“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them.” Isaiah 42:16 (CSB)

In my youth, I looked forward to January and the excitement of making New Year’s resolutions. I’d purchase a flowery journal and fill the pages with wide-eyed hopes and dreams, setting goals like it was my job.

But as the years ticked by, the reality of life in this broken world took a toll on my idealistic personality: difficult relationships, painful diagnoses, unhealed traumas, questions, concerns and fears replaced my flowery journal entries.

Have you had a similar experience? Maybe you’re walking into an unknown future as you face divorce, health crisis, financial disaster or family dysfunction. Perhaps you’re starting over in a new city or new job.

Facing the unfamiliar leaves us shaky and wondering, Where do I turn when the future feels like one big question mark?

Centuries ago, God’s people in the kingdom of Judah perhaps asked a similar question as they walked through a devastating season of captivity that left them facing an unknown future. But into this dismal place, God sent the prophet Isaiah to deliver the reassuring words of today’s key verse:

“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them” (Isaiah 42:16).

Judah couldn’t see it then, but God had good plans to sustain and deliver them. He had no intention of letting His children flounder and suffer alone.

Dear one, God’s heart is the same for us today. No matter what our specific circumstances look like in the year ahead, Isaiah’s soothing words provide solid ground upon which we, too, can stand.

With God’s Word as your firm foundation, here are three things you can know as you walk into the unknown:

1. God will lead you every step of the way. You don’t have to lead yourself! Just as God led Judah, so He will lead you.

2. God will make a way, no matter how rough the road ahead. Nothing you face is too challenging for God — He will direct you through even the rockiest paths.

3. God will not leave your side. You will never walk alone. God is not in the business of abandoning His children!

As we welcome a new year, we can confidently cling to these truths, trusting that the God who led Judah through the unknown will faithfully lead us too.

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of a new year. Help us entrust ourselves to Your sovereignty, welcoming the days ahead with peace and hope! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

God isn’t worried — He’s relaxed. What if we can be too? If you’ve been trying to figure out everything on your own, you’re not alone. Megan Fate Marshman’s book Relaxed shows us how to let go of spiritual performance, reject our cultural tendency to live under pressure, and walk with God and toward God one gentle step at a time. And we can’t wait to read it with you in Circle 31 Book Club this February! Join Circle 31 Book Club.

ENGAGE

Join Meredith Houston Carr on Instagram for more encouragement and a few laughs. You can also grab a copy of her free five-day devotional here!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 23:3b-4, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (NIV).

How does knowing that God always walks with you change your view of this upcoming year?

How would your days be different if you stood firmly in the truth of God’s unwavering presence?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Meredith Houston Carr. All rights reserved.