Do you review the past year before planning for the year ahead? For many of us, it was likely a mixture of ups and downs, challenges and breakthroughs, desperate prayers and unexpected miracles.
For our family, the first few months of 2025 brought on bouts of severe illness and injuries. Even our dog was not spared! When things evened out mid-year, it felt miraculous… at least for a while.
I was living the ordinary days I once prayed for. Everyone was healthy, there were no emergencies, and medicines weren’t crowding our kitchen counter. Yet, our busy schedules and the usual stressors made life feel more mundane than miraculous. It only got worse as I grew weary of waiting on God to answer some of my prayers from years past.
Around that time, I happened to read three different books related to the wilderness. A Bible study on Exodus by Priscilla Shirer, Ann Voskamp’s WayMaker, and The Wonder Of The Wilderness by Christine Jayakaran.
Through the words of these authors, God reminded me:
I wanted to breeze through the wilderness and reach the promised land, but God reminded me that He’s accomplishing His plans even through it. It was a hard truth to swallow.
I could very well relate to the Israelites camped in the wilderness; they could move only when the cloud of God's presence moved. They were understandably feeling discontent and stuck. The manna that seemed miraculous at first quickly became part of their mundane. Memories of their miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh faded in light of their momentary trials.
I, too, tend to look back at years past with rose-coloured glasses, not realising that each season has challenges of its own. Thanks be to God who uses every season to mould us, so we can, in turn, be a blessing to others around us.
As we step into another fresh year with its own share of trials and triumphs, here are three heart postures we can adopt.
We may intentionally thank God for the good things He has done for us. But we can take it a step further and find ordinary things that are evidence of God’s grace in our lives–the bird at the window, relief from a nagging cough, or leftovers in the refrigerator. Giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) may not change our circumstances, but it does transform how we approach them–with the assurance that God’s still in control of our lives.
The routine of everyday life may feel mundane after the holiday season. Yet, we know that God sees our faithfulness, and He will reward our day-to-day simple acts of obedience. God has given us the grace we need to continue doing good work in the world (2 Corinthians 9:8). His wisdom and strength will help us remain faithful wherever He has placed us.
The hope and expectation brought on by the new year may soon fade as we go about our regular routines. Yet, it is our hope in the Lord that fortifies us to keep going when we want to give up. Our hope lies beyond this year and this life (1 Peter 1:3). It lies in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who is preparing us for eternal life. When we live in light of eternity, we’re aware of how God is transforming us in the mundane, so we can shine His light in the world.
How has your past year been? How are you positioning your heart for 2026?
Photo by Giorgio Parravicini on Unsplash
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
