By: Jackie Warner
A new year often brings fresh goals, renewed motivation, and the familiar language of “new opportunities” and “new beginnings.”
For many of us, stepping into a new season comes with the pressure to fix, manage, and hold everything together. Family members may call it “being controlling,” and if we’re honest, we know there’s some truth in that. We get used to standing in the gap, being the strong one, the dependable one, the one who keeps all the plates spinning. But that load gets heavy. And eventually, no matter how hard we try, we start dropping the very things we’re juggling.
That’s when grace steps in.
There are moments when we think we’ve handled everything, only to get a nudge — a thought, a memory, a conversation — that reminds us of something we completely forgot. It’s humbling, but it’s also comforting. It’s a reminder that we are not the all‑knowing ones. We are not meant to rely solely on our own strength or our own understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Recently, a late‑night call from a family member didn’t fully make sense in the moment. But the next morning, the conversation resurfaced with clarity — almost like a gentle whisper from God — revealing something important that needed attention. It wasn’t on my mind. I had not planned for it. Yet the message arrived right on time.
That’s how God works. Sometimes He whispers. Sometimes He brings the noise. But either way, He knows how to get our attention and guide us toward what matters.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
There are times when someone crosses our path unexpectedly with a word of encouragement, a reminder, or a warning we didn’t even know we needed. People call it coincidence, but many of us know better. It’s God placing the right person, the right moment, or the right thought in our lives to keep us aligned with His purpose.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23).
Staying Humble When Life Turns Quickly
Life has a way of shifting in an instant. One moment everything feels steady, and the next, something unexpected pulls us right back to a place we thought we had already mastered or moved beyond. It’s a reminder that growth isn’t a straight line — and that humility is not optional.
In a moment’s notice, life can bring us back to where we started. Not to punish us, but to ground us. To remind us that we still need God, still need guidance, still need grace. These moments call us to stay humble, stay teachable, and stay rooted in faith.
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
When we remain steadfast in faith, we’re not shaken by the unexpected. We’re anchored. We’re reminded that even when life circles us back, God is still leading us forward.
As we move through this new year, maybe the real opportunity isn’t in doing more, controlling more, or carrying more. Maybe it’s in releasing the pressure to be everything for everyone. Maybe it’s in trusting that God will bring what we need to our remembrance, guide us when we’re unsure, and surround us with people who help us stay on track.
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).
God is our gap filler.
He whispers when we’re quiet enough to hear.
He sends reminders when we’re too overwhelmed to notice.
He places people in our path when we need support the most.
And in those moments — the whispers, the nudges, the unexpected conversations — we’re reminded that we are guided, loved, and never left to figure it all out alone.
By: Jackie Warner
Career Development Facilitator
“Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters
