I thought I was finished writing for the year, but I guess not.
Hahaha!
Good thing I didn’t promise I wasn’t.
Well, we’ve reached the end of another year, and for many of us, December is a time of reflection and planning ahead.
It can be a month of celebration or a month of disappointment.
If you’re feeling disappointed or discouraged, I want to speak directly to you.
Hey! I know 2025 may not have been the year you were expecting.
You started the year full of zeal and enthusiasm, ready to accomplish the “big things” on your vision board, but somehow it feels like you haven’t accomplished anything at all.
Scrolling through Facebook, you see other people celebrating their wins, and it feels like you have nothing to celebrate.
Pause for a second.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Congratulations!
You’re still here.
Many people began 2025 with intentions to see 2026, but they didn’t make it.
Yet, here you are.
And no, I’m not trying to sound cheesy or cliché.
Having life is truly a blessing these days.
People are here today and gone today.
Appreciate the life you have right now.
Often, we glorify our failures while minimizing the progress we’ve made.
A failure isn’t a failure if you’ve learned from it.
It’s a lesson.
It’s all about perspective.
Instead of focusing on what you didn’t do this year, celebrate what you did.
- The new connections you’ve made.
- The recipe you tried, even if it didn’t come out right. Hey, at least you tried!
- Your consistency in attending early morning classes, or most of them.
- That new sweater you got on sale, because we love a good deal.
- The degree you earned, even if the job isn’t here yet. You didn’t just start something, you finished it. That proves you can do the hard things.
- The book you finally finished reading, even if it took six months.
- The way you’ve been strengthening your relationship with Jesus.
- How you’ve overcome a bad breakup.
See?
Progress isn’t always about the big stuff.
It looks different for everyone, and as long as you’re moving forward, you’re making progress.
The fact that you showed up for yourself and took on every challenge that came your way this year is worthy of celebration.
Even small steps matter.
Every effort you made, every challenge you faced, and every time you refused to give up has built your strength and prepared you for the next season.
“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” — John Maxwell
Your journey is yours alone.
There’s no reason to feel behind because of what you see others doing.
You don’t know the process they endured or the price they paid.
Even if it seems easy for them, that is their life.
C.S. Lewis once said, “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”
Let your setbacks teach you and shape you for what’s ahead.
The only competition you have is the version of yourself from yesterday.
Be content where you are.
Jesus is still writing your story.
Trust Him.
And while you’re waiting to go from here to there, keep moving forward.
Keep putting in the work.
Keep investing in yourself.
Keep doing the hard things because they are building your capacity.
As you step into the new year, leave room for Jesus in your plans, and trust that He will exceed your expectations, even if the path looks like a detour.
You’ve got this.
I believe in you!
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 (KJV)
Share this blog with a friend or two and let them know you’re proud of them. Everyone needs a little encouragement sometimes.
Raphael R. Roker 