I started 2017 sitting in a church pew and this morning I spent the last morning of 2017 sitting in a church pew. It was a fitting bookend to the year because it was in God and God alone that my solace and strength would be found. We had a guest minister this morning, a man I've never met before, but he spoke as though he knew what my family has gone through. He spoke as though he knew because he did know, not of my suffering but of his own and the many others who have gone through deep trials and tribulation. He spoke of fear and trust, of suffering and God's sovereignty, of putting our hope in the God who saves. The God I love.
This morning I was thinking about the coming year and the confidence I have that it will be a year of abundant blessing. I don't know what lies ahead and when I say I am confident it will be a year of blessing I am not talking about earthly blessing or saying I don't expect heartache. For all I know 2018 could be worse than 2017, but one of the great ironies of the believer's life is that sometimes the greatest blessings are found in the midst of the greatest suffering, so no matter what lies ahead I am not afraid. My foundation proved strong these last 12 months and my confidence, my hope, in the God who saves will only continue to grow. And the blessings that flow from an abiding relationship with Christ, those are the abundant blessings I am confident lie ahead.
The pastor this morning quoted several verses from the hymn How Firm a Foundation. I looked up that old favorite and there is nothing I could write that better sums up what God has been to me in 2017, so I will leave you with the lyrics. Blessings to you this coming year. May you find your hope in the God who saves.
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
"Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake!"