It is 2016! For my husband and I it is sort of a mile marker-30 years of marriage, 2 adult children making their way successfully in the world, Greg's career is going strong and I have a few book projects in the works. So it looks like this year will be a good one. Of course like everyone else, we have our share of looming problems as well. My parent's health is failing fast and I have mild arthritis. And of course there is the political mess we are in, our nation's morals are disappearing along with our freedom to worship God as we see fit and to set standards for our own children, and the world's continual wars and epic natural disasters only add to the melee'. It seems all is not right with the world. In fact the more you watch t.v. the more depressing the picture. Nobody has any real solutions!
So how is a person really going to say "Happy New Year!" and mean it. I do mean it however. Our happiness is not rooted in this world. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid! I go to prepare a place for you..." The angels said, "Fear Not! For unto you this day is born a savior." Paul instructs us not to live in fear because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and John wrote, "Perfect love casts out fear."
You might say, "That's all well and good for later but what about right now...I've got real problems, we all have real problems. How can I live a happy New Year?"
David was running from Saul and hiding in caves and depending on God to keep him safe, knowing all along that his circumstances didn't make sense...hadn't God's prophet told him he would be King? And hadn't he done everything he could to minister to the very man who was out to get him? But all the while he was out there running and hiding, God was teaching him important lessons, one of which I think was how to walk through stress. And all through his life, even though he made many mistakes, some with tragic consequences, and had many difficulties as a king and as a person, He returned again and again to God. He wrote songs about those lessons and we are able to see and learn from his own heart and walk with God. Here are just a few snapshots from those great psalms:
Psalm 33: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep then alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord: He is our help and our shield, for our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in Thee (vs. 18-22).
Psalm 34: I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (vs. 4-8).
Psalm 37: The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I haven't seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends; and his descendants are a blessing (vs. 23-26).
Psalm 40: Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with Thee; If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count (vs. 5).
There are numerous other examples. But my point is when we seek out God, worship Him, remember who He is, and remember that His love will abide with us, all the stuff the world throws at us, all the complications and all the disasters, somehow become manageable, for we have a strong tower, a Savior, a mighty God who's love has no end and who will keep us in it here on this earth through all of our trials but more importantly forever!
So I think we can say, with a heartfelt gratitude: Happy New Year!
