Life rarely unfolds the way we expect. Plans are made, dreams are pursued, and then— without warning—obstacles appear. A diagnosis, a financial setback, a broken relationship, or an unexpected loss can leave us feeling disoriented and discouraged. In those moments, the question isn’t whether challenges will come — they will. The question is: how do we move forward without losing hope?
I faced this reality last year when a major health crisis interrupted everything I thought was certain. Triple bypass surgery wasn’t on my calendar, yet there I was, lying in a hospital bed, wondering what the future would hold. Fear crept in, and questions swirled: Will I recover? What about my family? My ministry? But in the midst of uncertainty, something deeper anchored me — faith.
Faith doesn’t erase obstacles, but it reframes them. It reminds us that setbacks are not the end of the story. Scripture speaks to this truth again and again: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). When the path ahead is unclear, faith becomes our compass. It whispers that God is still present, still working, even when circumstances seem overwhelming.
Moving forward begins with trust. Trust that God’s promises are true. Trust that His strength is enough when ours runs out. Trust that He can redeem even the hardest seasons for His glory and our good. For me, that trust was strengthened by the prayers of friends, the quiet moments in Scripture, and the gentle assurance that my life was still in His hands.
Obstacles will come in 2026 — there’s no avoiding that. But we can choose how we respond. We can let fear paralyze us, or we can lean into faith and take the next step forward, even if it’s small. Each step becomes an act of worship, a declaration that we believe God is bigger than the mountain before us. So as you enter this new year, remember: