The hope for your new year can be as bright as the promises of God. The Bible offers you confidence for the future—not based on your own ingenuity or determination, but on the love and mercy of God. Nothing in the coming year—rising prices, unemployment, family problems—yes, nothing can change this solid hope.

The prophet Jeremiah knew the secret: “Blessed [happy] is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). God—the all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who cares about your every problem—this God alone can build a secure future for you.

The person who has never trusted Jesus Christ may see life as hopeless. And, in the final analysis, he is right, for without Christ he has “no hope and [is] without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).

But Jesus Christ offers what you could never purchase and no one can take from you...

...love that is not based on your feelings or merits but on the never-ending mercies of God (Romans 5:8).

...freedom to know and enjoy God because Jesus Christ has taken the punishment for your sins (1 Peter 3:18).

...friendship that will never disappoint you because Jesus promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

...a reason for living because following Christ gives true meaning and purpose to life (John 14:6).

...an unshakable future firmly based on Christ’s promise, “I will come again” (John 14:3).

...an eternal home where the killjoys of earth—selfishness, hatred, death—will all be gone (Revelation 21:4).

As you enter this new year, you can depend on yourself and wish for the best, or you can put your hope in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Through faith in His Word you can be filled with hope that will never fail and life that will never end.

To make this real in your life, you can pray a prayer like this:

God, I know I can’t build a productive or happy life on my own—I need Your help and Your presence in my life. More importantly, I need Your forgiveness for all my sins and new life through Christ whose death paid the penalty for my disobedience against You. I now turn from my sins and invite Jesus Christ to be my Savior and Lord.

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Psalm 146:5).