note: I wrote this around early November (I usually have about 4-6 weeks of devotionals written ahead of time and ready to publish). Sorry that it’s so dour. I’ve always used this platform as a way to talk about what spiritual/biblical things I had on my mind. Sometimes that meant a lot(!) of deep dives into some random Bible book, and sometimes it meant you all having to share in the therapeutic nature of talking through one’s struggles.
Tomorrow, God willing, we will say goodbye to the year that was and prepare to welcome in the year that will be.
What kind of year will 2026 be? I have no idea. Who knows? God knows. A year ago, I was saying the same thing about 2025. I have a little hindsight now. I’m able to look back on the year that was and evaluate it in a highly subjective way. That’s the thing about the naval gazing and reflecting that goes on around the end of every year: Some people say goodbye to a year with sadness because they had a great 365 days. They had 52 weeks of joy. They had 12 months of bliss. They had a year they wish they could do over again. I hope that describes you.
For me? I think 2025 was just about the worst year of my life.
And I’m not trying to be dramatic about it, or anything. After all, some year, at some point, was always going to end up being the worst of them all. For me, so far, 2025 has been it. I look back on it, and I struggle to find any reason to pine for what has passed. Far from it; I’m happy to be rid of 2025, and I can only ask—beg—the Lord to make 2026 better than what came before it. In that case, maybe you can relate to that. Surely I’m not the only person for whom 2025 was their worst year. If I’m describing you as well, then join me in putting the past behind us. Let’s begin 2026 with a desire to try (to try) to do the best we can to make it a great one.
That’s what I’m going to do, whether that’s personally or professionally, whether that’s as a parent or a preacher: I will keep my affections set on things above, and not on things of the earth (Colossians 3). I will fix my focus on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith (Hebrews 12). I will enter into 2026 with faith in God to give me as He wills, rain or shine (Matthew 5:45).
In the meantime, I say so long to 2025. You were the worst year of my life.
May there never be a worse.
* * * * *
addendum as of December 30:
Tomorrow is the last day of the year, and it will also be my final day as the preacher for the North Heights church of Christ. I have loved this church family from the moment you welcomed us here, and that love has only deepened over the nearly eight years we’ve known you. God has blessed us with many friendships during our tenure, and I will cherish them all. Though this year has been a challenging one, for a variety of reasons, the challenges were not because we ever, for one second, felt a lack of love or appreciation from the vast majority of the brethren here. You have been so good to us, and we will continue to thank God for you every time you come to mind (Philippians 1:4).
Tomorrow evening, God willing, we will gather for a night of singing. After that, I will give the devotional. It will be my final gesture as your pulpit preacher, but hopefully it will not be the final thing we do together: I pray our paths continue to cross in the years ahead, and more than that, I pray with earnest expectation for the forever-day in which we will all be together beyond the sunset.
God bless,
~Matthew