Fresh Starts, Not False Starts
Why Skipping Resolutions Might Be the Most Faithful Thing You Do This Year
Every January starts the same way.
New planner.
Fresh pens.
Big intentions.
Bold declarations that this is the year everything finally clicks.
And listen -I love a fresh start. I really do. There is something holy about turning the page and believing God still has more ahead.
But somewhere between January motivation and National Quitters Day (yes, it’s real and usually lands the second Friday of January), many of us start quietly backing away from our resolutions like, “It’s not you… it’s me.”
And here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:
Most resolutions don’t fail because we lack discipline. They fail because they lack clarity, grace, and a realistic plan.
Why Resolutions Don’t Work (and Why You’re Not the Problem) Resolutions usually sound good on paper:
“I’m going to read my Bible more.”
“I’m going to get healthy.”
“I’m going to finally get my life together.”
But vague goals don’t give us direction - they give us pressure.
When life inevitably happens - kids, schedules, exhaustion, real responsibilities - we assume we failed.
But often, we just didn’t set ourselves up to succeed.
God never asked us to be perfect. He asked us to be faithful.
And faithfulness looks a lot more like consistency than intensity.
My Book Goal That Taught Me Everything
Last year, I set a goal to read more books.
Great goal, right? Love that for me.
Except halfway through the year, I realized “read more” was about as helpful as saying “be better at life.”
🙃 So I decided to get bold and set a new goal:
👉🏻 52 books in a year. One a week.
Ambitious? Yes. Realistic for a mom with kids, responsibilities, and a schedule that laughs at my plans? …Maybe not.
Did I hit 52? No.
Did I fail? Also no.
I read 27 books - which is 27 more than I would’ve read if I hadn’t tried at all.
And here’s the grace-filled lesson: Progress counts, even when perfection doesn’t happen.
This year, I’m carrying that same goal forward - but smarter, kinder, and more intentional.
Instead of 52 books:
2 books a month
Each month focused on one area of personal growth (faith, leadership, health, mindset, rest, etc.) Same desire. Better plan. Way more grace.
Let’s Talk SMART Goals (Grace with Structure) Instead of resolutions, I’ve learned to lean into SMART goals—not rigid, not overwhelming, just practical and life-giving.
📊 SMART Goals at a Glance Here’s what that actually looks like in real life:
S – Specific
Not: “I want to read my Bible more.” But: “I’ll read the Bible 4 mornings a week for 15 minutes.”
Specific removes confusion - and confusion kills momentum.
M – Measurable
If you can’t measure it, you’ll always feel behind.
Measurable lets you say:
“I did it.”
Or “I didn’t today—and I can try again tomorrow.”
A – Achievable
If your goal requires waking up at 4am, never missing a day, and having uninterrupted quiet time forever… it might not be achievable right now.
And right now is where God meets us.
R – Relevant
Is this goal meaningful to you - or something you feel like you should be doing? God is far more interested in your heart than your highlight reel.
T – Time-Bound
Not “someday,” but “this week,” “this month,” or “this season.” Deadlines don’t create pressure—they create direction.
A Faith Example: Reading the Bible with Intention
One of my deepest desires has always been to spend more time in the Word.
Last year, I had good intentions—and I did make progress. I truly did.
But I didn’t:
Choose a specific time of day
Follow a clear plan
Anchor it into my real schedule So when life got full, it was the first thing to slide.
This year, I’m approaching it differently:
Working through the Bible in 52 weeks
Setting a specific, protected time
Treating it as a meeting with God - not something I squeeze in if everything else goes right Same desire. Better plan. More grace.
Small Habits, Big Change
Two books that really shaped this mindset for me are Atomic Habits and Make Your Bed.
They both remind us that:
Small habits compound over time
Finishing one small thing builds confidence
The way you do one thing is often the way you do everything You don’t need a dramatic overhaul.
You need a faithful next step.
An Invitation (Not a Guilt Trip) If this year already feels messy… If you’re behind on goals you haven’t even fully defined… If January didn’t come with the motivation you hoped for…
Hear this clearly:
👉🏻You are not failing.
👉🏻You are not late.
👉🏻You are learning. And learning is holy ground.
Your Free Resource
To help you put this into practice, I created a free guide: “Skipping Resolutions in 2026: A Practical Plan for Those Who Want Habits That Last.”
You’ll find it linked in the show notes, along with the books mentioned in this episode.
Final Grace Fresh starts don’t require a new year.
They require a willing heart and one small step forward.
Read the page.
Drink the water.
Make the bed.
Grace will meet you there.
See you next week, friend - same space, same amount of grace.
