2025 Reflection

Hi y'all! Well, we are approaching the end of 2025, which is wild to think about. I’m still trying to figure out where August went… and yet here we are, somehow wrapping up the entire year. As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself looking back with a heart that is both full and humbled. The end of a year has a way of inviting reflection—of pausing long enough to see where we’ve been and how much has changed.

And if you’re anything like me, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is when it all hits at once.

If you’re not sure where to start with reflection, here are a few ways to create space with the Lord:

First, give yourself permission to slow down. Reflection doesn’t require a perfect setup or a long stretch of time. Sometimes it looks like sitting quietly with the Lord for a few minutes, letting your thoughts settle, and simply inviting Him into your memories of the year.

If journaling helps you process (it definitely does for me), start there. Write about the moments that surprised you, the ones that stretched you, the prayers that were answered, and the ones you’re still waiting on. Be honest. Be messy. God is not asking you to perform — He’s inviting you to be real.

You can also reflect by asking a few intentional questions and letting them linger. Where did I see God move this year? What did He teach me about trust, surrender, or obedience? What moments changed me, even if I didn’t recognize their significance at the time? Often, clarity comes not from rushing to answers, but from sitting with the questions.

Another helpful practice is noticing patterns. As you look back, notice what kept coming up — the same prayers, the same lessons, the same invitations from the Lord. Growth often repeats itself before it feels resolved, and seeing those patterns can be incredibly grounding. These patterns often reveal how faithfully God has been working behind the scenes.

Finally, make room for gratitude. Thank God not only for the highlights, but also for the hard seasons that shaped you. Gratitude has a way of softening our hearts and helping us see the year through the lens of God’s faithfulness rather than our own expectations. Reflection doesn’t need to be perfect or profound to be meaningful. Even a few intentional moments with the Lord can bring perspective, healing, and a sense of peace as you prepare to step into what’s next.

I hope these tips help you slow down and reflect a little more deeply. This season matters. I don’t know what this year held for you, but I want to encourage you to take a moment to breathe and recognize how far you’ve come. Even if it didn’t look like the growth you expected, you’re not the same person you were in January. God has been shaping you—quietly, consistently, faithfully.

I’ve learned that my heart needs intentional space to process what I’ve lived, what I’ve carried, and what God has been doing beneath the surface — especially at the close of a year. That’s why every year on New Year’s Eve, without fail, I return to the same rhythm. I livestream the UPPEROOM end-of-year conference and journal my heart away before the Lord. I sit with Him, reflect, cry, worship, laugh at myself a little, and thank Him for every moment—both the ones that broke me and the ones that built me. It’s one of my favorite rhythms of the entire year because it resets my heart and reminds me just how present He’s been.

One lesson I learned on a deeper level than ever this year is that growth often happens quietly. And honestly, thank God it happens quietly because some of my “growth moments” this year were not cute, but they were necessary! Growth is not always marked by big moments or visible milestones, but by daily obedience. Showing up. Trusting God when answers felt delayed. Choosing faith when feelings wavered. Perhaps you’ve experienced that kind of growth this year too—the kind that doesn’t announce itself, but slowly shapes you.

I also learned the importance of surrender. There were moments when plans changed, expectations shifted, and prayers were answered in ways I did not anticipate. In those moments, the Lord reminded me that His ways are higher than mine and His timing is always perfect. Letting go was not always easy, but it was necessary. If this year asked you to release something you were holding tightly, know you’re not alone in that.

So much of this year for me was walking in answered prayers. Watching the Lord bring things together in ways I could never have orchestrated myself was deeply humbling. He opened doors, provided clarity, and brought together pieces I never knew how or when would connect. Seeing His faithfulness unfold in real time moved my heart deeply. I won’t forget it.

There were also challenges that shaped me in ways I couldn’t see at the time. Seasons that required perseverance, patience, and humility. Looking back now, I can see how the Lord used those moments to refine my character and deepen my dependence on Him. What once felt heavy now feels purposeful. If you’re still in the middle of a hard season, I hope this encourages you to trust that God is working, even when the outcome isn’t clear yet.

This year was also really fun. Truly fun. The kind of fun that reminded me I’m allowed to enjoy my life and not just be in a constant state of assignment mode. There were experiences that brought joy, laughter, and celebration. Those moments reminded me that God delights in giving His children good gifts. It wasn’t just a year of learning and growing; it was a year of living, enjoying, and being fully present in what the Lord was doing.

I am grateful for the growth God brought to me, the answered prayers, the fun moments, the doors He opened, the ones He closed, and so much more. I am grateful for the people who walked with me through this year, for the lessons learned, and for the ways God met me along the way.

It is important to pause long enough to truly see what God has done in your life this year. Celebrate the growth, honor the hard moments, and thank Him for the quiet miracles you might have missed in real time. You made it through a year that asked a lot of you, and God was faithful through every single moment. Carry that confidence into 2026.

In preparation for 2026, I want to encourage you to pray into it. Ask God to give you a word for the year ahead—a word that defines what He is inviting you into, what He wants to grow, or what He wants to establish in your life. Sit with Him and listen. Let that word shape your prayers, your decisions, and your posture as the year unfolds.

Before closing this year, I also want to say how deeply grateful I am for each of you who have read, supported, and encouraged me through this blog. Launching my blog this year was something I stepped into not really knowing what to expect, and your presence here—your messages, prayers, and support—has meant more to me than you may realize. I am truly getting emotional as I type this because I never imagined the ways God would use this space to reach hearts, and witnessing that has humbled me deeply. Thank you for walking alongside me this past year and for allowing this space to be one of reflection, honesty, and faith. I have been praying into topics for next year these last few months, and I cannot wait to share them with you all!

I also wanted to share that I’ll be starting 2026 with a fast for all of January. This will include stepping away from social media and pausing my blog as I spend intentional time seeking the Lord and setting my heart for the year ahead. I’ll be offline for a bit, but I’ll see you all again in February! Thank you for giving me the space to do that—it truly means more than you know.

My prayer leaving 2025 is simple: Thank You, Lord. Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your patience, and Your goodness that carried us through every season of 2025. May we enter the next year with open hands, receptive hearts, and trust in You to lead us forward.

I love you guys so much! See you next year!