Thriving … Not Just Surviving 2019!

As you set off into 2019, I wonder how you feel. Do you look at the year planned ahead and walk confidently on, knowing you’ll take it in your stride, or are you more like me and you look ahead with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation?

We’ve just celebrated Christmas, where we remember the wonderful truth that Jesus came as our Saviour. As we jump today into 2019 there’s no shame in the reality that today, tomorrow, next month we still need our Saviour. We still need His help, guidance, protection, and anointing.

When one of our sons, Isaac, was six years old, he told me that he wanted to join the Liverpool football club sports academy, where children go to live and train. Joking with him, I said, “But Isaac, if you went to live there now, how would you cope without your Mum and all the cuddles and chats we have”. Isaac said, “Oh I’d be fine, because I’d have Steven Gerrard” (his favourite player at the time)!

Just as I knew Isaac needed his Mum at six years old, the Lord knows that we need Him. Jesus says that we’re to come to Him as little children. We’re little children who need their Heavenly Dad. ‘The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust’ (Psalm 103:13-14). God never intended for us to be self-sufficient and independent, away from Him and His presence. He wants to help us. He wants to guide us. He wants to walk alongside us into all that this coming year holds – each moment, each hour, each day.

Yes, many of us have the inner strength and ability to cope with the things of life ourselves. We have good minds and brains, and can problem solve, and mostly survive, quite well. But God has more for us. He doesn’t want us only to survive and live with the pressure of life on our own shoulders. He wants to draw close. He wants us to experience fullness of life, peace, rest and joy by walking close to Him, enquiring of Him and leaning on Him - to thrive, not just survive! Our neediness, when placed in the Lord’s hands, isn’t our weakness, but is actually what becomes our strength, as we read in today’s Scripture. It’s as we recognise we can’t do it all alone that we draw close to the One who has the strength, the courage, the answers, the hope that we need.

As we go into this next year, let’s not do it alone. Let’s not ‘do life’ in our own strength and our own ability. Let’s remember Jesus came for all those who recognise their need of Him. I put my hand up as one of those who needs You, Jesus.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You came to earth to be Emmanuel, God with us for each moment of our lives. As we head into 2019, we do it holding Your hand and saying we recognise our need of You. Please will You help us, guide us and draw close to us this year, that we may come to know You more deeply in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.