don't move on.

Well, there you have it: we're officially in 2025. Congratulations on having made it through the 366 days of 2024, and arriving here. Truth be told, we should all be lying prostrate on the ground in gratitude to God for His grace and goodness. As the psalmist says:

God knows that the faith He's given us to have in Him is what keeps us going, this side of eternity.

Now, in any new calendar year it's normal to experience a sense of newness, of freshness, along with gratitude and excitement. Fresh starts are great, I think we can all agree. They've got some sort of psychological effect, that results in us feeling like we're about to conquer half the continent. However, for myself and many of you, we haven't earned the right to move on quite yet. Sounds pretentious, I know. But please, humor me. I remember watching a YouTube video about the Sabbath, and the creator mentioned that fully engaging in rest on the Sabbath requires an equally engaged approach to work during the six working days. It made a lot of sense to me at the time. In much the same way, we don't get to move on and enjoy a new season without fully extracting the value of the old season. I mean, you can if you want to, but I don't think that's the way to go. You've already experienced it, so you might as well ensure you've made the most of it before leaving it behind forever.

To illustrate what I'm trying to say, let's consider our favourite historical example: the children of Israel. On several occasions, they transition from one season to the next with virtually no understanding of what's happening. One such instance occurs just before Joshua passes. He announces to them that they'll have to complete the conquest of Canaan whilst remaining faithful to God, in his absence. He urges them to serve their Redeemer and Liberator, the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac, reminding them of what God has done for their nation. They gloss over the history lesson, and zealously proclaim that they'll remain faithful. If you know what happens in the Book of Judges, you'll know that they don't do a very good job of that. When Samuel, the last of the judges nears his end, the rigmarole happens all over again. They clamour for a king, eager to put the era of the judges behind them and don't hear what Samuel plainly warns them about. In time, they end up suffering a great deal as a result of their choice. So, in general, we observe that the ancient Israelites had a tendency to move from one season to another, eager for the new without fully realising what was going on. Oddly enough, in both cases they disregard the warnings issued: Joshua openly tells them that they're unable to serve God (Joshua 24:19), and Samuel warns them of the consequences of their choice (1 Samuel 8:18). They are obstinate, however, and persist in their ways. They decide they want to move on to bigger, better things without carefully pondering that which has taken place to draw important lessons that would benefit them in the future.

I cite those examples to highlight the importance of learning from every season, and not moving on too quickly to what may seem like greener pastures. 2024 is behind us, and '25 stretches out before us like a plain canvas. It is unknown, unexplored, unpredictable. May we take care to step into the new year with our hands firmly gripping our Father's. Or, as Seth Carpenter sings, let us trust our Lord "page by page".

You see, true gratitude should inform the way we live. If we say that we trust God, we've got actually to trust Him. We can't be fair-weather disciples; if we're going to follow, we do so over hill and under hill (Tolkien fans, where you at?), beneath thunderclouds and powder-blue skies alike. If we claim to be grateful to God for His work over the last year, we can't switch up and take the reins now. Nope. We can't be quick to move on just because we're tired of our present condition. Never forget that our response to hardship and adversity reveals the true state of our hearts. If you find yourself keen on putting the last year behind you, I encourage you to really reflect on what you're grateful for. Then, examine what your heart posture towards God is.

Now, here's another thing: some of us can't move on to a new season because there is no new season anywhere in sight. That's my current situation: I must admit that I've been dragging my feet on some things that God has called me to since 2023 (it's terrible, I know), and so I'm really dedicating this new year to obedience in everything. There's nothing to move on to, because I haven't dealt with what I was originally given. No steward gets to move on to managing cities when he hasn't managed his talents (money) yet (see Luke 19:12-17). Thank God that the Master hasn't returned yet; I've still got time to get cracking. And boy, do I need it.

Let me wrap with this: wherever God is, there is beauty and goodness. That still applies when you're smack in the middle of the toughest seasons of your life. If that's where God wants you to be, if your Father has brought you there, He remains faithful in His fierce love for you. You're not forsaken. You're not abandoned. No matter how it feels, remember the words of your Creator:

So, just be held. Happy New Year, my brethren. I love you all.