New Beginnings

I struggled with the title. “Unwelcome Changes” or “New Beginnings?”

My heart agreed wholeheartedly with the feeling of unwelcome changes. But my spirit needed encouragement. So, while there’s lots of change that isn’t welcome, thank God for new beginnings.

Present Reality

I’ve used the following Scripture before, but I write it once again because I need to hear these words.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

The transliteration for the Greek word translated tribulation is thlipsis. It means pressure. Strong’s Concordance adds words such as affliction, anguish, burden, persecution, or trouble.

To put it simply, Jesus told His disciples, and tells us today, in this world we. will. have. pressure. And we do.

Personal Story

For me, this year has been full of losses. Added to major losses last year. And even though it’s my second Christmas without my sister Janet, I’ve missed her more this year than last. Maybe as a family we were still in shock a year ago.

Adding strangeness to the year’s end, my good friend decided to have knee replacement surgery December 11. Two weeks before Christmas.

Surgery isn’t easy anytime. Caregiving isn’t easy anytime. Around Christmas it seemed strange to be secluded more than usual and yet trying to celebrate the Lord’s birth with the same fervor of past Christmases.

We made it through surgery and Christmas, only to have the two remaining local family members who would normally join us for New Year’s Eve decide they were too tired to gather for our traditional end of the year gathering. It may seem unimportant to some. But for me, it was an unwelcome change. The end of a lifetime tradition–ending the year with family–magnified my sense of loss.

The Unchanging God

As I grappled with sadness, emotion from the year spilling over, I went to the One Who told me eons ago I would have thlipsis on this earth. Because He also said in Him I would find peace.

In addition to offering His peace, Jesus told His disciples, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Peace and rest. Is that possible? Unwelcome changes meet us at every corner on this earth. A job loss or a job change. A spouse leaving or dying. Children wandering away and breaking our hearts. Illness coming to steal our health. Wars and rumors of wars. Politicians and well-known personalities falling prey to the enemy’s lies. And corruption that results from the love of money and power.

This morning, as I turned for comfort to the One Who made me, I was reminded He is One Who never changes. This world is full of troubles, ever shifting with the winds of change. But my God, my Creator, the Lover of my soul, does not change.

Malachi, speaking for Jehovah, says, I am the Lord, I change not (Malachi 3:6). And the writer of Hebrews tells us Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

This world may bring unwelcome changes, but our Father, the Living God, the One Who created all things, does not change. Jesus, Who came to earth in the form of a baby, the One Who lived and died for us, and rose to conquer death, is faithful and is forever the same.

New Beginnings

Each time I’ve had a loss, there have been others around to mourn with me. But what if you’re the last one standing? What of the widow who has no children? Or the orphan who’s left alone? What of the refugee who fled for his life and finds himself in a strange country with no family for comfort?

What of the foster child who feels no sense of belonging? Or the couple who finds themselves dealing with a disability they never anticipated? Even with each other, an unwelcome change now colors their every waking hour?

All of us have thlipsis in this life. Pressure. Unwelcome changes. But we also all have the privilege of being under the care of a loving Father Who never changes. He is able to give beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He can create new beginnings from every change, welcome or unwelcome.

As we enter a new year, may each of us turn to the One Who alone is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He is good, and He is faithful. What new beginnings does He have for us this year?

Before Jesus left the earth two millenia ago, He told us He went to prepare a place for His disciples, and He will return one day to take us to be with Him (John 14:3). Until the day He takes us, our Father has a purpose for us here. Life on earth may include unwelcome changes, but our Creator cares and with Him there are always new beginnings.

God bless you all in 2024. For those of you who’ve had thlipsis this year–pressures, tribulations–my heart hurts for you. May Jesus, our God and Savior, be your source of hope and joy. May He bless each of us with extra strength and courage to face whatever the coming year brings. And may He help us see all unwelcome changes as doors to new beginnings.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19

(Scripture: King James Version; Photos: Taken by Carolyn Thigpen, December 31, 2023, Tribble Mill Park, Lawrenceville, GA; )