In November 2022, I started praying my second book would get published in 2023. (I realize how unrealistic that timeframe might seem, but I was determined to make it happen!) In fact, one of my three major New Year’s resolutions for 2023 was to get a book deal for my second book by the end of the year.
So I crafted a query letter and a book proposal, which I submitted to about 30 literary agents and publishers. And as you know (if you read my recent blogiversary post), none of those literary agents or publishers expressed interest in my book. I was crushed. But more than that, I was frustrated with God—because it felt like He was standing in the way of me achieving my New Year’s resolution.
High Hopes and Hard Truths
The truth—the incredibly hard-to-swallow truth—is that God was standing in the way of me achieving my New Year’s resolution. That wasn’t just how I felt; that was reality. As the sovereign Lord who is ultimately in control of every aspect of the world He created, He can do anything He wants to do—and I can’t stop Him or change His course of action. His will is always at work.
Earlier this year—as I wallowed in disappointment that God wasn’t fulfilling my goals and desires when I wanted Him to—I felt like He was teaching me this significant truth: “If something is My will, you won’t have to force it to happen; I will make it happen.” I actually wrote these words down on paper and framed them so I’d remember to look at them and think about them.
It’s so easy for us to forget that truth because we often put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to make things happen. To earn a specific GPA. To get into a specific college. To find a job in a specific field. To get married by a specific age. To have children at a specific time. To accomplish _____ specific task or meet _____ specific goal or achieve _____ specific resolution.
But friends, there’s only so much we can do on our own.
Without Him
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV)
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NKJV)
The first verse above is something Jesus said to His disciples. He noted wealthy people are often hesitant to follow Him because they lack willingness to give up their possessions. The second verse above is also something Jesus said to His disciples. By using a metaphor, He explained He’s the vine, His Father is the vinedresser, and His followers are the branches.
Although we should certainly read these verses in context, I honestly believe Jesus’ words in both verses apply to every aspect of the Christian life. Over the past several months in particular, God has taught me I can’t make anything happen—He has to make it happen.
So when you’re making your New Year’s resolutions for 2024, keep that in mind. We do have to put effort into keeping our resolutions. (For example, you do actually have to eat fruits and vegetables if your New Year’s resolution is to eat more fruits and vegetables.) But we also have to depend more on God’s will than our willpower. He desires our faith (in Him) far more than He desires our ability to keep our resolutions.
Happy New Year—and happy resolution-making!
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 