A Year of Trials and Triumphs
What a year it has been! Like each person reading this, I have had my fair share of experiences in 2023. It has been a year filled not only with moments of joy and triumph but also with pain, uncertainty, anxiety, challenges, sickness, and betrayal. There were times when the only thing I had left was to cling to God for strength, especially when navigating uncharted territories in my life's journey. As I pen this, my eyes well up with tears, recalling some of those moments, some still vivid in my memory. What has continued to keep me going is God's presence and mercy, which has remained constant throughout the year.
God's Promise: I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You
As a believer who walks daily with Christ, I want you to know that when you have nothing left, remember that God's got you. In Hebrews 13:15 and Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, we read about God's promise to never leave or forsake us. This promise assures us of His ever-present help, grace, and mercy, regardless of our circumstances.
Conversations with God: Finding Solace in Scripture
One thing I often do in my Christian walk is to have a tête-à-tête with God. It's refreshing how often the Holy Spirit drops a scripture and points me to a Gospel message, a hymn, or a song that speaks to the situation. One scripture that kept coming to me amidst difficult times was one of the most quoted verses from the Scriptures, John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" NIV.
To every believer in Jesus Christ, John 3:16 reveals God's love in action. His sending of Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of His desire to be with us, to guide, and to save. God's promise to never leave us or forsake us is realized through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus, dwells in us believers, ensuring God is always with us.
Eternal Life: A Present and Everlasting Reality
Let me dwell briefly on God's promise of "eternal life." Eternal life is often considered a future hope. At least, I used to think of it that way when I first learned that scripture. However, as believers in Jesus Christ, we must recognize that eternal life also signifies a present reality of living in a relationship with God, starting now and continuing forever. This is a testament to God's unending mercy. Eternal life begins the moment one believes in Jesus Christ. It's about knowing God and experiencing His presence, love, and mercy daily. God's mercy, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, is not just a rescue plan from sin but also an invitation to a transformed life. It's about experiencing God's kingdom here on earth, in the now.
Navigating the Year with God's Eternal Hope
But you may ask, how has the present reality of "eternal life" helped me navigate this year? It's involved waking up each day with renewed hope that God's mercy is new every morning. And recognizing that each day He gives me provides an opportunity to experience His love and to extend it to others—seeing the divine in the mundane, sensing His presence in my daily life, and being a conduit of His grace. In relationships, eternal life manifests as unconditional love, forgiveness, and a Christ-like attitude. Yes, it's been challenging for me to live this out in my relationships, but daily, I rely on God's grace. In difficult and challenging times, I've relied on the peace that surpasses understanding, the strength that comes from faith to push through, and my belief that "it is well with my soul." In moments of joy and triumphs, it's been about showing tremendous gratitude for the blessings received, often through praise and worship. Recently, the Holy Spirit helped me understand that worship is what brings us to "dwell in the secret place of the Most High" (Psalms 91:1), and cultivating a life of worship, no matter the circumstance, will keep us "abiding under the shadow of the Almighty." I acknowledge that engaging in worship and praise can be challenging when facing difficulties. Yet, through these acts of faith, we often find the strength to endure and triumph in our toughest battles.
Welcoming 2024 with Faith and Hope
As we move forward into the year 2024, I would like to invite you to repeat John 3:16 as a personalized verse every day and always remember that God will never leave you nor forsake you:
"For God so loved me that he gave his one and only Son, that by my belief in him, I shall not perish but have an eternal (healthy, prosperous, fulfilling, peaceful, joyful, loving, purpose-driven, etc.) life." John 3:16 NIV
Indeed, John 3:16 invites us to a journey of eternal significance, starting here and now. It's a call to delve into the depths of God's mercy, to experience a life imbued with divine presence and purpose. Let's embrace this supernatural life, not as a distant promise but as a present reality, a testament to the mercy and love of God.
The following scripture from Hebrews 13 comes to mind as I conclude:
"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever" Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
A Blessed and Happy 2024 to each one of us!
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