When the New Year Doesn't Seem "New"

I didn't stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve.

I was still exhausted from the stomach bug that had hit our family early on our vacation and knew I needed some rest before church the next morning.
I easily fell into a deep sleep and didn't even hear the celebratory fireworks across the street.

When I woke up on January 1, I was struck with a feeling of familiarity. My two year old still needed me to rescue her from the pack 'n play. I still needed to iron wrinkled Sunday clothes. My sons still needed a referee for their early morning conflicts. My circumstances hadn't changed with the calendar.

We often equate the new year with a fresh start, but in reality it's rarely a clean slate. Instead  we experience a continuation of lessons, struggles, and triumphs experienced in the old year. Your body still feels the same pain. Your heart still feels the heavy weight of loss. Your mind is still plagued with doubt and worry.

The road will advance through the next 12 months most likely including several unplanned detours. Thankfully, God's character does not reset with a new year and He will not be surprised at what each day holds. Each bend in the path will force us to depend on His faithfulness in a deeper way.

After all, the route unknown to us begins and ends with Him!


Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Some great new year reading:



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