Here we are again, the first day of the first month of a new year, 2024. The fireworks, the well-wishes, the parade, the football, the resolutions, the champagne, the black-eyed peas, and the family gatherings–it’s a day to look forward and a day of reflection.
Here’s my perspective:
So teach us to number our days that we may get hearts of wisdom.
Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May Your deeds be shown to your servants,
Your splendor to their children.
Psalm 90:12-16 NIV
For many, 2023 was a difficult year financially, emotionally, physically, and socially. Nationally, our country is involved in war and intrigue and nastiness related to political influences of a national election cycle. Personally, we may have faced challenges to our checkbooks, and the toll of inflation and mass migration to our country has overwhelmed us. The recent holiday stresses are all too apparent, and for many, a sense of loss, of ennui, and even depression surprise us with attacks of sadness and anxiety. Major life changes have occurred recently enough to provoke questions and doubts.
On the other hand, God has been faithful, when we really take stock of things. As a believer in His sovereignty and His very presence, we remember the times when we’ve seen answers to prayers, maybe even the astonishment of His guidance in major life changes we unexpectantly witnessed. In our own case, the decision to sell our home and move to a senior housing situation went as smoothly as it possibly could. Without a doubt we say God’s favor change our situation and bring things into focus. We also celebrated the achievements of our granddaughters as they reached milestones in their education and musical prowess. We have faced and overcome physical difficulties and are adapting to the fact that eighty-three is much different from previous eras, and we’ve accepted with gratitude the things we can still accomplish and recognized that it might take us a little longer to accomplish things than it previously did. And we are about to open the doors to a new ministry year at church as our new building nears completion. We’d rather look forward than backward right now, and trust that God indeed will “make us glad for as many days” as we have seen affliction and difficulty. I, for one, see God’s providence ahead in this new year. I pray, with the Psalmist, “May Your deeds be shown to Your servants, your splendor to their children.” Amen and Amen.
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