It’s that time of year when all manner of things are promised. We tell ourselves we’ll go to the gym more frequently or that this will be the year when we read the Bible every morning. Some of us vow to serve more in our communities while others reflect on the chaos of last year’s overcommitment and aim to say “no” a bit more frequently.

Goals can be helpful—but they can’t be ultimate. Especially when rooted in perfection, resolutions may end up leaving us more discouraged than ever.

“Dreaming about ideals can offer a comforting sense of control,” writes Mia Staub for CT. But, she determines, “There’s also a danger to how much we idealize what could be—especially when it comes to our faith.”

As we work to prioritize what matters in 2025, may we do so with the assurance that Jesus has already achieved perfection on our behalf. The calling on our lives is not optimization, but sanctification. And at the end of the day—or year—whether we’ve reached all of our goals or haven’t even come close, we can rest in the truth that God’s great joy in us remains.