Your will be done

A Franciscan tau cross Zibin and I bought in Assisi, Italy back in 2000

The Straits Times Interactive has a poll that asks readers how optimistic they are about 2008. I found myself asking, what do I hope for in the new year?

Honestly, I don’t know. It’s easy to wish for things – good health, success with work, joy, happiness etc. But why do we wish for such things? Are they worth living and dying for?

Just the other day, Jing was sharing with me her realization that walking the path of faith is like walking in the dark with a torchlight. You can see just enough to take the next few steps, but not enough to see what the future holds. Walking in faith requires trust that our small, stumbling steps are guided by God’s light and that our destination is safe in His hands.

At the start of a brand new year, perhaps it is wise to remember that this year will hold endings as well as beginnings. But there is no need to think too far ahead or worry too much about what will be if we let God reign in our lives for in Him all things are bestowed with purpose.

I would be lying if I claimed I can echo Christ’s prayer of “Thy will be done” without fear. I am terrified still of many things – of losing those I love, of illness, suffering and death. But because I fear, I know that there are many trials still ahead to help me gain perspective and to learn to love and live as Christ did.

In spite of my fear, I wholeheartedly believe that God loves me. That is why I still choose my prayer for the new year to be, “Your will be done, Lord.”

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Do whatever is needed, Lord, to make me more like You. I’m weak and inconsistent – give me grace to follow You steadfastly!