Inside: A scripture that guided me through the hardships of 2025 pointed the way to my word for this year. And an unexpected Christmas gift confirmed that I had made the right choice. ~
After my bike accident last year, I noticed that my right eye didn’t water when my eyes would normally well up with tears.
In the past, this type of eye watering often happened when music stirred my emotions. After my parents died, for example, the tears flowed in church whenever we sang an old hymn I remembered from my childhood. I’m not a person who cries much, so this was a healing process during that season of deep grief.
I eventually learned that humans have three kinds of tears—emotional tears, which my right eye stopped producing after the accident; reflex tears that wash away irritants; and basal tears, which keep our eyes lubricated. (Fortunately for me, the latter were not affected so I can still wear contacts comfortably.)
The doctors I consulted about my lack of emotional tears had no answers or solutions for me. I didn’t like it much, but I gradually just accepted it as the new normal.
My Christmas Miracle
Fast forward to Christmas Eve. I was at church with my family, and the praise team was leading the congregation in a variation of “O Come All Ye Faithful” that includes a bridge from Isaiah 9:6.
My heart warmed within me as we got to the part about God’s name—”Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” At the same time, tears started streaming out of both of my eyes.
This had not happened since before my accident. It was a gift, maybe even Christmas miracle.
My tears made my heart rejoice.
Rejoice Always
If I had to point to a single scripture passage that guided me through my recovery last year, it would be Philippians 4:4-7:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (ESV).
Praying with thanksgiving helped ease my anxious thoughts, and God’s indescribable peace sustained my heart and mind. But somewhere along the way, the repeated instruction to rejoice—not just when everything is going well but always—settled in my soul.
Here’s how a note in my ESV Study Bible explains it: “The joy that Paul calls for is not a happiness that depends on circumstances but a deep contentment that is in the Lord, based on trust in the sovereign, living God, and that therefore is available always, even in difficult times.”
Early Indicator
Several months before 2025 ended, I knew rejoice would be my word for this new year. Philippians 4:4 lit the flame for me, but I also love how it’s used in the Old Testament. Verse after verse speaks about rejoicing in the Lord, not just by singing songs of praise, but with our hearts and “whole being[s]” (1 Chronicles 16:9-11, Psalm 16:9).
I experienced this on Christmas Eve, and I’m so grateful.
After what 2025 held for me and my loved ones, I especially appreciate the prayer expressed in Psalm 90:14-15: “Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days. Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us, for as many years as we have seen adversity.”
The Source of True Joy
In addition to being an “integral part of worship and gratitude,” Biblehub.com describes rejoicing as “a reflection of the believer’s trust and confidence in God” and an “expression of faith that transcends temporal situations.”
In other words, our joy doesn’t come and go based on how we feel at any given time or in any given church service. Instead, it flows from our hope in the eternal glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
It’s not optional either, as the Apostle Paul makes clear in 1 Thessalonians:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV, emphasis mine).
If I’m being honest, “rejoice always” seems like a tall order for any year, much less 2026. I don’t know what this is supposed to look like in my life. I’m sure I will miss the mark many times.
But I also believe that the One who is able to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20) will continue to strengthen me—and you too—just as He did throughout 2025. And because of that alone, I will be able to rejoice.
• • •
Have you chosen a word—or perhaps a phrase or a Bible verse—to guide you this year? If so, please share in the comments.
♥ Lois
Somewhere along the way, the repeated instruction to rejoice—not just when everything is going well but ALWAYS—settled in my soul. Share on X Our joy doesn’t come and go based on how we feel at any given time or in any given church service. Instead, it flows from our hope in the eternal glory of God. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
24 comments
Aww, I love that! What a beautiful testimony to how God meets our needs in His perfect timing. I admit…I sang this part of the verse when I read it: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. An uplifting chorus we used to sing in church.
I think I remembering singing the same chorus, Lisa. Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s good to see you here this week!
What a beautiful testimony Lois. Rejoice indeed. I’m looking forward to see where God takes you with this, this year.
Visiting today from Joanne’s.
Thanks so much, Paula. This word is already working on me, and I praise God for that!
What a wonderful word for 2026, and praise the Lord for that moment on Christmas Eve! Philippians 4 has gotten my attention often in recent months too, friend. So appreciated your reflections on it, and related verses about rejoicing. Thank the Lord we always have cause to rejoice in Him! Looking forward to hearing how “rejoice” plays out in your life this year.
Rejoice is already working on my heart in unexpected ways, Bethany. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by that, should I? 🙂 I’m thankful we can rejoice together in 2026.
What a sweet experience that your tears returned on Christmas Eve. I don’t think I knew there were three kinds of tears, but I am glad they are all working now. 🙂 I love the ESV Study Bible note on joy or rejoicing. Rejoicing all the time does seem like a tall order! I often have to get over my disgruntled feelings first and then remind myself of the truth that God has a purpose in all things He allows. I hope to get to the joy without the negative feelings much sooner.
The process you go through sounds very familiar to me, Barbara. Like you, I’m hoping to get to the joy sooner too. Here’s to a joy-filled year for both of us in 2026!
Love this testimony of how God has restored emotional tears. I didn’t know about 3 kinds of tears either. Your life has reflected Jesus throughout this time since your bike accident and I think your word for 2026 sounds like affirmation of what He is doing. I had a sense of the Lord speaking to me through several passages of scripture and the word to focus for the year 2026 is “rely”. Blessings and hugs, my friend.
Aw, Pam … thank you so much for your kind words. I’ve been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster lately, but even in that, rejoice is helping me refocus, and I’m so thankful. I think rely is a wonderful word for 2026 … I’ll look forward to hearing how that plays out in your life. Happy New Year, dear friend!
I didn’t realize there were three kinds of tears; how fascinating. And how thrilling that you got your emotional tears back on Christmas Eve. That’s beautiful. Rejoice is a lovely choice for your One Word! I’ll look forward to hearing how it finds its way in your life in ’26.
Thanks, Lisa! I do hope to write more about my One Word this year. It is already proving to be helpful in some unexpected ways! Hugs, friend.
What a beautiful testimony of restoration, Lois! Rejoicing with you in all the Lord did in 2025, and all He will do in 2026. My WOTY for 2026 is explore.
Thank you for your kind words, Lisa. I think explore is a wonderful word for 2026!
This is such a powerful testimony after the challenges of 2025. I look forward to all the Lord will do as you continue to focus on rejoicing in Him. Blessings on the year ahead!
Thanks so much, Joanne. I look forward to that too! And also to what God does in you through your word surrender. He’s faithful to provide just what we need, isn’t He? Even when it comes to our words! Hugs, friend.
Happy New Year, Lois! I love your Christmas miracle, and reading a bit about how God has been working in your difficult time. Rejoice is a great focus for the year. I have a Bible passage instead of a word and I’m planning to share about it next week.
Happy New Year to you, Lesley! I be looking forward to reading about the Bible passage you’ve chosen to guide you through 2026. Hugs, friend.
What an amazing word to focus on after the year you have had!
I thought so too, Michele. I probably need to post it on my fridge door to help me refocus when I am tempted to complain or feel sorry for myself for one reason or another!
I rejoice with you that your emotional tears to your right eye have returned, Lois! I love how your Bible notes describe rejoicing as a “deep contentment that is in the Lord, based on trust in the sovereign, living God, and that therefore is available always, even in difficult times.” Love and blessings of God’s faithful love and grace in 2026!
I loved that description too, Trudy. I hope that 2026 is off to a good start for you, and that the entire year holds many blessings and good health for you and Len!
Lois, what a sweet Christmas miracle! And those Phil. 4 verses are some of my favorite. Thanks for sharing your miracle with us!
You’re welcome, Debbie! As for Philippians 4, I actually started using that passage in my prayer time a few weeks BEFORE my accident, which is such a comforting example of how God goes before us every step of the way.