Article | - 10:17 am
The end of the year is often a time for reflection, setting goals, and strengthening relationships. Many people use this season to reassess their lives and prepare for a fresh start. However, amidst the celebrations, trips, and festivities, many face hidden struggles such as:
• Loss of loved ones
• Divorce
• Financial hardship
• Illness
• Unfulfilled dreams
• Loneliness and sadness
These challenges are often masked by the glitter and temporary joy of the season. Even the “Christmas magic” may not ease the pain or fill the emptiness some people feel during this time.
Many believe that a new year automatically brings a new beginning. But once the excitement fades, life often returns to the same patterns, leading to renewed disappointments and challenges. True change and happiness require more than just resolutions or wishful thinking.
If you’ve been feeling hopeless, there’s good news: a genuinely happy and fulfilling life is possible. This isn’t about luck, material success, or fleeting moments of joy. It’s about something more profound and eternal, as promised by God: “Behold, I will do something new; Now it will spring forth; Will you not know it?” (Isaiah 43:19) To experience this new life, you need to take action.
To take possession of a new life and, consequently, the happiness granted by the Almighty through His Spirit, it is necessary to understand the commitment needed to seek Him, as Bishop Edir Macedo explains in his blog: “To achieve happiness, one must first take possession of life. The dead have no right to happiness. As long as a person is spiritually dead in their crimes and sins, how can they achieve happiness? Impossible. First, they need to be resurrected. And, to do so, they must seek the Author of life.”
God is no respecter of persons; therefore, His promises extend to all who believe, that is, who surrender themselves unreservedly to Him. And make no mistake, surrendering your old life to God is not limited to empty statements spoken out loud; it requires obedience, renunciation, and the daily practice of attitudes that demonstrate your trust in Him.
“To believe means to surrender oneself body, soul, and spirit. From this unconditional surrender, the person receives life. And then, he will have the right to the happiness he has dreamed of. Whoever is humble enough to submit and fear Him will inherit riches, honor, and life,” concludes the bishop.
Happiness and peace are within your reach—it starts with one decision. Surrender your life to God and let Him transform your future. Seek the Holy Spirit, who holds peace, life, and eternal joy. End this year by surrendering yourself to the Almighty, and step into 2025 with a new life in Him!
At The Universal Church, we will dedicate the first minutes in 2025 to seeking the Holy Spirit at the New Year’s Eve Vigil on Tuesday, December 31st at 10 PM. Watch this special invitation below:
All are welcome regardless of religion or background. Come as you are. For a list of locations, please click here. For more information, please call 1-888-332-4141 or text to 1-888-312-4141. You may also contact us via our contact form (click here).
For those who live in areas without a location of The Universal Church, are unable to commute, or are unchurched and hesitant to attend in person, you may also connect to our Virtual Church via Zoom Conference.
Contributors:
Yasmin Lindo (Translated and Adapted From Original)
