New Year, New You?
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. (Matthew 2:13-15, 20-21)
As we prepare to begin a new year, we likely want to invoke our most optimistic mindset - things are going to go our way, we're going to be more prepared and more capable, we'll try harder, be better, be happier, be more productive. We can imagine the awesome person we will be when everything falls into place. These are worthy sentiments, but they're likely the same hopes we had at the end of last year. Perhaps a shift in perspective is in order. Though it may seem dour, it would be equally valuable to consider who we'll be when things don't go our way and how we'll handle disappointments and failures in the year to come.
From Jesus' conception through his crucifixion, Jesus was as hated as he was heralded. He and his parents faced every indignity, disrespect, and humiliation that the sinful nature of humanity could throw at them, yet they did not lose heart or hope. With ears tuned to heaven and prayerful hearts they were able to keep the faith.
We can not know what the new year, or even each new day, will bring but we can make a determination not to get discouraged by the inevitable challenges and hardships that we'll face, but endeavor to turn to the One who loved us enough to face every trail and hardship with his heart set more on God's purposes than his own. We are known. We are loved. May the peace and faithfulness of God's presence keep us through whatever the new year brings.
16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. (Hebrews 2:16-18)
