There’s a whole lot of hoopla and excitement about the New Year. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating milestones and a fresh start.  It’s well and good to set new goals and pursue new adventures.

But let’s face it: “out with the old and in with the new” doesn’t always pan out when we cross over to another year.  This is a reality that we simply must embrace. There’s no magic in the ball-drop or calendar-flip that will plug the drain of grief, reverse the course of weariness, erase the pain of failure, or open the floodgate of success.

When the New Year feels just like the old year, it’s hard to be happy.

So what can we do? Where can we turn?

The solution is in the source of joy, not mere happiness. We need Jesus!  Not just on New Year’s Day but every day. In Him, we find all the “new” we need.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

So as we celebrate with enthusiasm and hope, let’s holdfast to the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore (Hebrews 13:8).

TaVon Morrison © 2016

Scriptures from English Standard Version / Emphasis added