Do you need a reminder that God is still working?
The end of the year often brings a time of reflection, of looking back at the past twelve months. Flip through the calendar from the previous year and make note of the challenges and opportunities. It’s hard to recall the difficulties where we wonder if God was still working. It’s joyful to remember the positive experiences where we saw God moving. Both are necessary as we anticipate going forward into the new year.
Some years I’ve been glad to close the book on a hard season with struggles and loss. I look forward to a better year with hope.
Other times I’ve felt a bit sad to see the end of a peaceful year. I reflect on growth and progress, anticipating the next steps.
Both seasons — the hard and the peaceful — create the beautiful mix of life, year after year.
Ecclesiastes 3: 11 teaches us that God is at work in every season.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
God is working in ways that we can’t see. We have a limited perspective of our situations, seeing only the middle of our story as we live day to day. We wrestle with disappoints but also anticipate good things.
Only God sees the beginning, the middle, and the end of each person’s life narrative.
Our faithful God is at work.
The promise in the Ecclesiastes verse shows that God continues moving, making everything beautiful in its time. He specializes in turning tragedies to triumphs and messes into masterpieces. What a comfort that is for our weary hearts!
Are you in a tough season? It’s not the end of your story. God is still at work. Look to Him and ask to see what you can learn from the hard stuff. Begin the new year with hope, trusting the faithful God.
Are you in a joyful season? God is also still at work. Look to Him with gratitude and remember his faithfulness you.
Discover more about God’s faithful character.
Below are 10 verses on God’s faithfulness. Meditate on one verse a day. Write them out in a notebook and let God’s Word show you more of God’s faithful character.
May you begin the new year with hope, that God makes everything beautiful in his time because He is faithful in every situation.
The Rev. Dr. Ken McCullen
Your words are an inspiration to multitudes. What a glorious ministry you have. May the presence and power of the Holy Spirit continue to nurture others through your words. Blessing and love, Dr. Ken McCullen
Nancy Kay Grace
Thank you for your kind comment–it means a lot to me, as someone who was impacted by your ministry many years ago. May the lord continue to bless you, Ken.