New Year

New Year.  New beginning.  New opportunity.  New chances. 

For many, those words bring hope.  There is anticipation that things could change for the better; that things can improve.  For many, that’s what is desired; what is needed.  I know a lot of people who want to forget 2012. 

For me, 2012 was a very difficult year, for a number of reasons.  Struggle is a good way to describe the past year.  I struggled to make decisions.  I struggled to balance my schedule and my life.  I struggled to build and strengthen relationships.  I struggled to hold onto relationships, and struggled to let others go.  I struggled through illness and death of people I love.  And all the while, I struggled to understand why.

I desperately desired a reason for events and circumstances.  I would still like to understand why things played out the way they did.  I will likely never fully know or fully understand, though.  I was reminded at Christmas that even if God did choose to explain it all to me, I wouldn’t understand.

For he is not man, as I am… - Job 9.32

God is perfect.  His plan is perfect.  His knowledge is perfect.  His understanding is perfect.  There is nothing about me that is perfect, except that which God has put in me.  With human capabilities and imperfect understanding, I should not expect understandable answers to all of my ‘Why?’ questions.

What I can understand is that we have a Savior who knows and understands every thought, emotion, and question.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

– Hebrews 4.14-16

He knows.  He understands.  He cares. 

He knows we live in a broken world.  He understands that it is difficult, painful, and trying.  He cares about the things that harm His children.

He knew that because of sin not only is this world broken, but also our ability to receive salvation on our own.  He understood that our salvation would require a perfect sacrifice.  He cared about our salvation enough to become that sacrifice.

Since therefore the children share in the flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.  – Hebrews 2.14-15

Struggle is part of this life, part of this world.  We are constantly reminded of the brokenness that surrounds us.  But we must not forget that our Savior understands our struggle – He lived and breathed it.  We must also not forget that our Savior defeated the ultimate struggle, and we, too, are ultimately victorious through Him.