This was the Bible verse chosen for me at my church’s New Years Eve prayer line. At first glance, I didn’t like this verse and almost wanted to ask the pastor for a new verse— maybe one more hopeful and with more blessings for the new year.
This past year was full of disappointments, anxiety attacks, broken relationships, a break up, and the loss of another friend to suicide. There were many times when I knew I was not okay— mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally.
But I’m also reminded that I had many victories this year: met some of my new forever friends through honor summit/freedom summit, started going to Christian counseling, finished the Bible cover to cover for the first time and my church finally felt like family.
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Two things I learned this year through all the trials:
1) God is good
2) God is sovereign
To the God who gives and takes away, I will continue to give praise through it all. Now I claim this verse over my life for this new year. This year will be a year of JOY.












