Wishing You a Happy New Year - Do Not Worry Bible Verse - Cast all Your Cares on Him

There is a 1980’s song that says,

“Don't worry, be happy

In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy”

While it has a catchy tone, the sentiment of not worrying is so much easier said than done. And yet God tells us to not worry. The Bible warns us about worrying about tomorrow because as Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” And wow, 2020 has certainly had enough trouble of its own. It seems as though the world changed overnight and yet somehow we were still expected to function at an optimal level. It reminds me of the children of Israel when Moses approached Pharaoh and told him God said “Let me people go!” Pharaoh's response was to double the workload for building bricks but take away the straw the Israelites were using to build them. Life for the Israelites became unbearable.

Today, life was hard enough, work may have been difficult, balancing family life, the kid's schooling, and everything else presented its own challenges. But then to add on top of that a pandemic, stay at home orders, masks, inundated with news of a deadly virus, experimental vaccinations, and uncertain economy, it almost seems like too much. There are so many people who feel they cannot bear it.

BUT!!!!!!!!! BUT, may I challenge you not to worry? Not because some 1980’s song said so. But because God says so. He is the reason you can not only be free from worry but also to be happy. After Davids, unexpected, seemingly never ending tumultuous life on the run was finally ending, in 1 Chronicles 16:8, he organized a praise team to sing praises to the Lord and tell what He had done for His people, proclaiming his goodness to all the nations. When we look back on our lives, if we are looking through the lens of God, we must give God praise. That praise is where our joy comes from; that is where true happiness lies.

This New Year can be happy. When our children ask what is so happy about the New Year, we can say with assurance that God has been with us the whole time. The child that was born unto us hundred of years ago, the son that was given in the manger, is now Lord of All, King of Kings. He was given to you and me. Yes, you. He came because He is love and that unconditional, infinite, all-encompassing love is for you! For God (the Father) so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). While this may be a popular text for, many fail to see the incredible love displayed. If we know, believe, and are convinced that the One True God loves us unconditionally, then what fear would we have in this world?

God himself tells us in Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Oh, what peace and comfort floods our soul when we think God wants to and will hold my hand if I let him. So no matter the situation, with God on my side I can “...not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present [my] requests to God” Philippians 4:6.

So Happy New Year, not because we hope it will be better (we certainly do hope for that) but because God has been with us throughout this entire year and will continue to be with us even more so in the coming year. It is up to you and I to recognize His hand extended and place our hands into His and truly experience the loving relationship He desires to have with us in the face of all the evil that Satan has inflicted upon and infected this world with.

Happy New Year, because we give God thanks for all He has done and all He will do.

Happy New Year, because Jesus has already died for you and me.

Happy New Year, because we are one year closer to Jesus' second coming! And now is the time to start praising because we will “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalms 100:4

Happy New Year because “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelations 21:5

Happy New Year because God is Good no matter what the Devil does or tries to do!

Happy New year!