The Year of the Sheep

Laura Booz: I have some big dreams for the year ahead. First of all, I am going to organize my closet. That’s right. I am going to get this thing in shape. 

Speaking of getting in shape, I am going to get off the couch and 5K for my favorite charity. And in the same breath, I would also like to spend more time snuggling up on the couch with a favorite book. 

Hi there. You’re listening to Expect Something Beautifulwith Laura Booz. 

What will this year look like for you? What are your hopes and dreams? You know, your expectations for the year ahead really matter. They will determine how you interpret your circumstances and shape your very important decisions. 

I learned this principle the hard way. Back in 2003, I was volunteering as a client advocate at a local pregnancy resource clinic. Most days I would meet with young women who came in wondering if they were pregnant. They were alone, afraid, and unsure of what to do next. 

They didn’t often feel very positive about positive pregnancy test results. So, our conversations were often difficult and heart wrenching. But I looked forward to every opportunity to sit down and hear each woman’s story, to educate her, so she could choose for her and her child. 

I loved praying for each client and sharing the gospel and assuring her that we would serve and support her, no matter what. 

Every once and a while a married couple would come into the clinic for a free pregnancy test or the blessing of material support through the baby boutique. These appointments were always fun because a positive test result was met with cheers and hugs and happy tears. 

This is exactly what I expected one afternoon when I greeted a married couple in the waiting room. I quickly learned that they had recently moved to the states from China. The gentleman spoke English; his wife did not. He was there to translate between us. 

As we introduced ourselves, I led them back to a cheery room with comfortable seating, sunshine streaming through the windows. I sat down across from them and I glanced at my clipboard just to ask some basic questions and get a feel for their needs.

So I asked them, “If the results are positive, what do you think you will do? Of course, this was just a formality. I knew their answer would be that they would be delighted and ready to welcome a child into their home. 

Yet, the gentleman looked me straight in the eye, and said with a steady voice “We would get an abortion.”

I was shocked by his words. I looked at his wife. Her face was placid, and she seemed in agreement. This was not what I expected. I was dismayed and just stammered. Why? 

He nodded and looked at me as if should know why. He answered confidently, “It’s the year of the sheep.” The year of the sheep? He was speaking English, but the meaning of his words was completely lost in translation, because I didn’t know what the year of the sheep was. 

I didn’t know how to respond. His words swirled in my mind, and the questions and doubts, and the fog of cultural differences. All I knew at that point was that the year of the sheep was powerful. It was convincing enough to determine this important decision.

As the pregnancy developed on the countertop and the clock ticked off the minutes, I tried to communicate God’s love for them. I tried to tell them how we all are like sheep who have gone astray from God, but He has given us Jesus as the perfect Lamb. I tried to put into plain English about what Isaiah communicates about Jesus, that God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 

I shared that it’s not so bad to be a sheep when you have a Good Shepherd who is faithful and victorious and true. In fact, Isaiah describes Jesus like this, “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11)

I tried to communicate this with them, but I wondered, Would this get lost in translation too? 

The timer continued to tick. It was a long three minutes. 

What if the test was positive? What if there was a baby whose life depended on this conversation? Would this be enough to convince them to hold on and have hope and choose life? 

When the timer chimed, we all stood up and slowly approached the countertop to look at the results of the pregnancy test together. 

My heart was beating hard. In my spirit I cried out to the Good Shepherd for help. I looked at the pregnancy test; it was negative. 

When I got home, I researched the year of the sheep and began to understand the superstition behind this Chinese zodiac sign. The idea is that because sheep are docile and weak, because they are weak leaders and they are vulnerable followers, children born in the year of the sheep will also be docile and weak. Nine out of ten of them will be unhappy.

So, parents who want their children to be healthy, successful, and strong avoid having children during this unlucky year. 

The superstition is still prevalent enough for the Chinese government to make efforts to debunk it. Major news sources like the Wall Street Journal covered the issue as recently as 2015. And yet, every twelve years, faulty beliefs about the year of the sheep continue to shape what some people do, what they do not do, and why. 

What we believe about the year matters. 

So as I look forward to this year ahead, I imagine myself in my client’s position. What if I were sitting across the room from someone with a clipboard in hand and I was asked, “What are your plans for this year?”

What would I say? Would I talk about my New Year’s resolution? Would I describe a dream or a goal I intended to pursue? Maybe I would confess a fear I intended to coddle, or a grudge I plan to strengthen. 

I wonder if I would be as honest as my client about what I truly intend to do this year? And I wonder how I would respond when asked, “Why?” What would I say? 

Would I say, “Well I looked at my fresh new calendar and I picked a word. I picked a philosophy. I picked a lifestyle for this year, and it will shape everything I do.” 

So, it is the year of “yes.” I will say yes to everything. Or, it is the year of “no.” I will say no to everything. The year of healthy choices, or the year of pursuing my own happiness for a change. Or maybe it’s the year of discouragement, or denial, or complacency. From this vantage point, I can see how powerfully a year’s name may shape my choices. 

And you know, I have no problem with choosing a word or a theme for the year ahead if it aligns with God’s Word. In fact, I’ve done it before, and I think it can be helpful, for what it’s worth. 

But knowing what I know now, I want to dig in my Bible and find out, “What does God say about the year ahead?” 

Here’s what I’ve discovered, God has already named this year for us. It’s true. In Luke 4, we read, 

“[He] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.” (vv. 17–22)

In this Scripture we see that Jesus was anticipating a year ahead in which He would befriend the poor, and tell them everything they needed to know to have hope for the future. He intended to meet people who were imprisoned in sin and show them the open door. He would deliver them from the consequences of sin. He would recover the sight of people who were physically blind, and also, and so much more so, help people to see the truth about their own sinful hearts so they could also see their need for a Savior. He would disarm oppressive people, and more so disarm oppressive spiritual forces of evil. And He would heal the broken hearted. 

This is the essence of Christianity. This is why Jesus came to the world: for every person to see herself in this condition of captivity to sin and spiritual poverty and broken heartedness. To us, this is the most glorious message to ever come into the world. 

And why would Jesus do this? 

Well, because it was the year of the Lord’s favor. The year of the Lord’s favor, also known as the Acceptable Year of the Lord. It all harkens back to a year established by God Himself, in the book of Leviticus, as the year of Jubilee. In which slaves were set free, people rested from their work, and God provided for their every need. 

Sitting there in the temple that day, Jesus said this is the year of the Lord’s favor. Not only for the next 365 days, but for the rest of time, for everyday and every year until His return—including this year. This is the year of the Lord’s favor. It will shape the way we understand our circumstances. It will shape the way we view other people and the decisions we make. 

So whether you plan to run a marathon this year or read more or face an old grievance, the year of the Lord’s favor means that all day, every day, all night every night, Jesus will be offering you the free gifts of liberty, clarity, wisdom, comfort, truth, love, and hope. 

So as you and I look forward to the year ahead, you know what we can anticipate? We can anticipate drawing near to Jesus. Because it is the year of the Lord’s favor, we can expect His Word to teach us the truth about ourselves and our world. 

We can look forward to following Jesus out of besetting sins and sorrows and learning to walk in victory. We can expect to keep growing up in wisdom and love. We can look to Him with radiant faces, knowing He has set us free.

And with strong and glad hearts, we can assure other people near and far, through word and deed of the year of the Lord’s favor. 

This is no empty superstition; this is a reality you can count on. 

Heavenly Father, I pray for truth to prevail over superstition. I pray for all of us, like sheep who have been led astray, may we receive the year of the Lord’s favor with glad and surrendered hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

You’ve been listening to Expect Something Beautifulwith Laura Booz.

Expect Something Beautiful is a production of Revive Our Hearts calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.