Happy New Year to you! 2016 went by like a flash and believe it or not 2017 is here. A new year in many ways comes with both a promise of a fresh start as well as a lot of uncertainties. We have before us 363 days of promise and uncertainty and can potentially be a source of noise and anxiety. We can however draw great encouragement and comfort from Psalm 121.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

The psalmist, when faced with uncertainty looks to the heavens and draws encouragement from two certain truths about the Lord:

The Lord is the powerful creator

The psalmist looks to the creator of the heavens and earth in his time of need. The Lord who flung everything into place also ordained the days, months and years and everything in them. So while we are in the first week of the year the Lord already knows what the entire year has in store and he will daily order our steps throughout 2017. Therefore, though we do not know what tomorrow holds, the Lord knows and that should comfort those who are His children.

The Lord never sleeps

The second powerful truth this little psalm teaches us is that the Lord never sleeps! He is ever working 24/7. He never takes a break, he never gets tired nor does he take a day off. While we are asleep the Lord is at work keeping watch over His Children- protecting, sustaining providing and guiding. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed “when you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:3-4).

Dear friend as you make your plans and resolutions for 2017 trust in the Lord. Yes the year will come with many uncertainties and we will be in dire need for help, do not fret for our God is a powerful creator who is in control and He never sleeps. The entire year is before Him and in His wisdom only gives us grace for the day. Therefore look to the Lord and trust Him in the uncertainty that comes with a new year.