Happy New Year!

'But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.'--Job 23:10 (NKJV)

Happy New Year? Really? How can you and I be so sure that this upcoming year will be a happy one? Take a moment to look back at last year. Were there any trials? Of course there were, and you can be equally certain that there will be trials in this upcoming year as well. It's interesting that in describing the storms of life, Jesus always assumed that they would have a place of prominence in our lives. It is not a matter of if the storms will come but when they will come (see Jesus' words in Matthew 7:24 - 27: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."). You can mark it down in that brand-new calendar that you just got--2007 will be a year of trials.

Regardless of this fact, we can still have a happy New Year when we recognize that our God is all-knowing. There isn't a single bump in the road that will take Him by surprise this year. Before time even began, He knew all that this year would hold for each of us, making it a 'Knew Year.' This truth is a harbor of security in a sea of uncertainty because as we understand that God foresaw everything, we also understand that He allows everything in our lives to happen. The Bible further assures us that nothing happens to us unless it is for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"). So no matter what trials you go through this upcoming year, you can be certain they will actually complete your character in Christ.

This is the truth that sustained Job as he went through unparalleled trials in his own life. When things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, Job took comfort in the knowledge that God knew the course of his future and that His ultimate purpose in allowing these things was for him to 'come forth as gold.' The place of trial became the place of blessing as Job's trials perfected his patience and faith.

Regardless of what this New Year brings, we can rest in knowing that God knows what we will be dealing with and that He is going to use it for our greater good. Keeping this in mind will make for a very Happy New Year, indeed!

***Ask God to transform your trials in this upcoming year into agents that produce greater patience and faith in you.