I’m not usually one for making New Year’s resolutions, but
when 2012 started I knew I had to do something.
I’d been in a bit of a funk the last few months, and I didn’t like it. I’d find
myself reacting and over-reacting to certain situations in unhealthy ways.
Instead of celebrating with my friends over happy occasions, such as work
promotions, engagements and pregnancies, I found myself becoming jealous, sad
and throwing myself way more pity parties that one person should be allowed to
have. Instead of being consistent
and rational in how I dealt with life, I was reacting based on my emotions, and
it seemed like I was all over the map. Rather than remembering the Lord’s faithfulness and provision
in my life so far, I freaked out and lost sight of all that the Lord had done
for me.
So with this in mind, I read how one blogger had picked a
word of the year. She made some cute crafty wall hanging with her word, and that
word framed how she wanted to live
out the year. I saw bloggers choosing words like joy, gratitude and peace.
Being an English major, this idea really appealed to me. I talked about it with
a few friends, and we decided to do it together. I chose the word steadfast. My
friends chose hope and confidence.
I chose my word
in light of one of my favorite verses, 1 Peter 5:10: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in
Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and
make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Because that’s what I wanted, what I needed: to be unwavering
in my faith. To trust God, to choose to believe He is good and that everything
He does in my life is out of His love for me.
I also
wanted steadfast to remind me of the
truth of this verse: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal”
(Isaiah 26:3-4). I resonated with the idea that my mind could be steadfast — that the Lord would help me
look at every circumstance through the lens of trust. In the midst of
change, He is my Rock.
I’ve come
back to that word a lot during this year. It’s a reminder that I can react one
of two ways when circumstances throw me for a loop. I can choose to take it in
stride and keep my eyes focused on the Lord, remembering that He makes me
strong and steadfast. Or I can wallow in my emotions and spend too much time
being on an emotional rollercoaster.
Along the
way I’ve also found strength in Psalm 112:7, Psalm 57:7 and Proverbs 4:26. And
it’s been edifying to talk about our words with my friends. The accountability
of having a goal and mutually encouraging and praying for each other is a nice
bonus!
Have you
ever picked a word of the year? As
we approach the end of the year, what word would you pick for 2013?
