An Ode To 2024

Before we look forward to what 2025 will bring, I need to look back at 2024. Work has been busy recently and although most people have taken time off over the Christmas period, I have had to work most days so I am only getting around to this now.

2024 has been one of the hardest years I have had in a long time. I can see God's hand in certain situations but on the whole 2024 has left me frustrated, tired and confused. It was a year where God shut doors on friendships and hopes and dreams failed yet again to appear.

For those who have been following my journey for a while, you will know that I have been in a season of uncertainty/ waiting for a couple of years. Frustratingly I still feel like I am in limbo, only now I have a permanent job and it looks( on the outside) like I am settled back in Australia.

At the start of the year God gave me a word for the year ‘rooted’ I hoped that it would include being established in the new things that God wants to do however I knew either through scepticism or the Holy Spirit leading that it wasn’t going to be an easy year.

2024 was a year I had to dig deep and spread my roots down into the earth to find the living water because the ground was so dry. It was a season of stripping back and purifying in the fire. Am I thankful for it? Yes. Do I feel like I have passed with flying colours and am ready to jump into the next thing? Absolutely not.

Sometimes, God’s pruning leaves us feeling tender and weak. It’s hard not to feel disillusioned and aimless. For the last few weeks, the voices of discouragement and condescension have been loud in my ears.

Maybe you are the same- you struggle to feel excited about 2025 and are glad that 2024 is over.

First off, know that you’re not alone.

Secondly, I pray that God meets you where you are and you can feel and know His love in a powerful way.

2025 has a lot of unknowns and I can’t promise it will be an easy year, however, I know that God will be with you every single step of the way.

As I sat praying yesterday about this coming year, my conversation with God went something along the lines of ‘I’m not making any plans for 2025 other than to follow where you lead. Instead here are a few things I am grateful for from 2024:

I have a more stable job.

After 18 months of working casually and several changes at the small airport where I work, I accepted a permanent part-time position. There are lots of pros and cons to this, but at least I now have guaranteed hours every week.

I bought a new car.

While Sunny has her little quirks, I am grateful for a car that gets me from A-B and something that was also in my price range.

The gym is my happy place.

In March, I bit the bullet and changed gyms to a CrossFit gym. The change of pace and community has been beneficial both for my mental and physical well-being. A couple of weeks ago I hit a 1 rep max of 90kg on my deadlift which from memory is equivalent to my all-time PB when I was weightlifting regularly.

Some days it feels like progress is slow and there are many things I am not good at (anything gymnastic/calisthenics) but I’m incredibly grateful that I get to move.

Return to Concert Band

I also decided to return to the local concert band. We recently celebrated the 20th Anniversary of it starting and as one of the original members it was wonderful to walk down memory lane. When I went back I certainly felt a little rusty after not playing for a good decade but it has been a fun journey nonetheless.

What are some of the things that you have achieved in 2024 that you are thankful/ proud of?

Is there anything that you are wanting to achieve in 2025?

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