Seven days into the new year, I broke my “sweets only on Saturdays” resolution. It was my sister and brother-in-law’s anniversary. Surely, I could have a slice of pineapple cream cake on this special occasion, even if it was Wednesday? Right? And the chocolate lava cake was made by my nephew—as an encouraging aunt, I couldn’t pass that up. So, yes, I suppressed the slight twinge of guilt and double-desserted it on a not-Saturday evening.

Maybe you’ve slipped up on one or all of your New Year’s resolutions, too. If you haven’t, congratulations. But also, sorry—because, reality check: the research shows you will likely mess up your goals very soon. You’ll eat the carbs, skip the gym, shop online when you don’t need a thing, pause your Bible reading plan, or scroll mindlessly on your phone. 

But this is not a post to make you feel bad about yourself. Neither is it a blog to make you feel better about yourself, just because “Hey, we’re all losers.” And it’s not a self-help, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps write-up. This is a depend-on-God encouragement to avoid spiraling into regret and regression.

So, here’s what you and I can do when—not if—we mess up on our New Year’s resolutions.

Reflect Back to the ‘Why’

As believers, the “why” of our goals goes back to our purpose here on earth: to glorify God. Whether you want to get fit or scroll less, the ultimate goal is not just to better ourselves—but to best use our gifts, resources, and abilities to magnify Christ. If we’re merely serving ourselves and our selfish motivations, we’re likely missing the point.

When you and I slip up on our goals, whether it’s because of mere laziness or genuine setbacks, the ‘why’ helps us avoid being too easy or too harsh on ourselves. We don’t work on those goals to be accepted by God or by others. But because we are deeply rooted in our identity, we work out (not work for) our salvation.

The “why” points us to the “Who”—and the Who imbues us with hope.

Rehearse the ‘Who’

We belong to a God who gives us new mercies every day. He wipes the slate clean. He forgives. He upholds. He makes His strength available to us. He perfects that which concerns us. He is faithful. He is unchanging. He is gracious. He is kind.

Friend, sometimes, we just need to dwell on the character of God. We need to stop focusing on our goals and start focusing on our God!

He puts things into perspective so our goals don’t morph into substitute gods. Instead of residing in regret, we rehearse the character of God.

Reset and Restart

As we hit reset, we do so in a posture of dependence. Sheer willpower and white-knuckling it through our year will leave us exhausted and brittle. Self-help fuels self-righteousness and can only get us so far.

So we start at the very best place: at the foot of the Cross. We confess our inadequacy. We invite the Holy Spirit to shape our motivations. We reconsecrate ourselves through prayer.

We let God take over. 

Friend, it’s inevitable that we will mess up on our goals. But it doesn’t have to be inevitable that we live in shame, regret, and guilt. God shows us the way forward. With Him, through Him, and for Him.

 

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 2 Thessalonians 1:11

 

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