Welcome to 2025! A new year brings feelings of a fresh start, new life, and hope. Some of you have not celebrated as many New Years as I have. I find I’m relating more than ever to “We do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” 2 Cor. 4:16 Glory! In Christ, we can genuinely rejoice in that truth. With each passing year, whether we’re young or old, our spirit is being renewed and fashioned more and more into the likeness of Christ.
Have you ever been on a road trip where, at some point, you took a wrong turn, driving a good bit of time before realizing your error and that you’ve now added significant time to your trip? So frustrating! Over the years, I have taken many detours from God’s righteous, narrow road. Sometimes, I’ve caught it quickly and returned to Him. Other detours kept me longer than I care to admit. However, verse 17 of the above Scripture goes on to tell us, “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” The wonderful reality of His transformative work is that none of it has been wasted. Wow!
So whether your current walk with God is in step with Him or whether you’ve deviated very far from His path, be encouraged. God is at work wherever you are. You may feel lost, but He knows right where you are, and He is with you. Embrace this new day and new year. He is making all things new, and He is trustworthy to do it.