“My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet from the net.” Psalm 25:15 NASB

We are at the beginning cusp of a new year: a 12 month period that will hold for us..What? What challenges, what joys? What pain, what pleasure? What laugher? What tears?

America, by its mere youthfulness (compared to other far older countries and societies) is an optimistic country. We face our challenges with a “Can-do” attitude that other countries both envy and deride. The pioneer spirit still rides strong within our genes. So many of us are only a few generations from brave forbears who left the safety and comfort of hearth and home to board ships and come to the New World. A world that held for them hopes and dreams, but absolutely no guarantees. Still, they came anyway. Had they not, we would not be here today, dear one, and you would not be reading my words right now.

I will confess, the past several years have tried and tested us. Wars, Covid, divisions within our society and even our churches and families if we are honest. We have become a bit less buoyant. A bit less jubilant at the idea of hurdling into a new year. More cautious. As one of our founding fathers, Thomas Paine said, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

Is this maturity, I wonder? Or exhaustion? I know one thing. That if our minds, our hearts and our focus is upon anything but the Lord, His goodness, His promises, His amazing love, we will stumble.

There has never been such a time in my lifetime where it is more important to stay connected to Jesus, and to His simple truths and abundant grace.

Only Jesus can touch the hearts and minds of those we are worried about. Only Jesus can lift the burdens we are carrying and change our sorrow into joy. Spiritual joy. A well spring river of life flowing up inside us by the Holy Spirit. We must never forget these things. These truths are life.

Victory begins on the inside, where Jesus abides.

When I remember this, I can look to this new year and be hopeful again.

“And every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling, ‘This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!’ And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say, ‘No. This is what’s important.'” Iain Thomas

~ Debbie Ecker