2017, what is there to say about you? You ran in out of nowhere, sped through the room like Usain Bolt, & mugged me on the way out the door. My “one word” theme for 2017 was “discipline” & boy have I felt the effects of it these past 12 months.

Really, though, 2017 flew by. The first half of the year I spent doing new trainings for my job. My husband & I celebrated 6 years of marriage, & we’ve started the process of getting rid of things in our lives that we really don’t need. I feel like I have grown so much closer to God over the past year, but especially in the past few months.

2017 brought along some ups & downs. To be honest, the downs are the part I’m most thankful for. Never in my life did I ever think I’d be quite so thankful for a butt-whooping, but this year I really am. The harsh parts of this year cumulatively brought me to a point of reliance on God that I don’t think I’ve ever had before. It’s brought me to a place where I am learning life is not about the temporary, physical things…but about the things that will affect eternity. It’s brought me to a place where I desire to grow in my relationship & love for God, even more, every single day. The events of this year have brought me to a point where God has been able to break off the cold, dead parts of my heart & re-awakened a new & exciting fire for Him, His will, for life, & for others.

So, to the year that kicked my butt & thought it could destroy me…thank you. Thank you for waking me up. Thank you for making me sick & tired of the undisciplined, lazy, selfish ways I’ve been living. Thank you for bringing me to a point where my pride is being destroyed. Thank you for breaking me of my desire to please anyone & everyone around me. Thank you for knocking me off my feet because it has put me on my knees at the feet of Jesus.

So thank you. Thank you for trying to destroy me, because now I see I don’t have to control it all…I can have peace because my Creator, my Savior, my Rock, & my Redeemer has already overcome you.

So thank you, because although you meant everything you did for the worse, my God has used it for good, & I am made all new for it & all the better.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy New Year, friends. Whatever you face ahead, whether pleasant or not, remember to always cling to the Rock that is higher, because He always works it for good if you love Him, & He cannot & will not be moved.

Be blessed, friends.