Gratitude for a Life Redeemed

As many/most of you know from posts through the years, every November/December I ask God to give me a word and accompanying verse for the year ahead.

For 2025, the word God gave me was REDEEMED. God was preparing me but I didn’t know it. It seemed more past tense than future tense.

It turned out, God meant to redeem some ashes in my life, turning them to beauty (Is 61:3). I won’t go into detail. Not necessary. I don’t know anyone who lives for long without bearing scars from the journey. So I assume you can understand even without details.

All I will say is that, as difficult as things were for many months of 2025, I saw God redeeming what the locust had eaten (Joel 2:25). He placed some amazing people into my life and He put some amazing books into my hands, and His amazing grace has been in play as He’s healed corners of my heart.

God is so good.

As I asked Him for a word for 2026, the answer came quickly. GRATITUDE. That made sense to me. I have so much to be grateful for. What I didn’t expect was a verse that didn’t include the word gratitude in it: the 23rd Psalm. But understanding followed. As I looked at verses, I saw so many reasons to feel grateful.

The LORD is my shepherd
That alone fills my heart with so much joy. I am thankful that He is leading and guiding me, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year.

I have everything I need
I am so grateful for His provision. In His wisdom, He gives me exactly what I need, even when I think I might need something else.

He restores my soul
How very grateful I am for His restoration, in my life and in all things.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
Thank You, Father. Even when I’m surrounded by enemies, You are right here with me. I cannot thank You enough.

My cup overflows
Yes, yes, yes. I’m overwhelmed by His love.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, 
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever
His goodness is with me always, and I am so grateful for eternity with Him, an eternity that started the day I accepted Him as my Savior.

Life is hard. God is good. And because He is good, I have all the cause I need to be grateful.

I pray you all have a very merry Christmas.

~robin