A happy (almost) New Year to all

If you are anything like me, for the next few weeks, you will still writing 2016 by mistake on checks and letters and any other documents that we have to fill out.

There is no doubt that for many of us 2016 was a difficult year. We saw people go through illness, lose jobs, move away for work, and we said goodbye to some friends and family who got to go to heaven before us and the world became an even more unsure place. I think many of us are hoping 2017 might be a better year.

I say “Happy 2017,” but I am not sure that is really what I mean. Oh, I don’t necessarily want you to not have a happy year, but I am not sure that is really my best wish for you. Too often we judge how we are doing in life by whether or not we are happy. However, when our quality of life is based on whether or not we are currently happy, I have found we don’t really have much real quality of life.

Once in a while I have someone in my office who will say, “But Pastor, doesn’t God want me to be happy?” I get the tough job of breaking the news to them that, “No, God isn’t all that concerned with your happiness, he is concerned with your holiness.” Then I often will say, “Show me in the Bible where it says God wants you to be happy?” Now don’t get me wrong I don’t think God wants us to be unhappy, but God’s concern and plan for us is far deeper than our happiness. God wants to help create in us a clean heart that relies and leans on Him for strength and peace. God wants to create in us the very reflection of His image and character. Sometimes the best refining that takes place in our life is when we are in the difficult circumstances. Because the true mark of our faith and trust in God is best exhibited as we rely and trust Him in the tough places.

So my prayer for you is that 2017 be a year in which you draw closer to God. May it be a year in which you reflect Jesus more brightly and clearly than any other year so far in your life. May 2017 be a year that is less about you and more about becoming the person God created you to be. May the JOY of relationship with God be evidenced regardless of your circumstances and as you live for Him may people look at you and wonder where you find your strength. In the coming year may you look more like who God created you to be as you learn to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

May 2017 be a year in which God is at work through you.

Chad Wilks is senior pastor at Sandpoint Church of the Nazarene. He can be reached at 208-263-2562.