Hello, friend. I want to encourage you to be resilient this year. I like that word “resilient.” It means to bounce back.

I love watching the Bulldogs play basketball. Those guys can dribble that ball behind their back, under their legs. They can drive it down the court and right to the hoop. And, you know, reality is this year there’s going to be something along the way that pushes you down. As God’s people, we’re to bounce right back.

I don’t want anything negative to happen to you. I pray this will be the greatest year of your life and ministry. But when the world deflects, the devil pushes you down. I want to encourage you to bounce back.

The nation of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. They set up camp in Gilgal. Egypt has been rolled away from off of the nation of Israel. God gives them a great victory at Jericho. But they hit some setbacks at Ai, and then the treaty they made with the Gibeonites. In both cases, they bounced back.

They had to deal with Achan, who had covered his sin and had taken from the spoils the firstfruits of Jericho. Our firstfruits always belong to God, and he that covereth his sin shall not prosper. We need to confess our sin. That keeps us resilient in the Christian life and moving forward. But they had to deal with the deception of the Gibeonites as well. Then God gave them a great victory there with the five kingdoms of the south. They bounced back in both cases.

I want to encourage you, no matter what comes in 2026, the Bible even says, “A just man falleth seven times, but he riseth up again.” I want to encourage you to be resilient this year.

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John Evertson

John Evertson, GSBC Campus Pastor

In June 2000, after graduating from Golden State Baptist College, John Evertson answered the call to pastor West Valley Baptist Church in Woodland, California. After 19 years, God moved Pastor and Mrs. Evertson to Santa Clara. Pastor Evertson is instrumental in the church and serves as the Campus Pastor for Golden State Baptist College to help guide the future servants of God. Pastor & Mrs. Evertson have four children — Josiah, Jeremiah, Joy, and Joshua.