“…My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God.” 1 Samuel 2.1 

The last Christmas carol has been sung. There are no more mince pies. The Christmas tree has come down. Family and friends have returned to their respective lives. And we find ourselves at the start of a new year. 

Some of us are eager to press on with our dreams and ambitions for the year. Others want to get back into bed and hibernate for a few months – fragile, exhausted and not ready for the ups and downs of another year. Wherever we are on that spectrum, Hannah’s prayer urges us to find our strength in God. She reminds us, “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2.2). 

The gift of the Christ-child is that we are not alone in our human experience. God sent his only Son into our midst so that we could discover the fullness and richness of what it means to be fully human, even in our frailty and vulnerability. The new year offers us the opportunity to reflect on where we are in our relationship with God. 

Hannah’s prayer encourages us to remember that whatever lies ahead in 2025, God is in control, and we can trust him. When I struggle to hold on to this promise, I turn to my journal and write down the times when God has been evident in my life. The time he restored me to health, pulled me out of depression, reset my life with a new job and circle of friends. 

There is much to be thankful to God for, but often, we find ourselves focusing on the darkness, rather than the light. Yes, the Light of Christ is the one who renews our strength when we are weak and weary. The challenges will come, but my prayer is that we would have a testimony of exultation this coming year.