Hello friends!
Wow, we made it to December already. This year really flew by! First, I want to apologize for not posting last month. Between some family health matters and the holidays, life got a little hectic. But even in the middle of all that, God met me and showed me something I felt I should share.
When I miss a deadline or don’t follow through on something I planned, I immediately feel like a failure. Instead of letting that feeling move me forward, it often makes me want to quit altogether. This push and pull has shaped much of my year, wanting to do things well and feeling discouraged when I fall short.
At the start of each year, we set goals. We picture what growth, faithfulness, and consistency should look like. Then life happens. We miss days, weeks, or entire plans, and suddenly the version of the year we imagined feels out of reach. When that happens, it is easy to feel defeated and start believing we are falling behind.
God has been teaching me that grace meets me long before I ever call something a failure.
Missing a month of posting does not mean I disappointed God. It does not mean I am less faithful or less called. And it definitely does not mean I should give up. Giving up would quietly turn this into something about my own ability, when this space, and my life, were always meant to point to how gracious, loving, merciful, and kind Jesus is.
As I reflected more on this, I realized how quickly I tie my worth to productivity and follow through. I forget that God is not measuring me the way I measure myself. His grace does not run out when I am inconsistent. His love does not shift when I fall short. He is steady even when I am not.
When I felt the Lord nudge me to write this month, it was not because I had everything together, but because I didn’t. I needed Him there, meeting me in my weakness and reminding me who He is and who I am.
As we start thinking about our goals for 2026, I want to hold onto this truth. We were never meant to carry the weight of proving ourselves, and we were never asked to perform our way into God’s favor. I believe this is how the Lord is inviting us into the new year, not with pressure to perform, but with permission to depend. To embrace our weakness, rely on His strength, and trust that His grace is enough as we move forward.
This year did not go exactly as I had planned. I had hoped to make more progress on the devotional I am working on and to grow in my language and guitar skills, but progress came more slowly than I had expected. Early in the year, I went through some hard seasons that brought anxiety and left me feeling stuck for a while. It was hard to see His goodness then, if I’m being honest. I questioned His plan for me and tried to make things work on my own until I realized I didn’t need to force it. He was already at work.
Looking back, I can see God’s mercy woven through it all. This year of ups and downs with Him has become the foundation for my devotional. I had the idea for it earlier in the year, but I needed to walk through it with Him first.
The small steps I did take in practicing my language and playing guitar are still steps. I saw His grace in the busy season of work, classes, and ministry. He was helping me grow in ways I didn’t always notice. After a couple of months of feeling stuck, the heaviness lifted and I felt like myself again. God used that season to help me heal, grow, and find space to breathe and trust Him more.
Of course I have goals I want to carry into 2026, but they’re in reflection of the lessons I’ve learned this year; the lessons of grace, patience, and depending on God. I know they always say “hindsight’s 20/20,” but I feel that in big ways at the end of this year. I’m thankful for that. I can look back and see just how faithful my God is, how merciful and kind. And what a gift that is!
As I look back on this year, three lessons stand out. First, mark the small moments because they still matter. Even little steps in learning, creating, or growing are part of God’s work in our lives. Second, His grace meets us in the mess. We don’t have to be perfect to grow or to be loved by Him. And third, those hard seasons aren’t wasted, ever. The times we feel stuck, heavy, or unsure are often the very seasons that shape us, teach us, and prepare us for what’s next.
One way I’ve been putting this into practice is reflection. Taking time to look back on the hard moments, celebrating the good ones, and asking God for wisdom as I move forward has made a big difference. It keeps me aware of His faithfulness and reminds me that even when life doesn’t go according to plan, He is always at work. If your year didn’t go as planned, I want you to know this: you are not failing. God’s grace is still with you, and His love is not dependent on your productivity or performance. One small way I’ve been practicing this is by pausing to reflect on what I have learned, journaling the lessons I’ve seen, and asking God for clarity and peace as I step into what’s next.
As we step into 2026, I want to leave you with this truth from 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God’s grace doesn’t depend on our performance or our ability to get it all right. It meets us in the mess, in the small steps, and even in the seasons we feel stuck.
If you want to take a moment to reflect, here are a few questions you could journal about:
- Where did you feel God’s grace this year?
- What hard seasons or struggles have shaped you in ways you didn’t expect?
- How can you rely on God’s strength instead of trying to do it all on your own next year?
As you move into the new year, I invite you to do so not with pressure to perform, but with permission to depend. Step forward with the confidence that His grace is enough, that His strength is made perfect in your weakness, and that He is faithful every moment of the way. Let this be a reminder that you are not alone, and that every small step, every messy moment, and every season of waiting is held in His care.
Verses:
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
Matthew 11:28–30
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’.”
Songs:
The Father’s Song – UPPERROOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEt_gVsXwpc&list=RDYEt_gVsXwpc&start_radio=1
You Won’t Relent + Holy – UPPERROOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yj7q2cFJYo&list=RD9Yj7q2cFJYo&start_radio=1
Faith More Precious Than Gold – Mission House
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAW989bPDko&list=RDAAW989bPDko&start_radio=1
Rooting for you,
Meg <3
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