A New Year, Rooted in Gratitude
Morning light over the pasture: a reminder that new beginnings happen every day.
There’s something about the start of a new year that makes people feel like they need to become someone entirely new.
New goals. New habits. New lives. “New year, new me.”
But out here on the ranch and in real life, I’ve learned that growth rarely ever comes from starting over. It comes from standing firmly in the ground you’ve already been planted in and recognizing how God has shaped you through every season. And being thankful for it.
As this new year begins, I’m not focused on reinventing myself. I’m focused on remembering—remembering where I’ve been, what God has carried me through, and how each chapter has played a role in shaping who I am today.
Gratitude changes how we walk into a new year. Not because life has been easy, but because we can look back and say with confidence: God was faithful then, and He’s faithful now, and he will be faithful when I need him the most again.
Your Journey Has Purpose
It’s easy to minimize our past—especially the difficult parts. The waiting. The heartbreak. The seasons that didn’t make sense at the time.
But Scripture reminds us that nothing is wasted.
Joseph, after being betrayed, imprisoned, and forgotten, was able to say to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” That truth still stands today.
Every experience—good, bad, or ugly—has helped shape your resilience and your ability to understand and encourage others. When we honor our journey, we honor the God who walked with us through it.
Let Others See Christ in You
If there’s one goal worth focusing on this year, it’s this: letting others see Christ in us.
Letting others see Christ in us doesn’t always come from the polished parts of our lives. Sometimes it comes from the places we’d rather keep hidden—the experiences we’re ashamed of, the seasons that hurt deeply, the chapters we wish had gone differently.
But often, those very places are where God’s grace is most visible. The fact that you walked through something hard and came out on the other side may not just be part of your story—it may be the very thing someone else needs to hear when their cup is completely empty.
When we’re willing to pour ourselves out and into others—gently, humbly, and with compassion—we become a living reminder that God restores, redeems, and heals. Not because we have it all together, but because we know what it feels like to need Him desperately.
People don’t need us to be flawless—they need us to be faithful.
When we choose gratitude over bitterness and faith over fear, we become living testimonies of God’s goodness. We become the encouragement we once needed ourselves.
Use What God Has Already Given You
You don’t need a brand-new version of yourself to serve God and serve others this year.
God has already equipped you—with your talents, your experiences, and even the lessons learned through hardship. Your story matters, and it has the power to point others to Christ when you’re willing to share it.
As I step into this new year, my goal is to let others see Christ in me. I pray I walk forward with purpose, rooted in gratitude and guided by faith. No matter what lies ahead, I resolve to hold fast to this truth:
God meant it for good.
Stay thankful. Walk faithfully. Happy New Year.
—Erin Glover