“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
It is natural, at the dawning of a new year, to reflect upon the past one. It is also our tendency to begin thinking about what is to come; to set goals for ourselves; to resolve to improve and/or accomplish certain things in the days ahead.
Sometimes, over the course of a year, things happen that are quite devastating. Sometimes things happen that make us feel as though the proverbial rug has been pulled out from under us or, like Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the movie Forrest Gump, we no longer have legs to stand on.
Gone
Lt. Dan: I was Lieutenant Dan Taylor.
Forrest Gump: You still Lieutenant Dan.
Whether it is the loss of a life, a relationship, a valued possession, or a job, the feeling of despair can be overwhelming. It can leave us feeling as though our very selves have been lost.
What we must realize, though, is that no matter what life throws at us, nothing can take away the hope and identity we have in Christ Jesus our Lord; unless we choose to let it.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
Jesus asked the rhetorical question in Matthew 16:26, “what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” Likewise, we might ask, “what has a man really lost if he yet possesses his own soul?”
Do Not Give in to the Darkness
It can be easy to give up; to conclude that life is just too hard; to lose ourselves in drugs, alcohol, pornography or some other worldly pursuit.
It is during these moments that we must look unto our Savior. Remember the example He has left for us when He faced a most terrifying fate: the cross.
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:27-28)
“Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)
Jesus didn’t give up. He kept moving forward. And we, through Him, can do the same.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Ice Cream
Instead of focusing on what might have been, we need to open our eyes to what yet can be. Remember: it could always, always be worse. Focus on the positive!
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
God will work things together for good to those who love him (Romans 8:28 cf. John 14:15). Remember the example of Joseph who was betrayed by His brothers and sold as a slave into Egypt. In the end, God used truly terrible events to bring about the salvation of thousands.
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)
What message will you deliver to the world through your response to difficulties in your life? What message will you deliver to Satan? Are you going to let him win?
New Legs
Forrest Gump: You got new legs! New legs!
Lt. Dan: Yeah, I got new legs. Custom-made titanium alloy. It’s what they use on the space shuttle.
Forrest Gump: Magic legs.
As you begin this new year, determine to be the best “you” you can be. Realize that it is often the most trying of events that reveal the best versions of ourselves; that unlock strength and abilities that we never thought ourselves capable of. Even diamonds start out as coal.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
Always remember that you + God makes a majority. If God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
“He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
May God bless you as you continue to fight the good fight in the year ahead!