Questions to Start Your Year Off Right

The speaker leads a reflective call to remember the past year honestly, to hold hope for God's goodness now, and to invest courageously in relationships. Opening with humor and everyday anecdotes, the talk moves quickly to three probing questions: what was the best part of the year, what was the worst, and what is most anticipated in the coming year. Remembering is framed as a spiritual discipline—God commands remembrance repeatedly, and it must include both wonders and wounds so that faith grows not by selective memory but by truthful reflection. The text of scripture anchors the hope: belief that one will "see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" becomes a practical posture for approaching the future.

A candid family story grounds the theology. Parents recount placing children into school for the first time, encountering unexpected bullying and the ache of not knowing how to respond. Instead of immediate escape, the family remained in the difficult situation and witnessed a marked turnaround—a redemption arc that highlights patient endurance, the careful work of loving presence, and the mysterious way God brings good out of hardship. This example reframes suffering as a location for sanctification rather than merely a problem to solve.

Practical application follows: prioritize moments with loved ones, accept that making memories sometimes requires sacrificial reordering of resources, and treat seasons of difficulty as opportunities for spiritual growth. The closing prayer blesses the congregation with hope, peace, and endurance, asking that twelve months hence people might know and love God more and see specific breakthroughs in the places God has placed them. Overall, the address presses for a faith that remembers honestly, hopes actively, endures faithfully, and invests in the present with intentionality—expecting God’s goodness not only in the hereafter but here and now.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Remember both wonders and wounds Remembering is not nostalgia or selective celebration; it is the spiritual practice of naming both God's mercies and the hard realities that shape faith. When memory includes sorrow alongside joy, it forms resilience and wisdom—allowing gratitude to be honest and hope to be rooted in truth. This balanced remembering furnishes reliable testimony for future seasons when courage is required. [05:18]
• 2. Hope for God's goodness now Hope is not mere optimism about heaven; it is a present conviction that God’s goodness will be experienced in everyday life. Holding this belief changes decisions, priorities, and the posture people take toward trials—anticipation shapes action. Expecting tangible goodness gives endurance wings in the midst of waiting. [12:29]
• 3. Stay and trust through trials Immediate removal from hardship can be tempting, but endurance inside a difficult place can produce unexpected redemption and growth. Staying requires wise boundaries, prayerful discernment, and community, and it positions people to witness transformative work that might never occur if escape becomes the first response. Faithful presence often becomes the crucible of character. [14:06]
• 4. Invest time in present family Temporal proximity is a theological gift: the limited seasons with loved ones call for intentional investment rather than postponed affection. Prioritizing presence—sometimes by reallocating resources—yields memories and spiritual formation that money cannot replace. Such investment honors stewardship of time and aligns everyday choices with eternal significance. [14:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:41] - Opening anecdote and humor
• [05:18] - Three reflective questions
• [12:29] - Hope to see God's goodness
• [12:53] - First-time school struggles
• [14:06] - Redemption by staying put
• [14:34] - Prioritizing family time
• [20:30] - Prayer and benediction

1. In Psalm 27:13, where does the author expect to see the goodness of the Lord?
2. According to the biblical command to remember, what are some of the specific types of things—both good and bad—that God’s people are told to look back on? [05:18]
3. In the story about the children starting school for the first time, what was the specific challenge the family faced during the first half of the year? [12:53]
4. What kind of plans does God say He has for His people in Jeremiah 29:11, and what is the intended result of those plans? [20:30]

1. Psalm 27:13 speaks of seeing God's goodness in "the land of the living." How does a conviction that God will show up in the "here and now" change a person’s posture toward a difficult season compared to only hoping for goodness in heaven? [12:29]
2. Remembering is the third most commanded thing in the Bible. Why is it spiritually necessary to remember the "wounds" and the "bad stuff," like being slaves, rather than just focusing on the "wonders" and the miracles? [05:18]
3. Sometimes God chooses not to "call us out" of a hard situation but instead calls us to "stay in it." What kind of "redemption arc" can happen when someone chooses to endure a trial rather than escaping it immediately? [14:06]

1. Reflecting on this past year, what was the "best part" and what was the "worst part" for you? [05:18] How does naming both the joy and the pain help you see God’s hand in your life more clearly?
2. It is easy to "lose heart" when life gets heavy. What is one specific thing you are "looking forward to most" or hoping for in the coming year? [05:18]
3. The "clock is ticking" on the seasons we have with our families and loved ones. [14:34] Are there areas in your life where you need to "intentionally plan" to spend more time or even "save less money" so you can invest in relationships and memories? [14:58]
4. When you face a trial—like a difficult relationship or a struggle at work—is your first instinct to find a way out? Is there a situation right now where you feel God might be asking you to "stay put" and trust Him to produce something better than you could imagine? [14:06]
5. How can we practically "remember" God's faithfulness this week? Is there a "wound" from your past year that you need to look at honestly so you can see how God might be using it for your growth? [05:18]
6. What would it look like for you to "know and love God more" twelve months from now than you do today? [20:30] What is one small, tangible step you can take this week to move toward that breakthrough?