January 2026 Welcome to your New Year

So off to a busy dive right in start to 2026? Thrilled at the pace and accomplishments so far?

Or, like some of us, finding the new year to be a challenge in not the best way?

We’ve all heard more advice than we want to hear about hitting the ground running in the brand-new year, working toward the goals for 2026 we set last October, and tackling the challenges before us. It’s great sounding advice for the excitement of the fresh start and fresh year.

But reality is different than that for some of us.

The Buoyancy PR shop is pretty busy on behalf of our clients in the New Year, and we are truly thankful. It is exciting to have so many things going on. However, on a personal level, this January has so far brought a few more hills to climb than I had anticipated.

God nudged me, though, and reminded me of something I had been told a number of years ago that I found comforting and encouraging. Then and now.

So, in case your January bears some resemblance to mine, I thought I’d share it.

It was more than a decade ago, but some sermons stick. In this case, it was an encouraging word from Jeff Metzger, founding minister of River Hills Christian Church in Loveland, Ohio.  I don’t remember much of the sermon, but the takeaway that has stuck is the concept of God working upstream on our behalf.

All these challenges we are facing? Sometimes quite a surprise to us.

But not to God. He, the omniscient and all-knowing one, knew your current challenge was coming and when.

And He was upsteam, out of sight, working things out for you.

The way I think of it, He isn’t there removing all the rocks, rather removing barriers and keeping the water flowing and navigable for you right now. He’s there with you, ahead of you, for this day and those yet to come.

A perspective shift, a new way of thinking about God working in my life and yours.

So, the year ahead is truly full of promise and possibilities, with goals to dream and achieve, and a powerful partner to guide and work upstream.

By next week, we will be ready to tackle some topics of interest to authors about promoting their books, and especially those preparing to attend the NRB convention next month in Nashville.