Thought for the Week by Rev John Carrick, retired minister and former director of Middle East Christian Outreach

As we enter 2024, we all have hopes and wishes and I reckon something we all wish for is confidence. Surrounded by political and economic uncertainties, local and national, as well as international problems to which there seems no solution, where can we find confidence?

I found a lovely starting point in the tribute paid to Sandy and Josephine McCallum by their son Scott. This paper recently celebrated the couple's 60 years of happy marriage as a diamond duo, when Scott said, “My dad is a great believer in trusting God.”

Can we really trust God as we enter 2024? I suggest we can and such confidence can be found in the Bible in places like Psalm 23. It’s worth checking it out in the Old Testament section or googling it. David the shepherd lad, who became a king, wrote from his experience, “The Lord is my shepherd, therefore I shall lack no good thing.” Not only did God make provision for David’s life, he planned good things for him. David said: “He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.” Peace. Now that’s worth something in stressful times.

But neither David nor any of the other Bible writers lacked realism. David said: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” For sure, David faced many trials, which are worth reading in the books of Samuel. But through them all he was confident in God’s power to help. We may not avoid troubles ahead, but how good to know there is someone stronger than us, who is there for us. David was so confident (not arrogant) that he affirmed: “I know God’s goodness and mercy will be with me all of my life.”

Not a bad place to start the New Year. But I mustn’t forget, David also wrote: “The Lord is my shepherd.” It was all about a relationship.