At the start of a new year, Samuel Shearer writes about the pressures and challenges that we put on ourselves for self-improvement. But what really is the key for lasting change? And what are the values that we should never want to change?
New year, New Me. You’ve probably heard this a lot recently. It fills the first two weeks of January every single year. Social media, the news and every small talk conversation: New Year, New me! This is the year I run a marathon; this is the year I call my mum every week; this is the year I don’t eat carbs; this is the year I stop drinking; this is the year I stop sleeping in. New year, new me, after all.
Self-criticism and the need to improve, rebuild and rebrand filters through every aspect of our lives – our work, our health, our personal and family lives, and our relationships with our communities and the world: This is the year I start behaving like an adult; this is the year I file my taxes on time; this is the year I get better at my admin; this is the year I recycle and buy local; this is the year I take the stairs not the elevator. New Year, new me. This is it, the old me is gone, no more 2025 chaos, that person was the worst! This new person will be great. New Year, new me.
… my issue is that the arbitrary and pressurised new year change can lead to chaotic and temporary change and, often, an increased sense of failure when we don’t succeed in our lofty goals.
That’s an awful lot of pressure. New year, new me? So, if I fail, if I don’t run the marathon, am I still the old me? And for that matter, what was so wrong with ‘2025 me’ that I need to be a whole new person? And when I’m ‘2027 new year new me’, does it undo all the new ‘me-ing’ I did this year. It can be quite stressful.
Resolutions to change are by no means a bad thing. I believe that God wants us to be better and do more. God wants us to be healthier; wants us to protect the environment. God wants us to call our mothers more (if that is a relationship whose nurturing is beneficial). But my issue is that the arbitrary and pressurised new year change can lead to chaotic and temporary change and, often, an increased sense of failure when we don’t succeed in our lofty goals. If we shared them on Instagram or Facebook, then it’s all over! How will we tell the world that we failed, that we’re still ‘regular old us’? That is not the way I want to be starting a new year. Not to mention, I don’t want my friends, family and colleagues to all be new people, I’d miss them too much.
As such, this year I’m adopting a new mantra: New Year, Same God.
Malachi 3:6 says: ‘I the Lord do not change’.
In light of this, I propose that we decide (on top of our efforts to get healthy and watch less TV) to be inspired to change by the ways that God does not.
There are many ways that God is unchanging, but I’ve isolated three that particularly inspire me:
- Proverbs 21:15: ‘When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.’ God is a God of Justice, not a God who likes Justice; not a God who thinks it would be nice. He is a God of Justice. He is made of it, and it is made of him. Inspired by that, this year let’s be more resolved to fight oppression and injustice. This can be as a collective, big and vast: In our programs and social justice enterprises, as we fight the evils of slavery, famine, child marriage, social ostracism, HIV/aids, gender-based violence, childhood abandonment, homelessness and climate change. But it can also be personal and closer to home in the way we challenge misogyny, racism, homophobia, and ableism in our communities, friendships, families and even churches and our workplace
- Ephesians 4:32: ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’. God is a God of forgiveness and second chances. It is the very essence of his grace. The very first people he made fell short of all they could have been and yet God delights in the delights of humanity. He forgives. He is forgiveness. Inspired by this, might we resolve to be more forgiving and show understanding when those around us fall short, as we would hope to be shown mercy when we fail? The challenge will be forgiving in a godly way. This does not mean avoiding conflict and forgetting that which requires forgiveness but forgiving as we seek to nurture, train, build up and hold to account those whom we live and work alongside. And, when we have wronged, receiving that training and nurturing and accountability through grace ourselves.
- 1 Peter 3:8: ‘Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.’ Compassion is a value embodied by the ministry of Jesus Christ. God does not make our mistakes. Yet God feels our pain and understands our suffering. Might we start this new year inspired to be more compassionate to those around us? Never assume ill intention but understand where people come from, geographically and circumstantially. Love one another, not conceptually, but actually – in the way we speak, behave and support one another. Celebrate one another and lift each other up, especially those who might feel their value challenged. Love, as we were first loved by God.
There are many more ways in which God is unchangeable, and maybe the ways I have mentioned don’t speak to you as much as others, but the blessing of a personal relationship with Jesus means that he can inspire and change you in this new year in whichever ways are particular to you. And if we fail, the goalposts won’t have moved because God is unchanging.
‘2027 me’ can try again to be inspired by God’s goodness, and ‘2028 me’, ‘2029 me’ and beyond. Fix your eyes on Jesus and let him guide you in this new exciting year.
