As I reflect on 2023 and see the many challenging situations our family faced, I cannot stop thinking about how grateful I feel. Grateful? Why grateful, you might ask? As we start 2024, it is important to look back and reflect on the past year to see where we were and where we desire to be in this new year. What are the lessons learned?
One of my lessons was a Friday morning as I entered my closet. Weird, I know. I walked into the closet to look for clothes to start my day, and out of nowhere, I felt this overwhelming heaviness in my heart, and I fell to my knees, crying for all the pain I was holding. I could not fix it. I did not want to hold on to it anymore. I cried and prayed to God. I do not know how long I was there, for five or twenty minutes. It felt like time had stopped, and it was just me and God. I received the strength I needed, and I picked myself up and continued to move forward. I am grateful for that moment because it humbled me and, at the same time, made me stronger.
I would never think that I would be grateful for the difficult situations our family went through this past year. I learned so much about myself in 2023. Through the grace of God, I learned that I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. As I step into this new year of 2024, I seek a continual grace of gratitude.
This past year, I felt that my faith was tested like never before. Would I give in to sadness and self-pity, or would I rely on God to give me the strength I needed? A few weeks ago, I found myself praying with Psalm 62. Thinking back now, I know it was no accident I started praying with this psalm.
“My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation. God alone is my rock and salvation. My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. My deliverance and honor are with God, my strong rock; my refuge is with God. Trust God at all times…”
The words my rock, my strong rock, and my hope have stayed with me for weeks. As I write today, they have become words of affirmation as I start this new year.
A few weeks ago, I went on a hike, and little did I know that this hike would be very different from any other hikes I’d been on. My friend suggested that we try a different trail from our usual one, and so we did. We were close enough to home, yet it felt like we were far away. The trees, rocks, and arroyo were beautiful. I am so grateful that he suggested we try this new trail. As we crossed this calm and clear water stream, we started stepping on the rocks so we would not step into the water. As I looked down and saw my feet standing on the rock, something happened; I remembered the words, “My strong rock, my refuge is with God.” I was standing on a solid foundation, my faith, hope, and trust in God. All I can think of is gratitude for all the blessings and challenges of the past year. I felt God’s presence in that moment like never before. It was all so unexpected. I felt such gratitude for that moment. I felt joy, peace, and strength.
I had taken a picture of myself standing on that rock from that hike weeks ago. It is now in my home office as a reminder that God is my rock, that I am stronger than I think, and that I am never alone. Whatever challenges arise this new year, he is right by my side. We are not alone; we are fully seen and loved just as we are. I invite you to seek the grace you need as you enter this new year. What is the grace you seek?
Going Deeper Together:
Read reflections on Psalm 62 from Into the Deep writers:
- “In God Alone is My Soul at Rest”
- Bits of Ignatian Wisdom: Getting Our Heart in the Right Place
- After reading several posts on Psalms of Assurance this month, have you decided on the grace you are seeking? Has a specific Psalm come to mind? Feel free to share it with us in the Comments!
Photo by Elizabeth Aceves
Elizabeth Aceves
Liz Aceves is a passionate Catholic school educator with a decade of experience teaching Spanish. Her love for working with children and teaching them about their faith and language has been a constant source of inspiration. Liz believes that learning a second language is essential in fostering acceptance and understanding among people of different cultures. Her spiritual journey has been enriched by her discovery of Ignatian Spirituality eight years ago, and she has been an active member of the Inner Chapel community for three years. Liz finds joy in facilitating the Friday Inner Chapel Prayer group (and a new Wednesday p.m. group), surrounded by inspirational women. As a devoted wife and mother of two teenage boys, Liz enjoys reading historical nonfiction and spiritual books, traveling, and hiking.
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