Happy New Year but…

It’s a new year again and we are as
usual, extending good wishes to friends and loved ones.

But do you think there’s a
connection between man’s capacity for happiness and his understanding of the
essence of life?

We’ve wished many people a happy New
Year within the first four days of this 2012; yet, some of them are now
overwhelmed with grief occasioned by a fresh event within this New Year.

Nigerians awoke on 1st January 2012
to a bad news. Government announced the immediate deregulation of petroleum
products. Many are yet to recover from the shock and some are gearing for “war”.

There’s an overbearing superstition
here that suggests that bad news, or misfortune, or pain, or creditors, or solicitors
seeking financial assistance in particular, at the beginning of a week or month
or the New Year, is an evil omen. This is a lie. We’re as Christians are under a far superior
government and covenant.

The pursuit of happiness is the
cornerstone of most cultures and world ideologies. It is simply human to seek a
life without pain.

“Please this is a New Year, let’s
not…” “I don’t want to start 2012 with…” are some comments people make as they plot their way out of conflicts or challenges that may actually be the stepping
stones to unimaginable joy in the course of the year.

Should happiness be our primary
objective since its very nature is ephemeral and often dependent on circumstances
or events over which we have little control? 
I think not.

As disciples of Christ, should our
definition of happiness be anchored on having all our prayers answered and
things going as planned? Is craving a happy New Year simply another wish for
“my will to be done, instead of God’s”?

If any disciple of Christ desperately desires
happiness this year, his or her obedience to Jesus cannot be subjective. Recall
the Hymn, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in
Jesus…”? Think again on the lyrics of this great Hymn.

Each year will serve us its own
dose of challenges that will attempt to ridicule our faith in God’s ability to
perform. Let’s remember that every offer
of happiness at the expense of truth and righteousness is a sweet poison.

The signs and songs of last Christmas are beginning to fade, but
Emmanuel is still here. He’ll still be present when our birthday gifts and
presents from last Christmas are old, broken or lost. He’ll still be here when
the loved ones we started this year with pass away.

The question is, “How close
will you be to Him as the year grows old?” Better and brighter should be the end of this year than however it has started for you.

I wish you and yours a Year filled with
God’s overwhelming and calming presence, one who’s sour and sweet events, all
working together, will showcase the great wisdom and glory of this God that
calls you “Mine”. 

Author: Uche Izuora

I'm inspired by God’s passion for His name in every generation, which provokes global worship through Jesus Christ. Becoming an emotionally healthy and transformative disciple, I aim to mobilize the Church to engage in cross-cultural missions and raise other like-minded disciples who discover themselves in Christ and seek to present and represent Him as Savior and Lord among the nations northward of Uganda. View all posts by Uche Izuora