How to End the Year & Begin the Next

Today is Friday, December 31, 2021. I woke up without any particular plan for my devotional time with God in the Word. As the morning progressed, I felt led to read Psalm 31. When I turned there, I saw the header of Psalm 30 and thought, “I’ll read both and treat them as my prayer to end this year and begin the next.”

Once I finished reading both, I sat and pondered how my spirit was filled with joy and courage. Normally, I either pray about what I learned or I jot down some takeaways after my devo time. Today, I thought to pen them in a blog with the hope that it may fill someone else’s spirit with joy and courage.

So, as we have come to the end of this year (or whatever year it may be when you read this) and are sitting in the precipice of the next, let us ponder these thoughts from Psalms 30 & 31:

1. Over the course of this year, through whatever it is we have faced, the fact that we are still alive with our sanity…

we can exalt the LORD because He has lifted us up and has not allowed our enemies to triumph over us. (30:1)

2. Over the course of this year in whatever way we prayed for God to heal us, the fact that we are born-again in Christ…

we can exalt the LORD because He has indeed healed us by bringing us up from Sheol and sparing our lives from among those going down to the Pit. (30:2-3)

3. Over the course of this year when some days and seasons felt heavy & overwhelming and we might’ve questioned where was God, the fact that we are the redeemed children of the Faithful & Everlasting One…

we can sing of the LORD “weeping may endure for night, but there is joy in the morning”; for He has “turned my lament into dancing” and “removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” (30:4-12)

we can rejoice and be glad in God’s faithful love because He has seen our affliction, He knows the trouble of our souls and has not handed us over to the enemy. (31:7-8)

4. Over the course of this year when we encountered the uncertain, the unfamiliar, and the unknown, the fact that the character of our Sovereign God is unchanging…

we can remember & declare to ourselves, “But I trust in you, LORD; I say “You are my God.” The course of my life is in your power…. How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in you.” (31:14-15, 19)

As you survey how your current year was—good, rough, challenging, tiring, neutral—don’t let that determine the weight of the year. Instead, exalt God for what He has done and who He is in your life. Always settle on the constant—the LORD your God—never anything less. Then, enter the new year the way David ends Psalm 31,

“Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.” (v24)