03 Jan New Mercies for a New Year

Our family ended 2019 by going on a Caribbean cruise with my parents and my brother’s family. As we packed for the cruise, I reminded my kids that there would be no opportunity to wash clothes on the ship, so they needed to be thoughtful in choosing clothes they could wear more than once if at all possible.

This concept of packing lightly wasn’t new to them, as we had traveled to Europe last May and each of us had to be responsible for toting our own luggage sometimes for miles at a time. I think the personal experience of pulling their bags around Europe served them well as they packed for our Christmas trip because when I went to check their bags, I was pleased to discover they had packed enough clothes but not too many.

The ball has dropped and 2020 has begun. There is a new year (a new decade even!) fresh with purpose and potential before each one of us. And yet perhaps you begin this new year still struggling, pulling all of last year’s baggage into this one.

In fact, as you look ahead at what lies before you, it may feel that there is nothing “new” about this new year except the turn of a page on a calendar. You may see nothing but the same old problems to tackle, the same besetting sins to battle.

And yet….(with God, there is always an ‘and yet’!) we are promised that not just at the stroke of midnight on January 1st each year, but every single day of our lives, His mercies are new. Read His promise with me:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, therefore I will hope in you.” – Lamentations 3:22-24

Steadfast throughout the days and years, the love of the Lord is greater and stronger and more powerful than any problem we face, any crippling pain that plagues us, any relational trauma yet to be healed.

Enduring throughout long nights or dark days, as radiant as the bright light of dawn, the mercies of God emerge with new hope every single day, resonating with the powerful certainty of the faithfulness of our God.

No matter where 2020 finds you – no matter what you may face in this new year – will you choose once again (or maybe for the first time?) to make the Lord your portion, your all? Hope in Him will never disappoint because His character is unchanging, His love has been tested and proven unconditional and unwavering throughout the storms of life.

And what about the baggage you carry? He speaks to that as well:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

One version of this passage reads like this: “Put my yoke on your shoulders – it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to me, your weary souls will find rest.” (The Voice).

And this is Truth. He greatly desires to teach us his rhythms of rest, humility and gentleness.  He longs for our hearts to be light, carefree in the care of our God.

As you begin this year, will you join with me in praying that the Lord will show you any baggage you’re not meant to carry any more, that you might cast it on His shoulders? And will you believe that the the blessings, the responsibilities, and even the trials you face have been perfectly fitted to your curves by your loving Creator?

Lord, every weight we carried in 2019 that we aren’t meant to carry – we give it to you. We don’t want any extra baggage. And help us to take delight in what you have given us to carry this year, knowing you have planned our loads carefully, for you know the journey that is yet ahead of us.