So Long 2008

Is there a better way to celebrate the passing of a year like 2008? We had enough candy for a dozen movies, but we only managed to watch two and, thankfully, we hardly made a dent in the candy bowl. Truthfully, I’m surprised that we were awake when the new year began.

As we ring in 2009, Monica and I have a lot to reflect on and a lot to be thankful for. In the past year we endured some of the most difficult times of our lives. We lost a brother and a son within three weeks of each other. And as many of you know, the weeks and months following were thick with sorrow and questions. Trials, indeed.

Despite our trials, I will still remember 2008 as a good year because through all we endured our faith has been strengthened, our spiritual walk with Christ has matured and our marriage roots have deepened. There is so much to be thankful for, not the least of which are our new jobs working for a Christian publisher.

Over and over we’ve seen how God’s timing is perfect, how he answers prayers and how he uses our struggles for good. Several times we saw what others might mistake as coincidence, but we knew it was the direct hand of God working in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

In Hebrews 11:1 it says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” For humans, faith is one of the most difficult convictions to face because it is full of the unknown. For us, we know now that faith means putting everything in God’s hands because there is no other choice. It means trusting that His plans will be better than ours every time.

Lastly, when reading the Bible and looking for answers to why God allows bad things happen, I came upon 2 Corinthians 1:3-6. It says:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

Monica and I have had several opportunities to minister to others who have faced similarly difficult times. And while 2008 was a very difficult year, I’m honored that we can serve our God in this way for years to come.

Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2009.

In Him,

Ryan and Monica