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We did it! We made it to 2021. I have heard so many comments and shared so many memes like the one above, about how awful 2020 was: a worldwide plague, horrible fires, hurricanes, rioting, civil and political unrest, the list goes on and on. It was a tough year, and like many others, I was happy to bid it farewell.
To be fair though, I have always been someone who looks forward to a new year. There is just something about tossing out old calendars and filling in new ones that fills me with hopes and dreams for all that is to come. Never has that been more true than this year.
A new year is often kicked off with resolutions and goal setting that overflow with good intentions, but you know what they say about good intentions, right? The truth is that many of us set these goals, or resolutions. We write them down along with action steps, ways we are going to accomplish whatever goals we have set. But long before the year's end, these resolutions have fallen to the way side, unaccomplished.
Just the other night my husband and I were introduced to a new show on HGTV called, "Help! I Wrecked My House." It is a home makeover show where the host comes in and fixes what the homeowners have tried to remodel but got in over their heads. Much like well intentioned resolutions, they have set goals for improvement, but those goals have faded into piles of overwhelmed and unaccomplished messes.
Kind of like our lives sometimes. Just because we have flipped the calendar to 2021, there is no guarantee of better things to come. We have to put in the effort to make those changes. Much like remolding a house, we have to be willing to tear down the "walls" that are blocking the natural light, renovate the areas that are worn down, and most importantly, be sure our foundation and structure is sound. But, like the homeowners in the show, sometimes we find ourselves in over our heads. We are not the original architects of this "house" and our knowledge is limited when it comes to all of the changes needed. Like the homeowners in the show, maybe you have found yourself wanting to cry out, Help! I've Wrecked My Life!
If you've ever been a part of a remodel or watched any of the makeover shows, then you know that the first step is to make sure the foundation is firm. This is true for our lives as well. Psalm 127 says, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the builder builds in vain." The next step in moving forward is to have a design plan. This is my favorite part of those shows, seeing all the possible ways to change the lay out, problem solving the trouble areas, and dreaming and planning for those improvements. It's just like filling in a new calendar!
Inevitably, a plan is made and the work begins only to discover some major challenge, Insert ominous music here) some hidden thing that the design team didn't know was there. It makes me think of a verse from Proverbs, "In his heart a man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) Oftentimes, when we set out to make changes in our lives, we forget to factor in what God has planned for us. We began building on a firm foundation, but somewhere along the way we forget to seek His face, and then when things don't go the way we planned, we are discouraged and feel like giving up.
You know what I love though? I love that at any point in this remodel project, we can call out to the original architect, "Help, I Wrecked My Life," and no matter how bad the situation is God will meet us right where we are and begin the patient and loving work of restoration.
As we begin the new project of 2021, with all our hopes and dreams, with all the remodeling and restoring visions we have in mind, let us not forget the truth of Hebrews 12 verse 2, "He is the author and perfecter of our faith."
Can't wait to see all that God has in store for each of you as we seek His face for this coming year!
~Marla
