What is the most common comment anyone will hear at any New Year's Eve celebration? HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! This is true, but there is another phrase that gets tossed around before gladly and eagerly welcoming the start of a brand new-squeaky clean year. How many times have you heard someone say "man, thank God this year is over" or "2007 sucked" or "2008 will be better." So 2007 wasn't all you hoped and dreamed it to be. You didn't get the job, you didn't get asked out by the one guy, you got rejected by a really nice girl, you gained 5 pounds, you had to see the chiropractor, your car got hit...etc.
Well let me start off by congratulating you first because if you are reading this blog, you must have at least survived 2007 in someway and have at least one eyeball in tact and your mind still able to process words! As much as 2007 may have not been your favorite year in hindsight, maybe it wasn't meant to be a great year. But maybe it was? What do we consider as "great?" How do we measure "great?" Is it by the income we receive? The dating relationship we're in? The car we drive? How do we measure a great year?
When I looked back at 2007, I tried to remember where I was in 2006 and where God has taken me at the end of 2007. Let me tell you boldly that it was definitely a GREAT year! And what made it great? I won't lie and say that seeing Cirque Du Solei and a Cubs game didn't help at all... But that really didn't make it a great year. The trials and lessons that brought my relationship with God to a new level is what made it an AWESOME year! So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I challenge you to take an honest look back at 2007 and examine the trials you experienced. It is important for us to ask God why He has us go through trials when He does while we are going through them. It is such a great thing to have our Almighty Creator reveal those things to you.... How convicting! How humbling!
Let's take a look at God's word in conjunction with our trials...
1Peter1:6-7 "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
I like the phrase "if necessary." God doesn't want to put us through anything if it's not necessary. And why is it necessary? How better can we share a faith that is so genuine to others both Christian and non if it is not tested by fire? Fire is very revealing as it eats away what is perishable, melting it to expose what is truly in our hearts.
1Peter4:12-13 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
The phrase "do not be surprised" leads me to believe that if I experienced some rough stuff in 2007, why should I expect 2008 to usher anything differently? I shouldn't be surprised that God is using a circumstance to teach me some priceless lesson which will help equip me for his plans for me. It's hard to rejoice when you are going through tough stuff. I don't think God expects us to be doing cartwheels and partying. Rejoicing in the one most important thing that God has given us during those times will help change our attitude to be hopeful. It will shift the focus for us to seek His wisdom and strength in those situations as we keep our eyes set upon rejoicing that Christ has died in our place so we can truly live.
James1:2-3 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
There's that "joy" word again. But look at the goodies that a trial will produce! It tests our faith and produces steadfastness:) It produces devotion and dedication! I'm all for things that are going to bring me closer to the Lord!
So 2007 was a great year because God taught me so many things! And they were revealed by going through a trial! We'll have to save the details on what I learned for in-person conversations or another blog:) Praise God for His steadfast love which endures forever! Praise God for 2007, can't wait to learn more in 2008!
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