As I reflect on 2011 and embark on 2012; all I can say is that, this far the Lord God has helped us. I will say like the Psalmist, were it not that the Lord God was on our side, we could have been consumed or probably become overwhelmed considering all the circumstances and situations that surrounded us during 2011. There were lots of things going on and this year is no exceptional as we don’t know what the new year brings but we just need to hope in God for the best in 2012. For me, 2011 was a challenging year if not a difficult year. I came across many challenging encounters that I have never gone through in my entire life. Most of these challenges, made me feel like they were going to break me into pieces. There are times I felt like a broken egg just bearing and carrying an empty shell around – those are the times I really felt ‘broken’. There are moments I felt lacking much interest or enthusiasm in some of the things I have always been passionate about. There are times I felt the year just getting too long and longing for that moment of ‘rest’. Other times I was wondering how I am going to make it through. Thankfully, by the grace of the Almighty God, I was able to go through and fly over problems and mountains, and I was able to go through the valleys. Sometimes there was so much darkness around me but I always had delight when I ended up seeing some light through the tunnel. There are those times I felt so tired, weary and worn out but then I could remember the words of Isaiah in Chapter 40: 28-31
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
The Bible is full of examples of God’s servants who went through tough times and sometimes were in the verge of giving up but the Lord showered them with strength, compassion and mercy and I pray the good God to do the same to us as He has promised. Finally, as we embrace the New Year, I would like to remind us the words of the philosopher in the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 9:11
11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
When I think of these words of Ecclesiastes, they really encourage my heart just to know that I do not have to be mighty or strong to win a battle. And; just in case I happen to lose a battle, I am reminded that anyone can become a winner because time and chance happen to them all. This is my time; this is my chance – to win.
The desire to have ‘wisdom’ has been ringing in my head lately especially as we have begun the New Year. This is a time to pray God for wisdom. Reflecting on all the challenges we went through in 2011, it should be our heart’s desire to have and pray for wisdom; to get knowledge and understanding. That means; not just to become a carrier of knowledge and understanding but more so, to have and desire for wisdom. The people who only desire to have knowledge and to pass school examinations with very good grades and acquire all sorts of desired achievements and accomplishments – this knowledge may become meaningless if the individual does not have wisdom on how to apply it.
Have a blessed and fruitful year 2012!