A New Year…

The conclusion of one year, and the beginning of another are naturally reflective times for many of us. The conclusion of the holiday season lends itself to looking back on all that life brought about during the year. The impending new year offers the hope of possibility.

For many of us, this changing of time tends to create a vast array of emotions. Perhaps the concluding year brought immense joy and success; for others there may have been trials and disappointment. Many look forward to the impending new year as a fresh start with new and exciting possibilities. For others, the new year creates angst and fear of the unknown.

Admittedly this changing time has always been vexing for me. This year more than ever. I am a self proclaimed Christmas nerd. I come by it honestly. In my family the most exciting part of Halloween was never the costumes or the candy, it was the fact that after the Trick or Treating concluded, it was time to prepare for Christmas. (For you purists out there reading this we do love Thanksgiving. I’ve just never seen the problem with frying a turkey under the gentle glow of Christmas lights!) Anyway, I digress. The point is, after spending close to two months enjoying the Christmas Season and all the wonderful traditions entailed, the New Year signaled the end of my favorite time of the year. Compounding this was the fact that for the entirety of my teenage through adult life the new year meant a transition into baseball season.

For the first time I can remember, this is different. There is no “Grind” after un-decking the halls. While it is honestly refreshing not to be trading stockings for stirrups and eggnog for infield, it has forced me to look directly at the challenge of something new, and unknown. I will be the first to admit I am not a huge fan of the unknown. I am a planner and organizer by nature (Again- I come by it honestly.) I will also be the first to admit, I am by no means an expert on sharing and seeking emotional support.

What I do know is this. Whichever camp you belong to; whether you’re sad to see 2025 go because of all the good that came your way, or thankful to see it and all its challenges left behind, whether you’re fearlessly charging into 2026, or carefully tiptoeing in, remember this simple truth. None of us in our limited, earthly knowledge know the future or can alter the past, but as people of faith we have the assurance of the One who does. The hymn writer Ira Stanphill put it beautifully in his 1950 hymn “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.”

I encourage you to listen to the song in its entirety, but I lean especially on the refrain which states, “ Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.” The year 2025 was a difficult one for many of us. The year 2026 is an unknown for us all. My challenge to you is to commit along side me to seek God more, lean on Him more heavily, and remember at the end of Today-He has authored your yesterdays, and holds all of your tomorrows in His hand.

God Bless,

Phil Johnson

Founder J23 Ministries