Article December 26, 2016 Issue

A new year and God-directed progress

Inge Schmidt

At the start of a new year, the promise of a fresh start is palpable. New goals and resolutions for an improved lifestyle take on a renewed impetus. The start of a new year seems to unite us in a common sentiment: the hope of progress.

All too often though, that sense of hopefulness and expectation seems to fade as weeks pass. Resolutions fall by the wayside, and new challenges threaten to erode the tenacity of our hope. When we approach progress as a constant to-do list of self-betterment, gradually checking off things over a course of time, it can start to feel burdensome—even impossible.

This model of progress is akin to being tasked with turning on every single light in a huge mansion. Just when you thought you’d turned all the lights on, you’d likely notice a dark corner here and there or a burned-out bulb. What initially seemed like progress would soon feel like a discouraging task.

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