Renewed.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." - Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Hello Reader,

You know, a new year brings with it a natural pause—a moment to look back on what has been and to step forward into what lies ahead.

Some of us enter the new year with excitement and anticipation, while others carry fatigue, disappointment, or uncertainty.

Wherever you find yourself today, Scripture gently reminds us that our hope is not rooted in the calendar turning over, but in the unchanging faithfulness of God.

A Little History...

The book of Lamentations was written in the aftermath of Jerusalem’s destruction—a time marked by grief, loss, and deep sorrow.

The writer (traditionally associated with Jeremiah) is surrounded by devastation, yet in the middle of lament, a declaration of hope emerges.

Lamentations 3 marks a turning point. After naming pain honestly, the writer recalls something essential: God’s character has not changed.

Even in ruin, even after failure, God’s faithful love remains.

His mercy is not exhausted by yesterday’s mistakes or last year’s hardships. Instead, it meets us again—new and sufficient—each morning.

This makes the verse especially fitting for the beginning of a new year.

It reminds us that renewal does not come from trying harder, but from remembering who God is.

One Good Way Apply This Verse To Your Life...

🌿 Begin the Year Rooted in Mercy, Not Pressure

So often the new year arrives with expectations: goals to meet, habits to fix, versions of ourselves we feel pressured to become.

But Lamentations 3:22–23 offers a gentler starting point.

Before we plan, achieve, or improve anything, God meets us with mercy.

This verse invites us to begin the year not asking, “What do I need to change?” but “What does God want to renew?”

Each morning is not a test of our discipline—it is a gift of grace.

When we root our days in God’s faithfulness instead of our performance, we find freedom to grow without fear, to fail without despair, and to trust that God is at work even when progress feels slow.

Let this year be shaped not by pressure to be better, but by confidence that God’s mercy is already enough for today.

Let's Pray Together...

Dear God,
As a new year approaches, I long to live grounded in Your promises and confident in the life You are calling me into.

I trust that You are with me, guiding my steps and watching over me in every season.

Teach me to trust You more fully—to rest in the future You are shaping for me and to flourish where You have placed me.

Be my refuge when the world disappoints and reminds me of its limits.

Help me remember that Your mercy and grace are gifts freely given—not earned, but born from Your great love for me.

May I walk into this new year anchored in that truth.

Amen.

Let's Sum It All Up...

As we step into this new year, let us be reminded that God’s love has not worn thin and His mercy has not run dry.

Whatever the past year held—joy or sorrow, success or struggle—today begins with fresh grace.

Carry this truth with you into the days ahead:
You do not walk into this year alone.
You walk into it covered by mercy, sustained by faithfulness, and held by a God whose love never ends.

If this reflection speaks to you, consider sharing it with someone who needs reassurance at the start of this year.

And as always, let’s continue praying for one another—that we would walk forward grounded in grace and hopeful in the faithfulness of our God.

Have a Blessed New Year!

Quentin