“… He has done all things well …”
“My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
(Mark 7:37b ESV; Psalms 45:1 NKJV)
The conclusion of a year and the commencement of the new may mean various things to various individuals. For some, it is a time to gather with friends for drinks, wild partying, and fun times. For others, it is a time for silent and sober reflection on goals set versus goals attained, desires accomplished versus desires unattained, etc. For many, it is a time to gather with like-minded believers to wave farewell to the outgoing and usher in the incoming with praise and prophetic Words. For others, it is a time to go undercover in a personal retreat, seeking God’s final Word for the old and entreating His face, will, and companionship for the new season. Still, others carry on with business as usual without pausing to perform inventory of any type. They live in the moment, retrospection and foreplanning being foreign concepts. If they do take time for these, their efforts may remain fruitless, the inaction of inertia forestalling their vision’s ability to commence its mission.
For those who thoughtfully ponder these seasons of transition, such contemplations may stir up a variety of thoughts, emotions, renewed aspirations, or resolutions; some positive, some not so. Regardless the memories evoked of the joys, sorrows, victories, failures, fulfilled expectations, or yet-to-manifest promises that occurred (or not) in 2022, one thing is sure and common to all – God is good! Irrespective of the way one perceives or tackles the change in seasons, that singular recurrent theme speaks loud and clear – God is good! The gift of life, and mental and physical presence with a fair chance of the same tomorrow are sufficient evidence that God has been good to you, or, better stated in African (specifically Nigerian) phraseology, “He has done you well!”
To those crushed by the weight of the year’s failures, hardships, disappointments, fears, losses or disillusionments, Solomon’s wisdom asserts, “ .. he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.”1 Simply stated, “Where there is life, there is hope!” Things may not have panned out as you had hoped, and you may have prayed fervently, trusting God with all your heart, full of joyful anticipation. You may have watched others attain the very things you desired, having even catalyzed, supported, or contributed to their success. 2022 may seem to have passed you by in some or all areas, leaving those aspects empty and forlorn, while others seem to have seamlessly advanced in those areas and then some. Be encouraged, dear friend! You still have life and breath and limitless possibilities, not to mention a few more hours in 2022 in which anything can happen! Miracles are the mainstay of those who know, love, and serve Jesus! The God Who created the world in six days and humanity in one does not need a protracted period to perform what may be considered major in humanity’s eyes, but is pretty commonplace and puny through Divinity’s lens!
To those who crushed it (i.e., accomplished much and/or attained their goals and desires) and are pleased and content with the year’s apparent ending – way to go, and a hearty congratulations! Kudos to you for your hard work, good planning, the wise use of skills and resources, great diligence and follow-through, etc. Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness, Founder of Creation, and Author of eternal salvation has a word of caution for you, “…. You say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing’, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked”2, or “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth ….”3. Please don’t get me wrong, success and attainment are God’s design and desire for His people and bring Him great joy (see Psalms 35:27 and Jeremiah 32:41) but must always be tempered with a humble acknowledgment of His power, workings, and blessings as their source, no matter the natural abilities, talents, intellect, education, discipline, etc. that were exercised. “Every good and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights ….”4
The bottom line is – God is the hope and inspiration of our present and future and the source, wellspring, and powerhouse of our current and past accomplishments. Because of the former, we can joyfully anticipate a great future even when circumstances appear dismal or desires remain unattained, for He clearly states, “ … there is hope in your latter end.”5 That your desires and goals have not yet come to fruition is no deterrent to their eventual manifestation. Keep hope alive! Be joyful in it, patient in your challenges6, abounding in anticipation by the power of the Holy Spirit!7 Adopt Paul’s attitude of unrelenting enthusiasm; learn and apply his secret of irrepressible hope and joy! He cultivated an attitude of perpetual contentment that enabled ongoing satisfaction and joy in less-than-ideal situations AND in the best of circumstances!8 He drew his boundless strength, hope, and joy solely from His limitless and unchanging God (see Isaiah 26:3-4 and 2 Cor 12:7), not from the ephemeral circumstances of life. This nurtured in him a fortitude and equanimity which fueled his unwavering faith and consistency in such a way that in good times or bad, happy times or sad, in abundance or lack, attainments or dearth – he was unmoved and at peace with himself, despite his circumstances. He epitomized 1 Corinthians 15:58 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to the core and maintained this joyful stoicism throughout the numerous negative and seemingly insurmountable circumstances he encountered. We also must learn the art of drawing from God as our only source of strength; not from our brilliance, wealth, strategy, dexterity, abilities, spouse, beauty, youth, fame, high-ranking position, etc. These while somewhat advantageous to our advancements in life, cannot guarantee our success and should not be the roots from which we draw our strength, for they are fleeting at best. Our trust should be in the one thing in life that does not change nor is transitory – the solid rock of the person of Jesus Christ linking us to our loving Heavenly Father, “with whom there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency.”9
Bearing in mind that God is the source of all our successes, it behooves us to thankfully acknowledge those we have attained while resisting the temptation towards self-aggrandizing contentment or a sense of having arrived. Paul nails it to perfection when he admonishes in one of his many destiny-refining texts, “… I do not consider myself to have ‘arrived’ spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me ….”10
In the last few hours of 2022, press in to receive every eleventh-hour blessing God has for you while thoughtfully contemplating your past, cogitating on your present and joyfully anticipating your future – in the loving confines of His presence. Irrespective of your assessment of 2022, God has done you well! You have not yet touched the tip of the iceberg (or better still, the consuming fire) of His goodness! His very best for you is on its way!
Bibliography
- Ecclesiastes 9:4 (ESV)
- Revelations 3:15-22 (ESV)
- Deuteronomy 8:17-18
- James 1:17-21
- Jeremiah 31:17 (see also 29:11)
- Romans 12:12 (see also AMP & MSG versions)
- Romans 15:13
- Philippians 4:11-13
- James 1:17 (JB Phillips New Testament)
- Philippians 3:12-14 (JB Phillips New Testament)
For Your Listening Edification & Pleasure
You Have Done Me Well – Solomon Lange
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=C7EVc84ERfo&feature=share
Promises – Maverick City Music
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=q5m09rqOoxE&feature=share
Final Word – Sinach