Power of A Pencil

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I want to share a simple yet profound truth that could transform your year: the power of a pencil.

A pencil may seem insignificant—a small, wooden tool most of us stopped using after high school. But as I reflect on its simplicity, I’m reminded of the profound potential it holds to shape our future.

When I was a child, I loved sharpening pencils. I’d turn the handle on my school sharpener, watching as the wood curled away, leaving a sharp point. Each pencil was a new start, ready to capture my thoughts, dreams, and plans. It wasn’t just a writing tool—it was a tool of creation.

This year, I invite you to pick up a pencil and do something simple but powerful: write out your 2025 goals.

Why a pencil? Because pencils represent flexibility, humility, and persistence. When we make mistakes, we can erase and start over. A pencil doesn’t demand perfection, only progress.

Let me share four lessons we can learn from a pencil:

1. Write the Vision, Make It Plain

Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” Writing your goals clarifies your vision. When you take time to write with intention, you transform fleeting ideas into tangible, actionable steps. A pencil allows you to pause, reflect, and refine as you map out the future God has placed in your heart.

2. Embrace the Eraser

A pencil’s eraser reminds us of grace. We will make mistakes. Some plans won’t work out the way we imagine. But erasing doesn’t mean failure; it means growth. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” Each erased mark is an opportunity to start fresh, better equipped than before.

3. Sharpen as You Go

Just as a pencil becomes dull with use, we can lose focus over time. To stay sharp, we need to sharpen ourselves. This may mean revisiting our goals, seeking wisdom, or leaning into God through prayer. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Stay connected to a community that keeps you spiritually and emotionally sharp.

4. Leave a Mark

Every stroke of a pencil leaves a mark. Similarly, every action we take leaves an imprint—on our families, communities, and world. In 2025, commit to being intentional about the mark you leave. Ask yourself, “What legacy will I create this year?” Small, consistent efforts add up to a lasting impact.

Indulge in A Simple Challenge?

Grab a pencil, some paper, and carve out time this week to write your goals. Don’t worry about making them perfect—just start. Include dreams for your relationship with God, your health, your family, your finances, and your community. Then revisit your list regularly, erasing, sharpening, and rewriting as God guides you.

As we begin this new year, let’s remember the humble pencil—a tool that reminds us to dream, to grow, and to trust God’s plans.

Here’s to a powerful, confident, and purposeful 2025!

Best Wishes,

L.B.