The Hidden Grace in My One Word

Lisa asked for one insight from our One Word, and as I tried to put mine into a comment, it grew into a full blog of its own.

My One Word abide has been slipping through my fingers lately. Not because I don’t love the word, but because real life has been heavy. Pain, quiet rooms (midlife you know), long days. And strangely enough, these weren’t the days where I sank deeply into Scripture, the way I always imagined I should.

On the good days, I enjoy rich Bible study.
On the hard days… I don’t.
I read a small paragraph. A simple quote. Maybe a page from Max Lucado. And it all feels so thin, so far from what “abiding” is supposed to look like.

Add to that the small heartbreaks. Little things that press unexpectedly on the soul. And I feel myself drift. I worry I’m drifting from Him. I feel like I can’t hold on to the word at all.

But somewhere in that quiet struggle, something has shifted.

I’m starting to see that maybe abide isn’t asking me to hold on harder.
Maybe it’s showing me that Christ is the One who holds on to me.

Even when I’m tired.
Even when I read only a few simple lines.
Even when my prayers feel small and my heart feels flat.

On those days, I come to Him with my mind instead of my emotions, and I whisper, “You will finish Your work in me. You will lead me safely.” And for that day; that really is enough.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not being “deep” enough on the harder days… please hear this:
You’re not the only one. You’re not failing. And you’re not falling out of His hands.

Sometimes abiding looks quiet, simple, almost fragile.
And yet, it still counts. Because He holds you.

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I’m so grateful for abide in Me. It shaped me in ways I never expected, and it carried me through this year. But it won’t be my word for the new year. The truth of it stays, just not the word itself.

I sense something new coming… maybe trust, maybe go, maybe speak or write. I’m not sure yet. And that’s okay.

Do you already have your One Word for next year?