Hope and a Prayer for 2022
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5 NIV)
No matter your circumstances over the last couple of years, I think we can all agree we are ready for something new! God’s promise in Revelation does not necessarily apply specifically to 2022, but he is a God of redemption and making things new. I think it is reasonable for us to hope for those things as we begin a new year.
Taking Stock
I am not someone who typically makes resolutions, but I do think it’s wise to do a bit of a reset in the month of January. While there’s no point in living in the past, it’s helpful to intentionally look for what we can learn from the prior year.
How did God remind you of his goodness in 2021? God gave me precious moments of connection with each of my children. They are fifteen, thirteen, and ten, so these are formative years as they’re figuring out who they are.
Where were there opportunities to grow? We closed our church plant in late 2020. Last year was a year of rest and healing for us. We are now in the early stages of engaging with a new church, and I need to work on getting my walls down and opening up to new people. After pouring into our own church plant community for five years, the task feels a bit daunting. However, I also know it’s worth it.
What might God be wanting to start in you this year? A significant part of our church plant was actively investing in our community. Between COVID and the closing of our church, it was less of a focus for our family as we rested last year. I look forward to reinvesting there more and am hopeful God will reveal where he’d like us to continue and where we should start something new.
Hope for This Year
Sadly, there is no guarantee that 2022 will improve upon the prior two years. I am hopeful we will continue to emerge from the pandemic, but we are not promised easy lives.
We are promised that God will walk with us through whatever trials come. Our hope is in that promise. As we consider a bit of a reset this month, it is certainly fair to ask God to resolve some of the trials in our lives. You may be grieving a loss from last year. You may have a child who has walked away from God, or you may be in a challenging relationship. We all may be experiencing a global trial, but sadly, our individual struggles do not stop in the wake of a pandemic.
Our God is trustworthy, faithful, loving, and his mercies are new every morning. It’s hard for me to remember to always turn to him first. I am far more likely to turn to my friends or my husband when something is bothering me. The beauty of God is that he will still be there, patiently waiting for us to come to him. He will speak truth to our hearts through his Spirit and remind us of his goodness and grace.
A Prayer for 2022
I’d like to close with a prayer over all of us for 2022. It can sometimes feel like there is so much evil and sadness in the world that we cannot bear it. We were never meant to.
Heavenly Father, I pray you would reveal yourself in new ways to each person reading this. I pray each of us steps into something you’re calling us toward more fully. I pray our eyes are open to see your goodness in 2022 in ways that overwhelm us. I pray we will seek you first both during trials and on good days. I pray we will orient our lives so that you are the first priority. I pray you will make your church stronger and more loving to all of your creation. I pray for boldness in each of our hearts to speak out when we see injustice, to elevate the voices of the marginalized, and to be ready to share our stories of how you’ve redeemed our lives. I pray you will draw many who do not know you into a loving knowledge of Jesus this year. I pray each of us will grow in our knowledge and trust and surrender to you. I pray you will fill us with hope as we turn the page to 2022, not that our circumstances will be perfect but that you will uphold and sustain us through whatever comes. I pray for blessings and clear glimpses of your mercy for each reader in 2022. In Jesus’ name, amen.
is a Jesus follower, wife, mom of three, finance director, and lover of sarcasm and deep conversations with friends. She also loves camping, rafting, skiing, sewing, and hosting others in her home.
Photograph © Priscilla Du Preez, used with permission
