New resolve
We are currently in mid January. At the start of the year, did you find yourself making any New Years resolutions? There’s a lot of pressure when we hit January to finally make this year YOUR year. New year, new you etc. It’s very easy to get swept up with it all, the start of 2018 seems like a great time to start something you’ve always wanted to do. There’s a lovely saying
“today is the first blank page of a 365 page book, write a good one”
It’s so encouraging to think that we have a whole new year to do things right this time.
But, what do you do when your resolve weakens? What do you do when it all seems too much, too overwhelming to look ahead and see another whole year of trying to struggle?
Those who help
We can turn to different sources for the help we need to make it through. Good friends can keep us going when it all feels too much.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Ecc 4v9,10
The people we have in our lives that know us well will understand the way we tick and be able to help us when we stumble. Having people close to us is essential to getting through the trials of life. They’ll cheer us on because they want the best for us.
Additional support
Some demons we face and challenges we set, however, are too hard to share with our nearest and dearest. Some failures are too much of a let down to be able to talk about. Did you know there is someone else you can turn to in those dark days?
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46v1
Have you ever found yourself having a conversation in your head? Trying to talk yourself out of doing something, or out of a particular mindset that is harmful to you. This is how I pray to God. The conversation is all in my head but I know he is listening. When it comes to the biggest struggle and resolution I have every year – my weight and eating habits – I used to keep God completely out of it. I was ashamed of myself and felt it was too trivial a matter for the creator of all things to be concerned about.
However, I have come to realise that He does care about this as it’s such an all encompassing issue for me. I now regularly talk to God when I find myself in a tricky situation in terms of my eating. I might have been offered cake, or in the supermarket without family around to judge when I buy something unhealthy. Talking to God calms me and allows me to think rationally about the choices I need to make.
The best resolution
“Trust in the lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.” Prov 3v5-6
God wants to be there to support you. What matters to you is something He pays attention to.
So, no matter your resolution, share it with someone and help ease the burden of trying to make the change.
