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I remember my first New Year’s Eve after my husband’s death. It was hard to think about heading into a new year without my husband. The thought of facing a whole year without him being a part of it seemed extremely odd and unfamiliar. There would be no part of 2017 that included my husband.

Unlike Thanksgiving and Christmas which was spent with family, New Year’s Eve was spent as a couple, typically at a relative’s home playing games. It appeared I may spend this holiday alone and I was not looking forward to that.

Immediately following Christmas I began dreading December 31st.

To my delight, I spent the evening and the next day with family, however, grief still found its way into my heart. Driving home I was reminded that I would be returning to an empty house; something I always dreaded.

Over the previous eight months, I had learned to take my grief to the Lord so driving home that evening I poured my heart out to Him expressing how it just didn’t feel right heading into a new year without my husband. As always He was faithful to speak to my heart.

And oh what a sweet salve to my broken heart it was!

He brought two scriptures to mind and spoke to my Spirit regarding both. The first was Lamentations 3:22-23, one of my favorite verses.

“Because of His great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

He reminded me that this day was just another day on the calendar. Each day He gives us is a chance at another year. This day was no different. That was how I needed to see this day and every day!

It wasn’t the start of another year but a continuation of a journey already started.

I needed to treat it like any other day since Vic’s death…one moment at a time, looking to God to be my strength, my provider, my sustainer, and my guide; nothing different. He had been faithful to me in the past and that wasn’t changing.

By the time I arrived home His peace had pushed the darkness away as it always had.

But that wasn’t the end of my New Year’s revelations. The very next day I was pondering God’s direction for my life. Where would He lead me? Would it be a change in my career as it had been for a young widow I knew? Would it be a new ministry he would call me to that would utilize my experience with grief?

With only the Christmas tree lights on, I read Micah 6:8.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

I once again felt God speaking to my Spirit. And what he was saying was I needn’t worry about what He had in store for me that year. I simply needed to stand for what is right, choose kindness, and to walk closely to Him submitting my will daily.

The lessons learned on that first New Year’s strengthened me to trust Him for each new day and to walk with Him daily.

I pray that as you walk into 2021 you will do the same!

Lord, would you pour your salve of healing over our broken hearts and strengthen us by your Spirit to give each day to you in trust and submission.