Hello 2022!

After a couple of difficult years, I was so ready to welcome this new year. For some reason, I feel hopeful about what 2022 has in store. Even a mild case of Covid-19 can't get me down (I literally got sick on January 1st, what a way to start the year!). My heart is more settled than it's been in years and I'm not as afraid. If I could sum it up in a word (yes, you guessed it, this is a word-of-the-year post), it would be the word "Come!"

At the end of last year, I was able to take a retreat day and just reflect and pray and worship. I spent 7 hours at an Airbnb this and it felt like just 1 hour. I looked over my prayer journals from the previous year, listened to worship music, wrote lists of what God has done and is doing in my life, painted... But more importantly, the portion of the Bible God brought me to study on that day was Isaiah 55, a hope-filled passage that begins with the words:

"Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost"

This chapter of Scripture, as I understand it, is an invitation for God's people to come to Him, to believe that His love can satisfy them, heal them from their brokenness and sin, and ultimately bring lasting peace. It was initially an invitation for God's people to return to Him and His promises, and I can cling to it as well.

Another portion of the Bible with this invitation is from when Jesus was preaching to his disciples and crowds of people in Matthew 11. In verses 28-29, he invites the people to

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What a beautiful explanation of what Jesus seeks to do and who He is! And there's a similar message at the very end of the Bible in Revelation 22:16:

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life."

Over the past couple years, I just have felt so overwhelmed by fears. Fears of earthquakes, panic attacks, flying, Covid, chronic disease, unceasing physical pain, being kidnapped or hurt, being alone, not getting married or having a family... And I've felt hungry to get more out of life, discontent, burdened, tired... Can anyone relate?

These portions of the Bible have really gripped me as I begin this new year because to "come" to God means to receive his promises of salvation, justice, rest, gentleness, and ultimately even eternal life. When I come to Him, it means that...

Instead of working to harder to earn my worth, I can rest that Jesus already calls me worthy and offers salvation freely

Instead of hiding my sin - my mess, I can confess to trusted friends and know I will still be accepted

Instead of numbing with shopping or TV or dreaming about an ideal life, I can pursue healing

Instead of reforming myself (again!!), I can learn more about Jesus and let Him change me

Instead of being distracted and ignoring the goodness around me, I can notice beauty and delight in it

Instead of comparing, I can seek wisdom from those closest to me and persevere in the life God has given me

Instead of immediately accepting the messages of others, I can sort through their perspectives and believe the truth about who God says I am

Instead of feeling discontent, I can find joy in my identity as someone loved by God

This is the perspective I'm starting the year off with. Perhaps God is inviting you to "come" too this year.

With joy,

Annie