LIFE & FAITH
On New Year’s goals, falling short, and the grace of being a work in progress.
The new year carries with it a special kind of feeling. A new calendar year usually leads to the setting of new goals and planning for the future. It brings with it a sense of hope and optimism that this new year will be the best yet. Many times I’ve set goals for myself in a new year. I’ve set measurable goals – how many books I’ll read, minutes of exercise I’ll get in, amount of water I’ll drink daily, how much money I’ll save. I’ve set goals of reduction – less fast food, less caffeine, less social media time. Sometimes my goals are more personal – I want to listen more than I talk, be more encouraging, less selfish, more patient.
I’ll be honest – I am good at tracking those goals for about 2 weeks. If I make it out of January, then I feel like I’m doing REALLY well. Some habits do stick, but the tracking and measurement never does. It is so easy to get down on myself and beat myself up for falling short. The good news is that God KNOWS we will never get it all right.
The moment we were born, God had a purpose for us. I believe that there is absolutely no accident about your existence. You were born at the time you were born and into the family you were born on purpose. And you had a purpose the moment you entered this world. In Jeremiah 29:11, we hear God say, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Even when we feel like we are falling short and messing up and letting down ourselves and everyone around us, we need to remember that God has plans for us and they are to prosper us and give us hope. Even in the hard times of life, we need to walk forward with the faith that it’s not up to us and that he’s preparing us for how he’s going to use us next. What may feel like a setback might actually be preparation for a promotion. When we work our muscles, we are literally breaking them down so they can build back stronger. Our lives are no different. We just need to keep walking forward with faith that He has plans for us and is not ashamed of us, even when we feel like we’ve messed up or let others down. In Isaiah 41:9-10, God says “For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you.”
In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We may not understand or see the big picture but we can walk forward in faith, knowing that God lovingly sees us as works in progress and as long as we stay rooted in him – the source of all things – he will not abandon us.
