In the blink of an eye, the year 2018 has come to an end. It has been one of the best years I’ve had in a long time but it did not come without its share of challenges. I still remember walking into January with a broken heart and a crushed spirit. My relationships seemed quite shattered and I wasn’t sure if there was anything worth looking forward to. A rejection from a renowned university I applied to for Ph.D, only made me dread the year even more. So, after bawling my eyes out and fulfilling the “I am sad” ritual of eating ice cream straight out of the carton, I got on my knees and thanked the Lord because He knew EXACTLY what He was doing, even though I couldn’t see or understand a darn thing!

That prayer, that decision right there – To trust God’s character and not my circumstance, was my turning point. You see, my circumstance was only alien to me and in due course would definitely change. But my Father, He never changes. His plans for me were good. Plans to prosper me and not harm me, to give me a hope and a future … even if, in that moment, it didn’t seem that way.

The year 2018 revealed uncertainties in pretty much every area of my life. So many loose ends and not enough closures. So many “what”s, “why”s, “why not”s, and “how come?”s. But in the midst of them all, one truth still stood out and stood tall that God is faithful! In the midst of all the chaos, He made sure all my needs were met. I was denied nothing. I was given more than what I asked for and in some cases, I’ve been given even that which I didn’t ask – I got to travel to eight countries this year alone – Malaysia, Spain, Italy, France, Nepal, Singapore, Cambodia and Fiji! I met my best friend Tripthi Sweeney after six long years and I got to do SEVERAL trainings in Hindi, all over India! I watched God prove to me that even when it doesn’t seem that way, He is exactly Who He says He is. At the beginning of the year, when my relationships were all scattered, I couldn’t quite understand how God is a God of restoration, until, this Christmas season, He brought them all into order – Relationships that needed restoring were restored, and those that needed to be purged were purged. It took time, but it was worth the wait. My dad had a pacemaker installed and the whole procedure went on without a glitch. I came face to face with a faithful God!

This year taught me so many lessons that I will surely carry into next year. I learned that:

• The time it takes for our faith to become sight might be hard and long drawn, but God is ALWAYS faithful to His Word.
• Even when I don’t understand it, God knows EXACTLY what He is doing, and it is ALWAYS for my good.
• How you remember someone, even if they’ve hurt you deeply, is a choice only you can make. Giving up the good memories in order to get rid of the bad ones, is simply too much of a price to pay.
• How someone treats you, says a lot about him or her. But how you let someone treat you, says a lot about you. It is one thing to say that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and it’s a completely different thing to live it.
• If you don’t love yourself, don’t expect someone else to. If you don’t value yourself, don’t expect someone else to. If you don’t hold people to a high standard, don’t get disappointed when they fall short of it.
• Always keep your word. Always.
• Give people the benefit of doubt. It’s okay if that means you end up being a pushover. Big deal.
• Always be kind. Even when the other person doesn’t seem to deserve it.
• Try again. It’s okay if you fall. It’s okay if you fail. Try again.
• Love freely. Forgive easily. Live fully. Live well. There are no do-overs.

Now you tell me, can a simple “Thank You” suffice, to this God who’s sustained me with His unwavering, unconditional faithfulness? So, as my act of gratitude for a 2018 well spent, I’ve decided that in the new year 2019, every time I am tempted to complain or cry, I will consciously take time to first count my blessings. Because truth be told, for every unanswered prayer, there have been that many more answers to questions I never asked and for that I am grateful. If I don’t get to question my “Promised land” then I don’t get to question my “Wilderness” even though it is in the latter experience that you see God face to face and get to soak in His faithfulness!

So, as I stand on the threshold of this brand new year, and look back at the year just gone by, I can’t help but be aware that God, just being the amazing Father that He is, is constantly proving to me how limited my thoughts, prayers and desires are, and how much more abundantly He can and will do above and beyond all I can ask or imagine, if I just let Him. And this year, I will let Him.

Great is Your faithfulness! Through the years You’ve always been there!

Great is Your faithfulness! Through the years You’ll always be there!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

In closing I must say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!