New Year

It's a bittersweet New Year. It's scary and uncertain, yet new and exciting. We can either embrace the change or hide ourselves in a hole and watch the world pass us by.

The Holy Spirit always finds a way to kick us outside our comfort zone. You can hold on as tight as you can, but if nothing changes, how do we have opportunities to glorify God? If we are stuck in our own little world, we become prideful. We think that we've got this under control. Life is good.

But friends, life is not good. The Bible tells us this many times. Paul writes in James, "Consider it JOY my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds." Joy? Really? Cause I want to hide under my bed and dive into some cookies&cream ice cream.  Yet it continues, "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything."

I've been reading (or attempting to read) The Problem with Pain by C.S. Lewis. Basically, it all comes down to "If God loves us so much than why in the world do I have to go through this? Especially when it's not my fault!" God does not want us to settle. He wants us to grow in Him, in His knowledge and in His goodness. Many times that means that things have to change in our lives. That God has a better plan. That God has lessons for us to learn. God is a kind God, but kindness is only concerned with the happiness of others. True love required sacrificial discipline. Hebrews says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by the his father?" and also "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Love means Discipline. Live means Change. The Lord gives and takes away. He works all things for our good, even when we don't see it at the time. And maybe, it's not about us at all. Maybe our suffering is in preparation for someone else. Our trials enable to us to encourage others in the future going though the same thing. Trials bring us wisdom. Trials make us stronger.

I'm excited about the New Year. God gave me a beautiful reminder in worship the other night, "It was never yours, it was always mine. And it will continue to be mine." Let's just say, it was a wonderful moment in my life. I pray that you are encouraged.

In love, Nikki