So much can happen in a year: the good, bad, ugly, and a combination of all three. One of the most resounding statements came from my former high school teacher when he told us, “There are two constants in life: change and death.” As I get older, I realize just how much can change in the blink of an eye.

The girl I was at the beginning of 2016 is not who I am anymore. She was broken and isolated herself from the world in fear. Life gets tough for everyone at some point, and I was coming out of the worst time of mine when this past year started. It took a lot of searching and time for healing for me to decide that I was sick of having a pity party for myself.

There is no greater enemy than yourself. Your thoughts create actions, and your mindset determines what you do with this life. I spent so long crying out to God and feeling abandoned that I never stopped to realize He had never left my side. Allowing Him to take control of my life led to such greater heights that I could never reach without His grace.

Spending a lot of time by yourself teaches you who you truly are — the person that no one else is invited to see. It also teaches you who genuinely cares for you, and how significant those people are. God ended a few friendships over the year and I didn’t understand at the time. Looking back, I am unbelievably blessed to have let those go to make room for the amazing friends I have now. If someone told me this time last year that I would have the beautiful souls in my life who accept me for who I am now, I wouldn’t have believed them.

I’m not saying that my life is perfect or even that I’m happy most days. There have been difficult trials throughout the last two years that didn’t kill me but forced me to be stronger and trust in God with everything I have. He made me brave and showed me how to lead others to Him so everyone may experience the faithfulness of His love.

Before making resolutions for the New Year that are superficial, make a promise to yourself to let go. If it causes you pain, let it go. If it gives you anxiety and fear for the future, let it go. No matter how much it hurts, the past is finished and the future is waiting. Let go and let God; He will make you new and your life will be better for it. I’m not the same girl I was a year ago, and I am so grateful for that.

“The former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare” — Isaiah 42:9