A Holy Pause
Making Room for the New Year
As the year comes to a close, many of us feel a strange mix of emotions.
Gratitude and grief.
Relief and exhaustion.
Hope and hesitation.
The end of the year often arrives quietly, but our lives rarely slow down enough to notice it. We rush toward what’s next without taking time to name what’s been or to listen for what the Spirit might be whispering now.
Before we move forward, this moment invites us to pause.
Not to plan.
Not to optimize.
But to pay attention.
Below are a few gentle invitations for reflection, discernment, and renewal as we look to the new year and what is next!
I encourage you to take at least an hour - find a quiet space - bring a notebook - walk through these four steps!
1. Looking Back: What Has This Year Held?
Before asking what’s next, it’s worth honoring what’s already been lived.
Find a quiet moment and ask yourself:
Where did I experience life, joy, or gratitude this year?
Where did I experience loss, disappointment, or fatigue?
What surprised me — about God, about myself, about others?
What felt heavy to carry?
What felt like a gift?
Resist the urge to evaluate or explain. Simply name what was present. Gratitude and lament often belong together. Holding both is an act of spiritual maturity.
2. Noticing the Present: Where Am I Right Now?
It’s striking how seldom we pause long enough to truly notice where we are. And if we don’t know where we are, it’s nearly impossible to properly see where we need to go.
Ask gently:
How would I honestly describe my soul right now? Tired? Hopeful? Numb? Curious? Wounded? Grateful?
What am I most longing for in this season?
Where do I sense resistance, restlessness, or invitation?
What feels unfinished or unresolved?
This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about telling the truth—because transformation begins with awareness.
3. Looking Ahead: What Might the Spirit Be Inviting?
Rather than setting resolutions, consider practicing holy attentiveness.
Ask questions like:
Is there a word, image, or theme that keeps surfacing?
Where might God be inviting me to let go?
Where might God be inviting me to pay closer attention?
What would faithfulness look like in the coming year—not success, but faithfulness?
You don’t need a full plan. Often the Spirit gives us direction before detail.
4. Using This Season for Renewal and Rest
The space between years is a gift if we’re willing to receive it.
Here are a few simple ways to use this slower season for renewal:
Practice intentional rest: Not just sleep, but rest from striving. Limit noise. Create margin. Allow your nervous system to exhale.
Reclaim silence: Even a few minutes a day of quiet can re-sensitize us to God’s presence.
Engage in life-giving practices: Walks. Reading slowly. Prayer without an agenda. Being fully present with people you love.
Release what you don’t need to carry forward: You don’t have to bring everything with you into the new year. Some things are meant to be laid down.
Don’t think of the turning of the year like a deadline, but an invitation. An invitation to remember where you’ve been, tell the truth about where you are, and make room for what God wants to do next!
Ask Him - Holy Spirit, as I hold all of these things before you, where are you speaking? Where are you moving? What are you inviting me into? What are you wanting to reveal to me?
Thanks, Matt. This post is a gift to be cherished.