What Fruitfulness Taught Me This Year
Word of the Year: Fruitful
When I chose fruitful as my word for the year, I expected growth.
I imagined things unfolding—maybe even expanding. I hoped to see forward momentum in clear ways, in both life and ministry. Something I could point to and say, “Look what grew.” But as the year unfolded, fruitfulness didn’t always show up the way I thought it would.
Instead of measurable growth, there was pruning. Instead of obvious outcomes, there were long stretches of waiting and wondering. And instead of feeling full and flourishing, there were long periods when I didn’t feel fruitful at all.
Looking Back on the Turning Points
There were moments this year that felt more like being undone than being fruitful.
And yet, when I look back now, I can see that something was growing—just not where I expected.
Some of that growth came through the reflections I shared throughout the year:
Each of those posts came from a place of quiet, personal movement. Not big revelation. Not external success. Just slow, steady, internal growth.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on humility and comparison—especially the danger of comparing my beginning to someone else’s middle. It’s not fair to me. It’s not fair to God. When I let comparison lead, I start getting frustrated that I’m not doing things the “right” way or fast enough or as visibly as others. But fruitfulness doesn’t always look like forward motion. And it’s not something I get to control.
There hasn’t been a single “aha” moment this year. Just a patient, quiet invitation from God:
Lay it down. Trust Me with it. Let Me show you what I can grow.
What Fruitfulness Turned Out to Mean
As I look back, fruitfulness didn’t mean fast. Or visible. Or loud.
It meant obedience. It meant surrender. It meant doing the work quietly and faithfully, even when I didn’t see results.
It looked like trusting that God was still working—maybe in ways I couldn’t see yet.
It looked like learning to stop measuring everything by output and instead asking, “Where is God forming me?”
Sometimes fruitfulness wasn’t about what I was producing at all.
Sometimes it was what He was producing in me.
And sometimes, it was what He was doing in others through my small “yes.”
What I’m Grateful For
I’m grateful for the Lord’s patience.
For His presence in the middle of my frustration and uncertainty.
For how gently He keeps showing me: I’m here. I’m working. Even this is fruit.
I’m grateful for the growth in my home and family, in the quiet work I’ve done with my church, and in the unexpected shaping of this ministry-business. And I’m especially thankful for every person who’s joined us here this year. You’ve been part of this fruitfulness—even if we didn’t recognize it at the time.
My prayer is that you have seen fruit this year too—maybe not what you expected, but real nonetheless.
A Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for walking with me through every part of this year.
For the pruning and the promise.
For the growth I saw, and the fruit I didn’t.
For Your quiet work in me—and in others.
Help me carry what I’ve learned forward with trust, gratitude, and joy.
I may not know what next year holds, but I know You’ll be in it.
Amen.
Reflection Questions
Where did I expect to see fruit this year?
What kind of fruit showed up instead?
What internal growth am I thankful for, even if no one else sees it?
What is God inviting me to carry forward?
