New Beginnings—Day 1: A New Season

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

The holidays are full of activity and excitement, with shopping and gift-giving and gatherings with friends and family. Afterward, folks set goals for the new year and look forward to new beginnings.

For some, however, it’s difficult to think about a new beginning. It could be because of financial trouble or the loss of a family member or even the betrayal of a trusted friend. The point is that we all live in the real world, and life is not easy. But the good news is that God is there for us in the hard times as well as the good times. The Bible says that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. That friend is Jesus. And he has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

As you come upon a new season in life, you may be feeling vulnerable. It may be that you are behind the eight ball with some difficult situation. If so, remember God’s promise that if you call on his name, he will answer you.

But perhaps you don’t have a relationship with the Lord. If that’s so, you can have a new start in life by putting your faith in Jesus, who paid the price for your sins on the cross so you could have a restored relationship with your heavenly Father and eternal life. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory; but if we repent and put our trust in Jesus, we put on his righteousness and the Spirit of Christ comes to live in us.

It could be, on the other hand, that you do know the Lord, but you don’t feel close to him right now because you have failed him in some way. Don’t let enemy of your soul bring you into condemnation. The Bible tells us that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

As we begin a new season in our lives, let’s thank the Lord for every blessing, especially our salvation. And let’s call on his name, casting all our cares upon him, and looking forward with great expectation to all that is in store as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!