Our God is a God of creation, as we often read in Scripture. However, as we come to the end of one year and the beginning of the next, we are also reminded that God is a re-creator, one who makes all things new. Although in some ways the start of a new year is an arbitrary designation, it does give us a chance to make a fresh start of things.
I have never been one to make (or keep) New Year’s resolutions but there is a sense of turning the calendar and trying again. It may be a matter of trying to do things better this year or it could be trying something new this year. Maybe it is smiling more, looking more to the positive things in our lives, living with more gratitude, and allowing God to re-create in us.
The new year may also help to put things behind us. This year I have heard a number of people say how glad they are that 2022 is done! For many it was a difficult year and we could go through the list of things that have caused (and still are causing) pain and hardship.
Turning the page on a calendar doesn’t magically make those bad things go away but my hope is that we can see how God has been with us even through the difficulties and continues to lead us into the year ahead. In Psalm 31 we hear the tension between trusting the God who is faithful and crying out to God in the midst of our struggles.
We may also feel this tension at times as we wait for the re-creation of God. As we enter this new year, my prayer is that you will continue to see the love of God and feel the support of the community of God’s people around you.
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