Has the New Worn Off Yet?

By the time you read these words, we should be a couple of days or so into 2022. The first day of a new year arrived with celebration and fanfare.as it does every year. If it hasn’t happened already, it probably won’t be very long before all of us begin to realize that there is really not a whole lot that is new about a new year.  

We are also less than two weeks removed from a day that at least the younger ones were so excited about. They got to open boxes, bags, and envelopes that contained some things that were brand new. By now, trash collectors may have already taken the boxes away and that new gift may have already lost its “newness.”

Some who read this may remember a time when a new member was welcomed into their family either by birth, adoption, or marriage. It may be that the excitement of anticipation has begun to wane as we deal with the realities of maintaining those relationships.

Have you ever been excited about a new job? Have you ever been disappointed when you found out that it might not have been quite as great an opportunity as it appeared to be? 

What about that new car, computer, gadget, tool, etc. that looked like it was all you could ever hope for? Have you already been enticed by a newer and glitzier version?

What about the woman or man of your dreams? Have you found out that he/she is not perfect after all? Has the new worn off of that relationship?

I could go on, but I think you get the idea. One of the interesting and disappointing aspects of the human experience seems to be that whatever it is that is new doesn’t seem to stay new very long. I find it interesting that some product will be advertised as “the ultimate _____________,” but it will be followed by a new and improved version of that same product. Of course, that new and improved version will be touted as the ultimate only to be followed by something else that is new and improved.

I’m not as concerned about gifts and products nearly as much as I am about relationships. While I am concerned about interpersonal relationships, I am primarily concerned about a person’s relationship with God. Specifically, I’m wondering if somebody reading these words has a relationship with God that has gone the way of last year’s gifts, an old car that was traded in, a toy that has been put away, a piece of jewelry that is no longer worn, etc.  

I think that all of us, including me (maybe especially including me), would do well to read the following verses. Taken out of context, we might think that the author woke up every morning with everything going his way. I would invite you to put the verses back in their context. When you do, you will see that this is not at all the case. In the midst of terribly trying times, these words were written:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;   his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

How is that possible? How would it be possible for the new to not wear off especially during difficult times?

Could it be that the answer to those questions has to do with a mindset? Could it be that my life and the lives of others around me might be richly blessed if I choose to focus on the blessings I’ve received from God instead of how others have mistreated me, the “slings and arrows” of everyday living, etc.?

There is something else we might consider. Have you ever seen an old car that looks like it just rolled out of the showroom? How does that happen? I know from experience that it is not wise to let an older car “just sit.” Instead, it takes a great deal of care, attention, and maintenance. In other words, keeping an old car looking and performing like a new one involves an investment of significant time and resources.

What if I invested a significant amount of time and resources in the various relationships I have in my life, including my relationship with God? Do you think that there is a chance that this might keep the new from wearing off?

It’s not too late in what is still a fairly new year to give that a try!

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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn