During the month of December, I typically take time to read over my journal from the previous year, reflect on what God has done in my life, and look forward to what He might have to say about the new year. The only difference this past December is that much of my reading took place in the north Georgia mountains during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. As I sat on the front porch of our little cabin one morning, I was struck by how different the mountains look in winter. My previous trips to this area have been in the middle of summer when the trees are ripe, green, and full. That was not the case this particular morning.
As I sat sipping a warm cup of coffee, I noticed a few things. First, the morning was foggy. I couldn’t see the tops of the mountains in the distance. Instead, I saw cloud after cloud roll over the tops of the barren trees. I couldn’t help but be reminded of how this view is so much like the start of a new year. Many people celebrate, set resolutions or goals, and look forward to a fresh start. Yet in all reality, we can’t possibly know all that the year will hold. Just like that hazy horizon, there are things we can’t see.
I also noticed that in spite of the barren trees and the smoky, wistless clouds, this view was teeming with life. Birds were still chirping, a wood pecker nearby was pecking away, and dogs were barking in the distance, all going about their usual rhythms of the day.
As I sat there taking it all in, I was filled with peace. December, which had been quite busy and problematic in ways I could not have anticipated, had left me feeling disappointed and worried. Yet as I took in the sights and sounds of nature, I felt all of that melt away and I began to feel a deep sense of gratitude for a deeply personal God who prompted me to sit there that day.
The longer I sat, the more I also began to notice the imperfections in the sounds I heard. At the bottom of the mountain a stranger had a coughing fit that seemed to go on and on. Someone else had grown weary of the barking dogs and began yelling at them to hush. Yet somehow, in the midst of these annoyances, peace remained. The beauty of the view did not wane with the haze of the morning or the unpleasantries happening around me.
I couldn’t help but feel that as the new year begins, this is exactly what the Father desires for each of us…to have hope and peace in the midst of the clouds, the noise, and the distractions. He wants us to keep our eyes so focused on the beauty and the blessings He has given, that peace and hope remain in spite of circumstances. We may not be able to see the full outcome of 2026, but His Word is clear. He knows the future, the future is hopeful, and whatever the future holds it will work out for my good (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).
Wherever you find yourself today, whether full of hope for the year ahead or full of worry for the future, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself, what beautiful blessings can I focus on today?
-Liz