"…No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you; Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:5-9

People standing by the thousands in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Celebrating nothing but the passage of time. The Israelites looked forward the same way thousands of years ago. They had endured enslavement, and wandering in the desert for 40 years. Ahead was a land of milk and honey. And best of all, they had God’s promise that He would be with them. So do we. As we stand with our back to the past 12 months and our face toward the new year, we have hope because we also can be sure of God’s help. That makes the prospect of a new year worth celebrating.

We can trust our all-knowing God for the unknown future.

Our Daily Bread – December 31, 2003