10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Happy New Year!!!
If you’re anything like me, you may be entering January 2026 with a touch of anxiety.
New Year, New FEAR…
Everywhere we look we’re bombarded with bad news: TV, social media, our everyday lives.
Maybe we’re taking a long hard look in the mirror and making resolutions to dust off that gym membership. We’re making plans to be better, get new jobs, new cars, new houses, new …
Did you know that there’s actually a word for it: Neoannophobia – ‘a common anxiety… a mixture of uncertainty and pressure caused by new year expectations.’
There’s also that fear of things not getting any better.
17 years ago, as I lay in my tiny bedroom, I was overcome by that fear. The room itself was only just big enough for my queen-sized bed and not much else. I had one set of drawers at the end of the bed and one at the side with just enough room to crack open the drawers. My only way out was to climb out at the bottom left corner. One narrow exit.
It didn’t really matter though, because I was mostly stuck in bed anyway, had been for 9 months straight. I was in the grips of chronic illness, my relationship had ended and I’d lost my job. My hopes for the New Year were not very high.
Drenched in sweat, I lay staring at my two willow tree figurines.
One with her arms thrown wide, with birds resting on them: ‘Joy’.
The second one holding a butterfly in her open palms: ‘Freedom’.
‘Please God,’ I prayed, ‘Please give me joy and freedom. Freedom from pain, freedom from fatigue, to be able to leave this bed and live my life with joy. In the name of Jesus.’
I picked up one of my favourite books, ‘Streams in the Desert’. Opening it on December 31st, I read:
‘Thus far the Lord helped us.’ (1 Samuel 7:12)
I was flooded with gratitude as I remembered all the times God has helped me.
17 years later, I have so many other things to remember and be grateful for.
God released me from that bed. God gave me a life full of joy and purpose.
If you’re reading this and you are feeling overwhelmed by your own fear, there’s a line in God’s book that says, ‘perfect love casts out all fear.’
It’s not the love you might have known before, it’s not a love that hurts, a love that betrays or fails. Rather, a perfect love from a holy God, who came to Earth as one of us. We have just celebrated his birth at Christmas. His name is Jesus.
You see, it’s no wonder we’ve been living in fear because we’ve been living separated from our Father God.
Remember those days when you’d go to a party or a club and you couldn’t get in if you were wearing your scruffy clothes and trainers? Jeans on? Not tonight mate!
Think of it this way: our poor choices, mistakes and flaws are like putting on those stained, ripped, filthy clothes and expecting to get in – into His Presence.
Jesus came and paid the price for us; he takes all the stains and washes them away; he even upgrades your clothes to royal robes. When you’re in Jesus, and He is in you, you’re not just getting in, you’re a VIP!
All you have to do is accept Jesus and follow him.
Will you accept your invite?
If you’re going to make one New Year’s Resolution this year, how about making one to follow Jesus?
Happy New Year and ‘may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.’ (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
PS I’ve still got my figurines, to remind me of all God has done. I pray you’ll find your joy and freedom too.
Clair
Clair Merrall is part or the Proclaim Trust Team. She heads up Your Story Reframed. She is also the CEO of BEAM in Ipswich.