At the beginning of every New Year, we make plans or resolutions to make the upcoming year better than the previous year. In making these plans, we reevaluate the previous year and weigh the pros and cons in deciding the road forward. That may mean making needed concessions, analyzing one’s shortcomings. This may include refraining from procrastinating, bettering your health, spending more time with love ones, setting time goals, exercising much needed self-control, committing to more community service, divorcing yourself of meanness and unfound negativity, growing spiritually, or just manifesting more love and empathy toward others.

A new year offers possibilities and hope that it is not too late to get it right. We must recognize that we are ‘works in action,’ foregoing constant change which can be good or bad. A new year can be conceived as God’s gift to us to give us time to make amends for our mistakes, going forward, prioritizing what should be important to us in our lives.

2021 was a year filled with highs and lows showing us the best as well as the worst as a nation. We continue to be inundated with mass shootings; the manifestation of police brutality; unscrupulous politicians running amuck; Americans making a mockery of democracy and the Constitution; excessive fires, floods, and tornadoes; a racially divided country; and variants of the coronavirus that continue to ravish our lives. Perhaps, the best thing we saw in 2021 was the American people rallying together to help and console their neighbors during the numerous disasters taking place this year. Regardless of our philosophical differences, the American people never cease to come to the help of their neighbors in times of need.

However, we cannot dismiss that our divisive reactions regarding mandates on the coronavirus and its variants have caused a rift that may impede the possibility of subduing this menace anytime soon. Our indifference to securing equal rights for all Americans and suppressing the rights of marginalized groups has been very problematic this year.

Going forward in 2022 should not be just an individual thing but a group collaboration to put aside our differences for the greater good of all. Surely, there are enough of us who are civil and morally upright to take the high road—casting all doubt to the wind. We all win when we work together to better our plight. That is why I am optimistic and praying that 2022 will bring us to our senses and we will do better because we know better.

Obedience to God should be a must in going forward in 2022. Our lack of the fear of God is probably our greatest transgression. It causes us to be alienated from Him and his favor.

The truth to eventually ending all the turmoil and disasters occurring throughout the world lies in this Bible verse: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land,” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The answer is right in our faces, and no amount of rationalizing can change what God has proclaimed. Man can continue to distant himself from God and not fear Him. But we will continue suffering the impending consequences. Tell me, how can you make it any clearer?

We have been supplied a solution to better the plight of the world, making 2022 a better year if we take heed. We can work together or we can perish together, because the condemnation of God rains down on the just as well as the unjust. We should go forward into 2022 adopting the mantra: “When you know better, you should do better.” Let’s go forward into 2022 on one accord, fearing God and refraining from excuses from naysayers and misleading demonic voices.

Is this just wishful thinking on my part? I pray not.