Holding On

Read

2 Thessalonians 2:15, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

Think

The days after Christmas can feel like a gentle unraveling. Decorations begin to come down. Wrapping paper disappears. The playlists go quiet. Life starts shifting back to normal—and with it, the temptation to let the spiritual clarity of this season fade.

But not everything is meant to be packed away.

In second Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul encourages the church to stand firm and hold fast. These aren’t passive words. They’re active. They imply resistance, intentionality, and strength. As one year draws to a close and another waits just around the corner, this is the invitation: Don’t let go of what God gave you this year.

This moment between seasons is a good time to ask: What has God taught me in 2025 that I need to carry into 2026? Not everything should go with you into the next chapter. But some things absolutely should.

You might not remember every detail of the past twelve months. But there are truths God planted in you—through Scripture, through experiences, through moments of quiet faithfulness—that are worth holding onto. Maybe it was a verse that anchored you. A prayer that kept you steady. A perspective that shifted how you see the world. A deeper trust in who God is.

This is where discernment matters. There’s a difference between clutching what God is asking you to release—and guarding what he’s inviting you to retain. Some memories are meant to be healed and handed over. But others are meant to be treasured and carried forward like spiritual stones of remembrance.

Holding on doesn’t mean dragging the past behind you. It means rooting your future in what God has already shown you to be true.

For some, this might be a year when you learned to pray in the dark. Or trust without answers. Or obey when the outcome wasn’t clear. That’s not wasted faith—that’s tested faith. And tested faith becomes strong faith. Don’t leave that behind.

In a culture obsessed with what's new, it's easy to lose sight of what’s true. The next few days will be filled with resolutions, new plans, fresh goals—and there’s nothing wrong with any of that. But before you reach forward, take a moment to remember what God has already done. What you’ve already survived. What he’s already spoken.

The people of God have always been people who remember. Not to stay stuck in the past, but to walk into the future with faith. When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the promised land, God told them to stack twelve stones from the riverbed—one for each tribe—so they would remember how God made a way. Not just for that day, but for generations to come.

You may not stack stones. But you can stack memories. Verses. Lessons. Evidence of God’s faithfulness. You can mark what you’ve learned—not just emotionally, but spiritually. And those markers become your anchors when the road ahead feels unfamiliar.

You might be standing at the edge of a new year with mixed emotions. You might feel excitement. You might feel dread. You might feel nothing at all. That’s okay. You don’t need to muster up energy for what’s next. You just need to remember who’s led you this far.

The same God who sustained you in uncertainty isn’t about to disappear. He’s steady. He’s present. And he’s preparing you—not just with what’s ahead, but with what’s already been sown in your spirit.

Don’t underestimate the strength that’s been built quietly this year. In the waiting. In the tears. In the small, faithful yeses. That’s what you carry forward. That’s what you hold on to.

And sometimes, holding on is the most spiritual thing you can do. You’re not striving. You’re not performing. You’re just refusing to forget what God has made real to you. That is strength. That is faith. That is how you walk with him into whatever comes next.

Apply

Take 15 minutes today and make a list of five things you want to hold on to from this year—truths, Scriptures, answered prayers, spiritual growth. Keep the list somewhere visible this week as a reminder of what God has done.

Pray

God, thank you for the ways you’ve been faithful to me this year. Help me to not forget. Show me what I need to carry into the future—truths you’ve planted, strength you’ve grown, reminders of your love. Give me discernment to hold on to what matters most. I want to walk into this next season grounded in who you are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.