I had a black eye for Christmas – yep, I sure did. And,it was a big, bad one, too! 

“What in the world happened?” you ask. 

Well, during an unfortunate situation with some inner ear congestion, I became close-up and personal with the tile floor in my bedroom. So, I had a huge knot on my forehead, which is STILL somewhat there almost two months later, swelling of my whole eye and forehead, and my entire eye was black – the lid and under the eye. Y’all. I’ve never even had a black eye, let alone one that lasts for two months! But you know me – if I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it BIG! My grandkids were laughing this weekend that they were gonna get me a t-shirt that says,

“It’s been fifty-two days since my last accident.”

As my eye slowly started getting better all throughout the month of December, I kept thinking,

“Surely this eye won’t be black for Christmas???”

But, y’all, it was indeed still black.

If I’m perfectly honest, though; it was actually a very appropriate way to end a year that I hope I never have to relive. It was honestly probably the hardest year ofmy fifty-five years. I’ve dealt with three – count them, THREE – serious illnesses and have been the caretaker for my parents all at the same time, watching them decline quickly. And, that’s very difficult in itself. So, I’ve basically been dealing with four things that, on their own, would be difficult to walk through…all at the same time. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

I mean, it’s just to the point where I sit down and take a fifteen minute coffee break, and a new part of my world starts to crumble. Ever been there? Everyone tells me,

“Remember, this is just a season.” And I’m like,

“Well, is this season like seasons in Texas, where it’s really just hot, less hot, and hotter?”

Because this season feels like it will last forever.

I feel like I can actually identify with King David, before he was king and running from Saul. God had anointed David as king and everyone was so excited and ready to get rid of Saul. I’m sure David’s family threw a big celebration the day after Samuel visited and woke up that next Monday, thinking,

“Today’s the day our boy becomes king! Who would’ve thought it?”

But, as we know from the Bible, that is NOT what happened. Instead of David getting to take the throne, Saul’s reign continued and, even after fighting Goliath, Saul ended up hating David and wanted to kill him. Sofor the next who knows how many years, David ran from Saul, while Saul tried and tried to kill him…day after day after day.

I’m sure David felt a lot like me, during this season. Like, 

“God, what is the DEAL??? You anoint me king and now the reigning king is trying to kill me? Won’t You do something, Lord? Wasn’t this your plan for my life? Why is this happening?”

We see some of David’s struggles in Psalm one hundred forty-two, it starts out like this:

I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles. 
When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn,

And, that’s exactly how I am feeling!

As 2023 ended, I wondered what this new year would bring. Like David, I’ve been crying out to God, begging Him for new life, saying, 

“God, You’ve given me so many dreams, what happened to those? Are they still mine? Will they ever come to pass? How will they if my life continues this way? Can’t you do something, Lord?”

Finally, after a lot of whining on my part, God spoke to me and said,

“Sherra, you already have new life. I have made you new and am making you new daily. My mercies are new every morning, remember?”

Lamentations 3:22-23 are very familiar verses that remind us of His mercies,

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.

Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.

And, honestly, I had forgotten all about God’s new mercies. I just forgot that, no matter what life throws at you – and life WILL throw things at you – God’s mercies are new every, single morning. We can wake up every day to a new day; the issues, thoughts, problems from the day before can stay in the past. God’s mercies, His grace, His counsel, His peace, and His joy are new and available to us every day. All we have to do is ask for it, receive it, and choose to walk in His newness; but it’s our choice to make, every day.

“Well, what if my problems are still there?” you ask.

Oh, I get it; believe me, I get it. But God’s mercies are still there, no matter what is happening and you can still choose newness. Purposefully remembering God’s mercies, changes you and your day from its start. And,remember, too, that this “making me new” thing is God’s process; honestly, it’s part of our refining and maturing as Believers – and sometimes that’s rough. Remembering God’s new mercies daily helps us keep our eyes on Him, no matter what our day brings; it changes our focus from the problem to the problem solver. The rescue and answers may not come immediately, but that’s OK, because we can be sure and certain that God has got us and is making us new. And, we can learn so much during this time and become more like Jesus in the process, too.

Well, David finally got his day to be king. He came out of his season of running and took the throne that God had promised him. The thing I love about David is that he let it all hang out with God – you never really have to guess how David is feeling at the time of writing each of his psalms! But after he has expressed his weariness, his feelings of defeat, his fear, and on and on, he always comes back to remembering God, trusting God with his life, and remembering God’s daily mercies, while watching them play out in his life.

January is a great month to start new with God. Maybe you’re a seasoned Believer whose life is pretty calmand on target at the moment; unfortunately, life’s trials are gonna come for you at some point. Will you choose to remember God’s mercies and rest in them? Or, maybe, like me, you’re in the thick of a season of trialsand weary. I get you, friend. Even though we can’t control what trials come or what season we’re in, we can always remember that God’s mercies – for whatever we’re going through – are new every morning. Remembering and resting in that can help 2024 be your best year ever!

My eye is much better, but still black in some places; make-up helps a lot. But it reminds me of a past I made it through and the new chapter He has for me. While I’m waiting for that new chapter to begin, I choose to believe that God is good, and teaching me a lot; He’s making me new for whatever comes next!