When A New Year Holds Old Struggles – Erica Baldwin

When a New Year Holds Old Struggles

Guidance from 2 Peter for a Fruitful, Faithful Walk 

The turning of a calendar page doesn’t automatically infuse fresh hope, especially for those waking up to the same trials as last year. For many, the new year was ushered in with confetti and fresh dreams, but with chronic illness, you feel overwhelmed by the realities of today.

As you scan the medicine bottles on your counter, you can’t “resolution” your way to health. When you look at your calendar filled with doctor’s appointments, scheduling memorable occasions seems daunting. Inviting others into your life to combat loneliness requires a vulnerability you’re unsure you can muster. 

But don’t give up hope, friends. Life with chronic illness is limiting, yes, but it’s not over. In Christ, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), even a life impacted by chronic illness. Our bodies may be unpredictable, but our faith can be steady and strong.   

Naming What’s True

One year in my own chronic illness journey, Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day came and went while I was in the hospital with some major medical needs. I certainly didn’t feel like celebrating as we attended to my urgent needs. 

Your chronic illness or pain may be in remission or you might be fighting a daily battle to persevere. Either way, you may not feel like shouting “new year, new me!” with a long list of goals and dreams. But each of us can name what’s true, asking God to help us accept His given limitations and keep us from falling into despair. Your list of what’s true may look like this:

• God created me and knows all about my physical struggles. 
• My lament is welcome by God, and I can trust Him with my pain.
• I can’t travel or work or serve how I used to, but I can be faithful to what God’s called me to right here, right now.
• Even if this year doesn’t include big goals, I can rely on God to supply the hope and eternal perspective I need.

You may not be able to run a marathon this year, but you can live a life of faithfulness and joy in your right-now lives.

God’s Guidance

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3

In the first chapter of 2 Peter, Peter offers God’s building blocks for a fruitful life in Christ. I hate to call these “God’s goals,” because life with Christ is not a checklist. But our knowledge of God should influence our short-term and long-term focus, reflecting His glory to others and to our own fickle hearts. 

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 

The fruit of pursuing the goals outlined in 2 Peter 1 is shown later in the chapter (verses 8-10):

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

We can be effective and fruitful with our knowledge of Christ and firm in our faith as we practice these qualities. Is it always easy? No. But as we walk in obedience, we take part in His divine nature. There are no qualifiers or exceptions to this list, and we can “make every effort” to pursue these things, even as we live with chronic illnesses.

How to Apply God’s Goals

If the new year isn’t full of new adventures, we can still pursue God’s priorities from 2 Peter 1 to our daily lives. We can have a productive walk and trust Him for lasting, abiding fruit. Some ideas include:

• Faith: We can commit to trusting God even if our circumstances are hard. Thank Him for salvation and His constant presence.
• Virtue: We can make the right choices and be gracious in our reactions to others. Ask God to empower you to do so.
• Knowledge: We can read or listen to the Bible. We can commit to studying even a small chapter or book of the Bible to know Him more. Study on your own or join an online or in-person Bible study with others.
• Self-control: With chronic illness, we often feel out of control of our circumstances and our “bad days.” But we can ask the Spirit’s help to control our impulses, our words, and our interactions.
• Steadfastness: This word means “a patient enduring,” which is often hard with a chronic condition. Instead of distancing yourself from God, honestly lament to Him and pray for endurance to be added to your faith.
• Godliness: Our holiness isn’t a requirement (and impossible in our own strength), but obedience keeps us from doubting our faith and serves as a light to others. We can ask “Does this please God?” as we make choices with our time.
• Brotherly affection: We are often the recipients of the care of others. We can be affectionate by showing gratitude, reaching out to others, and building up the church by encouraging pastors, teachers, and fellow believers.
• Love: The root word, agapé, means selfless, sacrificial love. Though our health needs can be demanding, concern for others helps us live like Christ. Even if we’re unable to physically serve, God can enable us to love others in creative ways, like sending cards, praying, and offering the ministry of listening.

Friend, 2023 doesn’t have to be daunting as we resolve to live like Christ.