The Process to the Promise
As we prepare to close out 2024 and look ahead into a new year, my heart is full of gratitude. Some of you may have had the best year of your life. You reached your goals, started a new job, got engaged or married, had a baby, or happily retired. There are so many joyous seasons of life and milestones you may have experienced this year. On the contrary, maybe that’s not how you would describe your year. Maybe this year didn’t go as you had initially planned. You faced hardship, you lost your job, you are grieving the loss of a loved one, you got a bad report from the doctors, or your prayers still didn’t get answered. Although these examples are drastically different, one thing remains the same and unchanged and His name is Jesus. For it’s in Jesus where our hope is anchored—whether that's celebrating on the mountaintop or growing through the valleys. The seasons may change, but His faithfulness remains the same. Hebrews 6:19-20 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
As I mentioned, when I look back on this year, my heart is full of gratitude. You’d think that by reading that, you’d say, “Surely she must have fallen into the first category of the best year ever.” I actually fell into the latter category. This year didn’t go how I initially planned. My husband and I faced loss this year after experiencing a miscarriage in July. It felt like we faced challenge after challenge throughout the entire year. Initially, it seemed like we had more losses than wins. I remember at the start of the year, during prayer and fasting, the Lord told me this would be the year of transformation - new wineskins based on Mark 2:22 -And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
When we hear a word like that, our minds typically skip past the process and just celebrate the promise. The reality is that the process to the promise is where the transformation happens.
I feel like sometimes in a word of faith community the devil sneaks in to bring condemnation when we experience struggles. Almost like you must have done something wrong to experience loss and it’s followed by shame. In full transparency, I battled those thoughts this year. Asking God, “We’ve done all that you asked of us, why are we experiencing these losses?” Maybe you’re there too and I want to first say that God welcomes those questions. He wants you to share your burdens and frustrations. I took time to sit and rest and grieve before the Lord. He’s not asking you to do it on your own. The important thing to note is not to stay in a place where your feelings are leading you. We can look to His Word to find truths to set us free in moments of loss or frustration. If we aren’t careful we can get stuck in this place where we focus more on the problems than fixing our focus on the One who carries us through.
John 16:33 Jesus tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 10:10 Jesus tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” If you fell into camp #2 be reminded that even Jesus tells us that we can have peace and abundant life even in the midst of trials. Be reminded who the real enemy is, and don’t be frustrated with God, be angry at the devil.
After I took time to sit with God and process, He reminded me of my true identity. I’m MORE than a conqueror. The devil may have tried, but he remains defeated and we remain in a place of victory not victims. We took back our authority and started walking and declaring with the authority God has given us. We watched our words, knowing that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21). Even when we didn’t feel like it, we chose to praise, give gratitude, and serve. What we found is that the more we did it, the easier it became. We remembered Psalm 103:1-5: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's"
My gratitude comes from the fact that when I walked through the valley this year, I was able to experience God’s goodness and faithfulness in a new way, a way that brought transformation. I found hope and peace that became anchored and unmoveable. We found joy even in the midst of grief and in that God can only get the glory. Despite the losses, despite the challenges, despite the bad reports, despite the unanswered prayers. I truly learned the power of putting my hope in Jesus, even when it didn’t make sense. Through the trials, we saw a transformation of our spirits. God brought beauty from ashes and JOY for mourning (Isaiah 61:3). That’s our promise. That’s YOUR promise.
No matter the year you had, rest assured that just as Hebrews 6:20 says, our forerunner Jesus has already entered into your 2025 on your behalf and His plans for you are GOOD! Anchor in your hope and be transformed in the process to the promise this year.
To the Best Ahead,
Kourtney