Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

‘Steadfast’: My Word of the Year

I’m not usually one for making New Year’s resolutions, but

when 2012 started I knew I had to do something.

I’d been in a bit of a funk the last few months, and I didn’t like it. I’d find

myself reacting and over-reacting to certain situations in unhealthy ways.

Instead of celebrating with my friends over happy occasions, such as work

promotions, engagements and pregnancies, I found myself becoming jealous, sad

and throwing myself way more pity parties that one person should be allowed to

have.  Instead of being consistent

and rational in how I dealt with life, I was reacting based on my emotions, and

it seemed like I was all over the map. Rather than remembering the Lord’s faithfulness and provision

in my life so far, I freaked out and lost sight of all that the Lord had done

for me.

So with this in mind, I read how one blogger had picked a

word of the year. She made some cute crafty wall hanging with her word, and that

word framed how she wanted to live

out the year. I saw bloggers choosing words like joy, gratitude and peace.

Being an English major, this idea really appealed to me. I talked about it with

a few friends, and we decided to do it together. I chose the word steadfast. My

friends chose hope and confidence.

I chose my word

in light of one of my favorite verses, 1 Peter 5:10: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in

Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and

make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Because that’s what I wanted, what I needed: to be unwavering

in my faith. To trust God, to choose to believe He is good and that everything

He does in my life is out of His love for me.

I also

wanted steadfast to remind me of the

truth of this verse: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal”

(Isaiah 26:3-4). I resonated with the idea that my mind could be steadfast — that the Lord would help me

look at every circumstance through the lens of trust. In the midst of

change, He is my Rock.

I’ve come

back to that word a lot during this year. It’s a reminder that I can react one

of two ways when circumstances throw me for a loop. I can choose to take it in

stride and keep my eyes focused on the Lord, remembering that He makes me

strong and steadfast. Or I can wallow in my emotions and spend too much time

being on an emotional rollercoaster.

Along the

way I’ve also found strength in Psalm 112:7, Psalm 57:7 and Proverbs 4:26. And

it’s been edifying to talk about our words with my friends. The accountability

of having a goal and mutually encouraging and praying for each other is a nice

bonus!

Have you

ever picked a word of the year?  As

we approach the end of the year, what word would you pick for 2013?

Share This Post:

About the Author

Related Content