2023. It’s hard to believe! This past year flew by so fast and I felt like I was in survival mode for the whole month of December. Each day was filled with prayers just to make it through the day. God supplied sufficient grace. I survived each day and He taught me many lessons. It’s often on the hard days that we learn the most valuable lessons. I learned more of my limits, what I can take each day. Often times, I underestimate how much I can handle. This is an all-too-human trait that robs me of daily strength quite often. My sin nature gravitates towards a “woe is me” mentality when I face tough times. Wrestling with hardship, I find myself relating to Job, Jeremiah and the psalmists in Scripture. Job was robbed of his children, livestock and wealth and complained to the Lord. His three friends traveled from afar just to make him feel guilty! In the end, God vindicated Job, rebuked his friends and blessed him beyond what he had before (Job 42-43). After Satan was given free reign to devastate Job, God restored him and provided a fresh start, a new beginning. Jeremiah cursed the day he was born when facing rejection at the hand of his own people (Jer. 20:14-18). David moaned, “How long, O Lord? will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). There is sweet safety in the arms of God. He can take our angry outbursts, our depressed moods and our honest questions. He accepts us in the messes we find ourselves in. No matter how crummy you feel, bring it to God. He alone can change your heart for the better. This is one lesson I keep relearning.
The Goodness of God
Every year we celebrate New Year’s and make resolutions. Some are against them and some are all for them. I find myself in the middle. I’m inspired by the new year and the sense of freshness after a long, tough year in 2022. I do have to celebrate a major milestone. I was promoted to supervisor at Chick-fil-a mid last year. This opportunity has helped me grow so much as a leader and person. I truly love the people I work with and want to see them succeed. I’ve been in church leadership since 2008-9 in different capacities but I’ve never been a leader in a secular environment. I was offered the position by my manager because he believed in me and saw something in me that I didn’t see. Grateful to God, I have counted my blessings last year and into this year. I love serving at my church as worship pastor as well as working at Chick-fil-a. These two opportunities have really stretched me to my limits at times. If it were not for these opportunities, I would not be the leader I am today. As I reflect on God’s goodness in 2022 and look forward to 2023, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in his famous sermon on the mount: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16). Wherever God has called you, just know that your life is to be a blazing light pointing to the goodness and greatness of Jesus Christ. May we all resolve to make much of Jesus this year and share the gospel with as many people as possible. Amen.
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