January 1, 2026. I wake up sluggish and slowly. Wait – I’ve already had my two cups of coffee? Sigh. I look around my dimly lit room. Boxes and papers and empty bags abound. I don’t need to walk into the kitchen to know I have a table full of crackers and leftover cheeses and cookies  out in the cold sunroom – a testimony to a full of feasting Christmas holiday that just won’t clean itself up on its own. 

But it’s a New Year, and I need a New Word. Actually, everyday. I need New Mercies every day. But somehow January 1 asks gently for a Word that can bear the weight of a new 365 days. So I turn to my book of Psalms where we always start. I will get to the rest of my Bible readings in a bit, but the Psalms seem to be the freeways of the whole Bible where the conversations take place. I take these roads to cry out to God, and he answers back. A dialogue of sorts. A conversation. 

I tell him I’ve come with Sins, Sorrows, and Sufferings. I turn to Psalm 117 because that’s the next one in the book. I normally read one Psalm a day, but already knowing that Psalm 117 is so short, I’m viewing it more like an entrance ramp that will lead me to Psalm 118 where I will spend most of my time. That’s where the goods will be. Promises and energy and victories and faith. Lots to talk about in that Psalm.

Psalm 117: Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever, Praise the LORD!

Only two verses. But verse 2 gets me thinking. 

His love is great toward me. It is steadfast, covenant love. Really? Because I don’t feel lovely today. But it’s not a declarative sentence – it’s exclamatory! The psalmist isn’t bargaining; he’s basking. It wakes him up. It energizes him. 

Derek Kidner says the word ‘great’ means ‘prevails.’ He writes, “The cause for praise is that his steadfast love ‘prevails’ … a vigorous, formidable word used of the strongest side in battle.” It’s the winning side over sin. “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.” (Psalm 65:3)

And his faithfulness endures forever. Faithfulness. Kidner writes, “God’s plans and promises are as fresh and intact now as on the day they were made; and they will remain so.” There is so much hope in that take. So much to smile over. The cares of a fallen world roll off my shoulders as I think on that.

This was one of the last psalms that Jesus sang before his crucifixion, as it belongs to one of the Passover hymns.  What must he have thought as he took these words to the cross? His priestly offering of himself put everything this psalm promises in motion and guaranteed his love and faithfulness. It is IN JESUS that steadfast love and eternal faithfulness come to me, and his gospel reign comes to all the nations. All the promises of God find their ‘yes’ in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor 1:20)

I believe that two little verses from Him can bear the weight of all my sins and sorrows and the coming 365 days, and in return give triumphs and treasures. I’ll leave Psalm 118 for tomorrow. I’m satisfied today.