Thanksgiving and Christmas have passed and we are now on the cusp of the ending of this year and the beginning of a new one. Ushering in a new year can be exciting, as it is an opportunity for renewal of our hearts, minds, spirits and even relationships. However, as we reflect on all we have endured, accomplished, and overcome this year, there are moments we can become bittersweet as we reflect on all that we wished to accomplish, but did not.
I have accomplished a couple things this year – things that I, if I’m being honest, did not set out to do. I didn’t intend to become the editor-in-chief of Un-Associated, I didn’t intend to intern at Scholastic, and I didn’t intend to get a 4.0 this semester. These are all things that happened. But the things I did set out to do, like finish my book and get my driver’s license, I have yet to do. This time last year, I would have felt like a failure and more importantly, unaccomplished because goals I have set are unmet going into the new year. To some extent, it would’ve felt as if I was starting the year off on the wrong foot. But, for reasons that I intend to share with you, I am feeling like anything but a failure with full awareness that, in time, the driver’s license will be mine and the book will be complete.
f you, like me, set out to do some things that didn’t pan out this year, first, you must know that doesn’t make you deficient and more importantly, there is no shame in carrying those goals into the new year. That means two things – that there is more work to do. The creation of a goal and concerted efforts toward achieving it is commendable and simply proof of determination and drive within you. The second thing that it means is that God is in the midst.
There’s a song that my father plays every time we get in the car by Bebe Winans called “He’s Got Better Things for You.” Earlier, I mentioned that I accomplished several things that I didn’t intend, but they were things that God planned. He had better for me than I could have conceived of myself. The goals I have yet to accomplish did not fall to the wayside. In fact, it is because of the unforeseen blessings and opportunities that I have grown and am that much more equipped to accomplish my goals. Not by the end of this year or next year, but when God brings it to pass. We put so much pressure on ourselves to accomplish something in a time we deem is reasonable and when we don’t accomplish our goal in that time, it can feel like we’ve failed. We have set our goals in our own time – time that, thankfully, God operates outside of.
God is aware of the desires of our hearts, but he also has a plan of His own. But if we trust Him, leaning not unto our own understanding, but His, our goals will be met in such a way that even we, ourselves, could not have accomplished. So if you, too, are carrying a goal or two into the new year, take no shame in it, but know God is equipping you with everything you need to accomplish it.
