Truth, Mercy, and Prayer for an Uncertain World
New Year's Message for 2026
By Dr. Jacques Potgieter
28 December 2026
As a new year dawns, we are reminded that time itself is a gift — entrusted to us not for self-assertion, but for faithful living. The Christian faith teaches that history is not directionless, nor is the future merely the product of human will. It unfolds under the providence of God, who calls each generation to walk humbly, act justly, and love generously.
In an age marked by restlessness and uncertainty, the Gospel offers a deeper orientation: that true life is found not in grasping, but in giving; not in domination, but in service; not in fear, but in trust. It affirms that every person is created in the image of God, and that hope is sustained not by denial of suffering, but by faithfulness within it.
The year ahead invites renewed attentiveness to what truly endures — to truth spoken with love, to mercy practiced with courage, and to lives shaped by prayerful discernment rather than haste. Christian hope does not ignore the brokenness of the world; it bears witness to the quiet yet persistent work of grace, even where outcomes remain unseen.
May this new year be lived as a response to that grace: with integrity of heart, generosity of spirit, and a steadfast commitment to what is good and life-giving. And may our days be shaped by the love that holds all things together.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 8:38–39 (NRSV)
Dr. Jacques Potgieter
South African Pastor
