Out with the old, in with the new
It’s the waning hours of 2023. Neighbors are shooting off fireworks. Part of the world has already welcomed the new year, and our turn to celebrate will come in just a couple of hours’ time.
We’re pretty low-key about this holiday here in the Tolbert house. Larry is working tomorrow and has turned in for the night. I’ve watched TV until my writing muscles started to ache from lack of exercise. So, I’m here with my trusty laptop, pausing prayerfully, gratefully, and humbly to look back on the year just ending and toward the one on the horizon.
This time last year, things were fairly unsettled. My mom and sister were preparing to move out of the house we grew up in due to some desperately needed and completely unexpected repairs. Our Christmas 2022 had been delayed by illness — Covid in some cases and a terrible ache in my abdomen that had me at times yelling in pain when I tried to sit or stand. I would find out soon after the first of the year that my gallbladder was the culprit and face surgery in early April.
I’d recovered well by May and was excitedly looking forward to the one-year mark in my new job when June rolled around. I felt I was finally getting my sea legs in this new post, but a series of departures of colleagues kept things interesting throughout the fall. The equilibrium and control I desperately wanted to claim darted away like quicksilver.
And then there was the writing front. I wanted (and still want) to hit a perfect stride of consistency with this blog and learn to master producing podcasts like clockwork. Around midyear, I decided to turn my focus toward launching my first book before 2023 was over, and the rest of the year hurried by in a rush.
I’m tremendously grateful to God for his faithfulness throughout this writing journey that seeks to offer my words as loaves and fishes into his powerful hands. So many of you came to the book launch event in November, celebrating the world-debut of the Jonah bible study known as “I’d Rather Die Than Obey: Trusting God Even When It Hurts.” Thank you for your support.
Though I haven’t hit any best-seller lists, I am happy to report that sales have been good. But more importantly, I’m excited that this book’s message is being read because — spoiler alert! — God is completely faithful and can be trusted, even when we don’t understand why he would ask us to do hard things.
If you’ve read the book, I’d love it if you would leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon or, if you’d like, you can email a testimonial that I can include on my website.
I’d especially appreciate your prayers in 2024 for God’s continued guidance on how to move forward. I am praying that bible study groups will use the book and for the opportunity to speak with book clubs or small groups. I’m also praying about leading either in-person or online study groups myself. If you are interested in participating one of those or might consider hosting one, please let me know.
My fervent prayer for 2024 is that I will faithfully embrace the call in Scripture to seek the Lord and have the opportunity to encourage you and others to do the same.
Listen to these promises from God’s Word on this topic:
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29;13
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” - Proverbs 8:17
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” - Psalm 145:18
May I have a heart that yearns for God like the following verses say:
“O God, you are my God. I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land without water.” - Psalm 63:1
“Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” - 1 Chronicles 16:10-11
In this coming year, my prayer is that we will faithfully seek God through a relationship with his Son Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. If we do, what peace and joy we will find in the coming days because of his great love and mercy!!
Glory to his name! Hallelujah and Amen.
I wish you the happiest and most faith-filled, God-seeking new year!
I love you all,
Dawn
