2023 to me

The highs were high

The lows were low

A lot changed

But Jesus did not…

In every up and down this year brought… one thing remained and will always remain. Jesus. The hope we have because of Jesus. He is who He says He is.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

• Hebrews 13:8

I wrestled heavy this year with thoughts and questions like:

In lots of different seasons of this year. And I’m sure some of you can relate.

This past year brought more change into my life than I’ve ever known, new emotions I’ve never experienced, and a lot of grief in which I’ve never known.

And ya know. As hard as the grasp of this concept has been to me this year, not once in the word does Jesus tell us we will get everything we want. Even when we pray and ask for our hearts deepest desire over and over and we don’t get it.

That doesn’t mean He is not good. He has proven good. He is good.

God allows things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, I must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Hard things happen that we simply cannot understand. And I believe we aren’t meant to on this side of Heaven. And that hurts. But Jesus hurts with us.

In the book of Job in the Bible, Job was a righteous man who followed the Lord and was faithful to the Lord in all he did.

Job faced maaaany hardships and trials admist his obedience to God.

All in one day, Job is given four reports, each informing him that his sheep, servants, and ten children have all died due to thieving intruders or natural disasters…. that sounds like a horrible day. Job trusts Him anyway. Job 13:15 says, “Though evil harms me, I will hope in him”

Oh, and just when those 4 events didn’t seem like enough, shortly after that, Job is covered in sores and grows very sick to the point of death. Jobs wife tells him to “give up on God and die”.

In the middle chapters of Job, the suffering shows too much for Him, and he turned bitter, anxious, and scared. He deplores the injustice that God lets “evil people thrive” while he and many other “honest people suffer”. I mean how many times have you heard or said “why do bad things happen to good people?”…. That was me so many times this year.

Job wanted to face God and protest, but cannot physically find God. Job assumed that wisdom is concealed from humans, but he decided to persevere in seeking wisdom by fearing God and evading evil.

By Job 40-42 (the end of the book) the Lord intervenes, commanding Job to be brave, and explains detailed features of His creation. And how only HE can perfectly knit everything together, even when it doesn’t make sense to our human hearts. Job recognizes God’s infinite power and accepts the constraints of his human understanding. God then restored Job’s health, granting him twice as much property as before, new children, and a remarkably long life. Job never completely gave up hope or faith in God as an inspiration to everyone enduring suffering of their own.

Ok so whoah, that was kinda me unpacking the book of Job but it is important.

Jobs experience of suffering resonates profoundly. The amount or type of loss we’ve experienced drives us to meet Job in the pit of despair. 2023 led me there.

And even through all the hardships and changes in Jobs story… one thing still remained and that is the hope of the Lord.

FLASH FOWARD TO NEW TESTAMENT YEARS LATER

Most are familiar with James 1…

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Well one thing I learned about the book of James in the New Testament after studying Job is that James expresses in chapter 5:10…”Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

Through every hard time and trial this year, I’ve learned to hold onto hope. That’s all we’ve got. Hope in the Lord. Hope in faith. Hope that Jesus’ sacrifice of His life restored all things.

Jesus, the most perfect and blameless human, took on the most suffering for our salvation, for our good.

And because of that, we won’t have to suffer one day. There will be a day with no more tears.

I’ve learned more about the character of my creator this year in the valley than when standing on the mountain top. Even when it was very hard and confusing. He never said it would be easy but as Christ followers we are called to “pick up that cross… and follow Him”.

(- Matthew 16:25)

And though here on Earth I’ll never know the reason the Lord allowed these trials and the passing of Ben to take place this year, I know it will be revealed to me one day. And I will see the provision and plan the Lord had. Just as the Lord revealed his power to Job, He will do for me, and for you.

2023 I’m glad you are over but I have gratitude for the growth you brought.

2024… let’s go

Love you,

AW