What a year! She had more trouble than she bargained for. The year started off fairly well. But then the little things turned into bigger things. Since the economy turned bad she lost the job she had for fifteen years. What would she do? She had a family to support. Then they diagnosed a medical problem. She knew she had not felt well but never imagined it could be this bad. Now she was facing a major surgery as well.

And then one of the kids got into some trouble. Her son was arrested on a drunken driving charge. The pressure continued to mount. The tornado that came through the edge of town and the wind damage she faced was also of major concern to her. Would she ever be able to get the repairs she needed done to her modest home?

I hope that your year has not been like hers. And if it has, realize we are in a new year and a new place in our lives. With the new year comes the opportunity to forget the past and do the best we can in the future. The new year does not make all of our problems go away. But we can look at things in a different manner; with a different attitude. Whatever the problems you had last year, try your best to leave them there. Turn everything over to God and let Him direct you into a new way of thinking and acting.

David, the sweet singer of Israel, said, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or His descendents begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) By staying in step with God He will deliver us from all the bad things in life. I did not say He would keep us from them, just deliver us from them.

What’s happening in your life right now? What can you do to change it? Will you let God help you through the valley so that once again you may stand on the mountain top? A new year, a new opportunity. How will you use it?