“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” (Ps. 130:5)
Happy New Year!
Do you create New Year’s resolutions, or do you select a word for the year? Or some combination of both? Usually by this time each year, I have my word selected. But I’m starting 2022 without one. I’ve prayed, made lists of potential words, and even taken online quizzes. (Yes, I was starting to feel desperate, and even though I didn’t find my word, I did gain some valuable insight from the way I answered the questions on the quizzes.)
God isn’t completely silent, but he’s definitely not saying anything about what my word should be.
So while I wait, I thought I’d take time to reflect on my word for 2021: create. At the beginning of 2021, I couldn’t figure out how it would apply to my life except for the obvious—my writing. However, looking back, I can clearly see how God helped me create in a variety of areas of my life—by creating growth in my business, by creating stronger relationships, and of course, by creating through writing.
Starting 2022 without a word on which to focus feels…strange. I’m a bit lost. But I’m sure there’s a lesson here about control and letting go and maybe even about how to pray during the wait. It’s hard though—I want my word so that I’ll know what my purpose for the year is and how to achieve it.
And as I write this, it hits me—lately, I have struggled with finding purpose and striving to achieve. (See my December 23, 2021, blog post, “When Strivings Cease.”) When I get caught in the hustle of everyday living, I easily forget that my purpose is to follow and obey God, and my achievements are worth nothing unless they bring him glory.
Perhaps my word will have something to do with this struggle. Maybe I’ve already found it through the writing of this post. I have faith that my word will be clear soon, and when I know what it is, I’ll share it with you.
Do you have a word for the year? Please share your word in the comments!
Dear Jesus, you know that waiting is hard, no matter what we’re waiting for. Show me how to let go of my need to know my word and remember that my purpose is found in you. Help me to draw closer to you as I wait for your big reveal. Amen.
Praying for you in the waiting, sweet friend. It is hard to be patient when we want an answer from God about something.
My word this year is discipline. At the top of my planner for this week, I wrote, “Did I choose discipline today?” I’ll pose a new question next week.
Thank you for your prayers! I’ll be praying for you as well as you pursue discipline. I love the idea of posing questions for accountability and follow through!