Here we are at the eve of a new year. The year 2022 has come and gone as well like previous years. Many things have happened around the world, we have had to still juggle with the continued effects of Covid-19, added to it instability in many nations and a war. This was a year that was hard to describe; on a personal level, it was a year of learning through making mistakes; a year of being challenged by what I read and my understanding about who God is; it was also a year that flew by, there was never a dull moment in my life this year. As I reflect on the year 2022, I thought it best to simply lay down three or more areas in my life where I have seen the faithfulness of God this year. I am sure if you look closely at yours, you will see some similarities.
Perhaps, the first area I have seen the faithfulness of God in my life is in my relationship with Him. Indeed, God has been consistent in meeting with me. Being able to meet with the Father daily has been one of my highlights this year particularly on days I was tired, exhausted, sick, alone, miserable, etc. Throughout this year, God has not failed me once in that regard, He has woken me up every day to spend time with me. I am extremely grateful to have a personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; every day, whether I “felt” it or not, I was meeting with my Father. My understanding for the things of God increased, my fire for an increased knowledge burned deeper, my desire to do the spiritual disciplines like fasting and praying increased, the realization of the grace of God in my life became more and more apparent. Yes, I have been blessed, I have discovered more about the God I serve and I am grateful for that. I know there is more to discover about Him and I cannot wait to continue on this journey with Him. He leads, I follow.
The second area I have seen the faithfulness of God in my life is in His protection. Indeed, when “I walked through the valley of shadow of death”, God was with me, His rod and staff, comforted me (Psalm 23). Often times, we overlook the protection of God in our lives because it feels like a given, I mean, we wake up every day, eat, go to work, do our usual routine tasks and we seldom think about the fact that God has been watching over us all the while. We are people of habits and so when we see the same thing happening again and again, we begin to think we have something to do with it. For example, when you drive to work or to a familiar location, you might think that it is because of your driving skills that you are able to avoid accidents but that is not entirely true because ultimately, it is not your driving skills that protect you, instead God is the one protecting you throughout that journey. The bible tells us that God is our Father but not just any father, He is the good Father. He is also the good shepherd who cares deeply for His sheep. Being faithful to Himself, God will always keep us safe for His Name’s sake. I am grateful for that constant assurance of His protection we have in Him.
The third area I have seen the faithfulness of God in my life is in not treating me according to my sins. God is remarkably very, very, very merciful. The bible tells us this truth in almost every page. The reason I am even able to write this blog is ultimately because of the mercy of God. If He hadn’t sent His one and only son to die on the cross so that I could be redeemed from my sins and be adopted into the family of God, I wouldn’t be here and you wouldn’t be reading me. What surprises me to this day is how God is able to not treat me according to my mistakes. Indeed, I make mistakes, I pay for their consequences for sure but I am not condemned anymore. For as Romans will say, “therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). God’s mercy gives me new hope, it gives me a way out, it does not treat me like I should be treated, it brings forgiveness, it brings new beginnings. I am grateful that this attribute about God exists and that it is available to anyone. I am grateful that His mercies are new every morning. Thank you, Father, for not condemning me for my mistakes. Thank you that through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross, I am assured of my victory and of never failing. I can never thank you enough for this undeserved and everlasting gift.
Finally, the last area in my life where I have seen the faithfulness of God is in His word. It has been striking to me that the word of God is the primary means we have as believers to know God. God has revealed Himself to us through His word and we get to have the privilege of “tasting and seeing that God is good” (Psalm 34:8). God’s word has been a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). I have seen different facets of God, I have seen His complex yet simple character been displayed, I have seen his modus operandi at work: how He consistently seeks and saves the lost (Luke 19:10); how He cares for the orphans and widows, how He gives a family to the one without a family (Psalm 68:6), how He prunes and makes grow; how He establishes justice, etc. God’s word is rich, and it humbles you. As you get closer to knowing God, you realize how far away from Him you are, you become in awe of Him. I thank God for this precious gift we have in the bible, I am thankful that it is available to us easily, I am thankful that we can literally carry it wherever we go. With such ease, I believe, we should take the commandment Moses gave in Deuteronomy more seriously (Deuteronomy 6:7-8).
I hope by this point, you have been able to see how God has been faithful over my life this year and how He has carried me through. I hope as well that you too have been able to reflect on His faithfulness over your life this year of 2022. I don’t know what promises of God you are still waiting on but I can tell you from reading my bible and seeing how consistent God is that it will come to pass. We serve a faithful God, who is also a good Father. May your 2023 be an unforgettable year where you encounter God in deeper ways!
A Word Aptly Spoken 