Locations & Times

Every year, January shows up with fresh promises, bold goals, and the hope that this time will be different. And yet, if we’re honest, some years feel less like a fresh start and more like the movie Groundhog Day—waking up to the same patterns, the same struggles, and the same resolutions we didn’t quite keep last year.

The premise of the 1993 dark comedy, Groundhog Day is that a cynical weatherman, Phil Connors, becomes trapped in a time loop, reliving February 2nd over and over again (No one has related to this movie more than those of us who lived during the 2020 pandemic). 

Phil must learn to change his own behavior, become a better person, and find a way to break the loop. Initially, Phil tries to manipulate the situation to his advantage, but he eventually realizes that he cannot change his external circumstances and must change himself to escape the loop. 

Perhaps you resonate with Phil. Feeling like each year has become the same, year after year. You’re living in an endless cycle of monotony drenched in a mediocre colored gray. You wake up, go to work, make dinner, go to bed and do it all over again the next day. And if you’re lucky, you have a few fun activities sprinkled in the middle of your weeks… or months. 

But what if this year really was different? Regardless of your circumstances or the monotony of your days, what if how you viewed your life shifted the way you lived? Sometimes it’s our perspective that needs to change more than our circumstances. Rather than attempting to achieve lofty immeasurable goals, maybe our hearts and minds are the progress we are longing for. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big resolutions gal. I love me a solid goal setting session paired with challenges I can crush! All the Enneagram 3’s out there just audibly said “Amen!” 

I set goals every year. And for the most part, I do a pretty good job at achieving those goals. But over the years, as my relationship with Jesus deepens, my desire for growth has become far more internal rather than based on external circumstances. 

This same realization is what leads Phil at the end of the movie to determine to use the endless repetition to learn new skills, become a better person, and ultimately find love and redemption. When Phil starts caring for others more than himself is when he finds happiness, purpose and love. And he finally breaks out of his time loop. 

You see, life can be a gift to be lived to the fullest. Rather than seeing our life as an endless repetition without purpose, we might surprise ourselves to find joy in living outside of our own selves. What I love about the end of this movie is that when Phil begins to put others first, he realizes his life has meaning that is worth waking up to each day. The key component here is love.

Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (ESV)

What would your year, or your life, look like if you allowed the steadfast love of the Lord to lead how you live each day? Rather than being a prisoner of your circumstances, could you allow the power of Christ’s love to be the master of your life? 

No matter how you are entering 2026, the good news is that God’s love and mercy are new every morning, even if every day feels the same. Jesus isn’t asking for perfection. He’s not counting how many goals you meet or resolutions you fail to uphold. All you need to have is a willing heart to follow Jesus forward into this new year and see how He transforms your life as you begin to receive His unfailing love.

If this encouraged you, check out more articles from our Flatirons Spiritual Formation Team for practical tools, encouragement, and ways to grow in your faith and leadership. Click here.