Welcome to Mend! I’m so happy you are here, friend. Today’s newsletter is an excerpt from my post this week at Club31 Women. You can read the entire article here: God’s Bounty in a New Year.
When 2025 rang in the new year, we had no idea what it would hold. For our family, there were definite high points. My oldest daughter played her final volleyball game as a senior —and defeated their rivals as she hit a game-winning kill. My middle daughter received an offer to play at Nationals for the Beach Volleyball Tournament in Virginia Beach. And there were the simple joys: laughter in the kitchen, deep conversations on road trips, moments that quietly stitched joy into ordinary days. But there were also low points—unexpected news of a family member’s cancer, drought in business endeavors, and the weight of everyday disappointments. The offer doesn’t come through, the bills continue to mount, and the friend disappoints once again. As I reflect on the year that was, I’m reminded that life rarely unfolds the way we envision. There are twists and turns, roadblocks and detours that threaten to overwhelm our spirits. It can feel easier to give up—or at least loosen our grip on hope. Maybe you’re there too. Do you wish you could rewrite last year? And yet… Even in the middle of disappointment, I can honestly look back on 2025 and see the goodness of God. It is real. It is powerful. And it is sure. Psalm 65:11 has become one of my favorite verses to hold onto as I step into a new year, and my prayer is that these words encourage your heart as they have mine:
You crown the year with Your bounty. This year—2026—is crowned by His goodness. Dare we say, His bounty? Bounty in a time of want? Even as the seasons change, His blessings will remain the same. This verse reminds us that God’s love encircles every year. Sometimes we simply need eyes to see it.
Look To HimThe traces of God’s goodness can often be found in the most unlikely places. The moon peeking through the tree skyline at night, the laughter of our children in their rooms, the kind words spoken by a stranger. No matter which direction we turn, His favor is there—waiting for us. His mercy strewn across our path. If we look to Him for spiritual bounty in the months ahead, we will discover a holy harvest: kindness, love, compassion, and grace sufficient for every day. Sometimes we simply need to slow down. When you look to Him, what do you notice? Encompassed by HimWhen we look to Him, we notice something profound—we are encompassed by Him. To encompass means to surround, to have or hold within. Will you believe that in 2026 God has you? When the psalmist writes that the Lord crowns the year with bounty, the word crown is the same word used in Psalm 5:12: “You surround them with your favor as with a shield” (NIV). His crowning is a surrounding. Friends, we cannot escape this love. God surrounds us with His bounty. We are encompassed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no part of our lives He does not hold—each month, every day, every moment of 2026 belongs to Him. Constant kindness traces our days. We cannot wriggle our way out of His goodness, no matter how hard we try. We are encompassed by Him. So, as you reflect on 2025 and step into 2026, will you believe it can be a year of blessing, a year of His bounty? Will you look to Him and trust that His tracks truly do overflow with abundance? In the words of Matthew Henry: “Every part of the year has been enriched with blessings of heaven.” And 2026 will be as well, dear friends. The Mending Spend some time in prayer considering the year ahead. Ask the Lord to help you see His bounty in all the seasons of your life. As you look to the Lord, ponder the following questions:
If you enjoy this newsletter, I’d also invite you to consider joining The Porchlight Circle—my paid subscriber community. It includes monthly reflections, seasonal tools, and 50% off the Marveling course I created with my husband, Tim. It helps keep Mend going, and offers a private community where I pray you find respite for your soul.
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