There are certain things that you have to see through to the end to get the full experience. My husband once left a professional football game early because one team had clearly run away with it. He awoke the next morning to learn that he had missed what was being called the biggest comeback in NFL history.

One time I remarked to an aunt of mine how much I like the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” She said, “What a terrible movie! I can’t believe you enjoyed it.” I said, “Didn’t you just love the end?” To which she admitted, “I never got to the end. After two hours, I was so depressed, I just turned it off!”

I’m pretty sure we all have at least one story of when we gave up on something (or someone) just shy of it/him/her turning things around.

And then their are times and seasons to which we ascribe the power of creating comebacks and second chances. Like a New Year. We make resolutions. We see opportunities. We have renewed hope. Simply because we’ve turned a page on a calendar. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a page turn.

As we embark on this new thing called 2017, let’s resolve at the start not to give up on it. Even when we’re sure our team is losing. Even when it seems like we’re living through a terribly depressing movie. Let’s not throw in the towel, but keep waiting for and working for all that we hope the year ahead can be. And as we wait and work, may we remember that the God is at work as well…even in times when we just can’t see it.

… but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Let’s stick with 2017 and see what all it (and we) can become. Who knows? It (or we) could end up being a comeback story for the ages.