And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”.
– Minnie Louise Haskins
Was 2024 a good year for you? How do we measure what makes a year “good”?
On the surface, my 2024 seemed pretty good. Work went well, and my loved ones were safe and healthy. But do these things alone make it a good year? I am reminded that, as wonderful as these blessings are, they are transient and fleeting. A sudden illness, a job loss, a global crisis – any of these could shatter the fragile peace. The truth is that I have no control over any of it. This uncertainty can be unsettling, even frightening.
Perhaps a “good” year is one where the world finds healing. Where wars cease, climate change is halted and justice prevails. Yet, the news paints a starkly different picture. One war begins before another concludes. Conflicts rage, injustice abounds and suffering touches every corner of the globe. The world is far from well, and we cannot rely on it to make the year good.
Maybe a “good” year could be defined by my own righteousness—by sharing the gospel, leading others to Christ and living a life pleasing to God. But I am only human, and I often rebel against God’s commands or succumb to temptation. Romans 3:23 rings true: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Anxiety, anger and selfishness seem to be woven into the fabric of our lives. My best attempts at personal holiness and faithfulness to God cannot make it a good year.
So, how can any year truly be considered “good”? Are we without hope?
Here’s the truth I keep coming back to—I believe 2024 was a good year because God was good. It was a good year because despite the brokenness of the world and the fallenness of people, God has remained faithful. It was a good year because God’s forgiveness and compassion have reached way beyond our sins and sorrows and led us towards redemption and healing. Despite the brokenness of the world and my own failings, His faithfulness remained constant. Two thousand years ago, Jesus stepped into human history, offering the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He bridged the gap between us and God, granting eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16). This is the anchor of our hope, unshakeable and everlasting.
Will 2025 be a “good” year? Undoubtedly, trials await. I know that we will face challenges, experience setbacks and perhaps even stumble in our faith. But in Christ, we have peace. We can “take heart” because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). We are loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
God is good, and because of Him, every year is a good year. May we enter this new year with our eyes fixed on Him, trusting in His goodness and embracing the hope that only He can provide.
Photos: Unsplash.com and Pixabay.com
Read also: Directions 2025: Discipleship in Society
