HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE <3

Fireworks! Balloons! Ball drop! Midnight! It’s 2025!

After the excitement of New Year’s Eve winds down, there is another holiday to be celebrated. The first day of the new year. It is a holiday for the hope of what is to come for the new year ahead. Though a new year is filled with possibilities, dreams and goals, it can also be filled with uncertainty.

But what are we putting our hope in this year? Potential success? Our News Year’s resolutions? Anticipation of a new job? New relationship? New season of life that is stirring in us?

Honestly, I’ve always had mixed emotions about “the start of a new year”. Sometimes I feel unsaid pressure that my goals must be laid out, resolutions set, mindset sharp, and somehow, I must feel up to 100% charge when that clock strikes midnight January 1st. And friends, I will be the first to say that is not how I am writing today. I currently have pneumonia and have been recovering from serious spinal surgery with a still, long road of recovery ahead of me. So, whatever you are coming into 2025 with, I want to assure you, you are never alone, and we have somewhere and someone to place our HOPE in. Something that is NOT temporal or uncertain like the unwavering things of this world.

What if 2025 was the year marked by our hope in CHRIST?

Hope in Christ in the New Year

I’ve learned this by a slap of reality one too many times but, unlike hope based on our circumstances, hope in Christ is eternal.

At the start of a new year, naturally, we try to fill ourselves with the hope of telling ourselves things like…

This year will be different. I will finally find success again, finish school, find my spouse, walk 10k steps a day and eat healthy. Not that having goals isn’t amazing, but placing our hope in them is not. Studies show that 62% of people that make a new year’s resolution do it out of pressure and 92% of people do not stick to their resolution.

Our hope cannot be based upon our circumstances because that is an unstable ground that is constantly changing, but we can place out hope on the solid rock that is Jesus, who is never changing.

Jesus explains in Matthew 7:24-25 what life looks like when we build our foundation on Him.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Jesus is the solid rock foundation that keeps our soul strong. No matter the circumstances, those who have been saved through faith in Christ will never crumble.

Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Like I mentioned earlier in the blog, I faced some unexpected challenges towards the end of 2024 that resulted in a very serious spinal surgery. As most unexpected uncertainties have it, it’s been a struggle to manage the rollercoaster of emotions. To keep my eyes on Christ in the twists and turns of circumstances.

On the morning of November 2nd, one of my biggest MRIs, I was texting with one of my best friends and she was telling me…

Kat: “Today is good. I am praying it can bring peace. It is like the second to last piece of a long confusing puzzle.”

Me: “You know I don’t like puzzles; I’ve never really been good at them.”

Kat: “You are going to get through it. You are facing your fears, and it is making you stronger… you don’t have to be good at puzzles to finish them, and people help you through them, too.”

I remember this text bringing me to tears. Sometimes fear can lie to us so much and convince us we must have it all under control. We crave control of our outcomes, when quite honestly, 99% of the time, it is completely out of our control. But God doesn’t leave us alone. He gives us people. He gives us his presence. And He gives us His promise, HE is working to put the pieces of the puzzle together just how he intended it to be for us. What we can do is release, trust and place our hope in the author and perfect our faith.

I’ve also learned that holding onto fear doesn’t change the footsteps of your future. Holding onto fear just creates more of a disconnect between you and the one who has your life in His perfect plans. Jesus promises you everything fear cannot.

Promises of God:

Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”

Isiaha 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 -But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast even more gladly about my weaknesses, so that

Christ’s power may rest on me That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

And SO. MANY. MORE.

The best news is these promises do not change. They do not waver. Just like Jesus and His love for us.

Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

As you walk boldly into 2025, with whatever you are carrying, will carry, or even the moments you feel on top of the world, you can lay it all at the feet of the cross. God has good plans for you. Plans to prosper and protect you, for hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Each part of our story is more of a testimony to His. Your life is beautiful. Your life is treasured. Have HOPE for this year because of Jesus and who He says and proves to be.

Say this prayer over your new year:

Heavenly Father,

As we enter 2025, we place our trust in Your perfect plan for our lives. Help us to walk in faith, knowing You are working in and through us. We choose to be expectant, believing You will do great things through us this year. Strengthen our hope, guide our steps, and let our lives reflect Your goodness, love and light.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You’ve got this, friend,

AW