There is a quiet kind of exhaustion that comes from trying—and failing—over and over again. Not the kind that comes from one big mistake, but the kind that builds slowly with every promise you make to yourself and every time you fall short. You tell yourself, this time will be different, and then it isn’t. Again.

Failure has a way of whispering lies. It tells us that we are weak, that change is not for us, that our past disqualifies us from a better future. Over time, those whispers can get loud. They can make us want to stop trying altogether.

But here is the truth I am learning: failing does not mean I am finished.

This new year is not about pretending the past didn’t happen. It’s about facing it honestly—and still choosing to move forward. Sobriety and healing are not instant transformations; they are daily decisions. Sometimes they are hourly decisions. And sometimes, they are decisions made with trembling hands and tired hearts.

Scripture reminds us that struggle does not cancel grace.

“Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” — Proverbs 24:16

I have fallen more than once. I have said “never again” and then had to say it again. But rising again is not about pride or willpower alone. It’s about humility—admitting I can’t do this on my own—and trusting that God’s strength shows up where mine runs out.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Healing is rarely linear. Some days feel like progress; others feel like starting from scratch. But God is not measuring my worth by my worst days. He is patient. He is present. And He is not surprised by my process.

This year, I am choosing resolve over shame. I am choosing honesty over hiding. I am choosing sobriety not just as an absence of old habits, but as a presence of clarity, peace, and freedom. Healing means learning to sit with discomfort instead of running from it—and trusting that discomfort is not the enemy.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” — Isaiah 43:18–19

Trying again does not mean I ignore my failures. It means I refuse to let them define me. Every attempt is evidence that I still hope. Every prayer, even the broken ones, is a step forward.

If you are entering this new year tired, discouraged, or afraid you’ll fail again, know this: starting over is not weakness. It is courage. And you don’t start alone.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

This year, I will try again—not because I am perfect, but because I am healing. And that is enough to begin.