Looking Back With God: Reflecting on Spiritual Growth From the Past Year
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Looking for printable reflection journal? You can download one here.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
As one season closes and another begins, many of us feel the quiet pull to look back. Not to dwell in regret or comparison, but to reflect. When we reflect with God, we begin to see our lives not as scattered moments, but as part of a larger story He is writing.
Spiritual growth often happens slowly, quietly, and beneath the surface. It is rarely linear. That’s why intentional reflection is such a powerful spiritual practice, it allows us to recognize God’s faithfulness, even in seasons that felt confusing or heavy.
Why Reflection Matters for Spiritual Growth
In a culture that constantly urges us to move forward, reflection can feel counterproductive. But Scripture reminds us that growth requires awareness.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 speaks of seasons, times of joy and sorrow, building and tearing down, weeping and laughing. Each season carries purpose. When we pause to reflect with God, we learn to honor the season we’ve been in instead of rushing past it.
Reflection helps us:
Recognize how God has been shaping us
Identify spiritual growth we may have overlooked
Release seasons that have ended
Enter the next season with wisdom rather than haste
Spiritual reflection isn’t about judging ourselves, it’s about seeing clearly with God.
Reflecting on the Past Year Through God’s Lens
When reflecting on the past year, it’s helpful to step away from worldly measures of success and ask gentler, deeper questions.
Instead of asking “Did I do enough?” We can ask “How did God meet me?”
Instead of “Was I consistent?” We can ask “Where was I transformed?”
God often works in ways we don’t immediately recognize. Reflection allows us to name those moments, both joyful and difficult, as sacred.
Questions to Reflect on With God
Take time in prayer or journaling to sit with questions like these:
Where did I experience God’s presence this year?
What challenges deepened my dependence on Him?
How did my prayer life shift or grow?
What beliefs were strengthened, refined, or gently corrected?
Where did God invite me to trust Him more?
These questions aren’t meant to be rushed. Reflection is most meaningful when it is slow and prayerful.
Understanding Seasons Through Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes reminds us that every season, whether fruitful or painful, has meaning. Some seasons teach us endurance. Others teach us gratitude. Some invite rest, while others call us to act.
You may realize the past year was:
A season of waiting, where faith was strengthened through patience
A season of healing, where God restored what was broken
A season of surrender, where plans changed but trust deepened
A season of growth, where new understanding took root
Spiritual growth doesn’t always feel productive, but God wastes nothing. Reflection helps us recognize that even the quiet seasons were formative.
Letting Go of Shame and Comparison
One of the greatest barriers to spiritual reflection is shame. It’s easy to look back and focus on where we fell short, missed prayers, unanswered questions, moments of doubt.
Reflection with God is not about condemnation. Romans 8:1 reminds us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ.
As you reflect, release comparison and self-judgment. Spiritual growth is not measured by perfection or performance. It is measured by dependence, surrender, and trust.
God meets us exactly where we are, and grows us from there.
Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice
Reflection naturally leads us toward gratitude. When we intentionally look back, we begin to see evidence of God’s faithfulness woven throughout our days.
Gratitude shifts our focus:
From what was lacking → to what was sustained
From unanswered prayers → to prayers that shaped us
From outcomes → to presence
Gratitude doesn’t deny difficulty, it acknowledges God within it.
Consider writing down moments from the past year where you sensed God’s nearness, even faintly. Over time, these reflections become markers of His faithfulness.
Carrying Reflection Into the New Season
Reflection is not meant to keep us anchored in the past, it prepares us for what’s ahead.
As you step into a new season, ask God:
What lessons should I carry forward?
What do You want me to release?
How can I remain rooted in You in this next season?
Spiritual growth continues as we learn to walk with God through changing seasons, trusting that He is present in all of them.
A Gentle Invitation
Looking back with God is an invitation to rest, remember, and realign. You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to label every season perfectly. You only need to be willing to sit with Him, and let Him show you what He has been doing within you.
“There is a time for everything.”
And this, right now, may be a time to reflect.
To help you reflect, download our free reflection journal.
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