Can we start the year over?

It has been a challenging start to a new year. In the church I serve, we have had the death of a church member and several family members of our church family. Along with major health issues in our church, strokes and a heart attack. One of the worst winters in recent memory. The school shooting in Perry. The list goes on and on. And all of this in just the first two weeks of January.

One of our church members recently texted me with the question, “Can we roll back and start this year differently?”

What do you think? Would you be in favor of starting this year over?

Although I wish we could begin again, I do know where we turn to in times like this. Isaiah 41:10 tells us: “do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

And Philippians 4:6 reminds us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

I also know where to go when I need to start over with my faults and failures. Hear the words of 1 Peter 1:3-9: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

So we can face whatever life throws at us, because we have a God who loves and cares for us. We are not alone!