A New Year’s Psalm

Friend, if you’re new to my site, I started writing my own psalms several years ago. I am currently working on a collection of them that I plan to publish at some point in the future. Thoughts?

Last year—actually the last 18 months—have provided challenges on several fronts, mixed in with some phenomenally good things, too. It’s definitely been a period of high highs and low lows. I’m currently working through complex bereavement and PTSD, that appears to be more like Complex PTSD, due to unaddressed and unresolved trauma. Life is hard sometimes and stuff piles up. A good deal of my time has been spent decluttering, unpacking boxes from the past and sorting through what’s important and what could be useful to someone else.

The act of decluttering contains some interesting spiritual parallels that I hope to share in a future post.

What are you most interested in reading about on my blog? (Share it in the comments.)

Well, 2026 is off and running. Here’s my psalm reflecting on the new year:

A New Year’s Psalm

God—
I don’t really know what to say about a new year.

Everyone keeps talking about fresh starts, but I’m still carrying a lot from last year.

Decluttering.

Unpacking.

Physically and spiritually.

Some good.
Some unresolved.
Some of it I’m tired of thinking about, but I must press on.

I definitely feel more clarity than I did a year ago. .
I feel a little older and somewhat wiser.
Quieter. Less of a need to speak.
Perhaps more honest.

There were tough moments last year.
Moments I wanted to run.

Moments I wanted to hide.

I didn’t leave. I stayed.
Not heroically.
Just stubbornly.
Determined to rise above it. Determined to get through to the other side.

In through the out door, so to speak.

I don’t want to become cynical. Although, by nature, I already am.
I don’t want to stop caring just because it costs me something.
I don’t want to confuse being realistic
with giving up on hope.

I want to trust. Even though it’s hard.

So if You’re listening up there, God,
help me keep showing up.
Help me tell the truth without turning harsh.
Help me love people without needing them ti change first.

I don’t need big plans right now. Small steps are okay.
I don’t need a big resolution for the year or a better version of myself.

I simply want to focus on what’s in front of me today.

I just need enough grace for today.
And probably tomorrow.

If faith is going to look like anything this year, let it look like staying. Let it look like growing.

That’s all I’ve got (for now).
Hallelujah and Amen.

Friend, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this psalm. I hope it stirs something inside you. I pray it’s helpful to you.