January often represents new beginnings. We feel a surge of excitement as we make resolutions, set new goals, and imagine what lies ahead. Yet for some of us, the start of a new year may feel quite different. What if you are entering 2026 feeling empty – weary and heavy?

Perhaps our weariness is an invitation to pause, and ask:

What do we do when we’ve reached the end of our own efforts? Where do we turn?

When life’s circumstances feel heavy, overwhelming, and unrelenting, our hope is not meant to be found in our own efforts or strength to endure. Our hope rests in the God who holds us fast – the One who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. This hope is anchored in who God is and his promises, not in what we are going through or how we feel. It’s the quiet, resilient confidence that even when we don’t see things changing as we want, God is still good, present, and at work.

Jesus isn’t just the starting point of our faith, but the foundation we return to again and again. He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9) God invites us to rest on his power and strength - to shift from self-reliance to placing Christ at the very center of our lives.

When Christ becomes the center of our lives, who we are and our value is no longer built on how well (or not well) we’re doing, how much strength we have, or even how good we are. So, we are less afraid of being crushed by what we see as failures or brokenness within us, but can find rest in who he says we are and be assured of the Father’s steadfast love toward us.

Christ’s love is far greater than the shame that we have internalized. It is the power that frees us from self-reliance and sustains us in weakness. May it be our lifelong journey to grasp, more and more, how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for us (Eph. 3:18).

As we step into this new year, may we continue to see Him more clearly, and allow His love to progressively undo the shame deep within us and lighten the burdens we carry as caregivers. We invite you to reflect on the following questions and excerpt "A Liturgy for Caregivers in Need of Rest."