I couldn't help myself. It's the last day of 2018. It just seemed fitting.
As we gaze into 2019, while carrying all the feels of 2018, we expect, we hope, we welcome... we anticipate the newness of a fresh start.
2018 was a rollercoaster ride. It was filled with highs & lows, happiness & sadness, laughter & tears, answered prayers & unanswered ones, growth spurts & moments of falling short, but oh how God was in the midst of every single moment.
Can you raise both hands and jump up and down shouting, "yes, that was my year, too?"
While I wait for the new year, I enjoy reflecting on the year still here.
My life: my year in review-- if it needed a documentary title.
As I sit, peeking over the top of my laptop, gazing out the window to the dreary day ahead, I can't help but give thanks for 2018. Thank you, Lord, for every trial, every joyous occasion, for every situation I found myself in, every person I met, and for those who have loved me and my family so well. Thank you for the ways in which you responded and spoke to me this year. Every year your voice becomes more clear and familiar. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:8. You are faithful to keep your Word!
I couldn't help but chuckle as my TimeHop gave me a glimpse of what my life looked like 9 Christmases ago. Trey and I celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple, and instead of having a child, we bought a pup. I highly recommend the latter first.
She was cute, but ended up in our neighborhood yard sale because a job opportunity presented itself in Nashville. The apartment complex where we planned on living did not allow for animals.
In the eleventh hour, God showed up, not through a pretty rainbow, but rather ironically through rain and a flood. What appeared to be a devastating setback was really God stalling with a not yet instead of a no. He wasn't punishing us, trying to crush all of our hopes and dreams; He was redirecting us so that the next 9 years would prepare us for what we were about to walk into, exchanging the job the world said Trey should have for the one God knew Trey would.
My whole life story belongs in a book not a blog post, but what I will tell you is this: God has his best in store for his people. BUT sometimes His best will first come through strong winds, rain, and floods. With our natural eyes we perceive all the above to be devastating--and it is-- but God will use whatever it takes to direct us to walk in his perfect will.
Here we sit, 9 years later, in Nashville, TN. In a way, living out a dream, and I can assure you it's far better than the life we would have been living if it weren't for the heavy rain and floods.
Hang onto hope, friend. Walk into 2019 hopeful and let 2018 go. Maybe you need to let go of some people, let go of bitterness, let go of what you thought should have been and trust that God is ordering your every step according to Proverbs 16:9.
As you wear your fancy party hats, blow your party horns, and eat all the yummy food before hitting the gym and eating healthy tomorrow, just let it go. Hold tightly to Jesus and walk into the New Year knowing He's walking with you.
On behalf of my family, Happy New Year! Thank you for subscribing, for taking the time to read my blog and for sharing the ones you felt were worth sharing.
I hope you will stick around in 2019!
