Opinion
New every morning, with Jesus
Ruth Lilley is looking forward to the new year with confidence as she moves forward with Jesus by her side.
So, January has arrived again! I feel that another year has sped past and, for many, now is the time to resolve to do something new. Or maybe something new yet again! However, for some January will be a tricky month. Over the years, I have had a number of conversations about ‘that January feeling’ and how it is a dreary month and seems to drag by. There have been Januarys when I have felt that way myself.
However, I know my mindset has now shifted, and I no longer see January as the time for resolve or the month that will feel dull and lacklustre. One January several years ago, I was encouraged by this quote: ‘With every sun comes a new day. A new beginning. A hope…’ (Eep, The Croods Film; Dreamworks, 2013)
It had resonated with me and given me a new strength. These few sentences would continue to lift me, and I know that I have referred back to them many, many times. They were not words from the Bible, yet, they had a similar theme to a number of verses, including these: ‘Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.’ (Lamentations 3: 21-23 NIV)
Each day is an opportunity to tread new steps, ‘because of the Lord’s great love’. How wonderful to be covered by such grace. I am able to freshly step into a new day because the Lord has compassion on me. However, this does not mean I can tread wherever and on whoever for I must show compassion too. Each new sun brings a new day and a freedom to start again. This freedom is given to me through Jesus because He willingly gave His life so that I could truly live.
So, rather than approach the new year with concern, I am able to journey one day at a time. Inevitably I will sometimes get in a muddle and find that, throughout the day, there will be tricky things to deal with. Yet, I can continue to step with confidence as I know that I am not taking these steps alone - Jesus will never leave my side. Peace will also accompany me, for I know that when I stumble, I can get back up, put right what I have said or done wrong and try again because I am covered by love, compassion and faithfulness.
The image is courtesy of pixabay.com
Ruth Lilley teaches at an infant school in Norwich. She also enjoys writing, and writes a regular blog called ‘With Every Sun Comes A New Day.’
The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norwich and Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users.