25 Journal Prompts To Wrap Up The Year

You made it through the year! As the year comes to a close, let’s take some time to reflect on the many blessing God has brought in our life. It is easy to get overwhelmed during the Christmas season, so let’s be intentional with the Lord and slow down to reflect on our relationship with Him and mental health. I hope these 25 journal prompts will help you find a sense of peace and excitement for the new year!

Finding Stillness in the Season

1. The Manger of My Heart If Jesus was born in a stable, He isn’t afraid of my “mess.” What parts of my life feel messy or “unprepared” for the holidays?
2. Naming the Burden Matthew 11:28 invites the weary to find rest. What specific mental burden am I carrying today?
3. Holy Boundaries Read Mark 1:35. Jesus withdrew to pray. What is one social obligation I need to say no to for the sake of my mental health?
4. The Gift of Enough Where do I feel “not enough”? How does God’s grace fill the gap in my performance or hospitality?
5. Grief and Hope Psalm 34:18 says God is near the brokenhearted. If I am grieving, how can I express that to God today without feeling guilty?
6. Comparison is the Thief Social media often creates a highlight reel of Christmas. What comparisons am I struggling with, and how can I focus on my own path?
7. Sensory Peace What are three things I can see, smell, and hear right now that remind me of God’s goodness?
8. The Pressure to Provide If finances are tight, how can I shift my focus from gifts to being a gift to others?

Guarding Your Heart

9. Anxiety in the Quiet When the house gets quiet, what thoughts come up? Bring those thoughts to God one by one.
10. Forgiving Myself Is there a mistake from this past year I’m still punishing myself for? How can I accept God’s Christmas gift of forgiveness?
11. Difficult Relationships Pray for a person who causes you stress. What boundary do you need to set to love them from a healthy distance?
12. Childlike Wonder When was the last time I felt pure joy? How can I invite that childlike faith back into my day today?
13. Physical Stewardship My body is a temple. Am I eating, sleeping, and moving in a way that honors my mental health?
14. Waiting in the Dark Advent is a season of waiting. What am I waiting for God to heal or change in my life?
15. The Sound of Silence Spend 5 minutes in total silence. What did God whisper to your spirit?
16. Letting Go of Traditions Is there a tradition that causes more stress than joy? What would happen if I let it go this year?

Looking Forward with Hope

17. Memorial Stones Looking back at this past year, what are three times I saw God’s faithfulness in the middle of a struggle?
18. Mental Clutter List everything stressing you out about the coming year. Beside each item, write: “God, I trust You with this.”
19. Strength in Weakness 2 Corinthians 12:9 says His grace is sufficient. In what area of my mental health do I need His strength most as I start a new chapter?
20. Rooted in Truth What is one specific Bible verse I want to carry as my “anchor” for the upcoming year?
21. The Gift of Presence Am I physically present but mentally elsewhere? How can I anchor myself in the current moment instead of worrying about January?
22. Honoring My Pace The world moves fast. How can I intentionally slow my pace to match the gentle and lowly heart of Jesus in the new year?
23. New Things Isaiah 43:19 says God is “doing a new thing.” What is one area of my mental health I am asking God to renew or “make new” this year?
24. A Letter to the Savior Write a letter to Jesus about your hopes, fears, and prayers for the coming year.
25. The Prince of Peace On this Christmas Day, what does “peace on earth” look like inside my own soul as I prepare for what is next?

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

As the world celebrates with lights and noise, I come to You seeking the quiet light of Your presence. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, the Prince of Peace, who came not to a palace, but to a humble stable meeting us exactly where we are.Lord, I lay down the heavy yoke of perfectionism, the exhaustion of “performing,” and the weight of unmet expectations. When my mind is anxious, be my stillness. When my heart is heavy, be my comfort. Help me to remember that my value is not in what I do or what I give, but in whose I am. As I look toward a new year, give me eyes to see the “new things” You are doing in my life. Guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Teach me to rest in the truth that I am enough, I am loved, and I am never alone. May Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, dwell in me this Christmas and into the New Year. Amen

Thank You

It brings me so much joy, when you guys stop by. I hope these journal prompts help you take sometime to reflect on the year and get ready for the new year! I am so proud of each and every one of you continuing to dedicate not only your life but also your mental health to Christ. I cannot wait to see what all God will do in our lives.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS YOU

Sierra Stratman MSW LMSW U/S PhD Student At Liberty University