Joseph struggled too in his decision to stand by her. But they found the peace to endure the hardships by trusting in God’s plan.
Traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem was also difficult, and their only resting place for the birth of Jesus was a less-than comfortable animal stable. But in the midst of their challenges, the greatest miracle and gift that man has ever known arrived. The Savior who came to restore peace to mankind was born in the middle of their suffering! Like Mary and Joseph, we can find peace by knowing God will take care of us when we trust in His plan.
Joy
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11)
We have joy in knowing God’s love doesn’t need to be earned, and that He loves us unconditionally. The birth of Jesus was a gift for all the people: rich and poor, sinners and “saints,” Jews and Gentiles. Jesus was the beginning of a new covenant between God and mankind, a covenant to break the barriers that man creates so we feel worthy enough for a relationship with Him.
Love
“If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.” (Matthew 18:12-14)
God’s love is what gives us hope, peace and joy. Not only does He love us dearly, but He wants to be part of our daily lives. He will leave the 99 to come find us! We are not lost in the crowd, unimportant, and our life does not have to be perfect to be worthy of Him. There is nothing we can ever to make Him stop loving us or wanting to spend time with us.
I look forward to hearing the good things God brings to your life this year! And the changes that come from understanding more deeply how much you are loved. May God bless you with daily reminders that He is with you and loves you dearly.
Verses for the Week:
Jeremiah 29:11 (ICB)
“I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
