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Hope for the Day

An Epiphany

Diane Houghtaling
Posted 1/17/25

I hadn’t known that much about Epiphany before, and after hearing more about it in church this year, I read up on it. It is celebrated twelve days after Christmas, on January 6th.

I found …

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Hope for the Day

An Epiphany

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I hadn’t known that much about Epiphany before, and after hearing more about it in church this year, I read up on it. It is celebrated twelve days after Christmas, on January 6th.

I found there are a couple meanings of the word epiphany. Epiphany commemorates the 1,000-mile journey made by the Magi, the Wise Men who followed a new star to search for the child born to be the Messiah of the world, Jesus Christ. They brought Him the gifts needed for His life and death.

Another meaning of epiphany is a sudden revelation, a realization or understanding of something important. It’s like the lights just turned on, an aha moment when you suddenly see something clearly.

So this year I had an epiphany on Epiphany! I have written before about my problem of collecting craft supplies and things from nature that I hope to use one day. But I rarely actually create the things I thought I would. Through the years I’ve made attempts to clear out the clutter and get rid of some of it, but still had too much.

Now for the epiphany. The Lord showed me the “why” of it – why I have collected all these things and have a hard time letting them go. The reason I’ve saved so much of the things that others would have seen as garbage and thrown out is because I see the potential in them. I envision what they could become, the beautiful creations that can be made from them.

The Lord made clear to me that this is a gift to be able to see the potential in something that others deem as worthless and would throw out. But I could be using this wonderful gift in a better way. Instead of seeing the potential in these lifeless, inanimate objects, I need to shift this gift to see the potential and beauty in people.

There are so many whom others view as worthless or having no value; so many in society who are cast off and thrown out. Yet every person who ever lived has been created by God with a greater purpose than just to be born, exist, and die. God loves each one and desires all to know Him and fulfill the plans and purposes they were created for.

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Many get lost along the way and have no idea of the potential they have been created with and carry. I pray the Lord leads me to those in whom I can make a difference in their lives by seeing and encouraging that potential.

So now I have been working on clearing out the clutter in my craft room, and having a much easier time letting these things go. I have a renewed purpose to use my gift of seeing potential and beauty in a better way.

What about you? Is there an epiphany, an aha moment of clarity, that the Lord is waiting to show you in this new year that could change your perspective and help you to move forward in areas where you’ve been stuck? Maybe God wants you to see the potential in your life in a new way. Go ahead and ask Him.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.

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