December is often a time of reflection for many of us in the midst of preparing for a festive holiday season. We get ready to close out the year, for better or worse and with all its ups and downs. We can become pensive thinking about the previous twelve months and what we could have done differently or handled better. Despite past mistakes, however, our future looks bright when we make a conscious decision to depend on God, not on ourselves, for everything we need in life.

We can’t predict the future, but one guarantee is that trouble will eventually show up. Leaning on God allows Him to walk us through it when we’re not strong enough to handle everything thrown at us. When Paul encountered adversity and persecution, God told him that His grace was sufficient and His power was made perfect in weakness. He tells us the same thing.

Things will happen; we’re guaranteed to encounter adversity on our Christian walk. Despite this, we don’t have to let trouble stop us in our tracks. Trusting in God gives us the advantage. Jesus reassures us that in the world we’ll have tribulation, but we can be cheerful because He has overcome the world.

We don’t have to fear what’s next; we can be hopeful and optimistic when we know God’s promises concerning us. His thoughts toward us are of peace, not evil, to give us a future and a hope. He wants success for us; when we commit our actions to Him, our plans will succeed.

We can step into a new year with full confidence that everything will turn out fine. God wants the best for us, and He’s not a man that He should lie. Whatever He has said, He’ll do; He’ll make good on everything He has spoken. We can be sure of this.

Prayer:

Lord, we don’t have to fear the future. Knowing Your nature and Your love for us gives us the confidence to fearlessly move forward into it. We’re grateful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures: 

2 Corinthians 12:9

John 16:33

Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV

Proverbs 16:3, NLT

Numbers 23:19