New Goals

Today we’re talking about new goals that often bring excitement — and are a little overwhelming.

With the new year comes new goals and new motivation and hope. Sure, there is a little hesitation and uncertainty, but we are going to push through.

God cares more about who we’re becoming than how fast we achieve our goal.

We all set goals, but sometimes our goals can be a little more ambitious and a little less realistic. But that is not to say that those ambitious goals can’t be met. I think if you know you — which you probably do — anything can be done when we set our minds to it.

Just don’t fall hard if you fail a time or two. Sometimes we have some mishaps along the way, and that can discourage us. But if we handle it in stride, we can find that, just like learning to ride a bike, we get up, try again, and keep going.

In our scripture for today, Psalm 37:4–5, it says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”

When we set goals and invite God to guide us, and we decide that this choice to make change will be rooted in our faith, we will find that our reliance on God makes us grounded, flexible, and filled with grace.

I had a lofty goal of running a 5K turkey trot one year. I’m no runner, but I trained a bit and did my best. Honestly, I overestimated my motivation and underestimated life. I was all in, but y’all — I had two toddlers at home, and unbeknownst to me, I was pregnant with our third. So life definitely played a role in how I trained.

But I ran it… well, mostly walked, but I got it done, and I was happy to be finished.

Nonetheless, it encouraged me to jump in and stay moving during and after our third little one.

Goals don’t always end up how we think they will, but as long as you keep going, you’ll get there — eventually.

Remember that goals grow best and stay intact when they are surrendered to God. Keep Him at the center.

Say this: God guides my goals and gives me wisdom for each step.

I’ve set goals a few times, and over time I’ve felt the pressure of doing and succeeding more than just taking it step by step. It was in that pressure that I crumbled and gave up.

But when we think it through, make a plan, and set goals that are healthy, sustainable, and life-giving — and we also have a healthy expectation that it will take time — we are more likely to stick with whatever that goal is.

Keep in mind that when setting a new goal this year, it’s more about progress over expectation and perfection.

Have you ever set a goal and then realized by the end that your goal actually changed along the way? This happens because as we learn and grow, our goals and ambitions change too.

No matter the timeframe in which our goals are met, one thing stays the same — God walks with us the whole way through.

Invite Him in, because He wants to help you meet that goal.

New goals are invitations for change. Sometimes we see them as all or nothing, but that blocks our perspective and growth.

Stay flexible and attentive to how God is leading you through this new journey.

Let’s take a moment to pray.

Lord, we are all thinking about the year ahead — the changes we want to make and the goals we want to set. Give us clarity, motivation, and patience as we make these plans. Above all, Lord, join us and help us trust You more through this process. Align our goals with Your will, and help us remember that everything takes time. Thank You for loving us and walking with us. Amen.

I started my workout journey again around October 2024, and it’s been great to get moving again — but man, can I get discouraged. I think, why don’t I look farther along than I am? But then I have to stop and think about where I was then and where I am now.

Sometimes the changes don’t show as visually as we would like them to, but that doesn’t mean changes haven’t happened.

Also know this — it is never too late to get started with something new or to start again. God values consistency and faithfulness. Just remember, each step matters, even the small ones.

New goals and new things can be scary and hard, but through each step we learn and grow to trust God more deeply. God is present in all things.

Think about how you can approach your goals with more grace this season.