At Year's End

As the year draws to a close, let's pause.
No matter what 2025 looked like for you - the wins you celebrated, the losses you carried quietly, or the questions that remained unanswered - know that God is in control.

In this episode, we step back from the noise of the year and take an honest look at what it left behind. Not to rush toward resolutions or quick fixes, but first to acknowledge and thank God for everything.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

- ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬‬‬

Chapters

• 0:00 Year-End Reflections And Mixed Outcomes
• 2:48 A Time For Everything In Ecclesiastes 3
• 5:15 God’s Plan Versus Our Plans
• 6:01 Rejoice Always Pray Without Ceasing
• 8:30 Giving Thanks When It Feels Impossible
• 10:07 New Mercies Every Morning In Lamentations
• 13:03 Thankful Hearts In Scripture Examples
• 17:15 Footprints Story And God’s Nearness
• 20:24 Prayer Of Gratitude And Hope

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:14

Hallelujah. Hope uh hope each and every one of you is having are having a wonderful holiday season and compliments of the season to each of you and your families. And this is a significant one because this Sunday, I want to tell you, is the last Sunday of 2025. And uh I mean 2025 would have had different outcomes for different people, and a year has 365 days. That also means that that's a lot of space for people to have multiple experiences through the year. And it might have been a year of ups and downs for some. For some people would have had a wonderful year with elated situations and maybe achieving fabulous results at work and maybe achieving some wonderful accolades personally. And maybe for some it was not a year that went as planned. Maybe things didn't go as per what you had imagined it to go. For some people, things must have really gone bad, your goals might have gone flat. Some of you might have achieved huge personal milestones, some might have had renewed relationships, some might have had broken relationships, some might have struggled on multiple fronts, some of you might have had great promotions at work, big pay hikes, some of you might have struggled on the financial front with some tough situations. Some of you might have had a tough front on the health uh health scenario, while some others might have had smooth sailing through the year without a single issue coming up. And there are so many situations that have come that could have come through your way in 2025, which I would not get into this morning, which I would not know of. But there's something I'd like to share with you this beautiful morning, and that's one I want to start with. From the word of God, of course, and I'm sharing it with you, keeping in mind that, as I said, this one is significant, as this is the last day, the last Sunday of 2025. And though each of you might have had different situations in 2025, I'm reading to you from the book of Ecclesiastes, the third chapter, the first verse onwards. Ecclesiastes, the third chapter, the first verse onwards, and the Bible says there's an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every matter under heaven. Hallelujah. There is an appointed time for everything the Bible says, and there is a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3 1. Hallelujah. And then the passage of scripture goes on to give some examples, and I'm going to read them out for you. And some of you will resonate with it. As I said, this year would have had different situations for each of you. And it goes on to say from Ecclesiastes 3, the second verse onwards there's an appointed time for everything, a time for every matter under heaven. There's a time to give birth and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down, a time to build up, a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance, a time to throw stones, a time to gather stones, a time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing, a time to search, a time to give up as a time to tear apart, a time to soar together, a time to be silent, and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Hallelujah. What a beautiful passage of scripture. And I want to show you today, through the word of God, that everything happens under heaven, and there's an appointed time for everything, for every matter, there is a time. Hallelujah. And as I said, if 2025 might have had the timing incorrect, or might not have gone as per your plan, or maybe you didn't like certain things that went your way, I want to tell you that's because we have our own plans, and sometimes they don't go as per plan, as per our plan. But I want to tell you it's going as per the mighty plan, aligned to the scripture from Ecclesiastes, and I'm here to share that with you this beautiful morning. There's an appointed time for everything, a time for every matter under heaven. Hallelujah. And I want to go back to tell some of you that yes, God is in control, and I want to go straight to the crux of the matter this beautiful day. You know, with most people I've seen that they remember God only when they need Him or maybe when they want something. And I want to say I'm not blaming you or accusing you, I'm not blaming or accusing anyone here. In fact, I have been that way too in some years of my life. And I have observed that most people around me go to God when they need something, go to God when they are that last rung of the ladder where there's nowhere else to go, where they go to God when they are the where they're cornered, go to God when they've tried everything and nothing else is working, and now they've gone to God. But today I want to share something with you and give you another way of looking at things, at this beautiful last Sunday in 2025, and it comes from the book of Thessalonians, the first 1 Thessalonians, the fifth chapter. And keep this in mind, as I said, this is the last Sunday of 2025. 1 Thessalonians 5, the 16th verse onward says, Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything, give thanks. For this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. Amen. Pray without ceasing. In everything, give thanks. Hallelujah. I want to tell you that this book was written by Apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Thessalonians, and it's the initial uh, you know, it's the initial letters to a new church in Thessalonica. So he's basically giving them hope, he's guiding them, he's encouraging them in the right direction. And he's telling them, and this is for you this morning, rejoice always. And you might say, You have no idea what I've been through in this year, it's not possible for me to rejoice. Well, I leave that to you. I'm here to share the word of God, and this is what the word of God says. Rejoice always. And what you do post this is up to you. But I urge you through this word of God from Thessalonians, though it might sound difficult, change your heart and rejoice in whatever situation that you're in. Pray non-stop. That means go to God and pray. Hallelujah. Pray always whenever you can. And then it says, in everything give thanks. Hallelujah. In everything give thanks. Oh, it's so difficult to give thanks in everything. And I want to tell you that this is the core subject that I want to share with you this beautiful morning, this beautiful day, this last Sunday of the year, is to give thanks to the Lord no matter what. And I want to say that I know some might have had a real tough patch in 2025. Some of you might still be in that patch today, too. But the word of God says, rejoice always, pray non-stop, and give thanks. And that's the core that I want to share with you today is to give thanks to God, align to his word, give thanks to him. And I want to tell you that God will change your situation, he will change your situation, and that's his word for you today. And I want to tell you, you know, I've quoted the scripture multiple times, and I will quote it again in Lamentations, the third chapter, the 22nd, 23rd verse says, the Lord's acts of mercy indeed do not end. Hallelujah. The Lord's acts of mercy indeed do not end, for his compassions do not fail, they are new every morning. Hallelujah. Great is your faithfulness, hallelujah. The Lord's acts of mercy indeed do not end, for his compassions do not fail, they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, hallelujah. I want to tell you that his acts of mercy towards us do not end, his compassions do not fail. Hallelujah. I want to tell you what this passage of scripture actually means. It means that he's doing something for you and me every day. Read this passage of scripture again, Lamentations 3, 22 and 23. It means that he's doing something for you every day. Every day he does something for you. And I can tell you, you probably can't even see it. And let me tell you what he has planned to do. The Bible says his compassions do not fail, which means his plan has been executed. It's just that you don't see it because you're so fixed on your plans, you're so fixed on getting things on the timing that you want it done. Mark this word, meditate on it. The Lord's acts of mercy. The Lord's acts of mercy are indeed do not end. They never end. Hallelujah. For compassions do not fail, they are new every morning. Oh, hallelujah. They always come through, they do not fail. So you see, you have enough and more reasons to give thanks. And the things we don't see in our life happen. As I said, because we have our own plans for our lives. And when you see those mercies coming through, God knows they're coming through. You don't because you're too focused on your plan and how you want it to pan out. Give thanks to God for what He does for you. Give thanks to God for his mercies are new every morning to you and me. Hallelujah. And I want to give you a few examples today, and I'll tell you this is the reason why these people or these are even mentioned in the Bible, is because of this very same reason. And I'll tell you there was this time when Jesus was on the planet and he healed ten lepers, and some of you know the story and some of you don't. But there's only one leper that came back giving thanks, and he fell at Jesus' feet. The Bible says he went prostrate on the ground. And Jesus turns to him and says, Weren't there ten? And only one has come back to give thanks to the Lord. And he says, Yes, Lord, I don't know about them, but I'm here. And Jesus says, Your faith has made you whole. Hallelujah. I can tell you that those guys who had leprosy would have gotten healed. But this guy who came back to give thanks was made whole, which means his limbs that were eaten off by the disease grow back. Hallelujah. That's what it means by being whole. Hallelujah. I want to tell you, David was thankful to God for everything. Some of you don't even know about his life, but let me tell you, he was thankful to God for everything. He gave a thanksgiving offering to God and even danced in an undignified manner, the Bible says, For God. And I tell you, God blessed him so much. God blessed him so much that his son built a temple of gold from the wealth that King David had. And he said, I'll dance even more undignified. Hallelujah. Solomon, his son, gave thanks to God in the form of an offering. And he just asked that he be a wise king to the people. And let me tell you, the Bible says God came and asked him, What do you wish for me to give you? Hallelujah. The Bible says Daniel gave thanks to God three times a day. He opened his window and he bowed towards Jerusalem, the Bible says, three times a day, as was his ritual. And the Bible says he was thrown into a den of hungry lions, and God sent an angel and shut the mouth of the lions. Hallelujah. And if this is not enough an example, let me tell you, Jesus, when he was on this planet, he looked up into heaven and he gave thanks to God for the loaves and the fish that he had. And let me tell you, God multiplied it. And Jesus fed 5,000. And the Bible says 5,000 only accounted for men, not accounting for the women and children. Hallelujah. Do I need to give you more examples? Do I need to share more? Believe me, I can share many, many more than in the Bible. Many more of instances and people who give thanks to God. Let me tell you how God treats a thankful heart. Hallelujah. 1 Chronicles 16, 34. 1 Chronicles 16 34 says, Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His faithfulness is everlasting. Hallelujah. Another version says, Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His mercy endures forever. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And I want to tell you, this beautiful day, let's give thanks to our Father this morning. Let's give thanks to our Father this day. He is good. His faithfulness towards us is never ending. His faithfulness is everlasting, which means it's always there. It's always there and it lasts forever. Your time on this planet is just a drop in the ocean, and it's telling you about the life that you're living here because the life after that is just you're in front of the throne of God. Hallelujah. And let me tell you that I know and I understand that some of you are yet thinking and yet battling. How is it possible for me to give thanks? Because the things that I've experienced in this year is just impossible for me to do so. Maybe not just this year, maybe you've been battling with something for a few years and it's still there. And it's impossible for you to probably give thanks. And that's what you that's what you're feeling. Or a situation, or maybe you've been left alone, maybe your family has left you, maybe the person you depended on most has left you. Everyone has left you, maybe. I'm not, I don't know. But maybe it's just a position and it's a place where you find it really difficult to give thanks to God. Or rejoice, as the Bible says. But it stayed with me forever, and this is for you today because I understand some of you are at that place where you don't understand. And it's difficult for you to give thanks. But this is all I can do is share. The word of God that tells you to be thankful and share the word of God and a small little story that might help. And for those of you who feel that way, this is for you. For those of you who feel, how is it possible for me to give thanks to God? This is for you. It might seem impossible at the moment. But sit back and think about this story, and maybe it'll give you a different perspective and change your heart. So there's this guy. He lives at the beach. He walks every evening and he looks back, and there are two sets of footprints on the on the beach. And he has a wonderful relationship with God, and God is always with him. Jesus is with him. And he realizes that in times which are most difficult. When he looks at the beach, there's only one set of footprints. And he decides one day he's gonna sit and ask God, Lord, what is this? What is this situation? Like every time I'm at my lowest, I only see one set of footprints on the beach. And when things are high and things are going well, I see two sets of footprints and I don't get it. I've dedicated my life to you. I've always been there. I do my due diligence. I pray. I go to church, I give, I do everything, but at my times of my lowest, I only see one set of footprints on the beach. What is that about, Lord? And Jesus turns around and tells him, and he's telling you this morning, you know, the times when it's most difficult, you only see one set of footprints, is because those are the times that I am carrying you. I'm not walking alongside you, I'm carrying you. Hallelujah. And this is for some of you this morning. When times are the most difficult, and for those of you who've had a tough time in 2025, it's not that God has left you, it's not that Jesus has left you alone. In fact, it's the time when he carries you, he's your father, he loves you. And his word says he will never leave you nor forsake you. And keep that in mind. If you've had a tough year, keep that in mind. If 2025 has been hard, I want to tell you, he's never left you, he will never leave you nor forsake you. And those are the times when he carries you, and he's though it's difficult, as I said, through the word of God today. I pray that you have a change of heart. And no matter how difficult it is, just get down on your knees and give thanks to the Creator of heaven and earth. Because his mercies are new every morning, and he'll never give up on you. Hallelujah. I'd like to pray. I thank you for this day that you have made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it, Lord. I thank you for your double-edged sword that does not go back until it has achieved what it has been set out for. I thank you, Lord. For people are experiencing you. I thank you, Lord, for people can feel your presence at their right hand. I thank you that you are watching over your word to perform it. I thank you, Lord, for everything that you've given us, Lord. I thank you for this wonderful year of 2025. I thank you for your mercies that are new every morning to us. I thank you, Lord, for being faithful, though we are faithless, Lord. I thank you for being obedient to death and death on a cross only for us. I thank you, Lord, that when we are at our lowest, you are with us. Where I am, Lord, even if I go down to the depths, yet there you are with me always. Hallelujah. Some of you can feel God's presence and enjoy his beautiful presence because he's doing that. Glorify the Father to let you know, as his word says, that he will never leave you nor forsake you. He's been with you through every day of 2025, even though you didn't feel it. He has been there. He's a debtor to no man, he cannot lie. And his word is true and faithful, and he's always been with you, and he will continue to be with you in the upcoming year. Hallelujah. Enjoy this beautiful time in his presence, and I pray for a change of heart that you may sit down and give thanks for everything that he's done for you in 2025. Everything has its own time under heaven, everything has its appointed time aligned to his word that will happen. And Jesus is in control, and you leave everything at his feet. Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful day. Thank you for this beautiful time. And I give you thanks once again for everything that you have given us, Lord. Thank you for giving us a name that's above all names that we can use where every knee will bow, that we can call upon, where every knee will bow on the earth, above the earth, and below the earth, Lord. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.