Hi friends! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We spent it in Florida with
our oldest daughter, her hubby, and our grandsons. It was wonderful, but crazily
enough only 30 degrees. The coldest winter in decades. Go figure. Thankfully,
it’s going to be mid-70s in a few days and I’m going to soak up that sun before
returning to Maryland.
I’d love to hear about your Christmas and what the weather was like where you
spent it. I know they had seriously low temperatures back home and across a
good portion of the country, and so many got stranded because of canceled or
delayed flights. Waiting in airports is no fun, but the idea goes right into what
I’m sharing about today.
I don’t know about you, but a good number of friends and fellow authors pick a
word for the New Year. It can be any word. Some choose the word based on
what God lays on their heart, some choose a word that has special meaning to
them, and others choose a word that will help them grow and stretch in the
coming year. I don’t recall picking a word in the past, but one clear one
fastened in my mind for this year. Waiting.
Waiting? That’s what popped into my mind. Of all the words available and
several I would have loved to pick like less, hope, peace, or grace, I ended up
waiting. To be honest, I’m terrible at waiting. Patience is most definitely not
my strong suit. Instead of inpatient, I like to use words like spontaneous or
adventurous. While those are attributes I possess, the underlying issue God
has brought to my mind. In fact, the lesson He’s tried to get through my thick
skull is that there are seasons of waiting in our lives…in our spiritual lives, and
they have a purpose. Often a purpose only God knows, but sometimes after-
the fact God graciously gives us a glimpse of it.
I don’t know what you might be waiting for—the right guy or girl to come along,
the right job, a publishing contract, the latest novel from your favorite writer, or
something even more serious like news from a biopsy or the fertility doctor.
Waiting is often hard, sometimes excruciating. Trust me, I know. I’ve waited
beside deathbeds. I’ve waited in delivery rooms and inside the NICU. I
waited for a publishing contract for seven years before receiving one. So much
waiting. But I recently learned while we might be waiting, God isn’t. He’s always
at work. Working for our good and His will. And His timing is perfect. Perfect.
Waiting is tough, but there’s also peace to be found if you surrender to it.
Accept it’s a waiting season and look to the Lord with hope and trust His
perfect timing.
Reader Question: Do you have a word for the year? If so, I’d love it if you’d share it.
Have a blessed day!
~Dani
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I’ve already written my post for January 6th, and it includes talking about my word for 2023. So I won’t answer your question for next year. But I will say that every fall I begin praying for God to give me a word for the new year, and He’s always faithful to give me one that will end up being meaningful in that year. Here were my words (and the accompanying Bible verses) for the past 18 years:
* 2005: Endurance (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
* 2006: Victory (1 John 5:4)
* 2007: Peace & Simplicity (Philippians 4:7)
* 2008: Intimacy & Devotion (Intimacy with God & Devotion in Prayer – Titus 2:12)
* 2009: Press in/Press on (Press into Jesus; press on in faith – Luke 5:1)
* 2010: Come Away (Mark 6:31a, Streams in the Desert, Dec. 24th entry)
* 2011: Rejoice Always (1st Thessalonians 5:16)
* 2012: Fear Not (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT)
* 2013: Quenched (John 4:13-14)
* 2014: Manifest (Matt 6:10, Voice Bible translation)
* 2015: Persistent Prayer (Streams in the Desert, Dec. 16th entry, Ephesians 6:18)
* 2016: Depth and Breadth (NASB)/Deep and Wide (NIV), (Ephesians 3:17-19)
* 2017: Ponder (Luke 2:19)
* 2018: Grace (Ephesians 2:8)
* 2019: Run to Win (1 Corinthians 9:24)
* 2020: Revelation (Ephesians 1:17)
* 2021: Rest (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
* 2022: Hope (Romans 5:5 and Ephesians 1:18)
I love looking back and remembering what happened in those years and how God always gave me a word that would prepare me and encourage me and lift me. Asking God for a word has become one of my favorite spiritual practices.
Hi Robin,
How funny we were both thinking about and writing a blog post on our word for the year. I can’t wait to read your post on the 6th to see what your word for 2023 is.
Thank you so much for sharing your words over the years. How wonderful you can look back and see how God blessed and provided during those years in those specific areas. That’s amazing.
Best,
Dani
Hi, Dani. I don’t like waiting either. My word for 2023 is Focus. No matter what happens, I need to keep my eyes on Jesus and not my circumstances. Where I place my focus is the key to my peace, joy, and victory. Happy New Year!
Hi Deena,
Thanks so much for stopping by. I love the word Focus. You’re so right about where we put our focus. On Jesus or our circumstances. Praying a year full of peace, joy, victory and focus.
Best,
Dani
Loved this inspirational post, Dani! May God richly bless you in 2023. 🙂
Aww. Thanks so much, friend. Praying a blessed 2023 for you too.
Hi Dani,
thank you for your encouraging post. The reminder that God is always at work, even in our waiting seasons, was much needed today. Waiting is hard and sometimes it seems like He is doing nothing at all but that isn’t true, He is working behind the scenes; for our good.
The word that accompanied me the last 2 years is “Trust”. And I am still learning and surrendering 😉 For 2023 I haven’t heard yet.
May God bless you & your family with a wonderful year full of peace & happiness.
So glad you found it encouraging, Coco. Waiting is definitely hard, but you’re right–He’s behind the scenes working for our good.
Trust is a great word. I’m still learning and surrendering too.
Thank you so much. Praying blessings for a wonderful year for you too.
My word this year is Jireh, because God is enough and because I am His, I am enough. I need to remember this when things get crazy and doubt creeps in. I pray your word brings blessings in 2023, Dani.