At the beginning of each year, I make a list of all my goals. Professional, physical, financial, academic, familial, and social. I even learnt how to break it down to make it achievable and measurable. Then the year goes on, and I usually get to some of them. Every quarter serves as a reminder of what remains to be done. Then comes the last quarter of the year, and I am nowhere near fulfilling my aspirations. At the dawn of December, my heart begins to crumble as I reflect on everything I could not achieve. It moans and groans for the unfulfilled desires. It sighs at the incomplete work. It glares with dismay at the tarrying dreams.
Amidst this disappointment is the celebration of Christmas. The tension of the good and the painful dangle side by side. The goodies, carols, gifts, and decorations—along with my exhausted heart. But there is also Hope! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6) What a breath of fresh air for my weary world. My heart fills with courage!
I look at the Nativity scene and watch Mary and Joseph—their young, inexperienced lives utterly disrupted by the greatest plan of God. They would have made plans and goals, but not only is their engagement interrupted by a supernatural pregnancy, but they also give birth in the most precarious circumstances. Mary would have wanted to decorate a room for her first baby. Joseph would have wanted to build a crib for his son.
I marvel at their willingness. Especially, that of Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said”! (Luke 1:38) The young girl embraced the unknown and jumped right in. Both took on the responsibility and the challenges that came along with the divine plan of God.
I ask myself, at this opportune time, “Can I do the same?”
Can I surrender my dreams and plans, my goal list, and the achievable to God and let Him direct them?
Do I have Mary-like humility to submit to His disruption?
Do I have Joseph-like obedience to believe in God and take on the responsibility given to me?
Can I lay aside my fears and doubts and make room for Christ to reorder my life and change it drastically?”
As I stare at the manger, another truth surfaces. Several of my failed resolutions were not merely the result of poor planning or lack of willpower. They were interrupted by my fear, pride, and a selfish ambition. I didn’t take a chance, fearing the outcome. I overdid some things to be effective, productive, and successful. I was desperate to check boxes and build an identity defined by achievement. In short, it was almost always about me!
The Bible warns about such boasting. James (4:13-17) cautions that arrogance is making plans without acknowledging God. When goals are driven by image or control, they are fragile. They collapse when disruption comes, whether it is from the outside or from within. In contrast, the Christmas story with Mary and Joseph models a different posture: humility that yields and obedience that trusts.
So how do we make goals that are formed and led by the Spirit?
Redefining New Year Goals: The New Year is a time pumped with ambition and electricity. Everyone wants to make a bucket list for the year. Before we list measurable outcomes, it is good to sit quietly and ask the Spirit to shape our desires. The weight loss target, the financial number of freedom, the long-pending book, or a promotion at work—they are all good to achieve. However, it is good to use a filter: which goals are for God’s glory and the flourishing of others, and which ones are thin veneers of self-promotion? Offering our plans to God allows us to understand our life through His perspective and clarify our intent. This is not a one-time ritual; it is a daily discipline that leads us away from a self-serving path and into God’s invitation to partnership.
Trade Obedience for Outcomes: We all love the grand gestures and declarations, and we all want to see the results. In that light, it is difficult to take small acts of obedience seriously, because they look so insignificant. But, Spirit-led change often arrives in incremental steps. Small acts of obedience help us build character while we work towards the outcomes. So, the faithful conversations, a firmer “no,” a humble apology, and a consistent five minutes of study–it all counts towards fulfilling the larger goals. In God’s view, how we get there is as important as when we get there.
Redefine Failure: We all tend to believe that failure reflects our inability. Sometimes, if a plan collapses, it may be helpful to ask what God might be doing. Perhaps He is pruning ambition, redirecting resources, or softening a heart. Unfinished lists can be the soil for something unexpected and holy. It invites us to partner with Him for His plans in our lives, rather than giving Him our annual directives. What I find most encouraging is that God’s timeline and ways are beyond those defined by society.
This year, as the calendar turns, I do not abandon the discipline of setting goals; rather, I am trying to set them differently—with surrender, shaped by prayer, and with willingness to be disrupted. I want my aspirations to be vessels, not idols.
May this year be marked by surrender, obedience, and joy for us all.
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
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Such words of wisdom, Ishnita. I'm re-reading this a few more times while I plan for the year ahead!
Thanks Susan!