New Year

I have been focusing a lot on the fact that it is a New Year.  Though I don't normally do resolutions, this year I find myself taking stock of several things and changing my perspective.

A lot has happened in a very short time and it feels like the Enemy is attempting to mess with my vibe.  I had a pretty good attitude on December 31.  Although my grandmother passed away on Christmas Eve, it was ok.  I knew she was home with the Lord and with our family who have gone before and I really didn't grieve the loss as she had dementia and had been gone from us far longer than I would  have liked.

In the process of all of this, my Mom's health was deteriorating and we came to the determination that her care needed to be increased.  We agreed as a family that nursing home placement would be a good option.  In the process of all of this, we were cleaning/moving her apartment.

Anyway, back to how I felt on New Year's Eve:  I was feeling such promise and such expectation about this upcoming year.  I really believed that this was the year that we would really start to conquer our debt and we would begin to adjust from the past year's struggles.  And when I see God's faithfulness in the past few years, I know that it will happen.  Why do we always try to get the benefit of growth without the struggle? Most times I have grown, it has been because of an intense struggle that has made me grow.  I'm always better for it.  I 'm always thankful for it (after the fact).
My January has kind of stunk.  It's been busy and frustrating and there are times that I felt I was literally losing my mind.  Yet God is and was faithful in it all.  He sustained me.
I don't know how He is going to work 2014 out to be the year that I really, truly feel it will be, yet I know that He is going to do this. My faith in Him will not waver.  I am certain that in spite of the stressors that may come, He who began a good work in (me) will be faithful to complete it.