I heard a crash from the kitchen, several things breaking, my husband’s groan, and one of the kids say, “Uh oh, Mama’s going to be mad at you now!”
My excitement, as I finished getting ready for a mom’s night out, deflated like a rude noise from my son’s whoopee cushion. A kid careened around the corner, plowing into the too-high mound of laundry on the bathroom floor to tattle on whoever caused the crash.
“Daddy—,” he began.
Holding up a hand, I stopped him. Whatever broke, I didn’t want to hear about. Been there, done that.
2017 held broken bones, broken dreams, and apparently now –broken dishes.
I technically didn’t ask God for a 2018 word, because the word He gave me last year was GROW and you can read how I felt about that here.
He might give me another word I didn’t want instead of feel-good, inspiring words like love, joy, hope, or peace.
But He kept whispering to my heart, “All things new.”
Broken bones…can heal like new.
Broken dreams…can be replaced with new dreams.
Broken dishes…well, we can buy new ones, because I’m not gluing those back together.
In with the New
“Be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7, NIV
My unofficial verse for last year was Colossians 2:7. Despite my lack of excitement over my yearly word, I did want to grow in Christ. I wanted to be deeply rooted and strong in my faith.
Last year, God did make my faith stronger.
And my nerves.
We saw brokenness last year, which wasn’t a first, or even a second or third for us. Brokenness seems like a common theme around here, like a stuck record that won’t move forward. Despite the challenges we encountered, we chose thankfulness all the time.
- When we sat through another surgery to repair our son’s broken arm (four surgeries total). It could’ve been worse and we were grateful for his life and that he still had an arm.
- When the fields flooded and we lost our crop. It could’ve been worse and we were grateful the barns stood tall, the equipment still functioned, and we had each other.
- When the dishes crashed to the floor. It could’ve been our glasses too and we were grateful for Costco’s large sacks of paper plates.
To hear God whisper, “All things new,” to my heart gave me hope. Peace. Comfort.
We might not be done with brokenness, but God is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals, and Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides.
Both of these give me great comfort in ushering a new year because no matter what we face –God’s got this.
Moving Forward
“I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17b-19, HCSB
To move forward isn’t to forget the past, but to continue growing and learning from it. To take that deeply rooted faith and firmly established love and be wholly filled with the fullness of God. That’s what I want this year. What about you?
As we replace broken dishes, store our Christmas decorations, and restore our homes to order, may we also restore our hearts. As we contemplate new goals for the year, let’s consider cleaning our hearts too. I’ve got some things built up in my heart that could use a good cleaning. Doubt sometimes clings to the corners of my heart and pettiness portrays my withering heart roots. God says, “All things new.”
“I will give you a new heart with new and right desires and I will put a new spirit in you.” Ezekiel 36:25-27, TLB
That sounds amazing to me. My heart is not always right and just like my home, it constantly needs cleaning. May this year be a fresh start, a year of healing, but most importantly –a deeply rooted faith that’s filled with God’s fullness, the right desires, and a new spirit.
Personal Challenge
Maybe you’re not into yearly words or New Year’s resolutions, and that’s fine. No need to follow the fads. But prayerfully consider your life this year –where you’ve come from and what you’re leaving behind, where you’re going and who you’ll impact.
Are you mindlessly meandering through life, content to go with the flow? Or are you constantly evolving into the creature God wants you to be? Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle or maybe you don’t even know?
At the very least, ask God for wisdom and guidance as we go into a new year. Maybe, like me, you need a little heart detailing, a careful cleaning of the hidden corners. Maybe a fresh start sounds pretty stinkin’ good to you. Do you hope for a new heart with new and right desires? Ask Him.
Whatever you’re hoping for this year, talk to God about it. Ask Him for it. Be willing, conformable, and watch Him transform you this year because you matter to Him and you matter to the people around you.
Will you be “new” this year?
If you have a word of the year, future goals, or resolutions, I’d love to hear it! Comment here or join the conversation on Facebook. <3
Thank you! I needed that today! I love how you write.
Mrs. Susan, thank you so much!
Love those verses from Ephesians 3!! Thankful that He can make all things new…and for His mercies that are new every morning!! Happy New Year!
Yes!!! He is so good! Those fresh mercies keep me going. 😉 Happy New Year!
This was beautiful Amanda! I pray God gives you a wonderful year and overwhelms you with the newness of what He plans to do! May He bless you richly!
Esther, thank you so much!
That was a beautiful read. Sharing this on my blog!
Ann, thank you so much for reading and sharing!
love this idea of having a word for the new year. I think mine will be mindfulness. I want to focus on being mindful of God’s presence throughout the day, and mindful of the moments I am in. I want to enjoy my children and live in the moments each day. I even want to enjoy and live in the moments while I clean, cook, rest, and eat. I hope that you have a wonderful NEW year!
Lacy, I love your word! It’s so easy to become preoccupied, to determine to be mindful and present is a wonderful thing!
Love this! My one word for 2017 ushered in my word for 2018 as well. I went from REST to STRENGTH. Isn’t it amazing how God reveals that to us?
You can read about that at http://www.beingbrave dot faith
Gina, I read your post. I love the verses you quoted about our rest in the Lord will be our strength. So true! I love that He gave you strength after spending a year focused on rest. ❤️