Tag: Release

Releasing 2025 into God’s Hands

What does it look like to release as we step into the new year?

Are you someone who enjoys choosing a word of intention at the beginning of the new year?

My word of the year for 2025 was “release.” And wow, has it been applicable. It’s never been clearer to me how God’s the true author of our lives, always a step ahead and paving the path for us to learn, grow, and heal. And sometimes, He uses a specific word to guide us in our walk with Him.

Release has so many meanings for me. Letting go of control, surrendering to God’s will even when it differs from my plans, and saying goodbye to relationships that aren’t healthy anymore.

But if I could leave you with one way to release in 2026, it’s this:

Release your burdens and anxieties onto Jesus. Only He is strong enough to carry them and redeem your broken situations.

What does this look like in practice?

Falling to our knees in prayer, sharing vulnerably with God–both our doubts and reminders of who He is–and asking for His help. Filling our minds with scripture, worship songs, and the wisdom of those further along in their faith journey. Participating in godly community, where safe people can listen to your struggles and offer support.

We aren’t the heroes of our own stories–and thank goodness, because that would be such a burden to bear.

God is the hero. Only He can provide, protect, and heal. He longs for us to choose His love and, overflowing with the Spirit, spread that love to others.

Perhaps reflecting on 2025 brings you shame and discouragement. God is big enough to hold your regrets, broken dreams, and shattered faith.

Or maybe 2025 was a year of celebration and victory for you. Praise God for His faithfulness and record all His wondrous works. This will encourage you both now, and when harder times come.

God is faithful through it all.

As we step into the new year, I hope you experience God’s deep, unfailing love for you. Trust in Him, that no matter the unknowns, He will always care for you, His precious child.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 28:6-9 (NIV)

Releasing Ourselves Into God’s Hands

As we are called to let go of former things, let’s embrace God’s hand in the process as He remains faithful through it all.

At the beginning of 2024, my work-in-progress was titled “Don’t Let Go”. And yet the theme of my life in 2024 was “it’s time to let go”.

While my novel’s title was inspired by a scene where my main character dangled on the edge of a cliff before accepting the helping hand that saved her life–and God certainly wasn’t telling me to jump off a cliff or refuse support–I can’t help but laugh at the irony in God’s plan for my growth over the last twelve months.

Letting go of unhealthy relationships, underutilized belongings, and even unrealistic dreams and expectations has always been particularly challenging for me. It’s heartbreaking to admit that it’s time to let go of someone who was once a dear friend or of a dream that isn’t part of God’s plan for this season of life.

Yet we must release what God calls us to release in order to be open handed, ready to embrace what God has in store for us.

You may be finding yourself in a season of needing to let go. Letting go is painful. It’s a loss, after all, and it comes with its own grieving process.

But there is hope. We have someone we must never let go of, our helping hand when we find ourselves dangling at the edge of (hopefully a metaphorical) cliff. That Someone is Jesus.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to trust that Jesus will always be there to save us when we’ve experienced disappointment from others.

But those experiences often remind us to turn to Jesus for our fulfillment. One time, I experienced deep healing after a conversation with a close friend. But in a following interaction, I was reminded of her humanness and felt discouraged, wondering why God would allow me to experience both rich blessing and slivers of pain from the same person.

That’s when the Spirit gently reminded me that it was out of God’s grace that I had experienced healing from this friend. As amazing as she is, it wasn’t her personality or words or even love that blessed me. It was God working through her, showing His love for me.

Though it still hurts when loved ones act insensitively or don’t follow through, perhaps those moments are opportunities to praise God for being the one who loves us perfectly. He does everything with intention and always remains faithful. We will never be asked to let go of Him.

In fact, as I imagine worldly things disappearing from my fingers into the air like dust, I find my hands waiting, palms up, for someone to fill them. And sure enough, God’s great big fatherly hands embrace mine in an instant. He is everything I need. He is everything you need.

As we step into 2025, join with me in God’s call to release what doesn’t belong to us anymore in order to hold tightly to His goodness, grace, and love.

Who knows? When you let go of what isn’t meant for you, God may very well surprise you with wonderful things you didn’t even imagine were possible.

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)