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PROGRAM D-7737
It’s December 27th and 2016 is coming to a close. You made it through Christmas and hopefully you’ve been able to slow down a bit and think back over this past year. It’s a good time for reflection and I’m encouraging you to take a look at God’s big picture for 2016—what was his purpose and plan through everything you’ve experienced in the past twelve months?
My year was full of lots of good things—marriage, a new house, starting up a new ministry, some really fun vacations and trips, and my Chicago Cubs winning the World Series for the first time since 1908! But in the midst of all that, it seems like this past year has been full of sad things, too. Loss from death of several people near me; walking with a friend through her final days; very bad health news from other close friends; and in general, the political season we’ve lived through with all its negativity and pollution—these things have seemed to pile up and cause a cloud of sadness for me at times.
Do you feel as though 2016 was under a cloud of sadness for you? Maybe it was one of your worst years in some ways. It often seems that bad news comes in multiples, and so you may be celebrating the end of 2016 in hopes that the New Year will be brighter. It could be that 2016 is a year you’re glad to say goodbye to.
How can we, who are Christ-followers, face great sadness in our lives? What’s the big picture there? You may think there is no upside to your 2016 picture. I understand, and I don’t intend to make light of what you’ve gone through. But I just want to remind you to look beyond the present situation, whatever it is, and remember that God is still sovereign and you haven’t read the last chapter yet.
One discipline I’ve tried to practice in my everyday life, when I’m frustrated or upset, is to ask myself, “What difference will this make in twenty-four hours?” And that helps to keep me from allowing little irritations or disappointments to get to me. If it doesn’t matter in twenty-four hours, it really doesn’t matter. But I would recommend a slightly different reminder, as you survey the sad, dark cloud that seemed to hang over 2016 for you. And that is: “What difference will this make in eternity?” The challenge is to keep an eternal perspective. God is in control, he is trustworthy, and we have amazing good things to look forward to. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.
So, pray for an eternal perspective. Ask God to help you see his big picture, and even though you had a tough year, you can be encouraged and strengthened for the New Year, because God has the big picture in his hands and it’s going to be good.