As we enter into 2025, many of us may find ourselves reflecting on the past year. For some, it was a year of triumph and progress, but for others, it may have felt like survival was the only victory. If you’re among those who simply made it through—if all you did was stay above water, rest, or hold on—you need to hear this: that was enough.

I want you to understand that your worth is not defined by your productivity. It’s not in how much you accomplished, created, or contributed. Your identity is found in the One who created you, who sustained you through it all. And if you’re reading this, that means you’re still standing. That alone is a testimony of God’s goodness and grace.

Grace Met You Where You Were

Maybe 2024 didn’t turn out the way you hoped. The plans you carefully crafted might have fallen apart. The goals you set may have felt out of reach. But even in the moments when you felt like you were barely holding on, grace met you there.

Grace isn’t about being perfect. It’s about God showing up in the imperfections, in the mess, in the moments where all you could do was breathe. And let’s not forget mercy—it wasn’t just walking beside you; it was chasing you down, covering you, and shielding you from things you couldn’t even see.

You’re here, right now, not by accident but by divine design. It could have gone another way. You could have been consumed by the weight of it all. But instead, the fire of God consumed everything that tried to take you out.

How About A Perspective Shift?

This is your moment to shift your perspective. Sure, 2024 may not have been the year of milestones and breakthroughs you envisioned. But consider this: the lessons you’ve gathered from this year—the resilience, the patience, the understanding of God’s unwavering faithfulness—are invaluable.

Those lessons? They’re not just things to leave behind. They’re treasures you get to carry into 2025, tools that will shift and shape your world in ways you can’t even imagine yet. They are reminders that even when life doesn’t go according to plan, God’s plan for you is still unfolding.

As You Look Ahead

I won’t promise you that 2025 will be “your year.” I won’t tell you that it will be easy or perfect. But what I will say is this: if you’ve made it this far, you are already off to a great start.

You’ve shown resilience in the face of adversity. You’ve learned to lean into grace and rest in God’s sovereignty. And you’ve proven that survival is not just about making it through—it’s about stepping into each new day with the knowledge that God’s mercies are new every morning.

It’s Okay to Celebrate Survival

So, celebrate the fact that you made it. Celebrate the moments when you didn’t give up, even when it felt like you wanted to. Celebrate the times when you chose rest over burnout, trust over worry, and faith over fear.

Let this be your reminder: God didn’t bring you this far to leave you. You’re here for a reason, and while the road ahead may still have its challenges, you’ve already proven that you’re capable of walking it.

Here’s to you, to surviving 2024, and to embracing 2025 with faith, hope, and the knowledge that you are enough. Keep holding on—because with God, even the smallest step forward is still progress.