Welcome back to the Savor blog — Savoring the Journey.  

Are you excited about what 2026 might bring? I know I am. As we step into the new year, the Savor blog will shift to a once-a-month schedule. In the meantime, I encourage you to stay connected by listening to our weekly Savor podcast.

This January, Isaiah 40:31 is especially meaningful to me. You see, my year ended very differently than expected. A couple of underlying medical issues came to light. Instead of the gym, doctor visits and lab work became my normal routine the last few months. Then, on New Year's Eve, my niece passed away unexpectedly from complications related to the flu at just 42 years old.

It was a difficult start to the new year, but this scripture reminds me that the Lord will renew my strength if I will simply wait for Him instead of running ahead. Many of us place too much pressure on ourselves by expecting perfection and feeling the need to control everything, then find anxiety creeping in when things don't go as planned. We run until we are exhausted, walk until we almost faint, and look to caffeine to renew our strength. 

Do you remember the old hymn, "Trust and Obey"?  If you haven't heard that song in a while, enjoy this beautiful rendition by Lor. Trust and Obey That's the goal for me in 2026. Trusting God — even when the path is unclear — and obeying Him, even when waiting feels uncomfortable. 

Father, I need the kind of renewed strength that only You can give. Holy Spirit, continue to show me how to wait on the Lord so that I can mount up with wings like an eagle, run and not grow weary, and walk without fainting. In Jesus' name, amen.