2025 was a rough year for me. It was probably one of the hardest years of my life.
There was soul-deep depression, agonizing relationship work, unrelenting pressure and stress, and crushing grief at the loss of my sweet father at just 61 years old.
For much of the year, I honestly felt like I was drowning in disappointment and despair.
And yet, despite my very real feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, my heart’s hope remained anchored in Jesus.
Instead of reflecting on this past year with regret, I keep returning to the truth found in Romans 5:3–5 (NLT):
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
Friend, God’s faithfulness in seasons of hardship doesn’t remove the pain, but it does equip us to endure with hope. It strengthens us to reflect and respond with His love flowing from within us, even when life feels unbearably heavy.
Three Ways to Remember God’s Faithfulness in Tough Seasons
When we look back on a difficult year, it’s tempting to fixate on disappointments, unmet goals, or perceived failures. But Scripture invites us into a different kind of reflection—one rooted in gratitude, curiosity, and hope.
1. Reflect with Gratitude
Expressing gratitude during or after seasons of disappointment can feel unnatural, and sometimes even impossible. But when we choose to reflect with gratitude, we cultivate a posture of surrender, trusting that God is at work in every moment for our good and His glory.
To reflect with gratitude, ask yourself:
- Over the past year, how did God provide for you when things started to feel overwhelming?
- Even when life felt heavy, how did God bless you or your family?
- What are three things you can thank God for from this past year?
- Is there a difficult moment you can now see as a blessing with the gift of hindsight?
When stress creeps in and the day starts to feel heavy, pause and thank God for His provision, however small it may seem. Gratitude gently shifts our focus from the hurdles in front of us to the blessings surrounding us.
It might sound like:
- “Thank You, God, for giving me the strength to get through today.”
- “Thank You for my family, even when patience feels hard.”
2. Reflect with Curiosity
When looking back on a tough season, curiosity allows us to ask why and what now, instead of shutting down or brushing the pain aside.
Reflecting with curiosity helps us uncover lessons that strengthen endurance and rebuild confidence. It gives us permission to examine hard moments without judgment, trusting that God can redeem even the most painful experiences.
To reflect with curiosity, ask yourself:
- Where can you see glimpses of good that emerged from painful situations this year?
- What lessons did you learn that could guide you moving forward?
- What situations still feel unresolved, but may one day reveal growth or purpose?
Some of the hardest lessons eventually become our greatest blessings. Often, it takes time, patience, and curiosity to see the good God is forming on the other side.
3. Reflect with Hope
Despair has a way of crowding out hope when it’s left unattended. But when we remember God’s deep love for us, and the truth of the gospel, hope has room to take root again.
As we reflect with hope, those small seeds of truth begin pushing through the darkness. Over time, confidence and peace can bloom, slowly overtaking despair.
To reflect with hope, ask yourself:
- Where did you feel defeated or weary this past year?
- Can you identify even a seed of hope in that situation—a person, a provision, a moment of clarity?
- How could you nurture that seed by journaling, praying, or reflecting on how God might bring beauty from it?
If this feels unreachable right now, I understand. When your heart feels stuck in the mud, finding even a glimmer of goodness can feel exhausting.
If that’s where you are, start here: ask God to show you the good. Ask Him to make it unmistakably clear. Then take the next small step forward—one prayer, one breath, one moment at a time.
Reflect with Joy, Not Regret
As 2025 draws to a close, may you reflect not with regret, but with reverence.
Rejoice in the glimmers of hope you noticed along the way. Rejoice in the gratitude God restored within you. And remember this: God loves you deeply, and He is not finished with you yet.
“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” —1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” —1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
If you’re longing to begin the new year grounded in faith, not striving or shame, I created a simple place to start.
The Working Mom Reset: A 5-Day Devotional walks you through reflection, renewal, and realignment with God… one small step at a time.
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