2016 has come and gone! The lights dimmed on a year that felt like a roller coaster ride. Ups, downs, sharp turns and coasting into home led the way and left me slightly unsteady on my feet. In some ways, I begin 2017 with the reverberations of the aftershocks from last year. But aftershocks or not, I am determined to move forward knowing that in looking back I will make room to move forward.
My year of ups and downs included hardship, heartache, happiness and hope, but that is not the end but only the beginning. God says,
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
I take time to intentionally explore each peak and valley from the previous year and discover the lessons left along the way. The time spent looking back provides glimpses into the future – the journey God calls me to join as the new year unfolds.
[Tweet “God’s lessons appear as reflections of His faithfulness in the peaks and valleys of life. “]
I began my year examining where I was to gain a sense of the new thing God has in store for me. God is good to share the lessons I need to carry forward. They appear as reflections of His faithfulness in the peaks and valleys. The reflection shines the light of the One who is hope and steadfast throughout the highs and lows. God is quick to point the way to His promises and His gift of truth. He reminds me His strength pulled me forward more times than I can count. God’s love was a beacon that highlighted His faithfulness, grace and provision.
2017 begins focusing forward, carrying the lessons needed to allow my story to continue. It is taking the best and the worst of life and giving it to God to shape, reform and make new. It is casting off what is not needed because God is the Author of my story. He is ready to reveal the next chapter. This is the promise that I grab and believe from the very depth of my being.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
[Tweet “Cast off the useless. God is the Author of our story&is ready to reveal the next chapter.”]
God’s reflections of 2016 continue to point me back to Him in everything. His deep love prompts me to turn to Him and in the process He shows me these lessons:
God’s faithfulness met me in every valley and on every hillside.
The blessing of provision filled me to overflowing when darkness overwhelmed, joy exploded and uncertainty clouded my vision.
God’s grace washed over my weaknesses and insufficiencies and refreshed my soul.
May the God of all creation point you ever closer to Him in the new year. Take the promise of His faithfulness and wear it as a cloak of certainty as your new chapter unfolds.
New Year blessings to all you faithful readers and welcome if you are visiting for the first time. I would love to have you join this beautiful community by subscribing to email updates. You will love it here! 🙂
Looking forward,
Join me next week as I reveal my One Word for 2017.
Linking today with:
and Dawn for Grace Moments
I continue to be amazed at how well you weathered the ups and downs of 2016! I hope someday soon I will find that same kind of peace. Thank you for your inspiring words!
It’s only because of God, Lynne! That is only thing that keeps me going. Trust me 2016 was a very difficult year. I pray you find peace and hope in this new year. We should try to connect soon. Love you!
What a great post! I love the thought of a new chapter in 2017!
Thank you Heather! What a treat to have you here today. I pray the new year is a time of nearness with God and a sense of of new beginnings.
I could have stopped right here… “I am determined to move forward knowing that in looking back I will make room to move forward.” So good! I have to make room in my heart and mind to allow God to move me to the next best thing He has for me. Sometimes I want to hang back but God says it’s time to move. This was so good for my heart!
You are such a dear and I know God is working in you even when you don’t feel it. I imagine 2017 will be quite a year for you. There is a new writing rhythm you have developed and I sense that some of the hardships you and your family have faced are ending. Thank you for being on this journey with me. Love you friend!
This is the time of year to look back and assess where we’ve been and what we’ve done. I always find it difficult to do so, even though I know there is value in it. I don’t wish to live in the past, but I do wish to learn from it. I love how we can see God in both the valleys as well as the mountain-tops. Remembering His faithfulness builds our own faith as we look forward. Isaiah 43 was my verse for last year. This year, I’m looking forward to more of Him!
There is the chance that we could get stuck in the past when we take the time to reflect but that is exactly what we should not do. There is so much to learn from this process. I needed to see the lesson of God’s faithfulness throughout my highs and lows in 2016. It was a reminder that was good for my heart and soul. Isaiah 43 is very powerful isn’t it??? I am blessed you are on this journey with me. You are a dear friend!
I love the thought of God’s lessons being the reflection of His faithfulness, Mary. So true. As I look back over the years, His faithful love and guidance has gotten me through many troubles, and He has taught me many valuable lessons. Truly He does make “a way in the wilderness.” I pray His hope and love will shine the light on the highs and lows of 2017! Love and hugs!
I love how God is The Way. When we see nothing, He sees everything. When we are lost, He is the way and when we look to Him we find ourselves. I pray your new year has begun well and that God’s faithfulness is evident daily. Thank you for being on this journey with me.
Mary, like you, I spend time looking back. It’s most often how I learn what to put aside for the new year and where God would have me to go. It’s amazing to see how all we go through serves purposes so beyond ourselves. Your words always bring me such comfort and encouragement. May you have a blessed 2017!
I first want to thank you for your sweet encouragement. I love when you stop by. Knowing you are on this journey with me makes it so much better. I am glad to know you spend time in reflection as a new begins too. I can’t imagine not looking back in some way because I truly believes it leads us forward. Happy new year blessings!
Loved this post friend! New Years blessings to you too!
Thank you Tara! Praying your new year has begun well. Thank you for being on this journey with me.
I love this post, Mary. Looking in the rearview mirror, seeing where God met us, but then looking ahead . . . what a great way to head into this year. Your post reminded me of our message on Sunday. Our pastor talked about starting our year by looking forward. One thing He shared that I need to do is see what is holding me back and deal with it so I can move forward.
I’m looking forward to hearing where God takes you this year, my friend. You are such a quiet inspiration!
Sounds like your pastor’s message had perfect timing in connecting with this post today. Until we let go of what is in our way, we will stay stuck and moving forward will be more difficult. It also reminds me how sometimes we do the same thing over and over because there is comfort in the familiar but it never gets us anywhere as a result. Thank you for being on this journey with me.
Such a blessing, Mary, to gaze into the rear view mirror along with you and to bear witness to the grace of God. Looking at a year with that in mind changes everything!
2016 was a year of grace in many ways. God is faithful to provide new mercies every morning. You are correct in saying that when we recognize God’s grace in the highs and the lows it changes our perspective. So glad you are on this journey with me.
This has been an amazing year for me as well–a year of growth and change and reflection. May God be with you as you journey into 2017!
Your journey alone back home after visiting Alaska had to be quite the adventure.I loved reading about your journey. 2016 was difficult for me but also very joy-filled. I am looking to 2017 being not as bumpy. Happy new year friend!
Mary, you put so eloquently in words how looking back can show us glimpses of where He wants us to go. And you remind me to look at His faithfulness during all times, including the confusing ones. New Year blessings to you too, and I look forward to reading what journey and learning God takes you on in 2017.
I can hang my hat on knowing of the faithfulness of God never fails. It has carried me through and continues to do so. I look forward to our journeys into 2017 and know that God will teach us so much and carry us through the highs and lows. So glad we are on this journey together.
May He guide you in awesome, miraculous ways in the months ahead, friend, so that you’ll know without a doubt that it was Him every step of the way.
He does have something for us to do, doesn’t He …
Let’s see what He’s got up His sacred sleeve.
Yes He does have something for us and it will be good. I know to those on the outside looking in it looks like we are not doing much, but God knows differently. I am waiting in anticipation for all God has up his sleeve for us. Happy New Year dear friend!
I agree, Mary. It’s such a good practice to look back, analyze, and observe what God did and is doing now in our lives. Otherwise we miss the details of His authorship. Happy new year! 🙂
It would be easy to miss the details of our story by moving forward without focus and without letting God lead the way. I pray your holidays were blessed and that God continues to reveal your next chapter in the new year. Thank you for being here, Kelly!
Happy New Year, Mary! I love your thoughts about looking back and reflecting so we can move forward. It is good to take time to reflect on what God has been teaching us and the glimpses those lessons give us about the way ahead, as well as to remember his faithfulness in the ups and downs of life.
I love the verse from Isaiah too- excited to see what new things God will do this year.
I hope you have a wonderful 2017 and look forward to reading about your word for the year next week.
Happy New Year! If we never take the time to look back, we will miss all that God wants to teach us as we move forward. It’s like repeating the same action over and over because you don’t know any different or it is the easiest thing to do. I also love the verse from Isaiah. It leaves us with such a beautiful promise. Thank you for being here and I look forward to seeing you next week.
Mary, thanks so much for sharing your life and thoughts so transparently here. What a wonderful verse you started last year with. “I am doing a new thing..” I’m praying for you right now, that God would reveal the next chapters in His perfect timing and that you’d be encouraged by your own beautiful story, the one He’s written. Looking forward to seeing what your one word is!
Thank you for these sweet words. You reminded me that God’s story for me is the one that I need to focus on and be encouraged by as I move forward into 2017. It can be easy to lose focus. God’s faithfulness has been amazing as I dipped between the highs and the lows. God gave me the gift of that beautiful lesson. Happy New Year!