I’m not in the habit of picking a word for the year or even a Bible verse for the year. But 2025 is different.
This year, I limped across the finish line of 2024. Collapsed in exhilaration. Panted for refreshment. After working on my book Opening the Hope Chest: A Single Girl’s Guide to Homemaking for two years, I had the thrill of seeing it published and made available on Amazon. Then the Lord led me to start this blog. At the same time, I taught middle schoolers, served in my church, invested in friendships, and participated in other ministries. God gave me many wonderful things to do in 2024.
Losing Joy
And yet, can I be honest with you? It was stressful too. So much pressure. So many visions and dreams that could not be acted on all at once. Frustrations arose with one situation or another while working with teenagers and people. And beneath it all–despite all the wonderful relationships and opportunities I had–I struggled with wanting, really wanting, to be married and have a family.
Near the end of the year, a friend observed that I seemed to get upset over situations easily. That perhaps I had too much on my plate.
It was a reality check for me. Had I lost my joy without even realizing it?
Finding a Resolution
As I reflected on 2024 and prepared for 2025, I made a resolution: To maintain and display joy this year. How would I do that? As I flipped through Psalms, I landed on Psalm 84:
“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” –Psalm 84:1–2 (KJV)
That is what I wanted my life to reflect. A love for God’s presence. A desire and longing for God that consumed my whole being. The psalm ends with this truth:
“O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” –Psalm 84:12 (KJV)
Here, blessed means happy. Happiness—or joy—comes from trusting in the living God. Yet to trust someone, we have to know that person. We do not usually trust someone we just met. We have to spend time getting to know that person. We watch to see if that person supports us, listens to us, and loves us unconditionally. Then, we must decide whether or not to trust.
How do we get to know God well enough to trust Him? We spend time with Him. We read His Word. We pray to Him. We go to the house of worship to hear the Scriptures read, taught, and preached. We get to know God’s heart. As we do, we find Him trustworthy.
Yet still, we have a decision. We can choose to trust God with our hearts and lives. Or we can choose not to. We can even follow God while not really trusting Him. So easily, I can go through the motions of doing the work God calls me to while secretly doubting if God really has the best for me.
Okay, God, I’m serving you as a single woman. I’m sacrificing the joys of marriage and having children right now to follow Your plan, because You are worthy of that sacrifice. But do You really have my best interests in mind? Do You really love me?
Martyr Syndrome. I had it bad. And yet, according to Psalm 84:11, God will not hold back anything good from those who trust Him and serve Him.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” –Psalm 84:11 (KJV)
Somehow, God can reach His kingdom goals and do what is best for us at the same time. He truly is a great, loving God.
What area(s) do you need to trust God with in 2025? Family. Finances. Singleness. Marriage. Work. Ministry. Health. All these areas can cause stress and threaten our joy. In 2025, let’s take these things to the Lord and place them in His hands. Let’s spend time in His presence so that we develop a deep, abiding trust that blossoms into joy every day.
[1]Louisa M. R. Stead. 1882. “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” Public Domain.
Copyright © 2025 by Carmen Dillon. All rights Reserved.
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Beautiful reflection! Joy is definitely a choice that must be made daily no matter the circumstance. Praying you tap into its fountain and drink deeply this year!
Thank you! Yes, in the difficult moments, it is so important to remember to choose joy. 🙂
Good words. Trusting day by day. His mercies are new each day.
Yes, they are!