2024 in Review
Hey there, how are you doing today? It’s been a minute.
I’m currently waiting to board my flight as I write this, and I’ve found myself reflecting on what an interesting year 2024 has been.
If I were to describe it, I’d compare it to playing an action game—maybe Far Cry or Call of Duty on a PlayStation set to the veteran difficulty. Every mission felt challenging, and every level came with intense moments, but each success no matter how small felt worth the struggle. I’d describe it as interesting because I promise you, I didn’t even see this year coming myself lol. Looking back, it’s easy to reduce the year to a string of small, seemingly insignificant details, but in those moments they felt monumental, like mountains I had to climb.
This year felt exactly like that—challenging yet filled with moments that changed me. I connected with amazing people, strengthened relationships with existing friends, and learned more about the importance of communication. I joined new teams and worked on some super exciting products. I also took my interest in theology to a new level, enrolling in courses, starting books, and immersing myself in deep, thought-provoking study. Honestly, it’s been one of the most exciting parts of my life, rivaled only by my usual loves: gaming and yelling at the Golden State Warriors and United as they somehow manage to lose horribly.
Yet, this year wasn’t just about intellectual pursuits. It was about navigating the messy, human parts of life—relationships, spiritual growth, family, and personal development, all at once. It’s probably been the most challenging year I’ve had in recent times.
But amidst all these, I learned two important lessons:
We may not have full control over the events that unfold in our daily lives, but we always have the choice of how we respond to them.
While we can intentionally design the outcomes of our lives to some extent with focus and determination, we’re not in control of the universe. Even with our best efforts to be careful or meticulous, unexpected stuff will always happen, and we will make mistakes. Personally, I made a lot of mistakes this year, but each misstep carried a lesson. Each unplanned episode that didn’t go my way brought a part of me I wasn’t familiar with to light. It taught me that I don’t know myself nearly as well as I thought I did, and I’m not in control nearly as much as I often like to believe—God is.
These moments reshaped my perspective and worldview, reminding me that God knows us much better than we know ourselves. He understands the frailties that accompany our frame, He is sovereign, and at the end of the day still works all things for our good.
God is faithful.
I found myself wrestling with God over and over again, trying to “win” on certain matters in the way we would define victory as humans. You can't wrestle with God and win, at least not in the way we know victory, It's not that I haven't always known this, but there's something about the testing of your faith, living in the moment and experiencing this practically that just hits differently. Victory with God is about surrender, not overpowering, and surrender or taking a back seat isn't exactly something that comes naturally to us. But with each surrender, we get to see God's beauty more clearly and understand how every instruction is a reflection of His heart toward us. Similarly, with each act of disobedience, we stray further away. If I were to summarize my faith journey this year, it would be 1 Corinthians 1v9: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Through all these moments, one truth remained clear: God is faithful. We’re ultimately stuck with God at the end of the day. The Bible meant it when it said nothing can separate us from God’s love. Some days we’ll do so well and some other times we’ll blow it up so bad and even try to run away. But the good thing is that God is very unlike us—His love for us is unconditional, and He desires even more than we do that we prosper in His purpose for our lives.
Saint Augustine’s words resonated with me deeply:
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
This became a cornerstone for me, along with Psalm 36:5-9 (NKJV):
“Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”
Final Thoughts
2024 was tough, transformative, and deeply enlightening. While I don’t have all the answers, I learned lessons I couldn’t have learned in any other way. I’m stepping into 2025 with gratitude, open hands, a willing heart, and a deep trust in God. I’m excited to grow, learn, and tackle the challenges ahead with a renewed sense of purpose. I want to serve others with intentionality and excellence, and I hope to find the right vehicles to effectively solve the problems I’m most passionate about.
Here’s to growth, grace, and the courage to keep showing up.
See you in 2025.
Thank you so much for sharing such insightful piece. It's been a rollercoaster year but God has been faithful and that's something to rejoice about. Again, thank you!