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Glimmers in the new year

A devotion on joy

Have you heard of the term “glimmers?” 
 
Glimmers are small pockets of joy throughout your day. Recognizing those small moments have been found to bring feelings of safety, relaxation and calm to your nervous system. 
 
You can stop and find them during your everyday routine: the way the sun rises on your commute to the office, the smile your child gives you when you greet them in the morning – or even just the smell of your coffee. 
 
Last week felt like the first “real” week of 2025 for many of us. No days off or holidays in the middle of the week, kids heading back to school and all the emails we “put off until after the holidays” are bolded in our inboxes. 
 
This is also about the time where working in those new goals or rhythms for the year may start to feel more challenging. You might already be feeling behind or discouraged or overwhelmed. 
 
Creating space for a new workout regimen or finding time to work on your budget or new meal plan can be difficult, but what if you were able to find joy somewhere in there? A “glimmer” moment once the newness of the routine or goal wears off? It’s more likely you’ll want these new routines to stick around if you can find gratitude in them.
 
For me, waking up at 5 a.m. is challenging but when I stop and soak up the quiet of the house while sipping a hot cup of coffee, I’m able to grasp the joy of those simple things. 
 
While “glimmers” are a newer concept in the mental health world, it reminds me of the truth you can always find in Scripture.
 
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24
 
In a way, I feel like glimmers are a way of experiencing one of the fruits of the Spirit: joy. As we continue into the new year, I pray you find little moments within the busyness or mundane to see a glimmer – a glimmer of God’s love, joy and hope for you.

Written by Emily Ahrens, director of marketing communications for Buckner International.

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