November 26, 2025
Don’t Let Disappointment Define Your Year
MEGHAN RYAN ASBURY
Lee en español
“… but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
The holidays come with a lot of expectations. This can be a glaring reminder of all that hasn’t changed in the past 365 days — and I’ll raise my hand first to say I’m walking into this season with a lot of unmet expectations in tow.
Between the busyness of the season, shopping for gifts, and trying to finish all of our work before taking time off, it's hard to find time to process the unfulfilled dreams we may have had for this time of year.
Which leaves room for hopelessness to creep in.
Maybe you thought this year you’d have someone to bring home with you.
Maybe you thought you’d get to share a pregnancy announcement.
Maybe you thought you’d be over that particular struggle or you'd have something new and noteworthy to share at the family dinner table.
But Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that we can still have hope in the midst of disappointment: “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
When we put our hope “in the LORD” and not in our circumstances, we don’t have to let disappointments define our whole year. Every year can be marked by hope in the midst of what has been hard.
Hope in the Lord is the best kind of hope. The kind we don’t have to be afraid of letting us down. The kind that doesn’t make us embarrassed, disappointed, or ashamed. Rather, it helps us run the race of life God has gifted us with. And we don’t have to stay weary in the waiting; the Lord gives us strength for each step.
Friend, we need the hope of Christmas this year more than ever. Not in the Hallmark-y, happy-ending sort of way but for the real reason we celebrate: Our Savior came and is coming again soon. And that’s worth putting all our hope in.
Let’s define our years with hope. The hope of life to come. The hope of something so much better than what’s right in front of us that we can’t even wrap our minds around it. The hope that strengthens us day by day.
God, I come to You weary, worn, and waiting. This time of year often reminds me of what I wish were different about my life. Show me how to still be hopeful about what has not happened yet. At the same time, help me find gratitude for where I am today. Teach me to define my year not by what I don’t have but by what You have given me: Jesus. In the meantime, help me to love it here. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
The lights will fade. The wrapping paper will be thrown away. The calendar will clear. But one thing will remain — the presence of Jesus. That’s why Advent matters. It’s more than a countdown to Christmas; it’s an invitation to slow down and remember the hope, peace, and joy that can’t be found under a tree. Our new study, More Than a Manger, begins November 30, and this is the last chance to get your copy in time to study with us! As an added bonus, we’ll include some of our favorite recipes from author Karen Ehman’s kitchen. So let this be the year you enter the season with a heart that’s ready, steady, and centered on Jesus.
ENGAGE
If you find yourself tired of trying, weary from the demands of daily life, or just plain exhausted from getting your hopes up only to be disappointed, Meghan made something just for you. It’s a free guide called “Hope for the Holidays: A Reflection Guide for When You’re Not Where You Thought You’d Be.” This 10-page guide will help you experience the abundance of the season you are in right now instead of feeling like you are behind in life.
And find out more about Meghan’s book, You Are Not Behind, here!
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 5:5, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (NIV).
Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NIV).
What disappointments are you letting define your year? How can you redefine the end of this year by putting your hope in the Lord? Share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Meghan Ryan Asbury. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Wednesday, 26 November 2025.
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