Happy New Year, Friend! I hope you have enjoyed the holidays with your family and friends and that you’re taking a moment to rest and reset in this new year.
I’ve decided that I’m not chasing hustle this year. ❌
Soul-deep exhaustion has plagued me and constant stress is deteriorating my mind and body.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this over the kids’ winter break and I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling of unending fatigue and discontentment.
I think if I took a poll that most moms out there would say the same.
We are more tired than ever, busier than ever, and stretched so thin that one mishap could throw us into category 5 hurricane status.
Something has got to give, but the pressure for change on top of work responsibilities, home responsibilities, and everything in between feels so daunting that we’re paralyzed.
So, this year, my typical goal-setting, list-making self has decided to pursue peace in my purpose.
I’m not setting out in 2026 to prove myself or to be perfect and polished.
I’m setting out slowly and purposefully pursuing peace in my daily life, in my calling to steward God’s love through my writing, in my physical and mental health, and in my relationships.
If you’ve ever started January with BIG intentions and ended it tired and forlorn, you’re not alone.
We can do it differently this year, together.
Reflecting Back to Plan Ahead
Part of my New Year’s goal setting process is to reflect back on my past goals and experiences to define how I want to move forward.
During that reflection time, I determine what worked, what didn’t, what needs to stay or be added, and what needs to be delegated or eliminated.
As I near my 39th birthday in March, I have been thinking back on several goals I set when I turned 35 in 2022.
I set some one, three, and five year goals in 2022, but I’ve honestly been so preoccupied with life and work that prioritizing some of them slipped off my radar altogether.
Of those major goals I set way back then, I’ve decided to refocus on two of them in 2026:
- Run a marathon before I turn 40
- Publish my first book by age 40
These are goals I have had for more than the past 4 years. Though, I set these goals when I turned 35 after ruminating over a memory of my mom turning 35.
Unfortunately, my mother passed away at age 52 and my father passed away this past August at the age of 61.
The realization of our mortality has reminded me that each birthday is a gift that we shouldn’t take for granted.
It has also reminded me that time matters, and how we live it matters, too.
While my hope is in Jesus and our promised eternity in Heaven with Him, that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to live a long, happy, fulfilling life on this side of Heaven.
I’m not chasing these goals for money, fame, or superficial rewards.
I’m setting these goals as a way to faithfully steward my body and the calling God has placed on my life.
Underneath it all, my faithful pursuit of these goals will allow me to stay present for my family and share God’s love with as many people as I can.
And faithful pursuit doesn’t mean frantic pursuit. These goals are important, but they are “slow and steady wins the race” kind of goals. They are goals I will continue steadily working toward throughout this year.
Theme for 2026: Pursuing Peace in My Purpose
As I ponder what it will look like to work toward these goals, it is important for me to also remember that the path forward is not through striving and surviving.
To help me remember this, my word/theme of the year is peace, more specifically, “Pursuing Peace in My Purpose.”
This theme will be my “North Star” for 2026 in my personal life, my professional life, and my writing life.
To me, peace isn’t the absence of responsibility or stress. It’s the quiet, steady presence of God at work within me.
While I can’t lie and say having no stress would absolutely be a dream come true, I can say that we live in a fallen world and that’s just not realistic.
Our key verse this week reminds us that God will use every step we take for His glory and our good, though.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” — Romans 8:28 NLT
By pursuing peace in my purpose in 2026, I won’t be striving to live a stress-free life, but I will seek to live a life where my nervous system knows how to respond to stressors in a sustainable way with God by my side every step of the way.
This will look like releasing:
- The pressure to do it all
- Guilt or fear based goals
- Starting strong then burning out
Instead, I will choose to focus on:
- Prayerfully starting the day with God’s guidance
- Small steps that build momentum
- Purpose-led priorities
- Peace-filled rhythms
Despite the daily battles we all face, it is imperative that we keep our eyes fixed on the good that is to come in order for us to claim the peace God is offering us.
The Framework: Filling the GAPS with a Simple Daily Renewal
When you feel stretched too thin and running on empty, you may wonder how to even think about pursuing peace in the chaos of our daily lives.
Daily renewal doesn’t have to look like an hour of quiet time every morning before the rest of your house wakes up.
When your life feels like it is hurdling by at an unsustainable pace, your soul is sinking into exhaustion, and your mind is scrambling for any semblance of normalcy, let me encourage you to take the otherwise insignificant gaps in your days to pause and pursue a simple, sustainable daily renewal rhythm that can fit into even the most minuscule places of margin in your day.
When we intentionally fill the GAPS in our days—through Gratitude, Affirmations, Prayer, and Scripture—we create small but sacred moments of renewal that realign our hearts and minds with God’s truth.
It doesn’t require perfection or a long, drawn-out morning routine. It’s simply about inviting God into the in-between moments (the car rides, the laundry loads, the lunch breaks, the few minutes before bed) so He can renew you from the inside out.
G — Gratitude
Start with gratitude.
Even when life feels heavy, there’s always something to thank God for. Gratitude shifts our perspective from what’s missing to what’s present. It pulls us out of the spiral of exhaustion and anchors us in God’s goodness.
Try whispering a simple prayer of thanks as you pour your morning coffee or drive to work:
“Lord, thank You for this breath, this moment, this chance to begin again.”
Those little thank-yous become powerful reminders that His mercies truly are new every morning.
New Year Reflection Prompt — Gratitude:
What is one gift I can thank God for today?
A — Affirmations
Affirmations grounded in Scripture remind us who we are and whose we are. They quiet the inner critic and replace lies with truth.
Instead of repeating, “I can’t do this,” declare:
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
Or when you feel unseen or unappreciated, say:
“God sees me, loves me, and is working all things together for my good.”
These short statements of faith retrain your thoughts and build spiritual resilience for whatever the day brings.
New Year Reflection Prompt — Affirmations:
What am I believing that isn’t true and what truth can I tell myself instead?
P — Prayer
Prayer is our daily lifeline to God. It’s an ongoing conversation that doesn’t have to be complicated or formal.
When you feel overwhelmed, breathe a quick prayer right where you are:
“Lord, help me slow down and sense Your presence here.”
When you feel joy, thank Him out loud. When you’re weary, simply tell Him so.
He’s not asking for polished words; He’s asking for your heart.
New Year Reflection Prompt — Prayer:
God, what do you want me to focus on today?
S — Scripture
God’s Word is where renewal truly takes root. Even one verse can steady your soul and reset your focus.
Write a verse on a sticky note, set it as your phone wallpaper, or listen to an audio Bible while you get ready in the morning.
Let His truth wash over you again and again until it becomes the soundtrack of your soul.
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” — Psalm 119:105
New Year Reflection Prompt — Scripture:
What verse will I carry with me today?
It’s in the GAPS, those small, sacred pauses in your day, that God often does His deepest work.
Not always loudly. Not always quickly. But faithfully.
When you invite Him into the middle of your messy, busy, beautiful life, He meets you right there, with peace that steadies, strength that sustains, and joy that overflows.
My Intentions for 2026: Faithful, Not Frantic
As I move into 2026, I’m holding my goals a little differently than I have in the past.
Instead of chasing outcomes, I’m committing to faithful pursuit by showing up consistently, stewarding what God has given me, and trusting Him with the results.
I’m sharing these not as a checklist for you to copy, but as an example of how intentions can be rooted in stewardship instead of pressure.
My intentions for this year fall into three simple categories:
1. Steward My Body with Patience and Purpose
In January, I’ll begin a year-long Couch to Marathon training journey with the goal of running my first marathon in January 2027. This isn’t about speed or comparison. It’s about honoring my body, building resilience, and trusting the slow, steady work God does over time.
2. Steward My Calling Through Writing
I’m committing to write consistently and obediently in 2026 with the intention of publishing my first book. Whether that happens through traditional publishing or self-publishing, my focus is less on the method and more on faithfulness to the message God has placed on my heart.
3. Steward My Peace Through Sustainable Rhythms
Perhaps most importantly, I’m choosing rhythms that protect my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. That means fewer guilt-driven goals, clearer boundaries, and practices that help my nervous system and soul remain grounded even on hard days.
This will include simple, daily rhythms like the GAPS Framework, in addition to, reading through the Bible chronologically with The Bible Recap. This will be my second time going through The Bible Recap, but my first time reading Scripture chronologically. I’m looking forward to doing this with my oldest daughter this year as she turns 9 in April and is asking more and more questions all the time.
These rhythms and intentions aren’t about doing more. They’re about doing what matters most with God at the center.
An Invitation for You
As you step into this new year, I want to gently invite you to pause for a moment.
Not to plan everything.
Not to overhaul your life.
Just to take one peaceful step forward.
Even if that step feels small.
Ask yourself:
- Where do I need peace the most right now—my mind, my schedule, or my sense of purpose?
- What might God be inviting me to release this year?
- What is one small, faithful step I can take this week?
You don’t need all the answers today.
You just need one next step taken with intention and trust.
We were never meant to carry everything alone, and we don’t have to figure this year out by ourselves either.
Ready to Begin with Peace and Purpose?
If you’re craving clarity as this new year begins, but you’re feeling overwhelmed by where to start, I’d love to invite you to join me for a special, live workshop on January 13th.
Mom on a Mission: Creating Your Vision for Your Best Year Yet
This faith-filled workshop is designed to help you:
- Quiet the noise and pressure of “doing it all”
- Reconnect with what matters most in this season
- Clarify your purpose and priorities for the year ahead
- Create a simple, faith-centered starting point without burnout
This workshop is especially for the mom who feels called to something more, but wants to move forward with peace instead of pressure.
This isn’t about hustling harder or setting perfect goals.
It’s about creating clarity where there is chaos, and prioritizing peace and purpose in the year ahead.
Let’s ditch survival mode and performance-based pressures, and begin the year grounded, aligned and at peace.
🏆 Mom on a Mission: Creating Your Vision for Your Best Year Yet
When: Tuesday, January 13th at 8 PM ET
Where: Live on Demio
Replay access included! Plus, receive the Fast-Action Bonus Mom on a Mission Reflection Workbook PDF FREE when you register by Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 11:59PM!
And if you already have clarity around your purpose but need help turning it into a realistic plan, I’ll be sharing details soon about The Goal Game Plan, a follow-up workshop on Tuesday, January 27th at 8PM ET, designed to help you build goals and rhythms that actually work for your real life.
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