The Resolution That Changed Everything!

As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, Emily gazed out at the sea of sparkling fireworks, her heart filled with a mix of excitement and determination. She had big plans for the upcoming year, and she was ready to tackle them head-on.

Her mind drifted over the year just ending. She felt a mix of sadness and hopelessness as she pictured her vision board full of unaccomplished goals and dreams.

Emily had always been a goal-oriented person, and the start of a new year was the perfect opportunity to create a fresh set of resolutions. She spent hours crafting a list of ambitious objectives, from landing her dream job to running a marathon.

She wondered if the new year was going to be any different from the outdone year. Will she be able to accomplish them. She sighed deeply. Well, “let’s see how it goes,” she said with very little conviction.

It was the first Sunday of the New Year, and Emily got ready to go to church. She was excited to begin the year receiving God’s Word and fellowship with other believers.

As she sat in church that Sunday, Emily felt a gentle nudge in her spirit. Her pastor’s sermon was centered around the theme of trust and the importance of relying on God’s plan rather than our own. The Pastor reiterated that everyone who dedicates themselves and their lives to God sees him in all that they do because God takes care of His own.

As Emily listened, she began to feel a sense of conviction. Had she been putting too much faith in her own abilities rather than trusting in God’s sovereignty? She realized that her resolutions, although well-intentioned, had been born out of her own strength and determination rather than a deep trust in God. She had been using her own strength instead of relying on God completely.

That evening, Emily took out her list of resolutions and began to pray over them. She asked God to show her which ones aligned with His plan and which ones she needs to let go of.

As she prayed, Emily felt a sense of peace wash over her. She began to see that her worth and identity weren’t tied to her accomplishments or achievements. God’s love and acceptance of her were not dependent on her ability to check off a list of resolutions.

Over the next few weeks, Emily noticed a significant shift in her perspective. She no longer felt the need to control every aspect of her life. Instead, she began to trust that God was working everything out for her good. She spent more time in the Word of God and bookmarked her life according to the words in the Bible.

Emily’s relationships began to flourish as she learned to listen and trust others as the Holy Spirit directed her. She discovered a new sense of joy and contentment in her daily life, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.

As the months went by, Emily’s anxiety about her resolutions began to fade into the background. Not because she had failed or given up on achieving them, but because she had discovered a new way of living – one that was rooted in trust, surrender, and a deep dependence on God and doing what God He said.

Looking back on that New Year’s Eve, Emily realized that the resolution that had changed everything wasn’t one of her own making. It was the resolution to trust God, to surrender her plans and desires to His will, and to rest in the knowledge that He was working everything out for her good.

As Emily looked to the future, she knew that she would continue to face challenges and uncertainties. But she also knew that she would face them with a newfound sense of trust and confidence, knowing that God was always working behind the scenes, guiding her every step of the way.
And she was going to win every step of the way because she had armed herself with God’s Word.
Be resolute to TRUST GOD just as Emily learned to do.