For the first time in a very long time I'm actually sitting down to write a new blog. As the start of a new year often does, it's prompted me to look back on the past year and all that God has taught me and all that He was brought me through. Some people might look on a year of loss and heartache and economic stress and hope to never experience anything like it again. But I think it would be naive of me to hope or expect that. In fact, I think it would even be wrong of me to hope that. Instead, like James says, I should "Consider it all joy... when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4) Because God uses every trial and difficulty I go through to teach me and shape me more into His image. Through loss, He has taught me to live life with eternity in mind, not holding on to the things of this world. Through heartache, He has shown me His grace in my time of need and comforted me and mended what only He can mend. Through economic stress, He has taught me that My God will supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. So as much as I would love to remember the joy instead of the heartache this coming year, more than anything, I want to continue to learn. And to know that the God of the universe would take the time to teach me and use all the circumstances of my life to grow me up, that's an extremely humbling thought, and I hope I never take that for granted.