January 13, 2025
A New Beginning: Trusting God in Every Season
As the snow falls gently around us, I am reminded of the profound beauty of God’s grace in sending Jesus to cleanse and make us new. Just as the snow covers the earth with a blanket of white, Jesus’ love covers our lives, offering forgiveness and a fresh start. Yet, even as we experience this grace, there are times when we turn away from God, like snow turning cold on the ground.
We all wrestle with the mutual relationship God desires with us. We know He will always keep His promises, but if we’re honest, we often fear failure. I, too, struggle to live up to the commitment God calls me to. I will break promises. I will fail. But that doesn’t change God’s heart.
So, what do we need to do?
We need to trust God—to trust Him truly. Romans 8:28 says, “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Even when we don’t understand, life feels hard, or the hurt seems overwhelming, we are invited to stop living in the pain of the past and start living in the hope of God’s purpose. We are asked to believe God works for our good—even when we don’t see it. Trusting God isn’t easy, but it’s the way forward.
Where do I need help?
I need to be still and allow God to heal my heart. Too often, I try to heal myself by controlling circumstances or seeking quick fixes. But true healing comes when I surrender to God and allow His grace to work in me. Only God can bring the healing I need, and only He can make me whole.
Surrender is hard.
We all want control, don’t we? We want to hold onto the things that make us feel secure, robust, or accomplished. We want the reward of success, and sometimes, secretly, we want recognition. But when we hold tightly to control, we miss out on the peace that comes from trusting God. The Bible teaches us that true humility and self-control are the keys to living a life that’s less focused on self and more focused on God. By surrendering control to God, we invite His strength to flow through us, helping us to live according to His will and not our own.
To be pure and holy is what God has called us to be.
God calls us to walk blamelessly before Him, but this doesn’t mean pretending to be perfect. We’re not expected to be like the pristine, untouched snow that never gets dirty. Instead, we are to be like the backyard after a day of snow play—still full of beauty and life, even though it’s been touched by the world’s messiness. God sees the beauty in us, even in our imperfections. He’s not asking us to be perfect but to let His transforming grace shape us into His image.
Sanctification—the process of becoming more like Jesus—is not about perfection but progress. It’s about growing in holiness each day, surrendering more fully to God’s love, and reflecting His character more clearly. This means being a disciple of Jesus: living in a mutual relationship with Him, seeking to follow His example and live a righteous life, trusting that He will be with us every step.
A Life of Surrender and Grace
Being a disciple of Jesus isn’t about having all the answers or pretending to be perfect. It’s about surrendering—giving up control over our lives and letting God take the lead. It’s about trusting that, in our weakness, He is strong, and in our imperfection, He is still at work. Jesus doesn’t call us to perfection; He calls us to trust Him, to follow Him, and to allow His grace to transform us from the inside out.
So, to all who are new to the faith, remember this: you are not alone in your journey. God is with you and faithful in finishing the good work He has begun in you. Trust Him. Surrender to Him. And watch as He makes all things new, one step at a time.