Is this the year to do more or the year to do less?

                                                        

We have all been thrust into this new year of ours. No one even asked if we wanted to participate. So here we are. What will the new year be? What will we be in the new year?

Do you feel the tug to do more in 2026 or would it be best for you to do less? This is the current question I am asking myself. It would make me feel better if you considered this question along with me.

There are various personality types used by psychologists to categorize all of us. There's the Myers-Briggs Indicator. The Enneagram Number. And then there's the "I wanna do more" versus the "please can't we do less" personality types. Often these conflicting personalities reside in the same house or sleep in the same bed. These two have a challenge ahead reconciling their calendars for the new year ahead.

Are you over-tasked with an abundance of "to do's" or do you need to kick yourself in the pants to reach your full potential? Do you make the most of your opportunities or take on what isn't rightfully yours? I would feel better if you considered these questions along with me.

I'm of the do more sort. I wanna do the most I can and then add on a little bit more after that. Why not squeeze in as much frolic and fun as possible? If there are 3 events scheduled for 1 evening, I see no reason not to do them all. Doing a mere half would mean missing out on the other half. That's simply not acceptable.

I'm still not preferring to slow down. I must admit going full steam all day long is more challenging than it used to be. My body sometimes protests. It makes me surrender. I surrender reluctantly. 

January is the predictable and ideal time to assess what is best. I'm assessing my waistline and my thigh circumference so why not assess my scheduled priorities too?

I'm assessing now is the time to go deep.

I typically go wide, not just in my waistline and thigh circumference. I typically participate in a wide list of volunteer ministries throughout my day to day and my year to year. I serve. I contribute. I do my share. For my consideration, I could potentially do more by doing for less. I could go deeper in fewer.

I'm sensing in 2026 I am to give more to less. I am to sacrifice to a greater extent. I am to make more of an impact in fewer things. These aren't lesser things. Only fewer bigger things.

"Deep" is my word for 2026. Have you identified your word for the new year?

My word came to me during this Sunday's sermon. The pastor challenged us to not stay in the "shallow end of faith." That is where we are in the water but never over our head. We gain confidence in our own ability if our feet can still touch the ground. Swimming in the deep end of faith makes me go out over my head. There my feet are nowhere close to touching. I am put in a more challenging place out of my control. My comfort zone is way over there back in the shallow end. I can't survive for long in the deep end on my own.

We can fool ourselves to believe we're swimming while we merely stand in shallow water. Swimming requires lifting up and letting go. Residing in the deep end makes me less self-assured and more dependent.

I'm sensing that's exactly where God wants me to be in 2026. Less self-assurance. More total dependance on Him.

Going deep takes more intention. More commitment. More risk. It reaps more potential.

I'll say it out loud so you'll hold me accountable. I'm going deep.

Going deep fosters more questions in the beginning but more answers in the end. I don't fully know what will be required of me to go deep but I never have to wonder what if I had not risked all and not done what I was hesitant to do? God will get the job done. No matter the job. If not with me, then with a more willing participant. I want to be that willing participant.

I don't want to one day observe God's second choice representative doing a good work when it could have been me. Should have been me.

There's an oldie but goodie song sung by Steven Curtis Chapman called, "Dive." I suggest you "dive into" the lyrics. He sings about diving in and going deep in life. He sings, "We will never know the awesome power of the grace of God until we let ourselves get swept away..." 

I want to fully experience the awesome power of the grace of God. What about you? 

That experience is just on the other side of comfort and convenience. 

It's a choice. My choice. Your choice. Do we dabble or do we dive?

I've been asked to take on a new role that is nowhere near my comfort zone. I'm not able. I'm not equipped. This role presents high risk and far-reaching reward way outside my grasp. It throws me into unknown territory and onto unchartered ground. There is no one who has paved the way ahead of me. No, only a bumpy road ahead. 

It makes zero sense to say "yes" to a bumpy road. I'm leaning toward saying "yes."

Saying "yes" is saying "yes" to diving in over my head. To going deep. Success here would be clear - "If not for God!"

I'm saying "yes" to a faith-stretching journey. One that is scary and exhilarating all at the same time. You are my friends. I wish this type of bumpy exhilarating road for each of you. It is life's greatest adventure to be on the "God Train." When this train leaves the station, we all want to be on it! It is where to go to see God show up in BIG ways. It's where we realize we can't. Our God can! Our God will! 

He will show up for you and for me. We must step out in faith. Walk over the ledge. Do the unthinkable. We can say "yes" to what we are the least qualified to do and watch Him show off His qualities in us!

Our faith will grow in 2026 as we see Him bring success as only He can do. We must be willing to go deep in bold ways to witness Him at work in bold ways. We want outcomes that can only be explained by divine intervention. Living life on the edge is way better than being stuck in the status quo. 

This doesn't take a giant of faith. Thankfully! I'm definitely not that. It just takes a mustard seed amount making us willing to take the next step and the next step after that. It's a decision - often daily - maybe minute by minute - to trust and believe and give the "how and when" to Him.

It's going to be a great year!

No matter our age, God has purpose in our days! May our days bring Him praise!

Dive in.

Go deep.

Sow first.

Then reap.