Letting Go, Reaching Forward: Hopeful Steps Into the New Year With Jesus

Welcome home, friend.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, there's something beautifully hopeful about fresh beginnings. Whether you're reading this from your living room, a hospital bed, a different country, or anywhere in between: you're exactly where you need to be right now. You are never forgotten, never alone, and deeply loved by God.

The turning of the calendar often brings mixed emotions. Maybe this past year held incredible victories you're grateful for. Perhaps it carried disappointments that still sting. For many of us, it's been a mixture of both: beautiful moments tangled with difficult ones, growth mixed with setbacks, joy alongside grief.

Here's what I've learned after years of walking alongside people in ministry: God doesn't expect us to have it all figured out as we step into a new year. In fact, He offers us something much better than perfection: He offers us His presence and a beautiful invitation to keep moving forward with Him.

The Apostle Paul's Revolutionary Approach

The apostle Paul gives us one of the most powerful frameworks for approaching new beginnings. Writing to the church in Philippi, he shared something that might surprise you: "I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't claim to have arrived spiritually. He doesn't pretend to be perfect. This man who wrote much of the New Testament, who planted churches across the known world, who had miraculous encounters with Jesus: he's honest about still being on a journey.

What he does say is revolutionary: "one thing I do." In a world that pulls us in a thousand directions, Paul found his focus. He made a deliberate choice to forget what was behind and reach forward to what was ahead.

When Paul talks about "forgetting those things which are behind," he's not talking about memory loss. The Greek word here implies an intentional choice: a decision to stop rehearsing past failures, stop living in regret, and even stop resting on past victories. It's about releasing what would hold us back from God's best for our future.

What Does This Look Like Practically?

As we prepare for a new year, this biblical principle invites us into honest reflection. What might you need to consciously release?

Maybe it's regret over words you wish you could take back. Perhaps it's disappointment about dreams that didn't unfold as you hoped. It could be guilt over mistakes you've made or even pride over accomplishments that have become more important than your relationship with God.

The beautiful thing about letting go isn't that we pretend the past didn't happen. It's that we refuse to let it define our future. We acknowledge what was, learn what we can, and then make a conscious choice to reach forward into what God has for us ahead.

This "reaching forward" isn't passive hoping: it's active faith. It's stretching toward God's promises, His calling on your life, and the person He's still shaping you to become. It's pressing on with purpose, knowing that your best days aren't behind you but ahead of you in God's plans.

You Don't Have to Walk Alone

Here at Boundless Online Church, we deeply understand that spiritual growth isn't a solo journey. Whether you're someone who's been walking with Jesus for decades or you're just beginning to explore faith, whether you attend a traditional church or you've never felt comfortable in those spaces: welcome home. You belong here.

Our global community operates 24/7 because life doesn't pause for business hours, and neither does God's love for you. We have pastors and ministry teams from around the world ready to pray with you, encourage you, and walk alongside you as you navigate both the letting go and the reaching forward that a new year invites.

Through our blogs, podcasts, online groups, and training opportunities, you'll find practical wisdom for your spiritual journey. Our live video classes create real-time connection with others who are also learning to press forward with Jesus. And our prayer and praise board? It's a beautiful reminder that you're part of a worldwide family that celebrates your victories and stands with you in difficult seasons.

Finding Your Local Connection

While we love being your online spiritual home, we also believe deeply in the power of local church community. That's why we've created a simple ZIP code and country search that helps you find physical churches in your area. But here's what makes us different: we don't just give you a list and wish you luck.

We provide a personal VIP handoff, connecting you directly with local pastors and church leaders who share our heart for welcoming people exactly where they are. Whether you're looking for a church for the first time or returning after time away, we'll help you find a place where you can experience the same love, acceptance, and genuine community that you've found with us online.

This Is Your Invitation

As Dr. Layne McDonald often reminds our community, spiritual growth happens best in the context of relationship: both with God and with others who are on the same journey. That's the heart behind everything we do at Boundless.

We never ask for money. We never pressure you to commit to anything you're not ready for. Everything here is completely free and entirely opt-in because we believe God's love isn't something you earn or purchase: it's something you receive and share.

Your preferences matter to us. Your story matters. Your questions, doubts, victories, and struggles: they all matter because you matter. In our global community, diversity isn't just celebrated; it's essential. Every culture, background, life experience, and spiritual starting point adds to the beautiful tapestry of God's worldwide family.

Whether you join us for our online chat conversations, participate in our training programs, contribute to our teambuilding activities, or simply read our weekly content: you're helping create a space where people can encounter Jesus without shame, without pressure, and with tremendous love.

Moving Forward Together

As you step into this new year, remember Paul's simple but profound focus: one thing. One deliberate choice to release what's behind and reach for what's ahead. One commitment to press forward with Jesus, knowing that He's already pressing forward with you.

You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to be perfect. You don't even have to be sure about everything you believe. You just have to be willing to take the next step forward, and Jesus will meet you there.

We're here whenever you need us: whether it's 3 AM and you can't sleep, whether it's the middle of your workday and you need prayer, or whether it's a Sunday morning and you want to worship with people who understand that faith is a journey, not a destination.

Because here's the truth that we hold onto and want you to know deep in your heart: You are never forgotten, never alone, and deeply loved by God. No matter what you're leaving behind or reaching toward, you're held in His love every step of the way.

Welcome to your journey of letting go and reaching forward. Welcome to a community that will cheer you on. Welcome home.

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Ready to take your next step? Connect with us anytime at www.famemphis.org. Our global community is here for you 24/7, and we'd love to help you find your place in our worldwide family.

First Assembly Memphis 8650 Walnut Grove Road Cordova, Tennessee 38018 Phone: 901-843-8600 Email: info@famemphis.net