The page is about to close on January. I mean, pink and red heart decorations are EVERYWHERE so it’s practically Valentine’s Day already. But before we talk about love (Surprise! February’s theme) let’s look at our resolutions one last time on here, and focus on the year ahead of us.
As I shared in my last blog post “And Then I Broke My Toe,” I shared how my heart usually is not in the right place when it comes to something not going my way, or going as originally planned. But that will likely happen A LOT in 2018 because that’s life, at least, my life. (Sorry if I bursted any bubbles there….) 2018 is still mostly an open, unwritten in book, waiting for our stories and our lives to blossom and develop on the pages within. The reality is, it’s possible for many of us that 2018 could be the best year of our lives so far. There is also that possibility that 2018 could be the worst year of our lives so far. I mean, I hope not, but I’m also a realist. So as 2018 continues marching on, is it possible for it to be a bad year, but also a good year? Yes. I’m not talking about having good moments and bad moments in the same year, because, duh, that happens every year. I’m talking about can we, no matter what happens, believe that this will be a good year? Yes.
It’s all about perspective. What are we looking to or looking for this year? Are we looking at our resolutions, or to the things we believe will bring us satisfaction? Or are we looking to Jesus and keeping our eyes and our hearts fixed on Him? Do we believe He is for me or against me? Do we believe that He is good?
The goodness of God is something that I have struggled with a lot in my life. I’ve experienced a lot of pain in my life physically and emotionally, as well as seen loved ones go through situations that I could never fathom. So I am not taking this “goodness” lightly. I know first hand how bad things can get, and I’m sure you do too. Knowing that God is on my side is also something that I’ve fought against because so often when life doesn’t go “my way” it honestly doesn’t feel like He’s cheering for me. But He is. Oh, friend, He is. 
Romans 8:28-32, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Psalm 118:6, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 56:9-13, “Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
1 Chronicles 16:34, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
As Christians we say we believe that God is on our side and we say that He is good. But do we live this out in our daily lives? Do we especially live this out when the going gets tough? This year, I’m certain I will have plenty of opportunities to pick my perspective. There will be opportunities to cower in fear, or to trust God. Opportunities to complain or to give thanks to God. Opportunities to see the pain in my life, or opportunities to see how good He is, and even how He uses my weaknesses, pain and insecurities for an ultimate good and for His glory. 
No matter what this year may bring to you, 2018 has the potential to be an incredible year. Because no matter what happens, God is good and God is on our side – if only we choose to trust Him.
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
