Blessings in the New Year

How was 2025? What do you hope for in 2026? As the New Year approaches, it is natural for us to reflect on events of the past year. Often we tend to focus mainly on the negative aspects of the year and find ourselves hoping for a better year to come.

As I look back at 2025, there was a lot going on in my family healthwise – ranging from medical tests and procedures to multiple surgeries, emergency room visits, ambulance rides, accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Scary moments for myself as well as many worrisome moments when family members experienced times of concern and sometimes great crisis.

While remembering these scary situations, it is important to also reflect on the many moments that God comforted me and protected my family in circumstances that could have ended much differently. Yes, there were difficult moments, but God’s goodness could always be found in each one! Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” I’m very thankful for the many blessings of 2025.

Isaiah 43:16-17 says that God “makes a way in the sea, and a path through raging water”. Isaiah is reminding the Israelites of God’s power and provision when He parted the Red Sea so that they could escape the Egyptian army. When life is overwhelming and there seems to be no escape, we need to remember the Red Sea moments in our lives when God parted the waters and made a way! It is easier to trust Him with our future when we remember the blessings found in the difficult moments. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. ” God can do so much more than we could ever imagine if we will just trust Him.

In Isaiah 43:18-19, God says to the Israelites, “Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old.  Look, I am about to do something new;  even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,  rivers  in the desert.”
‭‭God was telling them not to focus on the moments of discouragement, pain, and fear of the past. Instead they should look ahead and trust that God has a plan for the future. He is telling us the same thing today. Forget the negative of last year and look ahead so that you don’t miss the mighty things that God is about to do!

Be thankful for the waters He parted in your life, the days that He carried you, and the great things He has done. Then it will be easier to trust Him as you go into the new year! May you find many blessings in 2026.