Honestly, I have no idea what I am about to write about. A few seconds ago I had a few paragraphs typed out of what I thought I wanted to write about, and my goals for 2024, but as I thought about what was written down, and where my mind actually was/is, I would not only be lying to anybody who is reading, but I would be lying to myself. So I deleted all of it.

I’ve been asked by numerous people on numerous occasions, “What are your New Year’s resolutions?” “What are some things that you are looking forward to this upcoming year?” And more that follow along those lines. Every time I have been asked those questions, I have been unable to give those who asked an answer. I either say, “I don’t know”, or “I haven’t thought about it yet”. The paragraphs that I’d typed up previously were just a bunch of fill-in words and hogwash that I threw together just so I could say that I posted for the new year. But like I said before, I would have been lying and ungenuine.

If I am being completely honest, I have no idea what my plans, goals, or resolutions for this year are gonna be. 2023 was such a busy and hard year for me that I didn’t really even have much time to think about it. From getting into preaching, to studying and passing my PE exam, to growing in responsibility at work, there have been few days where I’ve really had time or made an effort to sit back and reflect on the year, and to begin preparing for the new one.

But as I am writing this, something that just hit my mind is that, around this time last year, I had no idea how 2023 was going to turn out. I had no idea that I was going to preach 6 sermons that year. I had no idea that I was going to pass my PE exam. I had no idea that I would be placed in uncomfortable positions at work that would push me to grow as an engineer. I didn’t sit back and plan my 2023 and think about my goals and resolutions. I just simply entered the year and went through it. There was no way I could have planned how that year was going to go. Yet God allowed me to experience everything I experienced, learn everything I learned, and build me up into the man I am now. And a year later, I sit here in the same position . . . with no plan.

But the thing that I’ve realized that I think is profound is that there’s beauty sitting in the unknown. Sometimes, not knowing can be a good place to be. Because it can help you to put your situation and the future in God’s hands, instead of trying to do things on your own. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in the book of Proverbs that says:

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

– Proverbs 16:9

As a matter of fact, the whole chapter of Proverbs 16 gives some beautiful and necessary wisdom in the comparison between the plans of our hearts and the sovereign direction of the Lord. And whenever you get the chance, I encourage you to read it. I think that chapter can and will be a great help to you as we enter into 2024.

I am not saying that we shouldn’t plan and that we should just improvise our way through life. But what I am saying is that we could have the greatest plan known to man for our lives, but God has the final say. And it is up to us whether we will trust Him or trust ourselves more than Him.

Now that I think about it, I do have a plan for this year, which was revealed to me as I was writing this post. My ultimate plan and goal for this year is to Trust God With It. In everything I do, with every relationship I have, to every sermon message that I preach, I am going to try my best to Trust God With It.

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

– Psalm 62:8

Practical Steps For Trusting God

If we are to trust God, we need to make sure, as obvious as it may sound, that we pray often. I think the first step to trusting God with anything is to pray about it first. Talk to God. Don’t just trust Him, but tell Him you do as well.

Another way we can begin to trust God more is to trust the people that He has placed in our lives. Often in my life, and as I have reflected in the past, I noticed that God sometimes speaks to me through those he has placed in my life. Whether it is my family, my church faith family, friends, and even coworkers, God has used people from all around to speak to me. If God has blessed you with people in your life that you can trust, I would encourage you to share with them your plans and see what advice or insight you can get from them about it.

The last way we can begin to trust God more which I’m going to mention is that reading His Word is a MUST. The book of Hebrews tells us that The Word of God is alive and active, and God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Usually in any relationship, the more you know somebody and the more reliable they are, the more you grow to trust them. Reading the Bible allows us to know God more, and what you will find is that there is no one more reliable than God Himself!

Encouragement For The New Year

Although no year is perfect, and no year is promised to be everything we hoped for, what we can know, is that God is faithful and trustworthy. I hope and pray that you all have a great 2024, and I pray that God blesses each one of you! I encourage you to Trust God With It.

How will you trust God in 2024? What plans do you have for the year? What will you be intentional about in the new year? Leave a comment below!

Related Bible Verses To Help

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)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare^[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)