2024 Wrap Up From A Joy-Filled Chain Breaker

What. A. Year.

While this year had undeniable highs like launching my own law firm with my sister, it also came with striking lows. This year I grieved the deaths of multiple family members. Some relationships grew while I mourned the loss of others. I was challenged with new levels of mental and spiritual battles and learned to rely on God’s Word in fresh, new ways.

Through it all, I have felt the pull of the Lord to heal and maintain joy through the process.

Truthfully, this command initially felt cruel and oxymoronic.

The depths of healing I have had to visit this year have been so heavy in some seasons that it felt impossible to have joy through it.

But it’s just like the Lord to provide us with what we need to fulfill His commands. (2 Cor. 9:8).

I quickly learned that this instruction wasn’t cruel at all. Nor was it close to impossible.

Instead, the Lord has shown me what it truly means to live a life surrendered to Him. He reminded me that death, grief, loss, pain and suffering, are all promised parts of life and that there is a time and season for it all. (John 16:33; Eccle. 3:1-8). He gently showed me that hardship should not be resented but embraced as the Lord’s discipline. (Hebrews 12:6-8).

This year, instead of shutting down, running away from, or wallowing in my sufferings, I leaned in.

Not in a weird, sinical, way.

But in a curious way that acknowledged the Lord’s sovereignty and trusted that if He allowed me to go through these hardships, then there must be a purpose.

I decided to take the Lord at His Word and believe that because His plans for me are only good and perfect (Jer. 29:11), it must be that holiness, character, endurance and all the things that hardship produces would be on the other side. (James 1:2-4).

I resolved in my heart that even if I never understand the reason in this lifetime, even if it never makes sense while I’m living, I will trust His character and obey.

It was from this heart posture that joy could and did flow in this season despite the pain of healing.

Chain Breakers, I (don’t) hate to be the one to tell you, but it doesn’t matter how well we plan and goal set for next year (and please do plan and submit those plans to the Lord!).

We can “new year, new me” ourselves until we are blue in the face.

But in 2025 and beyond, we will have troubles, trials, sorrows, and tribulations.

And that is okay!

Get comfortable with this truth! Embrace and accept this truth.

Because the glory of it all is that we serve a King so kind that His peace and joy is available to us through whatever this year or the next throws our way.

No matter what 2025 brings, we can choose to live loudly and joyfully with boldness and confidence!

Before a year ends or begins, we are already victorious.

And for that, I will have joy!

Let me know in the COMMENTS, how will you be cultivating JOY in the new year?

Be free Chain Breakers! And if the Lord allows, I will catch y’all on the next one!

Freely,

Latiera

Prayer for 2025:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for your kindness. I thank you that you do not leave your children to suffer alone. How blessed we are to serve a King who bears our burdens, comforts us in our grief and blesses us in our mourning! I am grateful that in times of heartache and pain you are closer to us than a brother.

As we enter this new year with so much uncertainty ahead of our nation, I thank you that your love is certain. I thank you that we never have to question who you are.

Carry us through what’s ahead. Help us to pursue you more fiercely this year than we ever have before. Show us how to have joy and peace in chaos.

Holy Spirit, remind us that your peace is ours forever. Fill us with the joy of the Lord to give us strength for continued endurance.

In this new year, empower us to speak your Word, have faith, and trust that the God of Justice is on our side.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.