Do You have a Word?

“Happy New Year!” Our family sang in unison as we slammed the door on 2020.

 Hugs, kisses and well wishes overshadowed the fear of the dreaded virus.

What will my word be? – was my first thought of 2021.

Several years ago, I decided to stop writing New Year’s resolutions and instead focus on a word I felt the Lord wanted to show me throughout the year.

After praying and pondering I came up with the word HOPE. I thought it was perfect for 2021.

The Oxford Dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust.”

That made sense since the whole world optimistically expected life to go back to normal.

Well, I was in for a big surprise.

The virus didn’t go away, travel bans continued, isolation became prevalent.

My family faced problems, medical scares and disappointments.

On the other hand, my brother welcomed a new baby, we celebrated our daughter’s wedding, witnessed God’s protection over my dad’s life, and many other miracles that were smaller, but not less significant.

So, what is the hope God wants us to experience day by day?

Optimism is based on a future outcome; believing that things will work out for the best.

However, hope:

• Is based on a Person; it’s clinging on to Jesus even when our life seems out of control and the future looks dark.
• Looks forward (in joyful anticipation of good), by first looking backward and remembering everything He’s done for us (thanksgiving)

We don’t have to wring our hands in fear or crossing our fingers that nothing bad happens.

We can look to the future with joyful expectation of good, not because we will never face adversities, but in spite of them.

The prophet Jeremiah fell in a deep depression but was able to find his way out of hopelessness in to hope. He describes it perfectly in Lamentations 3:16-20

I have been so deprived of peace.

I have so forgotten what happiness is, that I think “My strength is gone, and so is my hope in ADONAI.”

They are always on my mind; this is why I am so depressed.

But in my mind, I keep returning to something, something that fives me hope-

That the grace of ADONAI is not exhausted, that His compassion has not ended.

[On the contrary,] they are new every morning! How great is your faithfulness!

“ADONAI is all I have,” I say; “therefore I will put my hope in Him.” CJB

 2022 is here and I decided to continue in this journey of HOPE. I cannot see the future, but I know WHO does. And that is all that matters.

Do you have a word for 2022? I would love to hear about it!