Every human being surely carries good, beautiful, and joyful hopes or dreams. Yet on the other hand, we must be aware of and accept the reality that our hopes do not always come to pass as we wish. Some dreams indeed come true, but many also fall short of their goals. This truth applies to everyone—including believers. We may hope that dark clouds will soon pass, yet instead, a storm arrives. Life is not always as bright as its colors once seemed. Still, we give thanks because our faith in God is not overshadowed by doubt, nor does suspicion toward His providence cloud it. Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Behind the thickest clouds, there is always a beautiful rainbow. Behind every frightening event, there is always God’s presence and a valuable life lesson prepared for us. May the Lord open our spiritual eyes so that we may see His greater plan behind every event in the life of a believer.
Let us reflect for a moment: what has been our life struggle throughout 2025? If we can still read this devotion today, that alone is living proof of God’s sustaining presence in our lives. Never doubt God. Never suspect Him, nor stop trusting Him. We are the apple of His eye, His eternal treasure. He surely guards, protects, and defends His children in His wondrous ways. Do not live in the past, burdened by nostalgia that will never return. Do not let past shameful events or failures intimidate you. Come before God, asking for His forgiveness and guidance. He will surely forgive every sin we have confessed. Let us resolve not to repeat them and commit to living more faithfully before Him.
God no longer deals with the past that has already been settled by Him, no matter how dark it was. He deals with our present life, shaping how we work together to build our future with Him. As the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:1-14: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Forgive yourself, just as God has already forgiven the sins of your past. Do not live for the past. Do not let the devil frighten you with the illusion of unforgiven mistakes.
We believe that when we confess our sins before God and commit not to repeat them, the faithful and just God will forgive us and forget our transgressions. Therefore, let us live as purely and as holy as possible as a form of our commitment to Him. Perhaps the commitments we made at the start of 2025 have faded over time. Yet now, as we stand on the threshold of a new year—2026—let us renew our resolve and our hearts once more. By understanding and living out God’s will to always give thanks, we will face the coming year with renewed strength and hope, even amid mystery and uncertainty.
A year full of mystery does not mean a life without direction or meaning. On the contrary, when a person understands God’s will and walks in it, they know they do not walk alone. They believe that God’s presence never fails, accompanying them in every step they take. If God has been with us throughout 2025, His presence will surely continue in the years to come—until the end of the year, and even until the end of our lives.
Let us look back and give thanks for the entire journey of 2025, while looking forward to 2026 with hearts full of confidence in God’s unchanging faithfulness.
Keep on striving. The Lord Jesus is with you.