Still Here, Still Standing and Still Trusting God

Psalm 65:11 NKJV

11 You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.

STILL HERE, STILL STANDING AND STILL TRUSTING GOD

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HERE WE ARE STANDING ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF 2025.

SOME OF US WALKED IN CARRYING GRATITUDE.

SOME WALKED IN CARRYING GRIEF.

SOME WALKED IN TIRED.

AND SOME OF US CAME IN SAYING, “LORD, I DON’T EVEN HAVE WORDS LEFT—JUST HELP ME STAND.”

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR WHEN HOPE IS LOUD AND EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH.

THIS IS THE LAST SUNDAY WHERE MEMORIES COME RUSHING BACK, WHERE SCARS STILL ACHE, WHERE VICTORIES FEEL HARD-EARNED, AND SURVIVAL ITSELF FEELS LIKE A TESTIMONY.

FOR MANY OF US, 2025 DIDN’T JUST HAPPEN ON CALENDARS IT HAPPENED IN OUR BODIES.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

TIGHT FINANCES

HEAVY NEWS CYCLES

NAMES ADDED TO PRAYER LISTS

TEARS CRIED IN PRIVATE

SMILES WORN IN PUBLIC

AND YET HERE WE ARE.

STILL BREATHING. STILL BELIEVING. STILL TRUSTING GOD.

PSALM 65 IS A PSALM OF PRAISE WRITTEN IN AN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE DEPENDED DAILY ON GOD FOR RAIN, HARVEST, AND PROVISION.

THERE WERE NO GROCERY STORES, NO INGLES, NO WALMART, NO FOOD LIONS

IF GOD DID NOT SEND RAIN, THERE WOULD BE NO FOOD.

IF GOD DID NOT BLESS THE LAND, THERE WOULD BE NO FUTURE.

SO WHEN DAVID PRAISES GOD, HE IS NOT SPEAKING THEORETICALLY

HE IS PRAISING A GOD WHO KEPT PEOPLE ALIVE.

DAVID LOOKS BACK OVER THE YEAR AND SAYS, “GOD, WHEN I CONSIDER EVERYTHING WE’VE WALKED THROUGH YOU CROWNED IT WITH GOODNESS.”

THAT WORD CROWN IMPLIES COMPLETION.

IT MEANS GOD DID NOT ABANDON THE YEAR HALFWAY THROUGH.

HE DID NOT LEAVE LOOSE ENDS UNATTENDED.

HE FINISHED WHAT HE STARTED.

AND THAT’S SOMEBODY’S TESTIMONY RIGHT NOW.

TRANSITION TO POINT I: SO LET’S START WHERE DAVID STARTS—NOT WITH WHAT WENT WRONG, BUT WITH WHAT GOD DID RIGHT.

POINT I — GOD CROWNED 2025 WITH HIS GOODNESS

DAVID SAYS, “YOU CROWN THE YEAR WITH YOUR GOODNESS.”

A CROWN IS NOT PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRUGGLE. IT’S PLACED AT THE END—AFTER THE BATTLE, AFTER THE EFFORT, AFTER THE ENDURANCE.

THAT MEANS GOD DIDN’T ABANDON US MID-YEAR.

HE DIDN’T STEP AWAY WHEN THE PRESSURE INCREASED.

HE DIDN’T LEAVE US WHEN THE WEIGHT OF BEING BLACK IN AMERICA FELT HEAVIER THAN USUAL.

FOR US, GOODNESS DOESN’T MEAN LIFE WAS GENTLE.

GOODNESS MEANS LIFE DIDN’T DESTROY US.

SOME OF US FACED SYSTEMS THAT WEREN’T BUILT WITH US IN MIND.

SOME OF US CARRIED GENERATIONAL STRESS.

SOME OF US FELT LIKE WE HAD TO BE TWICE AS STRONG TO GET HALF AS FAR.

YET HERE WE STAND.

TEACHING MOMENT: GOD’S GOODNESS IS NOT PROVEN BY EASE IT’S PROVEN BY ENDURANCE.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY, “I DON’T KNOW HOW I MADE IT,” THAT’S THE CROWN OF GOD’S GOODNESS RESTING ON YOUR LIFE.

TRANSITION: BUT DAVID DOESN’T JUST PRAISE GOD FOR HOW THE YEAR ENDED—HE PRAISES HIM FOR HOW THE JOURNEY UNFOLDED.

POINT II — GOD ORDERED THE PATH THAT BROUGHT US HERE

DAVID DECLARES, “YOUR PATHS DRIP WITH ABUNDANCE.”

NOTICE THE LANGUAGE

DRIP.

NOT RUSHED. NOT FORCED. NOT ALL AT ONCE.

JUST ENOUGH… AT THE RIGHT TIME.

SOME OF US DIDN’T GET ABUNDANCE THAT LOOKED LIKE OVERFLOW

WE GOT ABUNDANCE THAT LOOKED LIKE SURVIVAL.

STRENGTH WHEN DEPRESSION TRIED TO TAKE HOLD

GAS MONEY SHOWING UP WHEN THE TANK WAS ON E

A PHONE CALL THAT CAME RIGHT ON TIME

A PRAYER WHISPERED WHEN WORDS RAN OUT

TEACHING MOMENT: IN BLACK LIFE, ABUNDANCE OFTEN LOOKS LIKE RESILIENCE.

IT LOOKS LIKE GOD KEEPING YOUR MIND WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS UNSTABLE.

BIBLICALLY, GOD HAS ALWAYS BLESSED THE PATH, NOT JUST THE DESTINATION.

ISRAEL HAD MANNA FOR THE JOURNEY.

JESUS PROMISED DAILY BREAD….NOT LIFETIME STOCKPILES.

GOD GAVE YOU WHAT YOU NEEDED TO KEEP WALKING.

TRANSITION: AND THE REASON THE PATH NEVER RAN DRY IS BECAUSE GOD WAS PRESENT IN EVERY SEASON.

POINT III — GOD WAS FAITHFUL IN EVERY SEASON

PSALM 65 CELEBRATES A GOD WHO CONTROLS SEASONS— RAINY SEASONS.

DRY SEASONS. WAITING SEASONS.

HARVEST SEASONS.

SOME OF US EXPERIENCED JOY THIS YEAR.

SOME OF US EXPERIENCED DEEP LOSS. SOME OF US EXPERIENCED BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT’S REAL LIFE.

WE KNOW HOW TO LAUGH WHILE GRIEVING.

WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP SHOWING UP WHILE HURTING.

WE KNOW HOW TO PRAISE GOD WITH TEARS STILL IN OUR EYES.

TEACHING MOMENT: FAITHFULNESS DOESN’T MEAN THE SEASON WAS EASY— IT MEANS GOD STAYED WITH YOU THROUGH IT.

SOME OF US LEARNED HOW TO PRAY DIFFERENTLY IN 2025.

SOME LEARNED HOW TO REST.

SOME LEARNED HOW TO SAY NO.

SOME LEARNED HOW TO LEAN ON GOD INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BEING STRONG FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

TRANSITION: AND BECAUSE GOD WAS FAITHFUL IN EVERY SEASON BEHIND US, WE CAN FACE THE YEAR AHEAD WITHOUT FEAR.

POINT IV — WE CAN TRUST GOD WITH WHAT’S AHEAD

PSALM 65 DOESN’T JUST LOOK BACKWARD….IT BUILDS FORWARD CONFIDENCE.

IF GOD CROWNED THIS YEAR, HE’S ALREADY PREPARING THE NEXT ONE.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT POLICIES WILL CHANGE.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT CHALLENGES WILL ARISE. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT DOORS WILL OPEN OR CLOSE.

BUT YOU DO KNOW THIS: GOD HAS NEVER FAILED YOU YET.

TEACHING MOMENT: FAITH IS NOT TRUSTING THE FUTURE— FAITH IS TRUSTING THE GOD WHO IS ALREADY THERE.

GOD HAS ALREADY STEPPED INTO 2026.

HE’S ALREADY GONE AHEAD OF YOU.

HE’S ALREADY PREPARED GRACE FOR WHAT YOU HAVEN’T FACED YET.

PROPHETIC CLOSING WITH SENSORY & COMMUNAL POWER (7–8 MINUTES)

AS WE PREPARE TO CLOSE THIS YEAR, HEAR THIS IN YOUR SPIRIT:

YOU DIDN’T MAKE IT THROUGH 2025 BY LUCK.

YOU DIDN’T SURVIVE BY ACCIDENT.

YOU DIDN’T ENDURE BY COINCIDENCE.

GOD CROWNED THIS YEAR WITH GOODNESS.

DESPITE THE STRESS… DESPITE THE STRUGGLE… DESPITE THE SYSTEMS… DESPITE THE SORROW…

YOU’RE STILL HERE. YOU’RE STILL STANDING. YOU’RE STILL TRUSTING GOD.

AND AS WE STEP TOWARD 2026, WE’RE NOT STEPPING IN FEAR— WE’RE STEPPING IN FAITH.

BECAUSE IF GOD CROWNED THIS YEAR… HE’LL MEET US IN THE NEXT ONE.

TRANSITION TO CELEBRATION...

SO AS WE STAND ON THE EDGE OF A NEW YEAR, WE DON’T STEP FORWARD GUESSING WE STEP FORWARD GROUNDED.

WE DON’T MOVE AHEAD DENYING WHAT WE’VE BEEN THROUGH WE MOVE AHEAD TESTIFYING TO WHO BROUGHT US THROUGH.

BEFORE WE LEAVE 2025 BEHIND, BEFORE WE CROSS INTO WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED NEXT, WE NEED TO PAUSE AND NAME OUR TESTIMONY.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK BACK OVER THIS YEAR THROUGH THE STRUGGLE, THE SURVIVAL, AND THE SUSTAINING GRACE OF GOD THERE IS ONE TRUTH THAT RISES ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE:

WE’RE STILL HERE.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, LET’S DECLARE IT TOGETHER NOT JUST WITH OUR MOUTHS, BUT WITH OUR MEMORY, OUR FAITH, AND OUR TRUST IN GOD.

7-FOLD “STILL…” CELEBRATION WITH SCRIPTURE ECHOES

1. STILL HERE

DESPITE THE SETBACKS, THE SICKNESS, THE SORROW, AND THE STRUGGLE— GOD KEPT US.

CONGREGATION: STILL HERE.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “AS THE PSALMIST SAID, I WOULD HAVE LOST HEART UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING” — PSALM 27:13

2. STILL STANDING

WHEN LIFE TRIED TO KNOCK US DOWN, WHEN PRESSURE TRIED TO WEAR US OUT, WHEN THE WEIGHT FELT UNBEARABLE— GOD GAVE US STRENGTH.

CONGREGATION: STILL STANDING.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “FOR THE RIGHTEOUS MAY FALL SEVEN TIMES, AND RISE AGAIN” — PROVERBS 24:16

3. STILL BREATHING

WHEN STRESS WAS HEAVY, WHEN GRIEF SAT CLOSE, WHEN EXHAUSTION PRESSED IN— GOD ALLOWED BREATH TO REMAIN IN OUR BODIES.

CONGREGATION: STILL BREATHING.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD” — PSALM 150:6 (ECHO, NOT READ AGAIN—PAUSE FOR BREATH)

4. STILL BLESSED

WE MAY NOT HAVE EVERYTHING WE WANT, BUT WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED. WE MAY NOT HAVE ABUNDANCE IN OUR HANDS, BUT WE HAVE PEACE IN OUR HEARTS.

CONGREGATION: STILL BLESSED.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “AND MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS” — PHILIPPIANS 4:19

5. STILL BELIEVING

EVEN WHEN PRAYERS WERE DELAYED, EVEN WHEN ANSWERS WERE UNCLEAR, EVEN WHEN FAITH HAD TO FIGHT— WE DIDN’T LET GO OF GOD.

CONGREGATION: STILL BELIEVING.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN” — HEBREWS 11:1

6. STILL TRUSTING

TRUSTING GOD WITH OUR FAMILIES. TRUSTING GOD WITH OUR FUTURES. TRUSTING GOD WITH A WORLD THAT FEELS UNCERTAIN— BECAUSE GOD HAS NEVER FAILED US YET.

CONGREGATION: STILL TRUSTING.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” — PROVERBS 3:5

7. STILL MOVING FORWARD

WE’RE NOT STUCK IN YESTERDAY. WE’RE NOT AFRAID OF TOMORROW. WE’RE STEPPING INTO A NEW YEAR WITH FAITH, HOPE, AND EXPECTATION— BECAUSE GOD GOES BEFORE US.

CONGREGATION: STILL MOVING FORWARD.

SCRIPTURE ECHO (PASTOR): “FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORWARD TO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AHEAD” — PHILIPPIANS 3:13

FINAL DECLARATION (PASTOR ONLY — SLOW, SETTLED, STRONG)

AND BECAUSE WE ARE STILL HERE… STILL STANDING… STILL BREATHING… STILL BLESSED… STILL BELIEVING… STILL TRUSTING… AND STILL MOVING FORWARD—

WE DECLARE THAT GOD CROWNED THIS YEAR WITH GOODNESS, AND WE WILL WALK INTO THE NEXT ONE COVERED, CARRIED, AND CONFIDENT THAT THE SAME GOD WHO KEPT US WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD US.

AMEN.

INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP

AS WE PREPARE TO MOVE FORWARD— NOT JUST INTO A NEW YEAR, BUT INTO GOD’S CONTINUING WORK IN OUR LIVES— WE PAUSE TO EXTEND AN INVITATION.

THE GOD WHO CROWNED THIS YEAR WITH GOODNESS IS STILL CALLING HEARTS TO HIM.

IF YOU DESIRE TO PLACE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, TO RECONNECT WITH THE CHURCH, OR TO RECOMMIT YOUR LIFE TO GOD’S WILL AND WAY, THIS MOMENT IS FOR YOU.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT. YOU ONLY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TRUST THE GOD WHO HAS ALREADY KEPT YOU.

THE DOOR IS OPEN. GRACE IS AVAILABLE. AND GOD IS STILL RECEIVING.

PASTORAL PRAYER

GRACIOUS AND FAITHFUL GOD,

WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH THANKFUL HEARTS. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US THROUGH THIS YEAR— FOR THE STRENGTH YOU GAVE US WHEN WE WERE TIRED, FOR THE PEACE YOU PROVIDED WHEN LIFE FELT OVERWHELMING, AND FOR THE MERCY THAT MET US EACH DAY.

LORD, YOU KNOW THE BURDENS YOUR PEOPLE CARRY. YOU KNOW THE WEIGHT OF LIVING, STRIVING, AND SURVIVING IN A WORLD THAT IS OFTEN UNKIND. YOU KNOW THE GRIEF THAT STILL LINGERS, THE PRAYERS STILL UNANSWERED, AND THE FEARS WE SOMETIMES KEEP HIDDEN.

WE ASK NOW THAT YOU WOULD RENEW OUR STRENGTH. HEAL BODIES THAT ARE WEARY. COMFORT HEARTS THAT ARE GRIEVING. STABILIZE MINDS THAT ARE ANXIOUS. AND RESTORE HOPE WHERE IT HAS GROWN DIM.

AS WE PREPARE TO STEP INTO A NEW YEAR, HELP US TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY FEAR, TO TRUST YOUR TIMING, AND TO REST IN YOUR PROMISES.

WE PLACE OUR LIVES, OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHURCH, AND OUR FUTURE IN YOUR HANDS, BELIEVING THAT THE SAME GOD WHO BROUGHT US THROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD US FORWARD.

IN THE STRONG AND SAVING NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.

BENEDICTION

AS YOU GO FROM THIS PLACE, GO KNOWING THAT THE GOD WHO KEPT YOU THIS YEAR WILL WALK WITH YOU INTO THE NEXT ONE.

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE. MAY YOU WALK INTO THE NEW YEAR STILL HERE, STILL STANDING, AND STILL TRUSTING GOD.

AND MAY GOD CROWN EVERY STEP AHEAD WITH HIS GOODNESS AND GRACE.

AMEN.

STOP LIVE CONTROL