In addition to trusting God, I try to manage my anxiety by having a plan, setting goals, following them perfectly, and staying in control of everything and everyone around me. As you might imagine, that posture does little to nurture healthy relationships. New Year’s resolutions are especially tempting because they promise an opportunity to address all of these impulses in one fell swoop.

But resolutions and goals guarantee nothing, including freedom from pain. The truth is, I want to place my trust in relationships, not resolutions. When I begin the New Year with hope that is rooted in the faithful love of God and my connection to Him, my anxiety lessens. I don’t have to remain in control. I don’t have to be perfect. I can rest in Him, trusting His unfailing love.

Interestingly, the words God gave me for this year speak directly to the root of my anxiety. During a quiet moment of prayer and reflection beside a creek in North Georgia, God placed two simple words on my heart — words I believe are meant to guide how I trust Him and engage with others throughout the year. When anxiety takes hold, it often leads me to act in ways meant to avoid pain, yet those same actions can be experienced by others, especially those closest to me, as control and mistrust. The words God has given me draw me into a deeper connection with Him and a growing trust in His loving care. Reflecting on these words, their impact has already proven meaningful. You can read more about my words for 2026 here.

As we enter a new year, I want to pause and give thanks for the blessings of 2025. My gratitude to God and to you is hard to put into words. This past year was one of the strongest in the 25-year history of our ministry. Nearly 100 men participated in HopeQuest’s treatment programs, and hundreds more encountered hope through Walking Free, Journey, Reclaiming Families, and outpatient counseling. When you include staff speaking engagements, we’re talking about thousands of people impacted by the message of freedom and hope we are called to share!