First, let me apologize for making a promise I most definitely couldn’t keep: that whole “I’ll blog consistently” thing. Who was I kidding? At this point, it seems like I only get inspired to write around my birthday. Maybe my creativity runs on a yearly subscription. In my defense, I’ve been working on another project that’s taken up a lot of time (more on that soon). Still, I’m hoping the “blog bug” will bite me again. Do people even still read long-form content these days, or am I basically journaling publicly at this point?

Anyway—here we are. Another year. Another decade. Yep, the big 4-0. Yikes. They say life begins at 40, but honestly, my knees are filing a strong appeal against that statement.

When I look back over this past year, I can see so clearly how the words God gave me—open doors, glory, greatness, and surrender—have shaped my story. He opened doors I didn’t even know were in the hallway, let alone thought to knock on. And then there was surrender. That one was the hardest but also the most life-changing.

I’ve always liked to be in control—steering the ship, mapping out the route, making sure I know where I’m headed. But this year, I finally let Jesus truly take the wheel. It’s been uncomfortable and overwhelming at times, but also incredibly rewarding. In laying down my natural desire to control everything, I’ve watched Him transform me into the person I should’ve been all along—but I was too busy standing in my own way.

That doesn’t mean the year was easy. Far from it. I’ve been navigating my own health challenges, all while helping care for my aging parents. My mom hasn’t been well, and the stress of it has weighed heavily on my dad, which in turn has taken its toll on me. If you’re reading this, I’d love for you to whisper a prayer for them. And yet—even in the hardest moments—I’ve watched God remain good.

Some of my most precious times this year have been communing with Jesus in a deeper way. There’s nothing like weeping in gratitude and adoration for a God who never leaves, never forsakes, and always welcomes you back. Those moments of glory have carried me through.

And then, just to top it off, I’m writing this from Jamaica, surrounded by five of my dearest friends who have gone out of their way to surprise me with love and generosity that has left me speechless. One of them is married to my childhood friend who’s always been like a brother to me. He used to tell me, “It’s okay to let people love you and accept compliments.” That’s something I want to carry with me into this new decade—a heart of gratitude that not only thanks God for His love but also remembers that He’s surrounded me with people to love me too. And yes, I’m learning that I am actually deserving of that love.

But what makes this new chapter so significant is how God has been speaking Isaiah 43:19 over me: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

This scripture has been alive in my spirit. I feel Him making all things new in me. Where there has been wilderness, He’s creating a path. Where there have been dry and barren places, He’s bringing refreshment and renewal. This isn’t just about a new year or a milestone birthday—it’s about a whole new season of becoming.

As I step into my 40s, I carry some hopes and dreams I want to speak out loud:

• To hold anxiety hostage, no longer letting it dictate my choices or steal my peace.

• To allow my heart to fully receive love—from God, from others, and even from myself.

• To continue rediscovering and becoming the person I once was, and have always been deep down—the version of me that God saw before the world tried to reshape me.

I’m not walking into this decade with rose-colored glasses. I know there will be challenges, twists, and turns. But I also know I’m more equipped to handle them now. More surrendered. More grounded in Him. More confident in the One who holds my future.

So as God continues to shift my story, my prayer is that He will sustain me. And my reminder to myself—no matter what—is that He has been good. So, so good.

There’s been a song on repeat in my spirit these last few weeks, and the words couldn’t be more true:

’Cause when I think of how You’ve blessed me

How Your hand has never let me go

You have been so good to me

Oh God, I can’t believe how You love me

What a friend You have been…

And as I step into this new decade, I’m holding on to these lyrics as my prayer and my reminder:

For every morning

For every open door

I call You faithful

And I just wanna thank You, Lord

For every mountain

For every time You’ve brought me through

I call You faithful

And I just wanna thank You, Lord

Here’s to 40. Here’s to surrender. Here’s to His goodness. Here’s to the new thing He’s doing.

Here’s to the beautiful shift in my story: All Things New.