“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:21-23
It’s almost hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Every year, I seem more surprised by how quickly the calendar year moves. The new year always feels like a mixed bag of emotions. While January 1 can seem to give the appearance of a clean slate for goals, resolutions, and moving forward, it’s really no different from December 31.
For everyone, the results of 2023 are still very real and present. And there are so many of them. For some, it’s basking in personal successes or reaping the harsh fruit of failures. Maybe it’s the joy of new life or the unspeakable grief of death. Possibly the excitement of a new relationship or the sadness of a broken bond. And often, all those emotions and experiences are intermingled and warring within us all at once.
A Year of Loss
For my family, I would surely label 2023 as a year of loss. We had to say goodbye to one of our 12-year-old family dogs in April. This was certainly a difficult loss for us. But nothing could prepare us for what would come later in the year. In December, my dear mother-in-law went to be with Jesus after an 18-month battle with cancer. So many of you loved her dearly. We miss her deeply.
By no means are we the only ones who lost loved ones or even family pets this past year. And to anyone who is reading this while walking through grief, my heart indeed goes out to you. I’m so sorry for your loss.
This new year (just like last year) will be filled with beautiful memories, good times, growth, laughter, vacations, birthdays, and celebrations. However, the cloud of loss casts a dark shadow on what will come.
We Have Hope Because of His Mercies
Presently, I am comforted by God’s Word. Why? Because (like the above verse in Lamentations says) His mercies bring hope. I don’t know how people go through difficult circumstances without the hope of Jesus. It is truly heartbreaking to think of the despair of a Christless existence on top of life’s already burdensome pain.
The prophet Jeremiah (in all of his lamenting and depression) held on to hope. Amid his affliction, he called to mind the mercy of God. He says in Lamentations 3:24, “‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’” This is undoubtedly not some religious slogan or motivational cat poster hanging in Jeremiah’s office (to help him). This is the guttural, tear-stained, desperate cry of his heart, even if his circumstances didn’t change.
I don’t have a happy and cleverly worded way to say, “Thank God for a new year.” I don’t honestly know that there is one. It’s especially challenging when the effects of last year remain. But I want to try to be like Jeremiah and call to mind that WE HAVE HOPE. God’s steadfast love endures even when our strength does not. His mercies are always new every morning (and every year). They will NEVER end. Praise God for His great faithfulness!
Calling His mercies to mind this new year,
Caleb
Posted in A Word from the Pastor