New Year. Better AFTER. Why Your Faith Foundation Matters More Than Your Resolutions

by Margarita Valdes

This year build your plans on an unshakeable foundation.

I don't know about you, but the end of the year always puts me in a reflective mood. And honestly? That reflection can go one of two ways.

Some years, I'm pumped up and ecstatic about the possibilities of a New Year—a fresh start, a reset button, a chance to do things differently. Other years, I feel like a deflated balloon—all the air and joy sucked out of me by lamenting over perceived failures, unanswered prayers, and looming problems. In that space, I have no energy or hope for peppy resolutions. After all, doesn't it always turn out the same?

But over time, I realized something crucial: the trick to determining which way my mood swings is the foundation I'm standing on.

The Foundation That Never Shifts

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Read that again slowly. Jesus is the same. Yesterday. Today. Forever.

This single verse completely nullifies my pity-party question of "doesn't it always turn out the same?" Because when I ask that question, I'm focused on my circumstances, my track record, my ability to keep resolutions. But Hebrews 13:8 redirects my attention to something—Someone—far more reliable than my own willpower.

This is what it means to start from a position of promise.

Standing on the Position of Promise

Hebrews 13:8 isn't a 30-day money-back guarantee. It's not a 10-year warranty or even a lifetime commitment. It's an eternal consistency—an unbeatable guarantee that transcends every temporary struggle.

No matter how bad the situation, no problem lasts forever. But Jesus does. His love doesn't waver when we fail. His character doesn't change based on our performance. His faithfulness isn't dependent on our feelings.

When we center our hopes on the stability of Jesus' love and character, we're building on a foundation that cannot be shaken—even when everything else feels uncertain.

And that's where real, lasting change begins. Not in our resolutions, but in our foundation.

First Things First

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

Jesus spoke these words in the middle of teaching about worry. His listeners were anxious about basic necessities—what to eat, what to drink, what to wear. Sound familiar? We might phrase it differently today: How will we pay the bills? Will my kids turn out okay? What if I make the wrong choice?

Jesus' answer wasn't to dismiss their concerns but to reorder their priorities. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Not second. Not after you've handled everything else. First.

When God's kingdom and His righteousness become our family's top priority, Jesus promises that our Heavenly Father—who already knows what we need—will provide. This isn't passive wishful thinking. It's active trust that changes how we live, decide, and respond to life's challenges.

This is the foundation that makes 2026 different from every other year. Not because circumstances will be perfect, but because our starting point is secure.

The Better AFTER Starts With the Same Foundation

When Jesus is your foundation, it doesn't matter how last year turned out. What matters is who walks with you into the year ahead.

As we step into 2026, our prayer for you is based on Psalm 65:11. King David is giving praise to God for harvest and life’s blessings when he says: "You crown the year with your bounty...".

May God crown your year with His goodness.

May even the hard paths overflow with blessing.

And may what felt like struggle, become fruitfulness.

Here at AFTER the King, our mission isn't changing. Our vision isn't shifting. Our values remain rooted in Christ—because He doesn't change. And when your family's foundation is built on the

One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, you're not just making New Year's resolutions.

You're living the Better AFTER.

So, this year, don't just aim for a fresh start. Aim for a firm foundation. Because when your family is anchored in Christ, every day becomes an opportunity to experience His love.

What foundation are you building on as you enter 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we'd love to hear how you're choosing to start from a position of promise this year.