Gratitude for God’s provision

As you begin to close off the year 2025 and even in the years of the past, have you ever found yourself in a state of “life evaluation”? Maybe you find yourself feeling more and more reflective or even anticipatory for something new. You may start asking yourself questions like “What did I accomplish this year?” “What did I learn?” “Who have I become?” Perhaps you feel more nostalgic, and you keep catching yourself reminiscing. This is actually a fairly common phenomenon known as “Year-end nostalgia”

For you, it probably feels bittersweet to reflect upon all the ups and downs of the past year – the highlights and lowlights, the hills and valleys of one chapter closing as another one opens – the subliminal need for closure.

Subconsiously, your brain is being motivated by the desire to wrap up the year all nice and clean with a pretty little Christmas bow on top.

What comes next is another phenomenon known as the “Fresh Start Effect”. This signals a new beginning – anticipation of a fresh start – a brand new chance to do something new. At this point, you’re probably thinking of your future self and setting new intentions. You mentally disconnect from past failures and old habits. You have a clean slate and a renewed sense of optimism with a generous helping of motivation.

Now you’re setting goals, buying new planners and journals, you’re dreaming bigger than you have in months, you’re giving more, resting more, spending more time with family and friends – you’re grateful. You’re filled with Gratitude and joy for all that God has given you, for all that He has allowed you to experience, and for the hope He has given you for the future. You feel fresh, you feel renewed, you feel joyful.

You. Are. Grateful.

Eventually, if you’re not careful, that “New year, new me” feeling slowly starts to fade. That loss of excitement starts to find you in other areas of your life. Your dopamine levels drop, you lose motivation to do the things you said you would do, disappointment replaces enthusiasm, your brain switches to “all or nothing”, and more often than not, you find yourself choosing “nothing”. You’ve lost that new year magic.

The reason for this is simple: when motivation dips, identity takes over. You’re trying to act like a new person when you’re still stuck believing you’re the old you.

Here’s the simple truth – motivation fades, gratitude refills it. Gratitude is an identity rehearsal; every “thank you” is a quiet affirmation.

Gratitude for God’s provision transforms your identity. When we thank God for His provision, we remember;

• I am not alone
• I am provided for
• My life is held by God

Cultivating a rhythm of gratitude does the following:

1. Roots your identity in being cared for: it shifts your identity from self-reliant orphan to beloved child of a faithful Father. From stress to trust.
2. It builds your identity on God’s faithfulness, not your performance: growth is fueled by grace.
3. It shifts your identity from lack to abundance: it trains your heart to see hope instead of fear. You begin to believe “God will continue to provide”
4. It anchors identity in God’s authority over your timeline: when you reflect on how God has come through before, you start to say, “if God did it then, He can do it again”
5. It reforms the transformation process as spiritual formation: the journey itself becomes evidence of God’s hand. Every small win becomes worship.
6. It teaches us to depend, not just to desire: 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

This festive season, I want to encourage you to take some time to reflect on how God has shown up for you this year. Take everyone of those moments and write then down – on paper and in your heart. Use these moments as the pillars you will use to strengthen your God given identity to remind yourself that if God did it before, then He will certainly do it again.

Love, Mwape