05: NEW YEAR, NEW TROPHIES
GREETINGS!: SO, what’s new since we last had a chat? Obviously the year, but other than that? I really can’t say much for myself. Still working the same two jobs, still trying to pay off a credit card I got when I was 19– who the h*ll thought that was a good idea?!! I finally got some medication for ADHD so that’s been life-changing. The doctor told me I ‘should be really proud of myself for making it all the way through [my] academic career undiagnosed.’ I have a lot of feelings about that, but I’ll divulge into that another time… maybe.
Anyways— I haven’t seen anyone saying “2026 is my year” this time around, so I’m wondering if everyone is okay? I haven’t seen or heard anyone talking about resolutions either… Maybe it’s a sign of the time.
With that being said: if anyone is not feeling hopeful, if things are looking a little bleak, allow me to offer you a little encouragement:
STORY TIME (woop woop): The first Sunday of this year, the Pastor at my church gave a sermon coming from 1 Samuel 17. This is the chapter where David slays the Giant, Goliath. David was a shepherd boy, the youngest of four. Goliath was a Philistinian giant… a champion… notorious for his victories in war (ooo… scary).
Everyone (the Israelites) was scared to face Goliath— but not David. David posed a question to the Israelites. He asked who would be afraid to fight Goliath when they serve the true living God? Everyone appeared afraid and he couldn’t understand why.
And so it was— David would face Goliath fueled and grounded by a focus on the power of the God he served. He didn’t see Goliath as a threat (though, he was)— He only saw God as bigger. The text goes on to detail how David faced the Philistine with his staff and five stones. When the time came, he took a stone from his bag and hit the Giant in his forehead, causing him to fall on his face. Usually people stop there, but the sermon made a point to notice that the stone isn’t what killed the Giant, it just knocked him down.
The tale continues: once David had knocked the giant down, he walked over, stood over him, took the giant’s sword and killed him. David cut off the Philistine’s head and brought it back to Jerusalem and put the Giant’s armor in his tent. By keeping the Giants armour, David, in so many words, obtained a trophy.
The sermon’s theme was then revealed: Get some Trophies this Year.
So, what’s the point of all this?
Ringing in the New Year, at least for me, always induces series of mixed emotions. It’s consistently an intense time of self-reflection, especially since I’ve entered the middle years of my 20’s. I find myself assessing the weight of what I’ve accomplished, often enabling lingering seeds of doubt to bloom; leaving me questioning if I’ve accomplished anything at all. Stemming from those seeds come questions of the next steps of my plan… which, naturally, onsets a string of thoughts wherein which I question if I really have a plan at all… or have I just been moving through space and time with an illusion that I’m working toward something. Wondering if I’ve been real with myself. Am I in psychosis? Am I stagnant? Is my lack of tangible proof of progress an indication that my future is doomed and my youth is actively being wasted? I mean, the series of thought and emotions just go on and on. And, unfortunately, if I’m being honest… the answer to majority of these questions as of late have been ‘yes’.
But, as aforementioned, I offer you [perhaps I’m really just talking to myself] hope! This year we will obtain trophies!
We all have our own giants— the aspirations that seem increasingly out of reach, the hills that seem too tall to climb, the attitude and posture of our hearts that we just can’t seem to commit to having. Like David, we cannot focus on those things. We cannot allow our negative what-if’s to fester. We have to focus on God. He is big and more than able to grant us all of the desires of our hearts. He can do exceedingly and abundantly above anything we could even ask or think. The caveat, though, is that we have to do something. We cannot just stand still and wait for these things to come to fruition.
David had stones. The Text says he chose the stones carefully. David’s faith and confidence in God convicted him to fight his enemy despite the all signs indicating otherwise.
Summation of my point: Whatever your goal is this year, whether it’s big or small, make it a point to reach it! Even if it seems impossible, even if you can’t see the way— set the intention. Once you’ve set the intention, make a move, my lovelies. Faith without works is dead. So, just make a move. Step out on faith. God cannot move until you do. He cannot show Himself strong and mighty until you take the first step that lets Him know you believe.
If you need to go back to school, fill out the application! If you need to fix your mouth and the way you speak to people, take steps toward that! Get a meditation routine! If you need to stop being a pushover, TAKE STEPS TOWARD THAT! If you need to pay off loans or debt, just start. Let God handle the rest. If you desire to develop your relationship with God, find a church! You can start small! Churches all over the world do live streams on Sundays. Tune in sometimes. Start as small as you have to, but the most important thing is just to start.
There is a song I know called God Problems and the incentive is— some things are too big for us to try to figure out. They are God-sized problems. Our only responsibility is to initiate action in the direction of our goals and maintain faith that God can and will work out the rest.
SIDEBAR: I do also want to acknowledge that some of us have been holding on to faith and we are starting to wonder if it’s working. I want to let those people know (myself included) that it’s completely okay to feel that way. We want what we want when we want it— I get it. Trust me, I really do. However, to that I say something I used to hear the old ladies at church say all the time: “do not grow weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galations 6:9)
All in all: Be encouraged, friends!! We’re going to make it. I promise. Just set a goal— h*ll, set many!! And then take a step toward them. God will do the rest.
Love you guys!
Until next time, chat. <3