For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. –2 Corinthians 1:20

The old year is history and the new year is beginning! What are the longings of your heart for this new year? Is the world’s approach of wealth and prosperity, health and a restful life in this new year, your desire? While those things may have their place, it should not give us peace. Every breath we take is a gift of God. He is the sustainer of each one of us.

Look back on all the things that happened this year, with all the fears that we had. Fear is a debilitating thing. We look at the evil in the world, and why would we not fear? But Christ said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The faithful and true God is still in control using all the seemingly evil things to work for His glory and the good of His church. This world was created to glorify God in His triune being to establish the kingdom of God from the masses. The gospel goes out by God’s called servants to bring the good news of the Christ-child, born to be the propitiation for lost sinners. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:5–7).

All these things have been given by the power of the Holy Spirit, revealing the cross of Calvary as the open gospel door of hope in the new year. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16–18).

Yes, the world is perishing, but God’s church is in safe keeping as Christ their Savior guides them through this wilderness to their eternal home. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Ps. 34:19). The new year’s outlook may be dismal, but by the grace of God all things will work out for the good of His people! The cross of Jesus is the dividing line as to how we begin this new year! Without the cross there is only fear, but in Him there is divine security. How are you approaching 2026? “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1–2). Knowing Jesus and His righteousness, we may enter the new year with all its unknown trials confidently following Him fully.

God is our refuge and our strength, a helper ever near us;

We will not fear tho’ earth be moved, for God is nigh to cheer us.

Although the mountains quake and earth’s foundations shake,

Tho’ angry billows roar

And break against the shore, our mighty God will hear us. 

God’s city is forever blest with living waters welling; 

Since God is there she stands unmoved ‘mid tumults round her swelling;

God speaks and all is peace, From war the nations cease; The Lord of Hosts is nigh,

Our fathers’ God Most High is our eternal dwelling.

Behold what God has done on earth; His wrath brings desolation.

His grace, commanding wars to cease, brings peace to ev’ry nation;

Be still, for He is Lord, by all the earth adored; The Lord of Hosts is nigh,

Our fathers’ God Most High is our strong habitation.

Psalter 128 (Psalm 46)

Mr. Cornelius VanKempen known as Case, has been married to Susan for sixty blessed years. They attend and are members of Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, MI.