Taylor Swift has a song called "Out Of The Woods." The lyrics and concept of the song entered my mind as I was praying this morning.
I was thinking about how it is now 2025, and how a lot of times when a new year rolls around people sometimes view it as a chance to start over.
While wanting to leave what may have been a challenging year behind, or create new goals and aspirations is not a bad thing, I want to remind you that just because you have a fresh calendar or planner doesn't mean we're "Out Of Woods" as Taylor Swift repeatedly asks in her song.
Now, you're probably wondering, "Lauren, where are you going with this?"
Stick with me.
In Taylor's song she sings about a relationship that was dangerous and caused her a lot of anxiety thinking, are we ever going to make it out of this cycle of disaster following us? Will this relationship ever just be good? Will the trials ever end?
"Are we in the clear yet?" She asks in the song.
This got me thinking about life, about the world, about Jesus, and about the fact that we are born into a sinful nature.
I don't mean to be a downer here, but just like the relationship Taylor sings about in this song, we are never in the clear on this earth.
"Lauren, what do you mean?"
Just because a new year is here doesn't mean that things are suddenly "good" You can't just leave everything that happened last year behind and think, "new year, new me"
because it's not about us
We can't stop the ugliness of the world from affecting our lives just because it's a new year.
We aren't out of the woods. We aren't in the clear.
Storms will come, and it's not always because of something we did.
It's because of the world we live in, but we are called to live here for a short time to show the love of Jesus, to make disciples, and that comes with trials and tribulations.
What I want you to remember is, if you have a relationship with Jesus you will eventually be out of the woods. You will be in the clear when the Lord calls you home or when He comes back, and oh what a glorious day that will be!
But I want to challenge us with something:
when the storms come-- because they will
Let's stop asking God questions like, "when will this be over?
"When will I get a break?"
"When will all of these things stop happening to me?"
"Are we out of the woods?"
"Are we in the clear yet?"
"Is it over now?"
Instead, let's ask God for strength to endure our trials on this earth.
"God, help me use this pain for your glory."
"God, I pray people see you through my struggle."
God, may I grow through this hard season to be a better son/daughter for your kingdom"
"God, may this surprise be a blessing in disguise."
"God, may you use this trial to humble me."
"God, may you use my struggles to bring someone closer to you."
Rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Beautifully said 🥰🙌🏼