Feelings come and go like passing seasons, but joy and hope that endure aren't hinged on the calendar flipping or circumstances changing. They are rooted much deeper and come from a source steadfast and unshakeable.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:4-7 to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

That peace is not a fleeting emotion or a wishful thought. It's a promise sustained by a love that never wavers, a hope anchored outside of time and circumstance.

The K.I.S.S. ~ Anchor your joy in what lasts!

As you face this turning point, remember: the end of the year is not a full stop; it's a comma in your story. It's a chance to close one chapter while opening another. Jeremiah 29:11 offers a beacon when uncertainty looms: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

No matter how hard this year may have been—no matter what losses or disappointments it carried—the horizon still holds adventures not yet imagined, victories waiting to be claimed, and joys ready to take root in your heart.

Prepare your heart for this new season. Let go of what drags you down, and hold tight to the truth that your worth and hope aren't tethered to your circumstances but to the One who holds tomorrow.

Stand firm in that hope. Step forward with courage. Because the best isn't behind you—it's just around the corner.

The new year is a gift, wrapped not only in possibility but in the unchanging grace that lights your way. So as you worship and reflect on this last Sunday of the old year, embrace the promise that whatever is ahead, you are not alone—and you are poised to live it fully, joyfully, and with hope that will not quit.

"Be present. Be incredible. Be YOU!!!"