Road To Redemption
Road To Redemption
Trusting God with Goals for 2026 - Audio Podcast
Ready to trade frantic resolutions for a quieter, stronger kind of growth? We kick off 2026 by rethinking goals through a biblical lens—less hustle, more presence. Together we explore how to set three simple, Spirit-led aims, write the vision with courage, and release the timeline to God’s appointed season. Along the way, we ground ambition in gratitude, invite the Holy Spirit’s counsel, and practice steady trust in the middle of real-life storms.
We unpack the trap of comparison and the myth that bigger goals mean greater worth. Instead, we talk about the holy weight of “small” callings: raising children with intention, reshaping family patterns, and serving faithfully at home. Scripture guides the journey—Habakkuk’s vision, Jeremiah’s promise of purpose, Matthew’s call to rest in today, and the Gospel scene where Jesus stills the wind and waves. If your year begins with stress, fear, or uncertainty, this conversation offers a path to peace by drawing close to the One who gets us to the other side.
Practical steps round out the episode: start in the Gospels to know Jesus’ voice, cut back on doomscrolling, carry a life-verse to renew your mind, and plug into a church and a small group for honest accountability. We also take time to pray for miracles and breakthroughs in health, finances, marriages, and families—believing nothing is too hard for the Lord and that we will see His goodness in the land of the living.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find Road to Redemption. Your story matters—what three goals will you commit to with God this year?
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Welcome to Road to Redemption. I'm John Martin, your host, and I'm here with Valerie Peterson, our co-host. So excited to be with you here in our new year 2026.
SPEAKER_02:Is this exciting or what? Have we been kind of excited about this show today? And it is a new year, and I'm just thrilled to be here today.
SPEAKER_00:Me too. And we we we've been talking about doing the show on goals. We all want to feel like we need to have our goals and New Year's resolutions, and we just wanted to, you know, kind of pray and look to the scriptures and see, well, you know, what does God say about our goals? And, you know, I think it's simplicity a little bit, you know, not to overcomplicate and feel like we gotta just go set the world on fire to start off. But Val, what what are your thoughts as we kick off the show?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I love when you said to me when we were talking about this show, that really our goal is to be more like Christ.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:If that is our goal, and you know, I look at John, if we just do the next right thing in our lives, living, I don't know about you, but if we can live in today, when we look at the future too much, it leads to fear. If we look at the past too much, it leads to guilt, self-condemnation, like I should have done this or I didn't do that. If we can focus on living our fullest in this day, you know, Matthew 6 says, don't look at tomorrow. Tomorrow will have enough issues of its own. Stay in today. And if we do that, I think, you know, we can live fully. Now I'm hearing you concerning goals and specific goals. You know, I look at in Habakkuk 2.2, it says, write down the vision. Though you have to wait on it, it will come to pass at God's appointed time. It's not our appointed time, right?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:And so if you have goals for this new year and you really are having a stirring, in Psalm 20, it says, I'll give you the desires of your heart. Why? Because he places them there typically.
SPEAKER_00:Yes.
SPEAKER_02:So if you can write down like your three-month, six-month, one-year, two-year, five-year goals, if it doesn't come to pass when you think it should, can you trust it? It just wasn't God's appointed time yet. It really does say that in Habakkuk 2, too. Write down the vision, though you have to wait on it, it will come to pass at God's appointed time. It's pretty cool to think about. It's not our appointed time, right?
SPEAKER_00:That is cool. And I think too, just to start off with with gratitude and thankfulness for what God's done. Um, I was just reading earlier, um, you know, just giving gratitude and thankfulness, and just you know, we all want to be successful in life. Um, you know, but if we can just pray, yeah, this was the word that I had here, you know, we want to pray for success and guidance. And then in Genesis 24 it says, then he prayed, Lord, God of my master, Abraham, make me successful today. So I I think we just need to start off first in gratitude and thankfulness for what God's done, and then just pray and ask God to help guide us, you know, with what our goals should be for the coming year. You know, because we need that guidance and invite the Holy Spirit in.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And he says in Jeremiah 33, 3, call on me. It doesn't say call on your friend, it says call on me, and I'll tell you great and mighty things you do not know. So if you're not quite sure of maybe um your purpose or your call or why you're actually here, John, I think God wants to tell us.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Right? You know, if he says in Jeremiah 1:5, before I knit you in your mother's womb, I knew you. He knew us then and he knows us today. And he wants to reveal to us his plan, purpose, call, and destiny on our life.
SPEAKER_00:Amen. Well, and I think too, the uh a big challenge we have in our world is is the comparing mind and feeling like we we've got to measure up, you know, and you know, and we've got to have these big, big goals and big success. And you know, I think you and I were just talking about a lot of times maybe a you know, a mom out there, you know, our your goal is just to just to take care of your children and you know, do a bet, you know, do a good job of seeing that they're well taken care of, you know. I mean, just just things like that. God wants to come into you know agreement with us and these the simplicity of our goals.
SPEAKER_02:And I love it, John. You said that because it starts in our homes. And if we can make an impact with our children and to be generational changers, you know, maybe the things that you saw in your family of origin, you're saying, I don't want to do it with the next generation, your children. And I'm thinking you can have such a um call to be a generational changer as a parent, as a mother. And it really is exciting to think about. It starts in our homes, and our priority needs to be with our marriage, with our children, with us like me, with grandchildren, to be an influencer with our grandchildren, also.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Um, so in this new year, if you can make the things that you know that need to be a priority, um, it's so important, I think.
SPEAKER_00:I do too. And I just think even just write down three goals. You don't have to do all the I tend to be one of these people. I need to stop it of all these goals and sub goals and this and that, you know. And I just say I just need to just write down three things, you know, that that that you know, and pray that God's calling you to do for this year.
SPEAKER_02:Love it.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. What else, Val?
SPEAKER_02:You know, so often we can be, we can have a destination disease. When this happens in my life, then my life will be perfect or good, or you know, when I get that new house, or when I find the right man or the right woman, then I'll be happy. Can you be happy today? Can can we be joyful in this given day and serve the Lord the best we can? You know, if we live life once again, you know, just doing the next right thing in this given day, I think there's freedom in it. I wish ministers preach more on in Matthew 6, where it says, don't look at tomorrow, because tomorrow will have enough issues of its own.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Stay in this day. It is, I just, when I live my life that way, I'm just more joyful, more happy. Sometimes I live life even shorter than one day. I'll live it hour by hour when I have a lot of situational stressors going on. I'm like, okay, I can get through the next half hour, hour without being preoccupied with this situational stressor. We all have them, but we've got to learn and know how to cast every single care upon him in a given day because he cares for us.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. He does.
SPEAKER_02:So be aware of the destination disease, right, John?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, exactly. And and like we said, don't don't compare. I know, especially with social media, all out there, it's just it's such a comparing world we're in of people and and all these posts and things, you know, but I just think, you know, let's engage God and the Holy Spirit. Um, one note that I had here too is just, you know, in John uh 14, it says, I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate or counselor to help you and be with you forever. You know, the Holy Spirit is there, and Jesus left the Holy Spirit here for us. So let's engage the Holy Spirit and ask him to counsel us, you know, in our goals for this year.
SPEAKER_02:You know, it says in Psalm 16, even in the nighttime hours, I'll counsel you. We've talked about this before, but I feel called to say it again. You have a counselor, listeners, 24-7, and the issue is fine-tuning and hearing his small, still voice. There's something about the stillness. Psalm 46, 10, be still and know that I am God. You know, can we turn our computers off, our phones off, and just be still before him and work on listening to his small still voice? That's what's going to lead to setting goals in this new year.
SPEAKER_00:Well, and I think too, just something that's been coming up a lot in our in our shows this week and just time with God is just really drawing close to Jesus in this new year. I just feel like God is wanting us to draw close to Him, to trust in Him. And I know Val had mentioned this verse when we were getting together this morning. I wanted to read about Jesus calms the storm from Matthew and Matthew 8, 23. It says, Then he got into the boat, and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went went and woke him saying, Lord, save us. We're going to drown. And Jesus replied, You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. And I just thought in this, you know, that in this new year, the Lord is wanting us to draw close to him and trust in him. With all there are a lot of storms out there, you know, in the world. And I think that's he's just saying, Come to me, you know, I'm gonna calm the storm.
SPEAKER_02:You know, I sense many people listening today really feels like maybe Jesus is sleeping. And they want to wake him up. Well, he is awake, and he is gonna calm the storm. You know, there was there's some other verses in the gospels where it says, Jesus said, We're going to the other side of the lake. What does that mean? He he's saying, no matter if the winds and the waves come up today, he we're going. He's in the boat, he's in the boat with each of our listeners, he's he's and he's gonna take us to the other side of the lake. You know, John and I both have something in common. We both, you know, grew up, well, I should say my family, my dad loved to sail, and your dad and you love to sail.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. And when you sail too. I did too.
SPEAKER_02:Um, and I grew up in a a lake in upstate New York, and my dad loved to take us kids out on this boat. And I have this memory, and I was really thinking about it this morning, where you know, the winds would pick up quickly on this lake, and I remember that my dad knew how to pull in that mainsail. He knew what to do with the rudder. When I would I would get real close to him and the waves would come up over the boat, and I was scared. And some people listening today may be walking in fear because of situational stressors in their lives. It's like the waves are coming over your boat. My father knew how to get us back to shore safely. I always, in my confidence in him, as I got older, it was built because I pulled close to him during the storm. And that's what we need to do with our Heavenly Father, right? We've got to pull close to him. We've got to say, Lord, even though I don't feel it right now, I'm gonna trust you in situations I'm walking through. You know, John, in the work I do, I've heard a lot of people say, I'm walking into this new year with a lot of situational stressors. And some of our listeners today may feel the same way. Well, God is. Jesus is in the boat with you, and he's gonna get you to the other side of that lake.
SPEAKER_00:That's so great. That's so true. And he's he's with us, and no matter what problems, how big they seem, he's got us covered, he's gonna take care of us, and we just need to draw close to him, you know, and just trust in him, you know, completely in this new year.
SPEAKER_02:And I feel someone needs to hear that the Lord loves you right where you're at. The things you're dealing with, he loves you, and he is gonna help you whatever you're walking through right now, get through it. He won't leave you in it, he's gonna get you through it.
SPEAKER_00:Amen. This is good. I know. People are gonna be encouraged because God is gonna bless you in this new year. He's gonna show up for you. Um we just we need to draw close to him. You know, like you said, and the in the boat, draw close to Jesus and put our trust in Jesus and know that he's gonna calm these storms. And there's no problem that you're facing that's too big.
SPEAKER_02:None. Seriously. And it says, I love, I use this verse a lot in Genesis 18, 14. It says, Is anything too hard for the Lord? Nothing, right? Absolutely nothing is too hard for him. The issue will be, can we trust him this day? Yeah, moment by moment, maybe, hour by hour, putting your trust in him in this new year.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Amen. Well, this has been good. It's helping me a lot because I need to simplify my life and just think about just having three simple goals, as I said, and just learning to trust God.
SPEAKER_02:I love your attitude. And I think of the verse in in Matthew 11, 28, I uh he's laid on my heart this this new year is doesn't say go to the world. It says, Come to me, all of you that are weary and heavy laden. It says, and I will give you rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Oh my gosh. He don't want us to carry whatever we are walking through today. He wants us to surrender it and hand it over to him, once again, trusting him that he is gonna work all the details out.
SPEAKER_00:And what one piece of advice that I would like to share that I'm giving to myself, I really am, because this is uh something I struggle with, is I watch way too much news. Um always have, and uh, but I just was thinking, I was watching it the other night, and there's so many problems in the world today. I just felt like the Lord's saying to me and to to you, to our listeners, is let's stop watching so much news. You know, and and really grow closer to Him, draw closer to Jesus. I know, I know He's gonna bless you by reading the Word and spending time in prayer.
SPEAKER_02:And if you don't know where to begin, start in the Gospels, right, John?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_02:In this new year, really looking at Jesus' personality and his style of leading would be my recommendation.
SPEAKER_00:So good. What else, Val?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, you know, I'm gonna remind you, each of our listeners, that this is our battle to be able to be aware and to be thinking about what you think about. And once again, you can be transformed in a moment's time by renewing your mind. So maybe having one scripture verse for the new year that you're gonna think on as you walk through your day and meditate on, it's powerful.
SPEAKER_00:That's so good.
SPEAKER_02:Because the old thoughts, those thoughts that maybe Satan would love for you to believe, like example, I'm never gonna accomplish anything in life. Stopping that thought and replacing it with Jeremiah 29, 11. I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to bless you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Oh my gosh, can you imagine if we walked around saying that all day long, underneath our breath, um, writing it out? I mean, there's power in that. So to close, I would definitely recommend that you speak the word over your life in this new year. There's power in it.
SPEAKER_00:Amen. I think too, there are a lot of folks out there that are believing, needing a miracle, you know, miracle and breakthroughs in their life with either them, their health, their finances, uh, relationships, marriages in this new year. And I I I just want to take a minute now just to just for all of us to pray and believe for that. Um Father God, we just come together, we pray for everyone listening that's believing for a miracle this year, a miracle in their life, in their family, breakthrough. Father, we we just pray, we believe that you will meet them where they are, and you will answer these prayers, and you will do miracles in their life, miracles in health, finances, marriages, children, relationships. Father God, you are doing miracles in our lives this year, and we will see many breakthroughs, breakthroughs this year that would have been thought to be impossible, but they are possible with you. Father, in this new year, we give thanks for these miracles that you are doing in the mighty name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
SPEAKER_02:Amen.
SPEAKER_00:Wow, is there anything else?
SPEAKER_02:You know, as you were praying, John, the it just on my heart is in the end of Psalm 27. Read the whole thing, but it says, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. That's what we want for this new year, right?
SPEAKER_01:I will see.
SPEAKER_02:As you were praying, I was like, oh my gosh, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
SPEAKER_00:That's awesome. We always like to remind everyone the three key pillars of our show, Road to Redemption. And that is first to get into the Word of God. Get a Bible this new year. If you don't have one, we recommend you get a hardback Bible, but if not, you can get the Bible out on every phone and start reading your Bible every morning. Open it up when you get your day started. Get into the Word of God. We promise you will be blessed. And then next is to get into a Christ-centered Bible-believing church and just go. You'll never find the perfect church. Go get into church and just start going this year. And then last, get into a small group. A group you can do life with, make yourself vulnerable, accountable, and really this small group will bless you in this new year.
SPEAKER_02:So good. There's something about accountability, right, John? Having someone that you can be honest with and transparent with. Definitely.
SPEAKER_00:Well, we're really excited for this new year, just for the breakthroughs and miracles, and just all of us drawing closer and trusting in our Lord Jesus this year. Amen.