New Year reflections with biblical women
New Year reflections with biblical women
Catherine Okoronkwo looks through the lens of four biblical women to reflect on our faith, our purpose and our relationship with God, self and others.
1. Hannah
“…My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God.” 1 Samuel 2.1
The last Christmas carol has been sung. There are no more mince pies. The Christmas tree has come down. Family and friends have returned to their respective lives. And we find ourselves at the start of a new year.
Some of us are eager to press on with our dreams and ambitions for the year. Others want to get back into bed and hibernate for a few months – fragile, exhausted and not ready for the ups and downs of another year. Wherever we are on that spectrum, Hannah’s prayer urges us to find our strength in God. She reminds us, “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2.2).
The gift of the Christ-child is that we are not alone in our human experience. God sent his only Son into our midst so that we could discover the fullness and richness of what it means to be fully human, even in our frailty and vulnerability. The new year offers us the opportunity to reflect on where we are in our relationship with God.
Hannah’s prayer encourages us to remember that whatever lies ahead in 2025, God is in control, and we can trust him. When I struggle to hold on to this promise, I turn to my journal and write down the times when God has been evident in my life. The time he restored me to health, pulled me out of depression, reset my life with a new job and circle of friends.
There is much to be thankful to God for, but often, we find ourselves focusing on the darkness, rather than the light. Yes, the Light of Christ is the one who renews our strength when we are weak and weary. The challenges will come, but my prayer is that we would have a testimony of exultation this coming year.
2. Esther
“…Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Esther 4.14
Many of us find ourselves at a crossroad at some point in our lives. Should we take the road less travelled or the more familiar route? It is often with the start of the new year people spend time reevaluating their life. Have I made good choices? Where is my life headed? What is the purpose of all this? And amid all the angst of a world in disorder, many wonder about the greater meaning of our existence.
In churches up and down the country, we pray for unity and peace. Where is God in all the suffering and struggle of humanity? Like Esther, all of us have a purpose – to fulfil God’s plans for our lives. It might not be to rescue a nation, but perhaps, we are called to reflect the goodness of God in our households, with our neighbours and in our communities.
In my recent move to London, I have been taken aback by the rise in tent cities in Central London (having lived in London twenty years ago). Research by the charity Shelter states that there is a “14% increase in homelessness in the UK” caused by factors such as skyrocketing rents and lack of affordable housing. Not surprisingly, the Trussell Trust reports that food poverty is on the rise. I find these realities hard-hitting, having just enjoyed a bountiful Christmas and knowing that I have the blessing and security of food and shelter.
What stirs your soul as you notice the broken parts of our world and listen to the spirit of God? Because this stirring might signal what God is asking of you, having prepared you for “such a time as this”. And thankfully, following Esther’s example, we can lean into God as we embrace those God appointments to witness, serve and love.
3. Anna
“… She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day.” Luke 2.37
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a month-long silent retreat at an Ignatian retreat centre. Moving from a world of constant chatter to none was an incredible experience. It took time to develop and maintain a discipline of prayer that went from half an hour to five hours a day in quiet contemplation. Mealtimes were eaten in silence and nonverbal acknowledgements made when we encountered another person. Each day, there was only an hour when we could speak to our Spiritual Companion.
Although a challenge at first, I found the experience quite liberating. In that month I ‘noticed’ and ‘heard’ more in prayer, contemplation, and during my walks in the beautiful gardens. Psalm 42 says, “Deep calls to deep…” – and in that place of the unfathomable, God revealed more of himself to me.
The prophetess Anna devoted her life in worship and in the service of God. She spent her life waiting for the Messiah, the child Jesus, to be presented at the temple. Imagine her life as a widow dedicated to serving in the temple. Did she ever reflect on her life and have any regrets? Did she ever feel alone or lonely? Did she ever feel misunderstood or unseen? Did she ever feel abandoned or forgotten by God?
All of these are very honest and real emotions many of us experience. When we find ourselves needing a new perspective, prayer is a helpful way to stay connected to God. It is in those intentional times of prayer – whether we are sitting in a comfy armchair, taking our dog out for a walk along the coast, painting a collage, knitting a woolly hat for a grandchild (whatever prayer time looks like for us) – that we can bare our souls to God, seeking his wisdom, leading and guidance.
4. Martha
“… Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things…” Luke 10.41
A natural worrier I identify with Martha who Jesus chides in this exchange. I worry about all sorts of things: Will mortgage rates rise this year? When do I need to process my tax return? How can I respond to the climate crisis? Will there be a third world war? Will there be another global pandemic? If my worrying could change a situation, I would be living a life of bliss.
Again and again, I am reminded to bring my worries to God in prayer. It is only God who has the power to turn things around for our good and to his glory. Without God it is impossible to journey through this life in faith because there are many troubles in this world. There is so much that distracts and disrupts our lives, keeping us from fixing our lives on Jesus.
And interestingly, when we are overanxious and overwhelmed with worry, we so often find activities to keep our minds occupied on other things: flicking through Netflix, scrolling through social media, making online purchases, going to shops and stuffing our baskets full of unneeded and unnecessary items, bickering and falling out with people. But when we choose to pause for a moment, we find that overindulgence in these activities is not fulfilling.
This year, I wonder, what changes God might be asking of us as we welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts. How do we want to spend time with Jesus this year? Because the work of serving God in our homes, workplaces, churches, communities and wider society flows out of sitting and listening to Jesus. As Psalm 46 puts it, “Be still and know that I am God.”
