Well, Happy New Year! God’s plan was for you to make it to 2025, and I pray that His plan is that you see this year all the way through again. You may have your business goals already set for 2025 and are rolling full speed ahead. But, let’s pause for a moment – have you submitted your plans to God, received His approval and committed to accepting whatever the year holds?
Society has a habit of desiring to move faster and faster. You can see the evidence with evolving technology and constant changes in your daily life. What if this was the year God is calling you to slow down? God has a track record of doing just that with His children, often when a transformation is near. He’s calling you higher, but you need to be still (Psalm 46:10) and absorb what He’s asking you to do.
Now, on the other hand, God can be calling you to propel, which means buckle up and get ready for increase. But, society also has a habit of being resistant to change and dealing with imposter syndrome which impedes our progression and willingness to try new things that could change our lives. If God is calling you to move, it’s time to take a leap of faith!
In a New Year full of options and possibilities, if you’re wondering what’s the best thing to do today, start by surrendering your timeline. One of our biggest mistakes is setting plans and visions as God instructs us to (Habakkuk 2:2) but then adding self-determined deadlines – ones that may be unrealistic or, sometimes, too conservative! Remember Joshua 24:24, where God’s people pledged to “serve the Lord our God and obey Him.” Our commitment isn’t just to our plans; it’s to His timing. So, relinquish control and follow His pace, whether it feels slow or swift. And, because you will also be interacting with others all year, beware of their timelines for your life, too. You’re not obligated to anyone’s timeline but God’s. Acts 5:29 reminds us that we must obey God rather than man, and 1 Corinthians 4:4 reassures us that God alone is the one who judges our path. Trust in His perfect timing, even if it doesn’t align with what others expect of you.
As you go through this year, enjoy life while God handles the big stuff. He already knows what’s ahead. If He’s telling you to slow down, it may be because He’s preparing you for something significant or challenging for which you must be ready. If He’s urging you to speed up, it could be because He’s about to pour an overflow of blessings into your life. Isaiah 1:19 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” In other words, trust in God’s pace, be open to His guidance and He will undoubtedly bring goodness to you.
So, here’s to 2025! Whether it’s a year of steady growth or accelerated blessings, keep your focus on God’s timeline, not your own. Trust in His wisdom, surrender to His timing and enjoy the journey, knowing that He is guiding you every step of the way. I have faith in you.
Sheridan C. Watkins is a journalist and the owner of Perennial Peaces, a jewelry and gifts brand focused on transcending self worth to all women. Her true work began after climbing out of a dark place with the help of God and therapy, and her life mission is to provide tangible peace through her Divine gifts to help women heal and transform their lives. Follow the mission on Instagram and Facebook: @perennialpeaces.