The end of the year is a great time to reflect – especially the day after Christmas. After giving away all the gifts and catching up with friends and family, I feel like I’ve finished “the mission”, and can finally shift my gears down.  There were so many changes for us this year – both in our personal lives and in the society around us. Reflecting on some of these changes made me feel uncertain about how to move forward into the new year.

Photo by picjumbo.com

Then, in the quiet hours of the morning, I remembered that life is change. Without change, there is no growth, and there is no life. And in this ever changing life, my only constant is God.  His goodness and His commitment to me and to this world does not change. However, even God, who doesn’t change like shifting shadows (James 1:17), reminds me that He is doing a new thing…

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

Reading this verse at this time, on the cusp of the new year, is both exciting and uncomfortable. It’s exciting to anticipate how God will bring hope to the many disheartening and hopeless situations we see. At the same time, it’s scary and challenging because of what God asks us to do.  He wants us to let go of our old perspectives. He wants us to put away our old expectations, and get ready to experience God in brand new ways!

This means God is going to be moving in new ways, and we won’t be able to keep up if we continue with the attitude of business as usual. Sometimes, I suspect God likes to switch things up from time to time so we have to pay attention. 😉   In seasons of change, what helps is to go back to the basics of how we interact with God – to listen and observe. It’s important to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit highlights.  Also, it is important to stop and listen when He tug on our hearts throughout the day. What we’re learning during this season is a new mindset – the mindset that will match up to the new things God is doing.  We’re learning a new dance.  Only when we learn the new steps can we partner with God properly.

For me, the season of learning has already begun… and I look forward to what God has in store for 2016.  One thing is for certain, His work will be above and beyond what I can ask, think or imagine.