As I stand on the edge of a new year, my heart is still spinning from all that God has done. Honestly, I don’t even have words big enough to hold it. It’s been a year of stretching—hard, holy stretching. There were days I told the Lord, “This is too hard. I can’t do this.” And every single time, I heard Him whisper back, “You can do hard things, Tracee.”
Because He is the strength of my life.
2025 wasn’t the easiest year. It was the year I had to dig deep, press in, and let go—over and over again. But what made the difference wasn’t my determination. It was my deeper pursuit of Him. That changed everything. The more I sought Him, the more I saw His fingerprints in places I hadn’t even thought to look.
And now, as I head into 2026, I know exactly what I’m leaving at the cross.
I’m leaving behind the stuck mentality that tells me my dreams will never come to fruition.
I’m leaving behind the lie that I’m too late, too old, or too behind to see what God has spoken come to pass.
I’m leaving behind carrying things that were never meant for me to carry—burdens, timelines, and other people’s expectations.
I’m leaving behind fear disguised as wisdom, worry dressed up as control, and striving that wears the mask of faith.
I’m done carrying what keeps me bound when Jesus already broke the chains.
Because here’s the truth: you can’t find new strength while clinging to old ways.
New strength finds you in the release.
It’s found when you stop rehearsing what was and surrender to what is—the presence of God right here, right now.
That’s what the cross is all about.
It’s the place where my surrender meets His strength.
Where my letting go meets His lifting up.
Where every “I can’t” meets His eternal “I already have.”
So as we step into 2026, let’s do it lighter.
Let’s leave behind what attempts to drain us and hold tight to what deepened us.
Let’s trade our worry for wonder and our striving for surrender.
Because the same God who carried us through this year
is already waiting for us in the next one.
And I have a feeling… it’s going to be good.
Before I wrap up this final Unfiltered Faith post of the year, I just want to say a huge thank you.
You have no idea what it’s meant to me to have you here—reading, sharing, showing up week after week. This little corner of the internet has become something sacred because of you.
And after months of praying and seeking the Lord about where He’s leading for 2026,
I’ve got some exciting news to share about what’s next for Unfiltered Faith next week—and I think you’re going to love it. 💛
Stay tuned, friend.
The best is yet to come.
2025 was a year of transition for me, but I love where God is leading me in 2026. It's going to be a great year!