My Focus for the Year: Trust, Surrender, and Obedience

At the end of 2024, our church began praying about what the Lord had been speaking to us for the upcoming year. We were encouraged to seek a focus word—something God would use to guide and shape us this year.

At first, I was hesitant. Anchoring my year on a specific word felt too much like a New Year’s resolution, and I’ve never been a fan of those. No offense to anyone who sets resolutions, but I personally struggle with making promises I can’t keep—even to myself. The idea of choosing a single word to define my year felt unfamiliar, and you know how we can be about new things… we tend to resist or even demonize what we don’t understand.

Only this time, it wasn’t just unfamiliar—it was uncomfortable. And that discomfort made me pause.

But despite my initial hesitation, I decided to pray anyway.

The Moment It Became Clear

At our final gathering of the year, we came together for worship, fellowship, and prayer. The room was filled with voices lifted in praise, people praying over one another, and a tangible sense of God’s presence.

During this time, our pastor paused and encouraged us to ask God what He wanted to speak over our lives for the coming year. He told us to listen for His voice—not to force a word, but to simply sit in His presence and receive whatever He wanted to reveal.

I took a deep breath and prayed, “Lord, what do You want to say to me this year?”

And then, I sat. I listened. And I waited.

I thought maybe I’d hear a single word—something simple like faith or growth. But instead, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t just a word.

It was a phrase:

“Trust in Me, Surrender to Me, and Obey My Word.”

I wrote it down, and as I did, I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and assurance. It was like God was gently telling me, This is what I want from you. This is how I want you to walk this year.

And suddenly, it all made sense.

Why These Words?

At first, I thought, Okay, Lord, I can do this. Trust, surrender, and obedience. Sounds good.

But the more I sat with those words, the more I realized—this wasn’t just a theme for my year. This was a challenge to grow.

Trust in Me.

I’ve always considered myself someone who trusts God, but if I’m being honest, trust is easier when life is stable. It’s easy to say, I trust You, Lord when your bank account looks good, your family is doing well, and you’re not facing battles on every side.

But real trust? The kind God was calling me into? That’s the kind of trust that says, Even when I don’t understand, even when it looks impossible, even when I can’t see a way through—I will still trust You.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

God was calling me to trust Him, even in uncertainty.

Surrender to Me.

Now, surrender is a word I’ve always leaned into. I’ve seen how God moves powerfully when we let go and allow Him to take control. But here’s the thing—surrender is easy when you don’t have much to lose.

What about when God asks you to surrender your comfort?

What about when He asks you to surrender your expectations?

What about when He asks you to surrender your control?

That’s when surrender gets real.

Romans 12:1 (NIV) says:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Surrender is an act of worship. It’s saying, Lord, even if it costs me everything, I will follow You. This kind of surrender is giving God a "yes" before he even asks.

Obey My Word.

This one hit me the hardest.

Trusting is one thing. Surrendering is another. But obedience? Obedience is what ties them both together.

Because obedience isn’t just about hearing God’s Word—it’s about doing it. Even when it’s hard. Even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when it requires sacrifice. I often get stuck in the lack of doing, stuck in rationalizing, questioning and downright procrastination. I knew that God was asking for complete obedience.

James 1:22 (NIV) says:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Obedience is faith in action. And this year, God was making it clear—He didn’t just want me to believe; He wanted me to obey faith with my actions.

The Real Test Began Immediately

I’d love to say that after receiving this word, everything in my life lined up perfectly. But that’s not how God works.

In fact, almost immediately, my family and I were met with one of the hardest financial seasons we’ve ever faced. It was like the enemy was trying to shake our faith and make us doubt everything God had spoken.

We could feel the spiritual warfare so clearly. It wasn’t just about money—it was about trust. Would we believe that God is our provider? Would we hold on to His promises?

We had to make a choice:

• Trust in the Lord or trust in our circumstances?

• Surrender our plans or hold on to control?

• Obey His Word or let fear take over?

We chose prayer. We reached out to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We stood firm in the Word and we PRAYED!

And God? He showed up. Not always in the way we expected, but always in the way we needed.

What Is God Speaking to You?

Maybe you’ve never sought a focus word for the year, or perhaps you’ve been hesitant like I was. But I encourage you—take time to pray and ask God what He wants to speak over your life. His words are life-giving, and they will sustain you in every season.

• Is there an area where God is calling you to trust Him more?

• Is He asking you to surrender something that’s been holding you back?

• Is there a step of obedience He’s prompting you to take?

As for me, I’m still walking this journey, learning what it truly means to trust, surrender, and obey. But one thing I know for sure—God’s words never return void.

Will You Seek God’s Word for This Year?

What about you? Will you be praying and seeking the Lord for a word this year?

I’d love to hear what He’s speaking to you! Drop a comment below or share your thoughts.

From A Daughters Broken Heart,

Shae'  💔