Like almost everyone I knew, I began thinking about 2014 in early December 2013. I set aside time to determine my goals and plan tasks to accomplish them. But by mid-January of the new year, my body had failed me. My doctor adamantly prescribed bed rest, so all my plans and intentions were set aside as I spent the next two years in recovery.
With my health restored, I entered the next New Year’s season, eager to accomplish great things. Yet again, my resolutions were soon set aside as I entered a long season of grief. By the end of that February, I had attended four funerals, not knowing there were more losses to come later that year.
For the next several years of ongoing trauma, I existed in survival mode, clinging to Jesus with every fiber of my being.
Somewhere during that arduous wilderness season, I retired from New Year’s resolutions. I barely had the capacity to plan supper each day, so it seemed senseless to expect myself to strategize beyond that. My focus shifted from achieving goals to maintaining everyday faithfulness—moment by moment, surrendering to God’s will, walking in his ways, and cultivating a heart of worship. Still, there were many days I failed.
As each New Year’s Day approached, I wished flipping the page on the calendar would reset my life, refresh my aching soul, and revitalize my weary body. But I knew better. Dawn on January 1st would bring another day of hardship, and by God’s grace, I’d limp my way through it as I had on December 31st.
Despite this seemingly fatalistic outlook, my compounding adversity had revealed the glorious fact of God’s faithfulness. Year after year, month after month, hour after hour, God had kept his promises—
- He never left me (Hebrews 13:5–6).
- His grace was sufficient in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- His peace protected my mind (Philippians 4:7).
Even when I was faithless, God remained faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). I knew that no matter what might happen in the year ahead, God would not fail me. Even though a fresh page on the calendar guarantees nothing, God’s mercy and lovingkindness are new every morning—great is his faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Now, having learned that each new year ultimately fits into God’s plan, I’ve come to rest in the assurance that the future is firmly in his hands. I still love to plan and set goals for the future to help me steward well my time and resources, and I’m not “anti-resolutions”. However, I’ve become more comfortable with surrendering to God’s will by adjusting my expectations or changing my plans and goals when necessary. I’m thankful for the situations he allowed that forced me to relinquish control so that I could see that his plans—his thoughts and his ways—are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8–9), and he is trustworthy.
As 2026 begins, whether we make New Year’s resolutions or not, let’s resolve to recognize God’s character in both the planned and unplanned moments of the year ahead. Let’s place our trust in his sovereign goodness instead of our well-laid plans, and when December 31st arrives again, may we remember God’s faithfulness.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
