You started 2025 with a vision board, prayer journal, and goals that felt God-breathed. You declared it would be your year. The breakthrough year. The turnaround year.
But here you are in December, and the year didn’t unfold the way you expected.
Maybe the business didn’t launch the way you hoped. The income didn’t come. The doors you knocked on stayed closed, and the ones that opened led to detours you never asked for. Maybe you’ve been building—creating, planning, showing up daily—and the breakthrough still feels distant.
And now you’re tired. Disappointed. Maybe even questioning if God heard you at all.
I’m writing this from a place of deep understanding. I know what it’s like to build when nothing seems to be working. To show up consistently when the results don’t match the effort. To wonder if you’re doing it right while simultaneously knowing you can’t stop now.
If that’s you—this post is your gentle reminder: It’s not over. And it’s definitely not too late.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
December isn’t just the end of a year. It’s the bridge between what was and what’s coming. And sometimes, God uses the gaps, delays, and disappointments to prepare us for something we weren’t ready for yet.
Let’s talk about finding hope, reclaiming strength, and discovering direction—even when the year didn’t go as planned.
Part 1: Give Yourself Permission to Grieve What Didn’t Happen
Before we talk about hope, we need to talk about honesty.
You can’t heal what you won’t acknowledge. And pretending you’re “fine” when you’re actually heartbroken doesn’t honor God—it just delays your breakthrough.
It’s okay to feel disappointed. It’s okay to admit that this year was hard. That you worked hard, prayed hard, believed hard—and some things still didn’t work out the way you hoped.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
God is not surprised by your disappointment. He’s not uncomfortable with your tears. He’s not angry that you’re struggling to trust Him right now.
Give yourself permission to:
- Feel the loss of what you hoped for
- Acknowledge the doors that closed without explanation
- Grieve the timeline that didn’t match your prayers
- Release the expectations that weren’t met
This isn’t complaining. This is processing. And processing is how you make space for what’s next.
“Grief is not a sign of weak faith. It’s a sign of deep love for what you hoped would be.”
Reflection question: What did you hope for this year that didn’t happen? Write it down. Name it. Then give yourself permission to feel it fully before you release it to God.
Part 2: Reframe the “Failure”—What If It Was Actually Protection?
Here’s what I’ve learned through my own detours and delays: What looks like rejection is often redirection. What feels like failure is often protection.
Sometimes God closes doors because what’s on the other side would have cost you more than it gave you. Sometimes He delays your timeline because you’re not ready for what you’re asking for—yet.
Consider these possibilities:
That business that didn’t launch? Maybe the market wasn’t ready. Maybe your strategy needed refinement. Maybe God was saving you from burnout, debt, or partnerships that would have destroyed you.
That relationship that didn’t work out? Maybe God was protecting your peace, your purpose, or your future from someone who couldn’t hold it well.
That promotion that went to someone else? Maybe that role would have demanded more than you could give right now. Maybe God has a better position waiting that you can’t see yet.
That financial breakthrough that hasn’t come? Maybe God is teaching you to steward faithfully in the small before He entrusts you with more. Maybe He’s building your character for the wealth that’s coming.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28
This doesn’t mean the pain wasn’t real. It means the pain wasn’t wasted.
Reflection exercise: Look back at one “closed door” from this year. Ask God: “What were You protecting me from? What were You preparing me for?”
“Sometimes the blessing is in what didn’t happen.”
Part 3: Celebrate What DID Happen (Even If It Feels Small)
When the big things don’t happen, we forget to celebrate the small things that did.
But small faithfulness is still faithfulness. Small obedience is still obedience. Small progress is still progress.
This year, you:
- Woke up and kept going even when you didn’t feel like it
- Showed up for your family, your work, your calling—even on hard days
- Learned lessons that will serve you for years to come
- Survived what you thought would break you
- Grew in ways you can’t even see yet
Ask yourself:
- What hard thing did I do this year that I should honor?
- What did I learn about myself, God, or life?
- What relationships deepened?
- What skills did I develop?
- What prayers did God answer that I’ve overlooked?
- Where did I see God’s faithfulness even in small ways?
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” — Zechariah 4:10
You may not have the business launch you wanted, but maybe you learned the skills you’ll need for when you do launch.
You may not have the income you planned, but maybe you learned how to stretch, steward, and trust God in ways prosperity would have never taught you.
You may not have the clarity you prayed for, but maybe you developed the character you’ll need to handle what clarity brings.
This week: Write down 10 things that DID go right this year. Small or big. They all count.
“Gratitude shifts your perspective from what’s missing to what’s present.”
Part 4: It’s Not Too Late—December Is Still Full of Possibility
Here’s the truth that will set you free: You don’t need a whole year to create breakthrough. You need one decision. One pivot. One obedient step.
December has 31 days. That’s:
- 31 chances to shift your mindset
- 31 opportunities to take action
- 31 days to end the year stronger than you started it
You can still:
✅ Start that business idea you’ve been sitting on (even if it’s just registering the name or creating the first offer)
✅ Launch a product or service before the year ends (a mini-offer, a beta version, a soft launch)
✅ Reach out to that mentor or connection you’ve been intimidated to contact
✅ Apply for that opportunity even if you feel unqualified
✅ Fix that financial habit and end the year with better stewardship
✅ Heal that relationship with a conversation you’ve been avoiding
✅ Set up systems that will make January easier (email list, accounting software, content calendar)
✅ Build momentum that carries into 2026 (post daily, pitch weekly, network intentionally)
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb
You don’t have to wait for January 1st to become who God is calling you to be. You can start today. This week. Before Christmas. Before the year ends.
Reflection question: What’s ONE thing you can do before December 31st that would make you proud of how you finished 2025?
“Momentum isn’t built in months. It’s built in moments—and you still have moments left.”
Part 5: Let December Be Your Do-Over Month
What if December isn’t the end—it’s the preview?
What if this month is God giving you a chance to practice what 2026 requires? To build the habits, mindset, and momentum you’ll need to thrive?
Think of December as your dress rehearsal:
Want to show up consistently in 2026? Start posting daily this month.
Want to grow your income next year? Pitch one client or launch one offer this month.
Want better financial habits? Start tracking your spending and setting a budget this December.
Want to deepen your faith? Commit to daily prayer and Scripture before the year ends.
Want clarity on your calling? Spend the next three weeks in intentional reflection, journaling, and listening to God.
Whatever you want to be true in 2026, start practicing it in December.
“We don’t rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems.” — James Clear
December is your opportunity to build the systems, rhythms, and habits that make 2026 inevitable.
This week: Choose ONE habit you want to establish. Practice it daily for the rest of December. Let it become your foundation for the new year.
“The woman you’ll be in 2026 is being built by what you do in December 2025.”
Part 6: Realign With God’s Voice—Not the Noise
One of the hardest parts of a disappointing year is the noise that comes with it.
The voices that say you’re behind. That say you missed your window. That compare your chapter 3 to someone else’s chapter 20. That question if you heard God correctly in the first place.
It’s time to turn down the noise and turn up His voice.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
Ask yourself:
- What is God actually saying about my situation?
- What did He promise me that I need to hold onto?
- What vision did He give me that I’ve let fear or disappointment overshadow?
- What’s the next faithful step He’s asking me to take?
Sometimes the detour wasn’t about the destination changing. It was about the route needing adjustment.
God doesn’t waste your years. He uses them. Every season—even the hard ones—serves His purpose in your life.
Ways to realign with God’s voice this December:
- Daily Scripture reading and prayer (even 10 minutes counts)
- Journaling what you hear God speaking to your heart
- Fasting from social media to reduce comparison
- Worship intentionally—let music shift your atmosphere
- Seek wise counsel from a mentor, pastor, or trusted friend
“The loudest voice isn’t always the truest voice. Get quiet enough to hear God again.”
This week: Ask God one question: “What do You want me to know about this season?” Then sit still and listen. Write down what comes.
Part 7: Write a New Story for the Rest of December
You may not be able to rewrite what happened in January through November. But you absolutely can write a powerful ending for December.
Here’s your December comeback script:
“The year didn’t go as planned. I faced disappointments, delays, and doors that closed. But I also grew, learned, and stayed faithful. And I’m not ending this year defeated. I’m ending it determined.
I’m using these final weeks to build momentum, realign my focus, and step into the woman God is preparing me to be. I’m choosing gratitude over bitterness. Faith over fear. Action over apathy.
2025 may not have been my breakthrough year, but it was my preparation year. And what God has prepared me for is about to unfold.”
Now it’s your turn. Write your own December declaration. Say it out loud. Pray it daily. Believe it.
“The ending you write in December sets the tone for the beginning you’ll walk into in January.”
Closing: You Are Not Behind—You Are Exactly Where You Need to Be
God is not panicking about your timeline. He’s not disappointed in your pace. He’s not questioning whether you’re worth the investment.
You are not behind. You are being prepared.
You are not forgotten. You are being positioned.
You are not failing. You are being refined.
And the delay you’ve been frustrated by? It might just be the setup for the most powerful season of your life.
“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
December is not too late. It’s right on time.
You still have:
- Time to finish strong
- Time to make moves
- Time to shift your mindset
- Time to build momentum
- Time to encounter God in new ways
- Time to set yourself up for breakthrough
The story isn’t over. This is just the plot twist before the victory.
Your December Action Plan
This week:
- [ ] Journal about what you’re disappointed about and release it to God
- [ ] Identify one “closed door” and ask God what He was protecting you from
- [ ] Write down 10 things that DID go right this year
- [ ] Choose ONE action to complete before December 31st
- [ ] Start ONE daily habit you want to carry into 2026
- [ ] Write your December declaration and pray it daily
Related resources to help you finish strong:
Looking for guidance on how to realign your heart before the new year? 👉 Read: Before You Step Into 2026: 7 Heart-Checks Every Woman Should Do This December
Ready to turn reflection into strategy and build a solid plan? 👉 Read: December Reset: Planning Your Finances, Business, and Digital Goals for the New Year
Don’t Step Into 2026 Without the Support You Deserve
If this message stirred something in your heart, don’t walk into the new year alone. Explore resources designed to help you steward your faith, finances, and business with purpose—even when the journey hasn’t gone as planned.
👉 Your Growth Hub: beacons.ai/thriven
Discover checklists, templates, money guides, and digital business tools created to help you rise with intention—no matter what the year threw at you.
What’s one thing you’re choosing to do differently in December? Drop it in the comments—your courage might be exactly what another woman needs to hear. 💪🏾✨