Failed Resolutions

Encouragement for the disappointed resolution maker.

It is now the middle of February (46 days into 2022, but who’s counting?), and you have already gotten behind in your attempts to get thin, read more, eat healthier, meet new people, or whatever else you may have dreamed up. Me too. I had plans to read three books in January, and I didn’t finish a single one. I also had plans of starting strong in my work and school, and both of those things did not happen. I got sick and got a new puppy, so some setbacks have occurred. I need encouragement as much as you may need it.

So, with that, I would like to quickly encourage you (and yes, I will be preaching to the choir).

1. Your resolutions are not your identity.

It is easy to set goals and resolutions and let them become your identity. In our head, we say, “I am what I produce” or “If I don’t complete these goals, I have failed.” We rest our identity in our resolutions.

But we must come back to the truth of who our identity rests in. God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27), and we have been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), so our identity lies in the Creator and His sacrifice given for us, not in the goals or resolutions we set.

2. God will still do and is doing other great things.

Just when I thought the month of January would end up as a failure, God proved me wrong (as He usually does). Even though my plans were falling apart quicker than I could say, “Happy New Year,” the Lord was still working in a plethora of other ways.

I didn’t finish a single book in January, but my lead pastor recognized my ordination in front of the church. My teaching series didn’t go as planned, but five middle school students got baptized. I felt my student ministry was stagnant, but January had the highest numbers I’ve seen since I started.

The purpose is to brag, not on myself, but on the Lord and the work He’s doing despite my flaws, failures, and faithlessness.

3. Reset and keep moving (progress is better than passivity).

Just because you’re “behind” doesn’t mean your failing. Yes, I may have wanted to read three books in January, but that is a goal I placed on myself, not a plan God put on me. I am only behind in my mind and no one else’s. But instead of wallowing in self-pity over a resolution or goal defined by arbitrary standards, let’s move forward and not allow passivity to take root.

Readjust your goals, if need be, realign your heart with God’s and continue working hard to glorify the Lord.