New Year, New Mercies: Starting 2025 with Hope

By the end of January, many of us have already faced the reality of New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you set lofty goals, only to find yourself struggling to stay on track. Maybe you resolved to spend more time with God, start a new Bible study, or prioritize your physical and mental health. And now, a few weeks into the year, you’re feeling discouraged.

If that’s you, take heart: it’s okay. It’s okay if you haven’t hit the restart you envisioned. It’s okay if you’re not meeting your own expectations. God’s mercies are new every morning, and every day is an opportunity to begin again.

Grace for Yourself

Too often, we set high expectations for ourselves, only to feel disheartened when we fall short. The good news is, God’s love for us isn’t tied to our performance. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Just as God’s mercies are fresh each day, we’re called to extend that same grace, not only to each other, but to ourselves. It’s not about striving for perfection but about leaning into God’s faithfulness and trusting that He is with us, even in our struggles.

This reminds me of a recent blog we shared about Elizabeth and Zechariah. They, too, had their own expectations of how their prayers should be answered, but they surrendered those expectations to align with God’s plan. When we let go of the “how” and trust in His timing and purpose, we can find peace and hope, even when things don’t go as we anticipated. If you missed that blog, I encourage you to revisit it—it’s a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness (Posted December 22nd).

Reframing Resolutions

Instead of focusing on what you haven’t achieved, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned so far. Did you start a new habit but struggle to maintain it? Celebrate the fact that you started. Did you set goals that now feel overwhelming? Adjust them to be more realistic and achievable.

Think of the resolutions you set as stepping stones rather than finish lines. Every small step counts. Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Trust that God is working in you, even when progress feels slow.

A Fresh Start Every Day

The beauty of God’s mercies is that they give us the freedom to restart anytime. Whether it’s the beginning of a new year, month, week, or even day, we always have the chance to reset. Psalm 51:10 offers a powerful prayer for renewal: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Let this be your prayer as you move forward in 2025. Ask God to renew your spirit and guide you in the areas where you feel stuck. Release the pressure to have it all figured out, and trust in His perfect timing.

Call to Action

As we wrap up January, I want to encourage you to take a moment to reflect and reset. Think about the resolutions or goals you’ve set, and ask yourself:

• Are these goals aligned with God’s will for my life?

• Are my goals SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound)? If not, I need to make adjustments to set myself up for success.

• Have I given myself grace in the areas where I’ve fallen short?

• How can I invite God into my plans moving forward?

Write down one thing you want to focus on in February. It could be a word, a scripture, or a simple intention (check out our blog post on January 7th that talks about choosing your Scripture/Word for the year). Place it somewhere you’ll see it daily—on your mirror, your fridge, or as a note in your Bible. Let it remind you of God’s mercies and His faithfulness.

Let’s step into the rest of 2025 with hope, trusting in the God who makes all things new.

Happy Reset!

Janice

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