Some of us are not walking into the New Year refreshed and hopeful…
We’re crawling in tired, anxious, grieving, overwhelmed; maybe even a little undone.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
— Nehemiah 8:10
Some of us are not walking into the New Year refreshed and hopeful.
We’re crawling in tired, anxious, grieving, overwhelmed; maybe even a little undone.
If that’s you, let this be your reminder:
You are not behind. You are not broken. You are not disappointing God.
You might feel like a hot mess right now. Your plans may already be unraveling. Your emotions might be all over the place. And honestly? Jesus isn’t panicking about any of it.
While you’re pulling your hair out, He’s holding a crown.
God’s joy was never meant to shame you or silence your pain. Biblical joy isn’t pretending everything is fine; it’s choosing to trust God in the middle of what isn’t. Joy and sorrow can sit at the same table. Laughter and tears can exist in the same moment…
It’s okay to laugh at yourself.
It’s okay to laugh at the mess.
It’s okay to laugh because sometimes laughing is the only way to breathe.
Laughter doesn’t make your pain less real; it makes your heart a little lighter so you can keep going.
If you forget half your goals by February, God will still be faithful.
If you feel like a mess today, grace is still covering you.
If all you can manage right now is laughter through tears, Jesus is already there with you.
One day, you’ll look back and call this wisdom.
Another day, you’ll call it testimony.
But today? It’s enough to know you are deeply loved, gently held, and never alone.
So step into this New Year without pressure.
Laugh when you can. Cry when you need to.
And trust that the same Jesus who gives joy also gives crowns — even to hot messes like us.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for meeting me in my exhaustion. Thank You for joy that doesn’t demand perfection and grace that covers every mess. Help me laugh again — not because life is easy, but because You are with me. Amen.
Until next time…
Happy New Year! Keep being Beautiful You in 2026! 🌹💖
Tammy Ingram 