My 2017 Prayer Journal is about to be tucked away on a shelf along with other journals from years past.

My journals are full. Almost every single page is covered in messy penmanship that oftentimes I can’t even decipher. Every once in awhile I open it and find messages or prayers that Maggie has written – which I love. Some pages I just verse-map on. (Something cool I plan on sharing with y’all this year.)

At first glance, it may seem that my journal is full of hurt, pain, sickness, fear, anguish, but that’s only if you stop turning the pages.

You have to keep reading. Because if you do you will see stories of relationships on the verge of breaking put back together in the best possible way. You will see families that were bombarded with the unimaginable standing stronger than ever. If you keep reading you will see people that were once sick – healed. You will see dreams that seemed unreachable brought to fruition.

If you keep reading you will see where a havoc-wrecking hurricane brought together an entire state with love and unity. You will see where things once taken for granted are now cherished.

And then you will read about the day God brought snow – to Southeast Texas. Pure. Clean. Refreshing. Snow. An unexpected reminder of hope.

Keep reading, guys. No matter how hard life gets, no matter what comes, keep turning the pages. 2017 may have been rough, but we are on the brink of something new – a brand new year full of endless possibilities.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19