Embracing the New Year with Hope

“The Gate of the Year”
from the poem “God Knows” by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’
And he replied:
‘”‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.”

As the clock strikes midnight and 2025 fades into the pages of history, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of the unknown, much like the traveler in Minnie Louise Haskins’s timeless poem. The gate of the year stands before us, shrouded in mystery, inviting us to step forward with courage and faith. In the stillness of this moment, we are reminded of the profound truth that true guidance comes not from the flickering lights of certainty, but from the steady hand of God, leading us through the darkness and into the uncertainty of the future.

The dawn of a new year is not only the turning of a calendar page, but a profound moment to seek the Lord in our daily lives and to be guided by His presence with each new opportunity.

As we cross the threshold into this new year, we also carry with us the wisdom of those who have trodden the paths before us. Their journeys, marked by faith and trust in Christ, “the light of the world,” teach us that we can embrace the unknown with courage and trust. Together they can steady and strengthen us as we enter the unknown of a new year.

Each new year offers us a new chapter of possibilities. New beginnings bring with them the opportunity to renew our spirits and reconnect with what truly matters. This time of reflection allows us to honor the past while looking forward to the future with unwavering optimism. This passage from Minnie Louise Haskins’s poem, “The Gate of the Year,” reminds us that faith in God can strengthen our spiritual resiliency and illuminate our path even in the most uncertain of times. As we step into this new year, let’s embrace the unknown with a heart full of hope and trust in the divine guidance of Christ that has led us in the past.

Let this New Year be guided by a spirit of prayer, gratitude, and acts of kindness. Seek to deepen your spiritual relationship with the God, listen for His guidance, and extend faith, hope, and forgiveness, and the love of Christ to those around us. As we set our new goals for 2026 and dream anew, may we be led by Christ alone and adopt a heart open to service and eyes open to see God’s hand at work in our lives. Each sunrise offers new mercies and opportunities to step forward courageously, anchored in faith, welcoming the New Year not just as a passage of time, but as a chance for spiritual growth, renewed purpose, and living fully in God’s divine grace.