standing with hope

by Molly Klima

I am not one to set New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve come to like setting goals. As 2018 came to an end I thought about what I wanted the next year to look like. I set some goals of things I wanted to accomplish, like running a 5k. At the end of 2019 I ran my first race, appropriately hosted by the Arthritis Foundation. I chose that one specifically as a way to kick arthritis in the face, metaphorically speaking. But I did it and I was like hey, I like this. Accomplishing goals feels good.

So, the next year I did it again. Oh, the irony. I really wanted to replace all of our household cleaning products with home made cleaners and rid our home of toxins. HILARIOUS. I bought a book at the beginning of year and was putting my game plan together when The Rona decided to ruin most of everyone’s plans. I don’t want to give you a year by year play by play, but the theme in my head that kept resounding for 2023 was “Do it scared.”

On January 1, 2023 I wrote: 
Staying in a place of comfort and ease is not trusting God. Walking on the water and taking the risk is trusting God. Operating within my own means is not trusting God. Allowing myself to be in a position to be stretched and wounded is trusting God.

Every year I ask myself, if my faith was removed from my life, would it look any different? Not as in, would it make a difference in my Sunday routines. Of course it would. I ask this with the intention of examining my comfortability, convenience and risk. What part of my life am I allowing Jesus to guide and shape? What, if anything, in my life am I doing by faith to the point where if my faith was removed it would crumble? If the answer is nothing, something is dangerously wrong. To live by faith means I’m leaning on understanding that is not my own. I am seeing through a lens other than my own. I am taking risks in areas that I myself am not capable of sustaining.

A life of faith is meant to have peace and joy, however, it is not meant to be easy or convenient. I often think of a phrase used when I worked for Cherry Street Mission Ministries. Our CEO, Dan Rogers, would make a comment about walking so closely with Jesus that you walk with a limp. In other words, the road of faith and following Jesus can be treacherous. Notice that none of his disciples got off easy nor did Jesus himself. Loving and caring for those around us is not always roses and rainbows. If we say we follow Jesus, trust Him in all things, and live by faith and not by sight, then we know He calls us to things that make us squirm. Things that challenge us. Are we walking with a limp? Where are our battle wounds?

So, 2023 was “Do It Scared”. I made a list of things I wanted to do. I was presented with plenty of opportunities to take a deep breath, trust God and take a step. This year took so many unexpected turns I never could have predicted and it has seemed to be one giant reminder that tomorrow is not promised. Take no one forgranted and be present. God is working even when we can’t see Him or feel Him. And He is always good.

He does not spare us from tragedy or desperation, but He does strengthen us for today. And tomorrow. 

-molly klima

I’ve been thinking a lot about the challenges and victories of this year. We lost people we loved in unexpected ways. We’ve entered a new season of parenting tweens. We are still walking beside our friend as she recovers from her stroke. Two of my three sons are taller than me. Our oldest made a flawless transition to middle school. IEP goals being met for the first time ever. I made it through another year with no needles in my joints. We added a cat to our family and have watched God show up in so many ways.

There were so many scary parts of the year that just getting through some days was “doing it scared.” Whether it was caring for my grandmother and trying to ensure her dignity or walking into the ICU to see one of my best friends on life support. Praying prayers I was scared to pray because I wasn’t sure what would happen if they weren’t answered the way I wanted. Or going to middle school Open House with our oldest child. I voluntarily put myself in social situations, like women’s ministry events, that I typically avoid because my comfort level is about a zero. Launching my blog was the only thing on my list for 2023 that actually came to be and it was terrifying. Other than an occassional Facebook rant, I hadn’t done much with my writing since Journalism in high school. Which has been…a lot of years… I practiced trusting the Lord more with my sons than trying to control everything or freak out when it went off the rails. Basically all of parenting can be included in “doing it scared.” Amiright?

I don’t know where this year took you. Maybe this year was more “surviving” than “thriving.” Maybe you got phone calls and results and medication you didn’t anticipate. Maybe this is your x number of years of surviving and the thriving hasn’t quite blossomed out of the dirt yet. Maybe there’s no clear path heading into 2024 and your tank has been running on fumes with no gas stations in sight. I see you. God sees you. He loves you.

May we go into 2024 with open hearts and open eyes. May our ears be ready to hear His still, small voice and our hearts tender with His mercy. May we see others as He sees them and love sacrificially. May we hold close to those we love and open our arms to our neighbors. May we express our gratitude, often, for all He has provided and trust Him with all we need.