I entered the new year full of excitement for the year ahead, feeling optimistic and hopeful and with a list of dreams and desires for the year. Having accomplished two small goals the previous year, I was feeling proud of myself and wanted to progress from that. I was feeling ready. 

That was until a week in when having had a rubbish night’s sleep, I woke up in the foulest of moods and my mood just got worse as the day went on. That evening I went to my home group (a group of people meeting together to share, discuss God’s word and to pray together) and I got the feeling from the conversations that happened that this is a difficult time of year and not everyone shared the enthusiasm I’d been feeling at the start of the new year. 

The following morning, I took myself away from my family, from my children causing chaos in the living room, to spend some time with Jesus. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus tells all who are weary to come to him, so that’s what I did. I went to him. In my quiet moments, Jesus led me to write the following:

Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.
Let go of the stresses weighing you down and give them to Jesus.
Ask the Lord of peace to fill you with life-giving peace.
In your tiredness and weariness, ask the Lord to restore you. 
Jesus came so that you may have life in abundance. With Jesus, you can live in more than survival mode. 
Sit. Be still in the presence of God.
Soak in the Holy Spirit.
Take a moment to prepare yourself for the day ahead and ask Jesus to equip you with what you need to live life fully. 
Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.
Just breathe. 

John 10:10 (NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

After writing this and spending time with Jesus, I felt energised and ready for the day ahead. I have been reading this and using it as a meditation ever since. I am still exhausted but my optimism and hope for my dreams and desires remains.

January may be a tough month for whatever reason, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have hope. That doesn’t mean we have to live in survival mode. Jesus can help us. Jesus wants to help us.

Maybe you feel weary. Maybe you feel hopeless. Maybe you’re living in survival mode. Can I encourage you to take a moment each day to come before Jesus and give him your concerns for the day? Meditate on the words and scriptures above and allow your day, your mood, your thinking to be transformed by Jesus.