2019 - Hang In There! Hold On! Let's Go!

I love Mondays! I love new beginnings, and Monday has always felt like the start of the week for me. Even though calendars always have Sunday as the first day, Sunday seems more like the day to pause and reflect on all that happened in the 6 days before and prepare for all that is about to happen in the 6 upcoming days. But Mondays, as the alarm goes off and I turn over and sit up straight and kick my legs off the bed and stand up, that first step always feels like a Ready, Set, GO! to begin the week. When I used to work on Mondays, I’d stroll into work with an energetic “Happy Monday!” usually followed by varying sentiments of how insane I must be by people waiting for their coffee to kick in while already talking about how they cannot wait until Friday.

Even though I now have Mondays as an off day, the day still feels the same: a time to start fresh, improve on the things I didn’t do as well as I would have liked the week before, recommit to finishing the things that are in progress and going well, and anticipate the things I don’t know to expect which are sure to come as the week progresses. Monday is the new beginning where I tell myself to hang in there as I work to be better and do better. Monday is the moment where I determine to hold on and keep believing that I will complete the things I began the weeks before. Monday is the day when I brace myself and say, “Let’s go!” even though I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my best laid plans and intentions will be interrupted in some way by the unknown over which I have no control.

Well, it’s a new year! New years are like magnified Mondays! The hang in there, hold on, and let’s go possibilities seem endless as 52 whole weeks of opportunities, improvements, changes, plans, assignments, discoveries, challenges, successes, and surprises await. So, what should be done to prepare for a happy new year? Above all, an attitude of gratitude toward God must lead the way. After all, it’s only because of Him that we celebrated the end of one year and the start of another. Next, a renewed commitment to follow Him would be wise. When it comes to hanging in there, holding on, and going, there isn’t much we can do without Him as the one we’re depending on to lead the way. Let’s be honest. We can’t hang in there without the assurance of God’s forgiveness and redemption for all the things we messed up in 2018. We need the hope that He’s going to make it all work together for our good. In order to hold on, we need the confidence that comes from Him so we can keep believing all the plans we worked so hard on in 2018 will become realities in 2019. Each day that we wake, from January to December, we’ll need to know His goodness and mercy will follow us as we get out of bed each day and say to ourselves Let’s go! Accomplish something! Make a difference! Glorify God!

As long as the earth turns, December 31st is sure to come again. The days leading up to it will be filled with the joys of life, demands of the days, the fruits of our labors, the unexpected trials, the crushing disappointments, and the inevitable delays. We can seize these moments and appreciate each one for the richness they’ll add to our lives. We can keep in mind that God has amazing plans for us that He will reveal along the way. He will use the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the criticisms and applause, the friends and enemies, the good days and the bad ones to keep us in touch with every aspect of our own humanity and the humanity around us. And we can choose to bless the Lord with our grateful hearts as we consider that each day – come what may – is gift to us.

So, here’s to 2019! Hang in there! Hold on! Let’s go!

Key Scripture Reference: Isaiah 43:18-19, Philippians 1:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:13,  Philippians 3:13-14, Psalm 23:6, Hebrews 10:35-36, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 16:9, Psalm 34:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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