Its a New Year, we have a new President- its a time that we all try to talk about the spirit of Hope and opportunity that the New Year brings.
But in truth, its a very difficult time in the world! The Global Economy is terrible, people around the world are suffering, many are jobless, have serious financial problems; relationships are affected, health is affected - there are alot of negatives out there!
And the truth is that many of us, despite our talk of hope and excitement about all the New Year has to offer, many of us are very scared and very worried...
Micah 4: 1-13 talks about such a time... a time when things seemed hopeless and any kind of end to the hardship and suffering seemed impossible! Micah 4: 11-12 says:
"But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, 'Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!'
But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan..."
Jeremiah 29: 11. The Lord tells us:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
So what am I trying to say? Well, time has proven again and again that there have been MANY periods where we have to go through difficulty to serve God's plan. This may be the result of our needing to learn something; or maybe He is working out His better plan and its a part of the process to get us there.
Time has also proven again and again that He is ALWAYS there and ALWAYS is faithful and NEVER lets us down! His plan always proves to be the better way - even though during the hard times, we can't begin to see it - it always proves true in the long run!
Let me share with you one of my personal experiences: I consider my life to be very blessed! I have things better than countless people - and yet I worry, fret and complain about what to many would seem like insignificant things...
As a child, growing up, we were never wealthy. We had many tight times, but we always had enough. More importantly, we had great parents who taught us to have faith and to trust God in all things.
As an adult, I was lucky enough to go through some of the best times in my Real Estate career when I started. It seemed like I was born to do this and I, along with my husband, grew very successful! I don't want to imply that we never worked hard at it, because we did - but in truth, it was very easy then... We began to take alot for granted!
The past two years have been two of the toughest in our business... Alot has changed, nothing is easy anymore! But out of that high and then that low, something amazing happened: I found my way back to God!
That was His plan - if I continued to ride that high horse, I would have continued to fool myself that our success was our doing and not realised it was His blessing!
In the midst of the dark, low period, a brilliant light came into my life - I realised that though I had messed up and lost my way, God was there, waiting for me to wake up and come home! That started me on this journey to find and reach my God-potential; this journey of a committed relationship with my Lord and Saviour.
I was no longer a child in faith, believing in words only because it was what my parents taught me... I was now an adult, who took a step towards God and He reached out and caught me! What better plan could there have been? I can't describe to You how much that has impacted my life!
So here we are, at the beginning of a New Year, and its a period of hope, yes, but its also a low point, in that there is alot of uncertainty; alot of fear about the direction we need to take now in our business; about the future...
This Scripture today in Micah 4: 1-13 reminded me that sometimes the things God promises for our future don't seem evident or likely in light of what we're experiencing today. But the truth is that whatever is going on today is preparing the way for God's better plan.
So if things are scary or difficult or uncomfortable, don't give up hope! This time is a momentary detour leading us to God's best for us!
Thank you Lord, that even though we are always letting YOU down, You never fail us and are always merciful and are always planning for our good, for our hope and our future...
God Bless!!!
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