A new year often arrives carrying two emotions at the same time: hope and pressure. Hope, because we sense the possibility of new beginnings. Pressure, because we feel as though meaningful change must involve doing more, achieving more, and proving more.
But what if lasting change in 2026 will not come from doing everything, but from doing one next faithful thing?
I have come to believe that God rarely hands us the full map of our lives. Instead, He invites us to take the step placed directly in front of us. We are not asked to control outcomes, predict the future, or possess all the answers. We are invited to be willing, attentive, and obedient — one step at a time.
This simple shift changes everything.
Rather than asking, “How will I fix my whole life this year?” we begin asking, “What has God placed in front of me today, and how can I be faithful to it?”
Sometimes that step is beautifully ordinary.
It may be intentionally walking alongside one person who needs encouragement, friendship, or a reminder that they are seen.
It may be opening your home or your life to a neighbour, choosing hospitality over isolation.
It may be praying bigger prayers than you have dared to pray before, and believing that God still moves powerfully in response to faith.
It may mean moving from simply adding people to activities toward multiplying impact by helping others grow, lead, and walk closely with God.
The truth is that obedience rarely feels dramatic in the moment. It rarely trends. It is often quiet, unseen, humble, and sometimes uncomfortable. Yet again and again, it is these small steps that shape our lives and ripple far beyond our view.
The comfort is this: we are not responsible for results. We are responsible for faithfulness.
As we enter 2026, I want to encourage you not to measure your year by the weight of your schedule or the length of your to-do list. Measure it by responsiveness to God. Measure it by trust. Measure it by a willingness to say, “Yes, I will follow,” even when the path unfolds only one step at a time.
God is already ahead of you in this year. He is already working in places you cannot yet see. And He delights — deeply — in partnering with ordinary people who simply choose to say yes.
May 2026 be marked not by pressure, but by purpose. Not by exhaustion, but by joy. Not by striving, but by walking closely with God, one faithful step after another.
With hope for the journey ahead,
From all of us at Mercy and Grace Ministries.
