Golden Hour Week

Originally sent December 28, 2024

I love this time of year…the liminal space between Christmas and New Years. My wife referred to this time as Golden Hour Week. I like that. It’s the time just before the sun sets on the present year. It’s quiet, spacious, and ripe for dreaming about what could be. In the next few days, I hope you can take some time to pause and reflect as 2024 comes to a close. There is a mix of emotions for me: gratitude, amazement, and a bit of grief and disappointment too. I wonder if you feel the same. Psalm 77 offers a way to process it all…to remember, reflect, and rejoice.

Remembering

God loves to remind us to remember. The psalmist writes, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago” (Psalm 77:11). There’s something healing about remembering. Not just replaying events in your head, but intentionally looking for the moments when God showed up. Scrolling through my instagram posts or my calendar is a good way for me to recall the faithfulness of God.

What stands out as you look back? It might be a breakthrough in a tough situation, the way a sunset took your breath away, or a friendship that has been important to you. Take some time to jot these down or share them with someone you trust. It’s in the remembering that we start to see the thread of God’s faithfulness woven through our story.

Reflecting

“They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works” (Psalm 77:12). Reflection takes remembering a step further. It’s not just about recalling what happened, but sitting with it. Ask yourself…What did this year teach you about God? About yourself? About what matters most to you? I’ll be honest: reflection isn’t always easy for me. Sometimes it brings up hard stuff—disappointments, missed opportunities, things I’d rather forget. But even in those moments, I’m learning to look for God. I’ve noticed that my pain and unmet expectations are places where God wants to meet me.

Rejoicing

“O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?” (Psalm 77:13). After remembering and reflecting, we’re invited to rejoice. And here’s the thing: rejoicing doesn’t mean ignoring the hard stuff. It’s not about silver lining and pretending everything is fine. It’s about choosing to celebrate God’s faithful love toward you…even in the midst of life’s messiness. Rejoicing is basically worship. It’s acknowledging God's intervention and realizing that everything is a gift. Thank you is the perfect way to start a conversation with God.