The millennium may still be young, but its first decade is more than half complete. 2006 is bursting on the scene with all of the hope and excitement of every New Year. For some, there is hope for a better year and a better life as 2005 was filled with grief or sickness. For others, 2006 brings with it fear and apprehension due to the strain and worries of life. Such is the way of human existence. So, how can we thrive in the face of challenges brought on by a new year? This commentary will examine these issues and how we can be positive at the onset of a brand new year.
My prayer for you and your family is that 2005 was overall a blessed year for you. Having said this and meaning it, I do feel it is important for us to always realize that despite how great or terrible times may be in our lives, life’s circumstances can always be better or worse. That is why we must refuse to become lazy and ambivalent during times of plenty and also refuse to give up during times of difficulty. It is truly a blessing to be able to look ahead with a new year and imagine the wonderful possibilities that may be just around the corner. It does not matter how hard life has been on you, God’s promises remain true and His faithfulness and love have been proven time and time again. For those of us who trust in Him for all things, we understand the role of trials, sickness, and suffering in our lives as well as the world in general. We also understand that in times of rejoicing or suffering our God is with us and sustaining us.
This emphasizes the role of faith in our lives. Without faith, there is no hope. Without hope, there is no joy. With faith in Christ, there is always hope and joy despite what circumstances we are facing. Jesus taught us that we all would endure times of trials and tribulation and should therefore prepare ourselves for such times. My wife and I recently endured a time of intense trial with a serious health problem in her life. It required an eight-hour delicate operation just before Christmas. Although we had total confidence in her physicians and truly trusted in God during this difficult time, we still had to endure the uncertainty of what 2006 had in store for us. Would it bring rejoicing in her health being restored, would it bring struggles due to serious disability and disfigurement as a result of the surgery, or would it bring grief and loneliness for my children and me should we lose her? Being a physician only made things worse realizing the untold number of things that could go wrong and knowing I could do nothing except to pray, love, and serve her. However, when I realized that these were the best things I could do for her and that my actions and attitudes carried with them great power, my spirit was calmed. I was then able to see that whatever we as a family would face in 2006 we would not face them alone. Our God, our church, our friends, and our family would and did stand with us.
Thankfully and with much praise to God and rejoicing, we are beginning 2006 having been blessed with the best of all outcomes with my wife’s surgery. Her health is being restored and we have learned much and are stronger spiritually than we were one year ago. At the beginning of 2005, we had no inkling of the trials that lay before us, but we had faith in our Savior and hope in tomorrow. Once again, God has proven to us that our faith is not misplaced and we are encouraged to continue having hope for the future.
Therefore, whatever blessing you are enjoying or trial you are facing, I ask you to place your trust in the One who controls tomorrow, every tomorrow in 2006. By doing so, you can follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians when he instructs us to stand and when we have done all that we can do then continue to stand firm, and in the immortal words of Sir Winston Churchill, “Never give up. Never, never, never, never give up.” That includes never giving up hope in 2006.
God bless you all.
Dr. Dan Edney
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