Daily Devotional

Wow 2022 is right around the corner and I don’t know about you but I have trouble keeping the events of 2020 and 2021 straight. With all that has gone on with the lockdowns, restrictions, vaccines, and mandates over the past almost two years, it feels like its all just been one year to me. And now we are about to embark on a new year, a new beginning. While logically it is just another day and there is nothing magically resetting about the coming of a new calendar year, it often feels like a change or at least a chance for change.
 
So as we approach the unknowns of the year 2022 are you hopeful, are you worried, fearful, or afraid of what the new year will bring. I remember last year at this time thinking, 2021 has to be good, or at least better since the dumpster fire that was 2020 really couldn’t seem to get any worse. This year however as things have opened up much more since mid year and now with the new variant looming large it can be easy to look to 2022 with a sense of dread for what may be coming, and what new restrictions may be imposed by our various governments. I recently saw a meme on the internet where a person looks fearful when they realize that the year 2022 is pronounced 2020… 2 as in 2020 part two.
 
So with all that in mind and all the unknowns that come with the start of a new year, let me take this opportunity to remind you of a few things to keep in mind as you think about the coming new year. First and most importantly, God is still on His throne. With all the craziness around us it can be easy to forget sometimes, but He is still in control, nothing that has or will happen surprises Him. Second, Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with us always to the end of the age. God is in control and God is with us, hmmm I seem to remember that being part of the Christmas story right, Emmanuel, which means God with us.

So with those reminders we can then heed the words of Philippians 4:6 which says to be anxious for nothing; not for the new year, not for the unknown, not even for covid. Be anxious for nothing. Why? Because God is in control. It doesn’t mean it will be easy, it doesn’t mean that it won’t hurt, but God will be with us. And we are reminded just a few verses later in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

So as we enter the new year, let’s do so with hope and with confidence in the Lord who is in control and will be with us to the end. And always remember that if we suffer it is for His sake and the sake of the Gospel and therefore we can rejoice in the midst of our sufferings. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Eph. 3:20-21