Things don’t always go as planned. My 2024 is already off to a bad start…and it’s only January 2nd! Towards the end of every December,I always plan out new years goals, and I’m always proud to say I either hit those goals, or land very close to them. And so last week I began, with great excitement, writing down my plans for 2024:
- Read 30 books
- Start a different workout routine, and go to the gym everyday, resting on Sundays
- Read through the Bible in a year with my friend, reading everyday and holding one another accountable
- Write 10 chapters of a book I’ve been thinking through
Boy was I excited to get back to Kentucky, (I’ve been visiting with my mother in Georgia) and get going on these plans!
On December 31st, I hopped in the car to make the eight hour drive home, stopped to get gas…and my car started, and immediately died. I couldn’t get it working again. Over the course of that day and the next, I was panicking trying to get my car fixed, getting it towed from one place to the next, getting the supposed problem fixed, having it still not work, and then being met with the same response from people, “we don’t know what’s wrong with it, sorry.”
I’ve sunk a lot of money into getting it towed and “fixed,” and here I am, still stuck in Georgia for another week. There goes my new years goals; I’ve already failed on two of them! For the past two days, I’ve been anxious and nervous about fixing my car, and getting back to Kentucky. “What if I cannot get it fixed and I’m stuck,” “by the time I get this fixed, I’ll have no money left,” and, “how am I supposed to get all my work done” were all things racing through my mind repeatedly. I was like a broken record.
Why do I tell you all this? Sympathy? No! Here’s why:
Safe to say, I was a little rattled and panic stricken. The only thing that mattered was getting this car fixed, who cares about anything else. However, already two days behind on my Bible reading plan, I decided to try to push through the anxiety and quickly get my reading done (if I race through Genesis 1-7, then I can get back to freaking out about my car).
So as I sat down, I nervously prayed and began reading, and the weirdest thing happened. I felt calm. I felt safe. I felt like I was home. Being in the presence of God and His Word helped me to slow down, breathe, and enjoy being with Him, something I wasn’t thinking of for the last few days.
There is a certain comfort in reading God’s Word that washes over Christians. I could have easily said, “I’m too stressed out to read my Bible right now, I’ve got more important things to worry about.” But thankfully, God carried me to His Word, and I felt relief wash over me. I’m so thankful that even in the midst of uncertainty, nervousness, and worry, the peace that passes all understanding can still come upon me and cause me to be thankful to God for all that He has done.
I want to be clear, my issues have not magically vanished now. They are still present. Yet, after I spent my time in prayer and reading, I felt calm about the problems. I felt as if I can get through this because I have the Lord on my side. I was reminded that I am walking side by side with Him.
So here is where I’m going with all of this.
It’s January 2nd. Maybe you’ve already given up on a new years goals, maybe you’re in a spiritual drought because of nerves, anxiety, etc… My charge to you is to take time this afternoon or evening, breathe, and open your Bible. Regardless of what is going on in your life right now, I promise you that you have time to read God’s Word.
If you allow Him to, God will give you rest and peace in the moments of frustration and uncertainty. We see those promises all throughout Scripture! And nine times out of ten, He chooses to give us this through the intaking of the Word of God! So, whether it be Genesis, Leviticus, Galatians, or 3 John, I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read, and let 2024 be the year of encouragement and comfort from God, given through the reading of His Word. Keeping pressing on friends!
God bless.
North Bullitt Christian Church 