“Let us banish every fearful thought and rejoice with exceeding great joy in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be ‘forever with the Lord.'” –C. Spurgeon

In 2018, we saw the miracle of birth, but we also saw a child removed possibly forever from her family.

We experienced deep joy. And deep sadness.

We wondered at the mystery of life and we questioned why God lets bad things happen.

We tasted His goodness here on earth, but it only made us long more for eternity.

We celebrated being new parents, but we found peace in the fact that God is Father to the fatherless (and to all of us in His family).

As I look back, I see God’s provision and His sustaining hand. But I also cry because I am still sad about the things that made me sad this year. And then, I cry even more because one day, God is going to make ALL sad things untrue. We won’t even know the feeling of sadness anymore.

At the turning of a new year, I have found myself more in awe of my God whose ways I cannot fathom in the slightest. I’m not sure what 2019 will hold, but I am excited because He is with us, and He is making all things new.