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?
I don't have a word for 2026 yet, Aritha, and I actually started thinking about that just the other day. My word for 2025, grace, has served me well and I'm so thankful that it's helped me to see God's grace at work in my life through the good times and the low, hard moments. I figure that when the Lord is ready, He will reveal the very word I should choose. Blessings, my friend!
ReplyDeleteOh Aritha, Thank you for this post today. I feel what you are saying so deeply. I have been feeling like I was drifting lately, and God has put me here this past week especially being a bit under the weather and feeling a sense of I need to be DOING things because it's Christmas time, and God has put me in a place of rest. Although I did manage to DO some things, just not everything I wanted to do. But I love knowing what you said that God is still holding us, He is abiding in us when we aren't even thinking of abiding in Him. He's here, with us, abiding in us and giving us grace and peace and rest. My word for this past yyear has been Wisdom. I'm not sure I gained a lot of wisdom this year, but maybe this message today from you is the wisdom I needed to hear for the rest of the year! Thank you. I haven't even thought about my new One Word for 2026 yet, but thank you for reminding me. Now I know God is trying to get my attention! So we shall see what He shows me in these next few weeks. I usually don't announce it until January 1st, so hopefully between now and then God will show me what it is. I love this post today. Thank you.
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