“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ” -Jesus, John 15:5

If you’re like me, you may be a little nervous about flipping the page on another year. Because of looming uncertainties with your job, health, and other variables, you find yourself not as gung-ho about it as you used to be. It may be that last year ended on a rough note, and that has you bracing yourself for more turbulence in the new one.

As I write this, I am in the backyard at my in-law’s home way down in southwest Texas, just steps from the border. I am noticing that all around me there are mesquite trees. Scrappy and low-growing, mesquite trees don’t have it easy, yet they thrive. Even in harsh desert conditions – heat, wind, little rain – they grow and reproduce like crazy.

There’s a lesson in that.

Life does not have to be perfect in order for us to thrive. Like mesquite trees, God’s grace makes it possible for us to adapt well to adversity, so that we can do more than just survive. We can grow and thrive. No matter what, even when conditions are less than ideal, we can surpass all expectations.

Jesus promised that our hope for flourishing is not in having the perfect situation, but in having a perfect Savior. He said as long as we stay close to Him, even in adversity, we will flourish. This explains why the adversary is so relentless in his schemes to lure us away from fellowship with Jesus.

Don’t let the fact that there are some challenges in front of you keep you from entering the new year with hope and enthusiasm. Your job, your relationships, your living environment…none of it has to be perfect in order for you to have a great year in 2022. In Jesus, you can thrive.

Cheering for you.

It’s a new year with God. Run with it.

But he [Jesus] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – II Corinthians 12:9