Scripture for the Journey Ahead
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends.
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
— Lamentations 3:22–23, NLT
End‑of‑Year Reflection & Practice
As this year comes to a close, I’ve been slowing down long enough to notice the quiet ways God has carried me. Sometimes His mercies arrive in unmistakable ways, and sometimes they slip in softly, almost hidden, waiting for us to pause long enough to see them. This week, I took that pause—and what surfaced surprised me with its simplicity and its depth.
Three Mercies from 2025
1. The Gift of Stable Housing
After a long season of uncertainty, God opened a door I had prayed for again and again. Signing my lease wasn’t just a transaction; it was a mercy. A reminder that God sees, God hears, and God provides in His timing. This new home has become a symbol of His steadying hand.
2. The Peace That Carried Me
There were moments this year when the waiting felt heavy, and the obstacles felt endless. Yet peace kept showing up—quiet, persistent, and strong enough to hold me. It wasn’t something I manufactured. It was something God gave, right when I needed it.
3. The Kindness of People Along the Way
From unexpected encouragement to timely help, God used people to remind me that I wasn’t walking alone. These small acts of kindness were mercies in disguise—evidence that God often works through ordinary people doing ordinary things at just the right moment.
One Regret—and the Wisdom It Became
If I’m honest, the regret that lingers from this year is simple:
I didn’t set a boundary soon enough in a situation that drained me.
I carried more than I needed to. I stayed quiet when I should have protected my peace. I extended grace to others but forgot to extend it to myself.
But regret doesn’t have to follow me into the new year. It can become wisdom. In January, I’m turning this regret into a step: a clear boundary, spoken kindly and held firmly. Not out of hardness, but out of stewardship—of my heart, my time, and the peace God has given me.
A Simple Practice for the Week Ahead
To prepare my heart for the new year, I’m committing to a small rhythm for the next seven days:
- Pause and name three mercies—however small—and write them down.
- Choose one regret and turn it into a concrete step for January: an apology, a plan, or a boundary.
- Practice a morning ritual: read a verse, breathe slowly for one minute, and offer one sentence of thanks.
These small rhythms are shaping me. They’re helping me enter the new year not rushed or overwhelmed, but grounded—aware of God’s compassion, honest about my own heart, and ready for the fresh beginnings He offers.
A Closing Thought
Mercy, regret, and renewal are not separate stories—they are threads God weaves together. When we pause long enough to notice them, we begin to see the year not as a collection of random events, but as a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Here’s to mercy remembered, regret redeemed, and the grace to begin again.
Grace and Peace,
~Lesallan 🕊️✝️💞
