Perhaps this last year there were things we said we wish we hadn’t, things we did we wish we hadn’t, things we didn’t do we wish we had. Too late now.
The journal of John Wesley records conspicuous New Year resolves and prayers. New Year’s Day 1736, he was on board a ship bound for Georgia to conduct missionary work among the Moravians, and we have this entry: “Oh, may the new year bring a new heart and a new life to all those who seek the Lord God of their fathers”. On 1st January 1790, after 50 years of amazing Christian service, Wesley wrote: “I am now an old man, decayed from head to foot. My eyes are dim; my right hand shakes much; my mouth is hot and dry every morning. I have a lingering fever almost every day; my motion is weak and slow. However, blessed be God. I can preach and write still”. 18 months later the old warrior laid down his sword crying: “The best of all is God is with us”.
Fear, and dismay are two enemies lurking in the shadows to rob us of our peace and purpose, trust and confidence for the New Year. Fear is the child of doubt, but faith is born of God. It’s because of who God is, that He loves us intensely and has the sovereign ability to command such things for us, a year without dread, discouragement, or fear. Fear and Faith are never good friends. They don’t get on well, so one of them must go. Fear ends in failure, but faith leads to freedom.
To look around isn’t any help. There is enough in our modern world, enough wars, strife, and contentions at every level, international and local, to breed depression, hopelessness, fear, and dismay. To look back isn’t any help. To do so sometimes only serves to remind us of our sins, failures, and weaknesses. To look within isn’t helpful either. Excessive introspection can just be morbid and depressing. But Christians look up; “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. That’s how we face the year without fear!
