Greetings Saints and Friends of God:

As we begin a new year, I want to assure you that yes, there is hope and triumph for your future through Christ Jesus. When you trust Christ as your Savior, Jesus promises that He will never Leave you nor abandon you. "...I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Jos 1:5). Also, His grace for you is renewed not only each year, but everyday. In the midst of his most painful trial, the prophet Jeremiah wrote, "This I recall to mind, therefore i have hope. The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lam 3;21-23).

Think of that, each and everyday, God gives you a fresh gift of His mercy and another opportunity to see His victory in your circumstances. This does not mean that you will never face trials. In fact, there may be alot of work ahead for you depending on your situation. But the Lord is with you every step of the way. And His grace can sustain you no matter what happens.

So how does God's grace help you carry on? First, He reminds you of what Jesus accomplished for you on the cross. When you place your faith in Christ, you no longer have to carry the shame and guilt of your sin because He has pardoned you of all of it (1John 1:9). You have been reconciled to Him, and He gives you the freedom to forgive yourself.

Second, the Lord releases His supernatural strength to keep you going despite your pain, suffering, and loss. Through the Holy Spirit, you have "the surpassing greatness of His power... which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him (Christ) from the dead" (Eph. 1:19-20). In other words, the same power that was present at the resurrection enables you to triumph in your trials! As you seek the Lord in daily Bible study and prayer, the Holy Spirit teaches you what to do, filling you with His might and guiding you with His wisdom, so you can see His glory.

Third, in His grace, God ignites the determination within you to persevere. Even in the worst of times, the Father has promised to turn your adversity into something positive (Rom. 8:28). Through it He teaches you His ways, draws you closer in relationship to Him, and develops your full potential for His kingdom. this is why you never need to lose your joy and peace when facing difficulties, because you know that God is developing qualities you'll be glad to possess once He brings them to completion (Rom. 5:3-5; Heb. 12:10-11; Jam 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7).

Fourth. the Lord reminds you that He is always with you as your Defender, Provider, and Comforter. Your friends or family may walk away, but God never leaves you. He declares, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you" (Deut. 31:6). No matter what you face, you are never alone. And the One who helps you can overcome any obstacles, challenges, or dilemma that comes your way. Ps 103:19; Jer. 32:17; Mark 10:37). Fifth, you have the assurance that God has set restraints on your adversity. The Lord knows your limits and weaknesses, and He will not allow your difficulties to defeat you as long as you are following Him in obedience. Because of His great grace, you can be confident that God is in control of every trial and will help you overcome it (john 16:33; 1 John 5:4).

At one time or another, we all need encouragement. It helps to be reminded with the hope that our life has not ended and a fresh beginning is possible. The key to triumph in your trials is not your ability to face them, but your total reliance on God's grace. So trust Him, and be assured that 2009 will be one of your best years ever if you simply obey the Father and leave all the consequences to Him.