On the first day of the last month of 2025, I want to encourage you to not give up on this year. The year may not have gone as you planned, you might be disappointed by a few or many things, but there are still 31 days and roughly 744 hours left of 2025 that are worth utilizing.
Disappointment is a real and sometimes hard feeling to process. I can imagine many being disappointed by one thing or another because an expectation they held so dearly of 2025 did not happen. Maybe you lost your job and you were hoping to land a new one by now, or maybe you were hoping to be engaged, in a new city, or own a home. Whatever the unmet expectation is, know that God sees you. There’s a story in the Bible that I think illustrates both the pain of disappointment and the promise that awaits on the other side when we do not give up our belief.
Mary and Martha knew disappointment all too well when their brother Lazarus died. They sent a message to Jesus about their brother’s sickness, yet Jesus remained where He was for another 48 hours, and Lazarus died. When Jesus came to see them, they both had the same response to him “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” I can imagine many of us having similar responses about 2025: “Lord if only the year had gone differently, then things would be better by now,” or “Lord if only you had made a way for me, then I would’ve got the job or got accepted into the school,” or “Lord if only you had healed my family member, then they wouldn’t still be in the hospital.” All of these responses are valid, which is why I love how Jesus didn’t belittle their feelings or shy away from their disappointment. Instead, He met them where they were. With Martha, He reminded her of who He was: the Resurrection and the Life. And with Mary, He wept with her as she mourned. Mary and Martha needed separate responses because I imagine they were both processing the disappointment differently. Nonetheless, their brother was still dead, they were mourning his loss, and they felt that there was nothing they could do about it. But actually, there was something they could do about it and that they did. When Jesus asked them where Lazarus’ body was, they took Him to go and see it. They let Jesus into the disappointment they were facing—the loss of their brother.
You might have many or a few disappointments about 2025, but I want to encourage you with the question Jesus asked Mary and Martha “did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). What if like Mary and Martha, we let God into the disappointments we’ve had in 2025? What if like Mary and Martha we didn’t shy away from telling God the truth? He is God and so He already knows, but there is power in the release and confession of our feelings to Him because we allow Him to then respond. You might be like Martha and need to be reminded of who He is and what He’s capable of, or you might be like Mary and need to spend time in His presence so that you see that He is with you. Whatever it is that you need to move past the disappointment, God has the answer.
When Mary and Martha let Jesus into their disappointment, their story changed. Jesus turned a dead situation to life. He brought their dead brother Lazarus back to life. A man who had been dead for four days, and sick for some time before his death was now alive. One would think that situation was hopeless but Jesus told Martha He is the Resurrection and the Life and He proved it. There is no situation or circumstance too difficult for God to turn around. Jeremiah 32:27 says “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” I love the word “behold” because it forces you to pause and reflect. Think about it, with 31 days left of the year, what can God not turn around if you just let Him in? What is He not capable of? This is God the Creator of the universe. God the One who knows the number of hairs on your head. God who angels bow to, and demons tremble before. This is more than a motivational post, but an encouragement to shift your eyes onto the One who sees you in the midst of your disappointment and still says “come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). I encourage you to believe God, keep believing in Him, and you will see His glory.
May your 2025 end with a good report in Jesus name!
Until next time,
Beautyoluwa
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