A Year of Great Things

When 2016 began, I was thankful for a New Year but trying hard to stay in faith.  I obeyed God and left my job, but I felt like I was losing everything.  All that I knew was that I was going to follow God, but I did not know where He was taking me.  When I entered 2016, I remembered all the great things – seemingly impossible things – that God did for me and I was encouraged that something would happen.  As we entered the New Year, I had no idea what was to come, I just knew that I needed to follow God like never before. 
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As I stood on the cusp of 2016, not knowing what exactly the year had in store I was hopeful and I stand at the end of 2016 knowing that I put my hope in the right place – in God.  For me, 2016 was full of the unthinkable and while that may seem like a bad thing, the truth is that it is not a bad thing at all.  In January 2016, I could have never imagined leaving Connecticut, the East Coast and all that I knew because God said to go.  In January 2016, I could have never imagined living in a lake house – it was unthinkable – not unattainable, simply unthinkable (something I had not thought of, but in my heart I dreamed about). In January 2016, it was unthinkable that I would get on a plane being completely unsure of what would happen once I got off.  In January 2016, I did not think I would be where I am today, but here I am.

I can tell you without hesitation that 2016 was one of the most challenging years of my entire life. I cried more than I probably ever have. I prayed more than I ever have.  I cried out to God more than I thought was humanly possible. I did things most people would never do.  I often look back and see all the bumps in the road, all the places where I did not do so well, all the opportunities I missed and all the friendships I lost. However, when I look back through the right lens – God’s lens – I see all of things I achieved, all the of ways He made, all the times He carried me, all the times He heard me, all the times He spoke to me, all the people He moved because they were no longer for me and all the great opportunities He still has in store for me. 

Now that I stand here at the cusp of 2017, looking back at what God did for me and through me in 2015 and 2016, not only am I encouraged, but I am also excited to see what God does in 2017.  God outdid Himself in my life in 2015 and again in 2016, so if the last 2 years are a preview of what He is about to do, I anxiously await what He will do in 2017!

Today, before this year is out take a moment to look at your life through God’s lens – see what He sees about your life thus far and about your life to come, then live through His lens.  God really wants the best for us – His children.  That will not always look the way we think it should look and it won’t always go the way we think it should go, but if we have the faith to believe nothing will be impossible for us. 

My prayer for you friends is that you will allow God to do bold things through your life. I pray that God shows Himself strong for you every single day. I pray that you are prosperous and healthy and I pray that your family is prosperous and healthy.  I pray that you will let your light shine so that all men will know that you belong to the King!

Happy New Year!

Liela

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