Embrace the Shift

The days between Christmas and New Year’s Day can often slip past, just waiting for life to resume to normalcy. We can miss the opportunity to step into what I call “the shift.” We enter a stretch of days leading into New Year’s Day which can feel like a second-rate holiday after the hubbub of Christmas.

What if these days looked different this year? 

Invite God into the Shift

I invite you into an intentional transition—a sacred pause that draws us to reflect on what has been and to prepare our hearts to receive the planting of something “new.”

1 – Reflect on the Gift

Savor the past few weeks. Recall a sweet moment, a kind word, and a flicker of joy you experienced. Let gratitude arise. Sit with it for a moment.

2 – Enlarge the View

Widen the lens to the past year. Scroll through photos or journal entries. Revisit moments, experiences, and sparks of life. Allow both joy and grief, peace and sadness to exist. Give space for all of it. 

3 – Dig In

Imagine your heart as soil. Good soil is messy. It is a mixture of fertilizer, nutrients, air, and water. Invite the Holy Spirit to stir your memories and breathe comfort and insight into each. Ask Him to show you how to hold their place in your soul. Pause here to be still and allow God to work in your heart.

4 – Imagine Hope

Hope is like a seed. Each seed carries the potential for something unique—a flower, a tree, an herb, or fruit. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a glimpse of what He is planting in you for the coming season. Linger in this space.

5 – Plant the Seed

Picture the seed of hope settling into the soil of the past year. The experiences, joyful and painful, have been mixed to create a rich soil, ready for a new planting. Imagine the tiny seeds being placed, covered, and watered. Let anticipation arise as you trust God for what will grow.

6 – Nurture Faith

This is a time of hope, rooted with faith. God is the Gardener. He gives the seed. He waters. He prunes. He gives light. Faith is the assurance of what we cannot see yet, anchored by trust in who God is and what He is working for our good.

Connect with The Shift

This year let’s embrace these in-between days as a sacred bridge—a gentle pause to acknowledge what has been, celebrate honestly, and anticipate what’s to come. In this shift, we place our shattered pieces and heavy burdens in His hands, thank Him for how He has cultivated a deeper faith, and step forward carrying tiny seedlings of hope.

I would love to hear how you are experiencing the shift. Share your thoughts in the comments or send me an email. 

Let’s connect and walk this journey together,

Michelle

michelle@beinterconnected.org