A New Year – The Same God

A New Year – The Same God

When I was little, my dad once told me on December 31st that he “wouldn’t see me for another year.”  My young mind didn’t get the joke.  I stared, confused, wondering how he could possibly be gone for a whole year.  Of course, he meant he’d see me the very next day — in the new year.

That one sentence made the future feel bigger than it really was.  There’s something about turning the calendar that can stretch time in our minds.  An otherwise ordinary day may suddenly feel like the start of a year filled with uncertainty.

God knows how we think.  When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God provided manna, but only one day at a time (Exodus 16).  If they tried to store it up for another day, it spoiled.  God was teaching them dependence, not certainty.  He wanted their trust daily, not just at the beginning of a journey.

Jesus echoed that same truth when He taught us to pray in Matthew 6:11, “Give us today the food we need.”  Daily bread is more than just provision; it’s about relationship (Matthew 4:4).  It reminds us that God wants to meet us fresh each day.

As 2026 begins, we don’t need to have everything figured out.  Start today in faith.  The same God who provided for you yesterday is here today.

- Ron Reid