Three ways to embrace the new year

I am a goal-oriented person. Each year and throughout the year, I write out goals I want to reach and review goals I have reached. Sometimes I laugh at the unrealistic goals I have set. Other times I am greatly disappointed I did not reach the goal I really wanted to.

In Galatians 6:9, the apostle Paul outlines an amazing goal. He writes, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." This verse gives us some tremendous advice in facing the new year.

First, know what season you are in. Seasons are not limited to sports and agriculture. Individuals, marriages and families have certain seasons that they operate in. Some seasons have greater flexibility, and one can move slower in them. Others have very little margin.

To embrace the new year with all of the underscores of enthusiasm, you really need to ask what season of life are you in.

If your life season includes your spouse, your children, maybe a newborn, working full time, then it might not be the right season in life to go back to school full time. Heading into the new year, you need to identify what season you are in.

Second, be ready for discouragement. The reason Galatians 6:9 says, "let us not grow weary of doing good," is because doing good can wear you out.

In my ministries, I have done good in helping someone, only to find them in the same situation a month or two later. The good I did didn't seem to do any good.

Discouragement is the No. 1 reason many give up.

A kid quits the basketball team because he was discouraged. One spouse quits a marriage because they were discouraged. The dream of going to school is dropped because of discouragement.

Being discouraged does not mean you are doing the wrong thing. It just means the thing you are working toward takes more work than you thought.

The remedy to discouragement is to keep doing good.

A third way to embrace the new year is to find something good to do and do it. Keep plugging away at making a difference. So step back, lick your wounds and keep on moving.

Don't give up. This year could be the year you were looking for.