In this episode of Catholic Moms in the Middle, I’m reflecting on what it means to enter 2026 feeling stretched—but not broken. So many of us have walked through a year that stretched us mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually in ways we never would have chosen. And when you’re in it, that stretching often feels like breaking.

In this episode, I invite you to pause before rushing into a new year and to gently look back at 2025 not the highlight reel, but the real moments. The grief, the growth, the hidden blessings, and the quiet ways God was present even when it didn’t feel like it.

We’ll talk about how stretching, when held in God’s hands, isn’t meant to weaken us, but t’s meant to form us. How strength is often built in tension, surrender, and dependence on God rather than self-reliance. And how what feels like being broken open may actually be God creating more space for His grace.

If you’ve been carrying a lot, if you’re weary, or if you’re stepping into this new year unsure of what comes next, this episode is for you. My prayer is that you’ll leave encouraged, grounded, and reminded that you are stronger than you think—because God has been at work in the stretching.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. She accompanies midlife women through divorce, grief, and major life transitions, helping them encounter God’s healing and rediscover their purpose.