Still Standing: A 2025 Reflection and a 2026 Declaration

 What a year 2025 has been.

I have had my fair share of good times and tough times in 2025 and in the midst of it all, God has remained faithful, just like He has for each person reading this. As I write this, I am moved to tears recognizing that the raging battles of 2025 left some defeated. But if you have breath and you are still standing at this point, you have a reason to lift up praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He is good, and His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)

When I look back, I think of the moments that looked ordinary on the outside but felt like spiritual warfare on the inside. The long days where I was handling responsibilities from every direction. The moments I needed wisdom for decisions that affected my family. The seasons of pressure where I had to keep showing up anyway. Times I had to fight for peace in my mind, fight for integrity in my work, fight to stay steady while building and planning, and fight to keep my heart soft.

One moment that stays with me is being on the road, juggling logistics and responsibilities, trying to make sure everyone was okay, trying to make sure plans didn’t fall apart, trying to keep moving even when I felt stretched. And I remember thinking, Lord, I need more than strength. I need Your presence. I need Your guidance. I need You to go ahead of me. That is when it hit me again that God’s faithfulness is not a theory. It is something you live. It is something you lean on. It is something that holds you up when you don’t have extra to give.

As we reflect and look back on 2025, let us be reminded that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. (Hebrews 13:8) The same God who kept you through what you never announced, the same God who sustained you through the tears you wiped quickly, the same God who carried you through the days you felt you had to be strong, He has not changed.

And just as the Bible says, He has gone ahead of us. “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) Because He has gone ahead, you can face tomorrow. Not because tomorrow will be easy, but because God will already be there.

That’s why the words of that beloved hymn still carry power: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” I can’t share the full lyrics here, but that single line is a whole message by itself. Christ is alive. And because He lives, we don’t step into a new year without help, without hope, or without covering.

A scripture God laid on my heart strongly is in John 15. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) That verse is not meant to shame us. It is meant to steady us.

As we step into 2026, we can have goals, plans, and vision, but we must also have connection. Because fruit does not come from striving. Fruit comes from abiding. Remaining. Staying connected. Staying yielded. Staying prayerful. Staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

So as we enter 2026, my encouragement is simple. Do not only ask God for results. Ask Him for depth. Ask Him for alignment. Ask Him for the grace to remain in Him when the pace is fast and life is loud. Because when you remain in Him, you will have what you need for every season. Wisdom. Peace. Endurance. Discernment. Strength. Favor.

And to everyone reading this, I speak blessing over you. I pray you will have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026. Prosperous in your peace. Prosperous in your purpose. Prosperous in your home. Prosperous in your relationships. Prosperous in your faith. May the Lord who kept you in 2025 go ahead of you in 2026 and may you see His goodness in real ways.

I wish you all a Blessed, happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026!

God bless you!