This Is the Year of the Lord’s Favour | Faith Testimony

There are years that pass quietly, and there are years that shape you.

The year 2025 was one I stepped into with a simple but steady declaration in my heart: this is the year of the Lord’s favour. I didn’t know what that would fully look like, and I didn’t pretend to. But I chose to believe it — not because life felt easy, but because faith calls for trust even when outcomes are uncertain.

It was a year marked by both highs and lows. Gratitude and uncertainty existed side by side. There were moments when responsibility felt heavy, prayers felt unanswered, and the road ahead wasn’t clear. Yet through it all, I came to understand something deeper: God’s favour does not always come wrapped in comfort, but it is always anchored in purpose.

When I stayed close to God — to His Word and His presence — the weight I carried felt lighter. Not because circumstances instantly changed, but because my perspective did. Trusting in God’s sovereignty brought peace even when clarity was missing. I learned again that faith is not the absence of struggle, but the decision to walk forward knowing who walks with you.

There were also seasons where I relied too much on my own strength. In those moments, the burden returned. The same responsibilities felt heavier, the same challenges harder to face. But even then, God remained faithful. He reminded me that walking closely with Him isn’t about perfection — it’s about returning. Again and again.

As 2025 comes to a close, I give thanks to God for everything it carried — the joy and the trials, the growth and the correction, the answered prayers and the ones still waiting. I thank Him for His patience, His mercy, and His constant presence through every season. Looking back, I can say with confidence that He has been faithful in all things.

This year strengthened my faith not because every prayer was answered the way I hoped, but because I came to know God more clearly. He is my Shepherd. My Rock. My fortress. Steady in uncertainty. Faithful in every season.

Life & Stories exists because life itself is not neatly divided. Faith, family, responsibility, joy, and struggle all overlap in ordinary, unseen ways. These stories are shared not because they are extraordinary, but because they are real — and real stories remind us that we are not alone.

As we step into 2026, my prayer is that you would walk forward with trust, courage, and hope — holding onto God’s promises even when the path isn’t clear. May the year ahead be one marked not just by blessing, but by growth, faithfulness, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in your life.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me… to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
— Isaiah 61:1–2
— Luke 4:16–21

— Alofa Tunoa