Author: Shaunelius Sterns

I have been married to my wonderful husband for 21 years now. I am a Christian, poet, singer, songwriter, and artist. I have five beautiful children. I enjoy writing and reading my Bible. I also love to pray for others. I love nature and being outside on sunny days. I love spending time with my family and watching shows that makes me laugh.

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1. Recognizing God’s Faithfulness in the Journey

Ministry Reflections of 2025: Sharing a Year of Faith

As 2025 draws to a close, it is a powerful moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate what God has accomplished through our lives and ministries over the past year. Every prayer spoken, every word shared, and every step of obedience has contributed to the growth of faith—both in ourselves and in the lives of others. Reflection is more than nostalgia; it is a spiritual practice that deepens our understanding of God’s faithfulness and prepares us for the new seasons He has ahead.

This year has likely been filled with highs and lows—moments of victory, moments of struggle, and moments when only God could carry you through. Scripture reminds us:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22-23

Reflecting on 2025, it’s clear that God’s faithfulness was present in every challenge overcome, every message shared, and every soul touched. Even when circumstances seemed uncertain, God was orchestrating opportunities to expand your ministry, deepen relationships, and grow spiritual influence.

Reflection Prompt:

Write down three moments this year when God’s presence was unmistakable in your ministry work. How did His guidance shape your actions and decisions?

2. Celebrating Growth in Your Ministry

Every ministry—whether through writing, speaking, teaching, or serving—is a vessel God uses to reach hearts. Perhaps 2025 included:

• Creating Bible studies or devotionals that encouraged others

• Launching podcasts or blogs to inspire faith

• Leading prayer groups or support circles

• Mentoring others in spiritual growth

Even small efforts carry eternal impact. Scripture encourages us to celebrate growth, no matter how incremental:

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” — Galatians 6:9

Growth is not always measurable by numbers—it is seen in transformed hearts, deepened faith, and lives touched by God’s love through your ministry.

Journal Prompt:

Reflect on one ministry project this year that brought the most joy. What impact did it have on others? What did it teach you about God’s work through your hands?

3. Lessons Learned from Challenges

No year is without challenges. Perhaps ministry this year involved:

• Navigating rejection or misunderstanding

• Balancing personal life with ministry demands

• Facing doubts or spiritual dryness

Scripture reminds us that challenges are refining tools:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2-3

The trials of 2025 may have stretched patience, faith, and resilience—but they also provided opportunities to rely more deeply on God and witness His power in action.

Reflection Prompt:

Identify a challenge this year and describe how God guided you through it. How did this experience strengthen your faith or ministry approach?

4. Moments of Connection and Impact

Ministry is relational. The most memorable moments are often when hearts were touched:

• Receiving messages of encouragement from those impacted by your work

• Seeing individuals take steps of faith or repentance

• Hearing testimonies of God’s work through your ministry

These moments are reminders that God works through your obedience. Each act of ministry—prayer, teaching, encouragement, writing, or speaking—is a seed sown into eternity.

“One who waters will also be watered himself.” — Proverbs 11:25

Journal Prompt:

Write about a moment when someone’s response reminded you of why you serve. How can you carry this encouragement into 2026?

5. Preparing for 2026: Building and Stabilizing

As you look ahead, 2026 can be divided into two spiritual seasons:

• First Half: Building
Focus on deep, quiet preparation. Strengthen your spiritual disciplines, refine your content, and cultivate your personal walk with God. This is a season for planting seeds of future ministry growth.

• Second Half: Expanding and Stabilizing
Move into visibility, sharing your work more broadly. Solidify structures, grow your audience, and stabilize the initiatives begun earlier in the year. This is the season for impact and fruit-bearing.

Scripture encourages intentional planning with reliance on God’s guidance:

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” — Proverbs 16:3

Call to Action:

Create a ministry vision for 2026. List goals for both spiritual growth and practical outreach. Ask God to lead your steps and provide opportunities to impact lives for His glory.

6. Gratitude for God’s Provision

Reflecting on 2025 reminds us to give thanks for every blessing:

• Spiritual insights received

• Tools and platforms for ministry

• Relationships that encouraged your walk

• Guidance, provision, and protection

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gratitude transforms reflection into worship and strengthens resolve to continue serving faithfully.

Guided Reflections for the Year-End

1 What moments this year confirmed God’s calling on your life?

2 Where did you see growth in your spiritual gifts and ministry impact?

3 Which challenges taught the deepest lessons about faith, perseverance, or reliance on God?

4 How can your ministry be more intentional in 2026?

Journal Prompt:

Write a letter to God reflecting on your ministry in 2025. Include moments of gratitude, lessons learned, and hopes for 2026. Seal it as a spiritual keepsake to revisit at the end of the next year.

Conclusion

2025 has been a year of faith, growth, and divine guidance. Every prayer, lesson, and ministry action has played a part in God’s unfolding story. As you step into 2026, carry forward the lessons, victories, and insights from this year, knowing that God’s faithfulness remains constant. Continue to serve, write, teach, and lead with joy, humility, and obedience—trusting that the seeds you plant now will bear fruit for eternity.

Open-ended Reflection:

Looking back on 2025, what is one lesson you want to carry into 2026, and how will it shape your ministry and your walk with God?

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1. God’s Promise of Everlasting Presence

Scripture:

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” — Psalm 27:10 (KJV)

Explanation:

This verse assures us that God’s presence is constant, even when human relationships fail. Parents, friends, or loved ones may disappoint or abandon us, but God’s commitment never wavers. He is our ultimate protector, caregiver, and source of belonging. When we feel forsaken or isolated, this promise reminds us that God Himself will “take us up”—support, guide, and comfort us in every season.

Reflection:

This promise encourages trust in God’s faithfulness. No matter the rejection or loss we experience, we are never truly alone.

2. God’s Promise of Justification and Peace

Scripture:

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” — Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)

Explanation:

Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are justified—declared righteous before God. This is a gift of grace, not a reward for good works. Justification brings peace with God, meaning no longer are we under condemnation or spiritual estrangement. The verse also reminds us that by faith we have access to God’s grace, enabling us to rejoice in the hope of His eternal glory. This hope empowers us to navigate life with confidence, knowing God’s approval is secure.

Reflection:

Peace with God is a foundational promise. It assures that our standing before God depends on Christ’s work, not our perfection.

3. God’s Promise That Nothing Can Separate Us From His Love

Scripture:

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)

Explanation:

This powerful passage guarantees that God’s love is unbreakable. No external force—physical death, spiritual attack, present difficulties, future uncertainties, or even the deepest fears—can sever our connection to His love. This is not just a comforting thought; it is a promise rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Believers can face challenges and uncertainties with confidence, knowing God’s love is constant.

Reflection:

This promise encourages courage and trust, even in the most difficult or uncertain circumstances. God’s love remains faithful regardless of what happens around or within us.

4. God’s Promise of Acceptance and Unity

Scripture:

“Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” — Romans 15:7 (NKJV)

Explanation:

This verse emphasizes God’s call for believers to emulate Christ’s acceptance of others. Christ’s reception of us—despite our sin and imperfection—is the model for how we should treat one another. God promises that when we accept and love others, we are reflecting His glory. It is a reminder that His acceptance is a gift we can extend to others, creating unity and peace within the body of Christ.

Reflection:

This promise challenges us to mirror God’s grace in relationships, cultivating acceptance and reconciliation in a world that often judges or excludes.

Summary of the Promises

1 Psalm 27:10 – God’s presence is unshakeable; He will never abandon us.

2 Romans 5:1-2 – We are justified by faith, at peace with God, and have hope in His glory.

3 Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing in creation can separate us from God’s steadfast love.

4 Romans 15:7 – Christ receives us fully, and we are called to extend that same acceptance to others.

These verses together reveal a profound truth: God’s promises are rooted in His faithfulness, love, grace, and acceptance. They assure believers of constant presence, spiritual peace, unwavering love, and the ability to extend grace to others.

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What Makes Me Acceptable to God?

A Biblical Exploration of Grace, Faith, and Relationship

Many people struggle with the question: “What must I do to be acceptable to God?” This question often arises from a desire to be loved, forgiven, or spiritually secure. Some assume that acceptability depends on perfection, religious performance, moral behavior, or spiritual achievements. Yet Scripture presents a very different picture—one that centers on God’s grace, Christ’s work, and the posture of the heart rather than human perfection.

1. Acceptability Is Not Earned Through Works

It is a common misconception that God’s favor is something we can earn. While obedience and good works are important in the believer’s life, they are not the basis for acceptance.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9

No amount of effort, ritual, or moral living can make someone acceptable apart from God’s grace. Human performance can never fully satisfy God’s standard of holiness, because even our best efforts are imperfect.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

2. Faith in Jesus Christ Makes You Acceptable

The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is what reconciles us to God and makes us acceptable in His sight.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21

Through faith in Christ, our sins are covered, and we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. This means God accepts us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of who Christ is and what He has done.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1

3. Repentance Opens the Door to Acceptance

While grace is freely given, Scripture also emphasizes the importance of repentance—a sincere turning from sin and turning toward God.

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 2:38

Repentance is not about earning favor; it is about aligning your heart with God’s. It demonstrates a willingness to walk in relationship with Him rather than insisting on your own way.

4. God Accepts the Broken and the Weak

The Bible repeatedly shows that God’s acceptance is available even to the flawed, broken, or weak. The story of David, the apostle Paul, and the tax collectors demonstrates that no one is beyond God’s mercy.

• David: Committed adultery and murder, yet was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).

• Paul: Persecuted Christians before being redeemed, yet became a chosen vessel for spreading the gospel (1 Timothy 1:15).

• Tax Collectors and Sinners: Jesus dined with them and welcomed them, despite societal rejection (Luke 19:1–10).

This truth reminds us that acceptability is not about perfection but about surrender to God.

5. Obedience Flows From Acceptance

While works cannot make us acceptable, obedience and good works are the fruit of being accepted. Acceptability is relational, not transactional: God accepts us first, and our response is love, obedience, and service.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

Obedience is the evidence of acceptance, not the condition for it.

6. The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit confirms our acceptance to our hearts.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16

This inner witness gives assurance that God receives us fully, even when doubts, fears, or feelings of inadequacy arise.

7. How to Live Knowing You Are Acceptable to God

1 Anchor your identity in Christ, not performance.

2 Daily acknowledge grace, not works, as your standing before God.

3 Walk in obedience, understanding it as a response to acceptance, not a means to earn it.

4 Trust God’s promises and rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

5 Confess and repent honestly, knowing acceptance is already secure.

Guided Reflection

• How do I define my own acceptability before God?

• Where have I relied on performance or approval to feel accepted?

• How does faith in Jesus change my standing with God?

• What would it look like to live each day knowing I am fully accepted?

Journal Prompt

Write about a moment when you felt unworthy before God. How does knowing that His acceptance depends on Christ, not you, shift your perspective? Reflect on areas where fear of rejection or inadequacy still influences your decisions.

Call to Action

Today, take intentional steps to rest in God’s acceptance:

• Speak aloud a declaration of faith: “I am accepted by God because of Jesus, not because of my works.”

• Identify one area where you try to earn God’s favor and surrender it to Him.

• Thank God for His grace and consider one way to extend grace to others as a reflection of your acceptance in Him.

Conclusion

Acceptability to God is not about perfection, performance, or human approval—it is about faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and relationship. God accepts the humble, the broken, the sinner, and the weak because of His mercy and the finished work of Christ. Obedience and good works flow naturally from this acceptance, revealing the transformative power of His grace.

Open-ended reflection:

If God already accepts you fully, how would your daily choices, thoughts, and relationships change if you truly lived from that place of secure acceptance?

By resting in God’s grace and embracing your identity in Christ, you can walk confidently, knowing that nothing you do can earn His favor—and nothing you have done can ever take it away.

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How Can I Accept All of Life’s Circumstances That Come My Way?

A Biblical Approach to Peace and Trust in Every Season

Life is unpredictable. Joy and sorrow, success and setback, health and sickness, loss and gain—they all arrive in ways we often cannot control. It is natural to resist difficult circumstances, to ask “Why me?” or “When will this end?” Yet Scripture teaches that believers can learn to accept life’s circumstances with grace, faith, and perspective, even when situations are painful, confusing, or disappointing.

Acceptance does not mean passivity or complacency—it is a posture of trust in God’s sovereignty, a willingness to cooperate with His work in your life, and a choice to find peace amid uncertainty.

1. Recognize That God is Sovereign Over All Things

The foundation of accepting life’s circumstances is understanding that God is in control.

“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” — Psalm 103:19

Circumstances do not define God’s power or His plan. Even when events feel overwhelming, God’s sovereignty remains unshaken. Acceptance begins when we acknowledge that He is working all things—even the painful ones—for His purposes.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28

2. Trust That Life’s Challenges Have a Purpose

Difficult circumstances are not always a sign of punishment. Scripture teaches that trials can refine character, teach perseverance, and deepen faith.

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” — James 1:2–3

Even moments of loss, rejection, or delay can cultivate wisdom, patience, humility, and compassion. Acceptance is rooted in the belief that God is using every season to shape you for eternal purpose.

3. Release the Need for Complete Understanding

A major obstacle to acceptance is the desire to understand everything. God does not always reveal His plan immediately.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

Acceptance often involves surrendering the need to have answers and instead relying on God’s wisdom and timing.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.” — Isaiah 55:8–9

4. Learn From Biblical Examples

Joseph (Genesis 37–50)

Joseph’s life was filled with betrayal, false accusation, and years of suffering in Egypt. Yet he later said:

“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” — Genesis 50:20

Joseph’s acceptance was not resignation—it was trust in God’s overarching plan.

Job (Job 1–2, 42)

Job lost wealth, family, and health, yet he declared:

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” — Job 13:15

Job accepted his circumstances while wrestling honestly with pain, demonstrating that acceptance can coexist with questioning and sorrow.

Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)

Paul faced chronic physical weakness but wrote:

“Most gladly therefore I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Acceptance can transform hardship into a platform for God’s power to be revealed.

5. Practical Ways to Accept Life’s Circumstances

A. Pray Honestly and Consistently

Bring feelings of fear, frustration, and disappointment to God. Scriptural prayer is not about suppressing emotions—it is about surrendering them.

“Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

B. Practice Gratitude

Even small moments of blessing can shift perspective from despair to hope.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gratitude helps the heart to accept the present, even amid difficulty.

C. Align Your Perspective With Eternity

Temporary suffering can be reframed by eternal hope.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17

Seeing circumstances through an eternal lens fosters acceptance.

D. Choose Obedience in Every Situation

Acceptance is not passive resignation; it is an active trust that leads to obedience.

“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

Obedience during trials strengthens faith and cultivates peace.

E. Build a Support System

Seek counsel and encouragement from mature believers who can remind you of God’s faithfulness.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17

Community helps us accept circumstances without isolation or despair.

Guided Reflections

• What circumstances do I resist the most, and why?

• How has God shown faithfulness in past trials?

• What truths from Scripture can I lean on in this moment?

• How might acceptance change my response or my peace?

Journal Prompts

1 Write about a current challenge. How could this circumstance be shaping your character or faith?

2 Reflect on a past trial where God worked for good in ways you didn’t expect.

3 What emotions make it hardest to accept certain circumstances? How can you bring them to God?

4 List the ways God has been faithful even when situations were painful.

A Call to Action

This week, practice acceptance in a tangible way:

• Reframe one challenge as an opportunity for growth.

• Pray for the grace to trust God’s plan for your current situation.

• Journal honestly about what it feels like to release control.

• Encourage someone else who is struggling, sharing hope rooted in Scripture.

Conclusion

Accepting all of life’s circumstances does not mean denying pain, ignoring injustice, or pretending to be happy when suffering occurs. It means trusting God’s sovereignty, believing His promises, and walking in faith even when life is unpredictable. Acceptance is an ongoing choice—a posture that reflects the peace, hope, and love of Christ.

Open-ended reflection:

If God is working in every season of your life, how would your response change if you fully trusted Him, even when circumstances seem overwhelming or unfair?

Acceptance transforms the heart, strengthens faith, and opens the door for God’s power to rest on every situation, turning trials into testimony and difficulty into spiritual growth.

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