Gazing at the rushing river one hundred feet below through the shaky wooden slats offered no solace to my fear-filled heart. The taunting and deliberate swaying of the primitive rope bridge by my best friend’s brother further stole my limited courage. Oddly, the image from over fifty years ago flashed in my mind as my eyes rested on the first calendar day of the New Year of 2024. Stepping confidently into a New Year felt much like my first step onto that swaying bridge all those years ago: impossible.
Confidence dwells not in the promise of a certain outcome, but in the promise of God’s Presence regardless of what lay ahead.
Much like my journey across the rapids on that primitive rope bridge all those years ago, my journey through 2023 filled my heart with terror, panic, and uncertainty with every step.
No sooner would I manage navigating past one obstacle, when another stole my breath away. All the while, the deafening sound of rivers of my own grief, and the taunts of the evil one crippled any hope of sure footing.
Beginning just four days into the New Year of 2023, the relentless barrage of hardship and grief continued through the very last day of what seemed an ill-fated year.
“My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?”
Psalm 6:3 NIV
As I lay in the darkness listening to the fireworks welcome the New Year of 2024, I begged the Lord my eyes would remain holden to the coming year. Weary of disappointments, despair, and suffocating darkness, I felt no eager anticipation for a “new beginning”.
OLD Lessons for a new year
And yet, far from stepping confidently into a new year, I timidly sought the Lord’s Presence early on the first day of this new year.
At times, our greatest comfort rests in the tiniest effort of simply resting in the Presence of the One who knows us best.
In an odd turn of events, or rather pages, I landed on Deuteronomy 11:11-12, where the Lord reminds the Israelites the land they go to possess, is a land curated by God, and His eye remains upon it from the first day of the year to the last.
Though the vast land of 2024 lay uncertain before me, stepping confidently into the new year becomes possible as I remember the lessons learned from crossing the shifting sands of 2023.
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word
What more can He say than to you He has said
To you who, for refuge, to Jesus have fled
While still building the fortitude needed to put one confident foot in front of the other, in the midst of swirling self-doubt, 3 lessons speak truth to my weary soul.
God is My help
No matter the circumstance, whether my trial stems from hurt inflicted by others or my own foolish sin, God will never forsake me, but help, guide and strengthen me. (Psalm 54:4, Isaiah 41:10)
“Fear not I am with you, oh be not dismayed
For I am your God and will still give you aid
I’ll strengthen you, help you and cause you to stand
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand”
God is My Comfort
As the God of all comfort, He knows exactly the need of my wounded heart. God brings comfort not so I might become comfortable, but that I might become a comforter to others. For faith is not learned in the midst of comfort. (Psalm 94:19, Isaiah 51:12, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
“When through the deep waters I call you to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless
And sanctify to you your deepest distress”
God is My Healer
Though hard to grasp, only in the furnace of affliction will wounds find healing transformation through God’s curated trials of refining fire. (Job 5:18, Psalm 147:3, Hosea 6:1)
“When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be your supply
The flame shall not hurt you, I only design
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine”
Yes, my journey through 2023 felt much like the walk across that primitive rope bridge with all its terror, taunts, and turbulence. But despite losing my way, with God’s help, I made it to the other side. In 2023, God’s eyes not only remained upon me, His hand held me on solid ground.
“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake”
“How Firm a Foundation”, attributed to George Keith, (1787), and R. Keen (1787)
Though you may falter stepping confidently into the new year, and feel alone or misunderstood, God will never falter in providing His help, comfort, and healing as you move forward to possess your carefully curated portion of 2024.
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My heart felt the terror of that rope bridge as you were describing it, Donna. I’m not a fan at all of those! lol. The beginning of a new year (or any venture) can often feel that way. I’m thankful we’re given the courage to continue on, despite the raging rivers beneath us.
Thank you, Lisa for your thoughts! At times I am excited about new ventures, while at other times, like this year, I am full of trepidation. I praise God He is with me either way!
Donna–I appreciate this post, and I love the truth that our confidence comes from His presence and not from sure outcomes. I so need to remind myself of that every day. A weak area for me is wanting to be in control vs. trusting. Bless you…
Thank you, Amy for stopping by! I praise God for His encouragement toward us when life becomes most difficult. We can find true Hope in His constant Presence!
Sometimes life is just darn hard. I pray God keeps guiding you as you confidently step on His solid ground.
Yes, for certain, life can be darn hard, Lynn. Yet the knowledge that we are never alone makes the walk much easier.
Donna, my heart is with you. I keep you hand written in my physical journal and there you will remain.
Visiting today from Joanne’s
Thank you, my sweet friend, Paula, you are a treasure, and I am so grateful for your prayers!
I’m so glad you see you posting again. 2023 was a rough year for many of us. For me, it was searching for my faith – what I really believed and what was rhetoric in my mind. I came out of the year with my faith more secure and stronger than when I went in. God is so good.
Your remark – “Faith is not learned in the midst of comfort.” That really spoke to me. Trials are how we grow and how God can really show His faithfulness. I think that God led me through 2023 kicking and screaming, resisting His will and His direction. I am anticipating that this year will be much different. This year, I’m concentrating on Jesus! I pray your year will be radically different with lots of blessings.
Melanie! I rejoice in finding you here! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, they are such a balm to my weary soul.
Thank you for sharing that 2023 was a rough year for you, too. At times knowing we are not alone helps us to find Hope. While I am sorry it was a rough year for you, I rejoice in God’s good ways of redeeming it all by strengthening your faith! Oh, how even the staunchest believers can struggle with doubt in the midst of their trials. Praise God for His goodness to you!
Prause God that His words here encouraged you, and I pray with you for a blessed year ahead as you focus and cling to Jesus!!
What a perfect hymn to go with your 3 lessons , all promises of God . So many of the old hymns are my favorites as they speak to exactly how I feel and come right out of scripture . Thank you for your lessons of Help, Comfort and Healing and your vulnerability that so many can relate to.
I couldn’t agree more, Marg, this hymn has always been one of my favorites, but when God placed the first verse in front of me on New Year’s Day in a unique way, I was both humbled and full of Hope. I immediately started singing that hymn, and each verse spoke so much into my weary soul. I rejoice in God’s tender care and the lessons He is allowing me to share with others!
Oh Donna, I am so sorry that so much has happened in your life in these last months. I’m sending up a prayer as I tap away here. May the Spirit speak the loveliest peace to your exhausted heart and may you know for sure the depth of the Father’s lovingkindness in your life as you continue to move ahead.
Thank you, Linda for your kind comments and especially for your prayers. I feel like I can finally see the Light at the end of the tunnel, and even better, I feel the Father’s love surrounding me like never before.
That image of the bridge was so vivid to me. May you find God’s stabilizing presence to be the ever dearer in 2024.
Thank you, Michele! I was surprised just how vivid that bridge still remained in my memory over 50 years later!!!
Donna, I am so sorry that 2023 held so much pain and difficulty for you. How very grateful I am to our God who has brought you through every moment and never took His eyes off of you. “Confidence dwells not in the promise of a certain outcome, but in the promise of God’s Presence regardless of what lay ahead.” These words brought me such hope for the days ahead for He will be with us!
Thank you, Joanne for your kind words of encouragement. While we can’t always feel God’s Presence, the God of all comfort abides with us in every trial, keeping us ever close to his heart.
A great reminder of His faithfulness…He’s always there, whether we “feel” it or not and His desire for us is always to grow more in the image of His Son….our blessed Lord and Savior. All done for our good and His glory. May His name always be praised regardless of our circumstances.
Thank you, Dianna for your kind words. Not only is He our faithful Father, but our ever-faithful Friend. Amen.