January 23: Insight Post by Rachel Cleveland
Friday Insight Post
by Rachel Cleveland
I am a word of the year kind of person. I have goals too but more than that, over the last 10 or so years, the Lord has placed a specific word on my heart to help guide me through the next 12 months. The intention that is set is usually not something I am expecting or have any idea how it will show up, but it always does. And when it does, it is nothing like what I could dream up or imagine for myself. Sometimes it is wonderful, exciting, and new; other times, it is challenging, exhausting, and difficult. But whatever the year holds for me, the Lord always shows up to meet me there. This year is no different.
After an incredibly challenging 2025, I felt the Lord telling me my word for 2026 would be “restore.” The verse Joel 2:25 is specifically my theme for this year, where the Lord confirms He will restore what has been taken, or eaten by locusts in some translations. When I realized the word restore and this verse were what the Lord had for me in 2026, I cried. I cried in joy, exhaustion, relief, and in hope that this new year would be just that, a season of the Lord restoring to me all (and maybe more) of what had been taken from me last year. And last year, a LOT was taken. But I think the overwhelming feeling I had at the end of 2025 was exhaustion. The loss was heavy, frustrations abounded, but what I felt most was a bone-deep weariness. And I really, really didn’t want to carry that into a new year, and hopefully a new season.
This level of exhaustion can be debilitating. Maybe you’ve been there too? Sometimes it robs you of joy or peace. Sometimes it steals away your energy or focus. Often times, at least for me, it made me want to isolate myself and escape the season I was in through easy distractions. Thankfully, in the midst of this weariness, I also found the Lord. He met me right where I was and stayed. He sat down with me in the valley and waited until I was ready to stand and take a few more steps. He was gentle and kind, encouraging and thoughtful. And while my situation didn’t change much from day to day, the strength to keep going, keep trying, keep fighting back the feelings of distress was there with me, through Him.
This is what I think of when I read Psalm 27:13-14, one of our verses this week: “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” I picture Jesus walking with me in the valley, not removing me from the situation, but walking alongside, helping to carry the burden and strengthening me with every step we take together. As we wait, He builds my character, strengthens my soul, and quietly leads me toward the next newest version of myself. A restored me. I pray there is a restored version of you there too.
Rachel Cleveland
Worship Team Volunteer
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org