As the calendar flips to 2025, I find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of ideas and plans that come with a new year. Are you the Type A personality with a detailed checklist of goals, ready to conquer each month with precision? Or maybe you’re more Type B, adopting the “it is what it is” approach, letting life unfold as it may? The truth is, no matter where you fall on the spectrum, your outcomes will depend on more than just your personality. For me, I’m somewhere in the middle this year.  

There are months where I want to focus on specific goals—like my finances or planning a much-needed vacation—but another part of me is learning to walk by faith and trust God with the process in certain areas while simultaneously knowing some exact wants and needs for this year. This balance, though, is still part of my faith journey, and I know there’s room for improvement! We all have things we know exactly what we want, but then there are areas in our lives, it’s gonna have to take faith and trusting in God to get to the other side without “seeing” anything. Strictly walking by faith and not by sight.

The start of a new year…

The start of a new year often brings with it societal expectations: milestones we’re supposed to hit by a certain age or financial goals that define “success.” The world tells us our worth is tied to what we accomplish. But as a believer in Jesus Christ, I know this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Our worth isn’t in what we can do—it’s in who we are in Christ.  

I’ve written before about how easy it is to let our identity get caught up in our performance. After I graduated college, I learned this the hard way. I fell into depression because I measured my value by what I could achieve. When I didn’t meet my own expectations—or the world’s—I felt like a failure.  

The same principle applies to how we approach the new year. If you’re the Type A personality who hasn’t written out a detailed 12-month plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or inadequate. But simply “riding the waves” like another Type B year might leave you feeling stuck, going in circles without purpose.  

Here’s the thing: both approaches need balance, wisdom, and, most importantly, prayer. Without consulting God, our plans—even with the best intentions—can lead us astray.  

What if instead of measuring ourselves by worldly standards, we aligned our goals with God’s purpose for our lives? What if we trusted His timeline rather than feeling pressured by societal expectations?  

I’m not saying that practical things like finances, housing, or career aren’t important—they absolutely are. God calls us to be good stewards of what He’s given us. But the pressure to equate our accomplishments with our identity is where we miss the mark.  

Let’s try this…

As we step into this new year, let’s focus on these truths:  
– **Your worth isn’t in what you do but in who you are in Christ.**  
– **God’s timeline for your life is unique and purposeful.**  
– **Prayer and trust in Him should guide your plans, not the expectations of the world.** 

Lets start off the new year with somethings knowing exactly what we need, but lets us not forget to invite God in, by leading us to what are his plans for our year. God’s insight, wisdom and instruction will stop us from walking around aimlessly. His plans should be our number one priority.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

It’s God’s purpose that prevails at the end of the day. Whether you’re a meticulous planner or more of a go-with-the-flow person, remember that balance and surrender are key. Let’s make 2025 a year where we set goals with God, trust Him in the process, and walk confidently in the identity He has given us.  

So, it’s the new year—now what? Seek Him first, and the rest will fall into place.