When Your New Year Slaps You Upside Your Head

Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.

Philippians 1:20 

Not what I expected...

What I didn't expect or see coming was that slap in the face the New Year hit me with, and I am still reeling from the sting of it. What I didn't expect also, was the peace of God that met me in the mess of it all and I am still standing in it as I try to recover and walk in it properly. Without swinging back. 

 I am not sure I can just haul off and belt the New Year in hopes of teaching it a lesson. Instead, I have to graciously recover, get back on my feet and walk on with my head held high. No, I didn't expect it. No, I didn't see it coming. But God knew. 

I saw a new year.

 The fresh start we all look forward to every December. I made my list. I checked it twice...oops, sorry- remnants of Christmas are still dancing in my head. Minus the sugarplums. Although, I feel like if there were sugarplums involved, it would involve a jolly, old fat man, humming them like baseballs at my head.

My God knows what's coming. He knows what I don't know right now. He knows when life throws a sucker punch or knocks over the blocks we have been so diligently stacking. 

Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.  ~ Viktor E. Frankl 

We cannot control others. 

 Although we can influence others, ultimately they hold they key to their own door of choice. The way it swings open or closed. Whether it stays locked tight or invitingly ajar with a welcome sign. So, instead of putting up my dukes and preparing to duke it out with this New Year, and before I go whimper into the corner, I will tell you what I am going to do in light of this New Year plan to dethrone my hope, joy and enthusiasm.

The one thing we can control in any circumstance is our response in and to those circumstances. 

Sounds so easy.

But, what when the choices of others impact you directly and negatively? What when the choices of others harm you, or themselves and they refuse to do what is needful and necessary? What when you've made your plans, and they are wiped clear off the page?

Here's what I'm doing:

I'm brushing myself off, and hitting the ground hard. Not running. But kneeling in prayer. 

I don't know what is coming but I want to be as close as possible to the One who does know. I am hitting hard the Word of God.  I will not allow these temporary setbacks to squelch my priority of reading and reflecting on God's Word. Those of you who have started new reading plans, I suggest you get your Armor on, because the enemy will do all he can to cause you to bail on that New Year Bible reading plan. If he hasn't started yet, he will. Be prepared. If you want to make spiritual headway there is a host of forces who are hoping (and counting on) you failing. Stand firm.

 (Ephesians 6). 

I recognize that God has something good in this situation. Despite the fact that it does not look good right now. I'm waiting for the blessing. I'm looking for it. I know it is just around the corner.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:5

Photo Credit

Dawn blogs daily about faith, trust and pixie dust @Beneath the Surface: Breath of Faith