The new year, 2022, came right on in the door and sat down. Looking suspiciously similar to the past two years. I feel certain that I’m not the only person on the planet who is done with the pandemic. Every news clip on COVID, vaccines, deaths, hospitalizations? I just can’t anymore. Not that I don’t care. That’s not it at all. I do care. The numbers, the news, the pictures, the personal stories really break my heart.

This morning when I woke up my mind was filled with an intensely awful memory from when I was around 5 years old. Involving a life altering event to my parents and sisters and myself. You won’t get details, but the effects of that event were permanent and sad. Anyway, as this flash of memory hit my brain waves I sensed God asking me “Can you be thankful even though….?” What a difficult thing to ponder. Especially at 5 in the morning. I couldn’t answer right away.

But God reminded me that I’m pretty old right now. I’ve lived decades since that life altering event. And yes, I can be thankful. Because God has never failed to carry me through and provide me with His strength when I’m broken. Have you ever been broken from a life altering event? I know the answer. Of course you have if you’ve lived very long at all. We’ve all been broken. This morning’s memory may have been my first “event” but it wasn’t my last.

Back to the new year, the pandemic, the everything. I’d really like to know when it’s going to end. If it’s going to end. Maybe you would like to know that, too.

But we’re on a need to know basis, and right now we don’t need to know.

Which brings me to my word of the year. “Trust“

I believe God woke me up with that memory to remind me that I sure enough can trust Him. Because He knows. I don’t need to know, because He knows. And that’s really a relief. Trust should bring relief. Just rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign. All-knowing, all-powerful, in control. And he wraps us up in incredible love that does not fail us. Do we really need more than that?

And now, I’m going to remind myself of this truth, and the basis for why “Trust” is my word: “When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.” C.H. Spurgeon.

It’s still early in the day, maybe I’ll return to bed and lay my weary head back down on that pillow. Oh, wait….the sun’s coming up! It’s a new day dawning! Bless the Lord, oh my soul. I don’t know how God does that sunrise thing without fail day after day. I don’t need to know!