I can’t believe that we are closing out another year. As you pause and take stock of your year, how do you grade it? Did you apply yourself well, make improvements, get closer to reaching your goals?
My year surprised me. Things I was planning on and working towards got put on a back burner, my primary work goal didn’t come together like I anticipated, and my physical health has needed some extra care.
But all in all, I can honestly and sincerely say it’s been a really good year. Though we set goals or make plans, it is so good to remember to hold them loosely. God knows best, and we should be more intent on being attentive to His direction than accomplishing all of our to dos!
Going Into A New Year
So with all this in mind, how should we approach going into a new year? How can we better plan and prepare and dream?
It’s funny, but personally, I’m not sure my goals and dreams will be that different than last year. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I can’t help but think I hold on to them because they are little whispers of what’s ahead that God has showed me. And He is working behind the scenes and on His own timeline to bring them together.
So again, as I go into this year with hopes and dreams and expectations, I hold loosely to them, confident that God will direct me as He sees fit. He is a master planner and organizer, and He knows my heart. He doesn’t forget my requests and He has a way of bringing things together in incredible ways!
Do I have goals and plans for 2026? Absolutely! And you should too! As we set these goals we should pray and ask God to help us get in alignment with His plans. He can changes our hearts as needed, He can give us new dreams, and yes, He can even bring our current dreams to pass – He’s God!
Lessons Learned
As I sit and anticipate closing out another year, I also consider the lessons learned. The roads traveled, the efforts made, the highs and the lows. It’s been a really good year. Not because every hope and dream I had came together flawlessly, but because I saw God show up time and again, in so many things, big and small.
I learned important lessons, realized the importance of building community, prioritized sleep, and worked on improving relationships. True, it can feel like a drop in the bucket compared to what still lays ahead, but progress has been made and new efforts have been initiated. Seeds have been planted, so to speak.
One of the most precious lessons I have taken away from 2025 is to believe God can bring about what He has put on your heart and to daily strengthen your faith in the expectation of Him showing up. It’s not about locking Him in to do your whims, but rather being attentive to what He has impressed on you, and then not letting doubts, fears, and the unknown overwhelm your confidence in God!
Pause and consider what lessons you have learned. What insight have you discovered? Have you had a year of growth or steady maintenance. Ask God what lessons He would have you draw out of your days and experiences, thank Him for His provision and for His protection. Seek His guidance in the new year.
New Hopes Realized
Do you know something fascinating? God typically overdelivers. In a pressed down, shaken together, overflowing kind of way. So as we are closing out another year, let’s throw our own limits off of prayer lists and pray bold, beautiful prayers. I don’t know why we water our prayers down to make them “more attainable” to a God who can do the impossible!
We must learn not to dilute our prayers or expectations when God is able to do more than we can ask or think! Don’t shy away from the new hope that wells up in you! Share it with God and ask Him what He will show you! Ask Him to inspire your prayer life and then pray bold prayers! I believe God loves our attention. He loves when we spend time meditating on His Word, lingering in His presence.
No matter what bracket of life you are in, learn to get your hopes up. The best is yet to come – and this applies to work, relationships, hobbies, friendships, homes, babies, gardens, schooling, etc. We all have a different focus in life that consumes our attention. Whether it’s work or raising children, schooling or building community, or even seemingly all of the above. God wants to be in the middle of it all with us. He never called us to try to solve even the tiniest part of life without Him!
So as we are closing out another year, let’s once again renew our desire to invite God into all the details of our lives starting today! Inviting God in, resting in Him, dreaming with Him, acknowledging His direction and provision will take you far and beyond anything you have imagined. True, as you get into better alignment with Him some of your dreams may shift, but you will find that they are even better than what you originally started out with.
Closing out another year gives us all a golden opportunity to step into a new year in better alignment with God! What a precious and exciting gift!
Until Next Year!
Hope.