The Chain of Choices: Reflecting on the Year Past and the Year Ahead

As the year winds down, many of us naturally turn to reflection. What went well? What didn’t? What can we do differently in the year ahead? It’s easy to think of a year as a collection of moments—some big, some small. But when you take a closer look, every moment is tied to a choice, and every choice has shaped the direction of your life.

Lysa TerKeurst captures this beautifully:

“The decisions you make today matter. Every decision points your life in the direction you are about to travel. No decision is an isolated choice. It’s a chain of events. If you choose wisely, your future will reflect that. But if you don’t choose wisely, the decisions you make now will take you to places you don’t want to be later.”

The Weight of Everyday Choices

It’s tempting to think that only the big decisions matter—where to live, who to marry, what career to pursue. But the truth is, every small choice we make contributes to the trajectory of our lives. Think of each decision as a domino. Knock one down, and it sets off a chain reaction.

The Bible reminds us of this in Galatians 6:7-8:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

This passage is a sobering reminder that every decision we make—every seed we plant—will bear fruit, for better or for worse. Are we sowing seeds of faith, love, and wisdom? Or are we planting seeds of selfishness, impatience, and distraction?

Reflecting on the Year Past

Take a moment to think about the choices you made this year.

Did you prioritize your relationship with God?
Were your decisions rooted in faith or fear?
Did you intentionally align your choices with the future you want, or did you let the current of life carry you along?

For me, there have been seasons where I’ve looked back and seen how one unwise choice led to a pattern that was hard to break. A missed quiet time here, a harsh word there, a compromise with my values—it all added up. And yet, God’s grace was present, reminding me that it’s never too late to turn back.

Proverbs 3:5-6 offers wisdom for moments of reflection:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Even if some of your choices this year led you off course, God is faithful to help you realign when you surrender to Him.

Preparing for the Year Ahead

As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect time to be intentional about the direction we want our lives to take. The decisions you make today—how you spend your time, what you focus on, the habits you cultivate—will shape the year ahead.

Consider starting with these three steps:

Seek God’s Guidance
Before making decisions, big or small, bring them to God in prayer. James 1:5 reminds us:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Evaluate Your Priorities
Are your decisions reflecting your values? For example, if you say faith and family are your priorities, are your choices showing that?
Choose Slow and Steady Progress
Don’t get overwhelmed by the need for drastic change. As Matthew 6:34 reminds us,
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Focus on making one wise choice at a time.

End-of-Year Reflection Questions

As you reflect on the past year and prepare for the next, consider journaling through these questions:

What choices this year brought me closer to God, and which ones pulled me away?
Are there patterns in my life I need to break or strengthen?
How can I invite God into my decision-making process in the year ahead?

Remember, every choice is a step on the path of your life. As you stand at the crossroads of one year ending and another beginning, take the time to slow down, reflect, and choose wisely. Your future self will thank you, and most importantly, your choices can reflect a heart aligned with God’s will.

Here’s to a year of sowing seeds that will bear good fruit!