Faith in the New Year

January 1st enters our year with expectations. What will we change? How will we do better? What will we commit to? It says New Year, New You. It is heavy. Not to mention, in Indiana, it is typically paired with dreary grey days and mornings that don't see light until almost eight o'clock. What if we have been taught wrong? What if the New Year doesn't need a New You, but the best version of you?

Faith, in the Oxford dictionary, is defined as complete trust or confidence is someone or something. Faith, in the biblical book of Hebrews, is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. A simple example of this is believing that the road you are driving on won't abruptly end, or the belief that when you walk in the rain it's going to be wet. A trickier example of this is believing that it will work out. Believing that there is more to your life than your hardest moment, or biggest mistake.

What does faith have to do with the New Year, with January 1st, with resolutions to be a New You? Faith is the core of what moves us forward. Faith helps us make the decision to wake up in the morning. Faith helps us to choose life, community, and hope. A belief that there is more than what we see. Like Dr. King said, "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." When January enters our world with it's expectations. Let's meet it with faith. A belief that there is more to us than what we present or even know. A belief that we are inherently good and we, even our dark parts, are deserving of love. That belief is what heals, that faith allows darkness to be turned to light. Let's take the first step on a tricky staircase and believe that we are worthy.

New Year, Best version of you.

When it gets hard to take the next step up that staircase, remember you are not alone. Reach out to the people in your corner. We are in your corner.

I'm thankful you are here.

Be alive,

Tabitha