Devotionals for the Heart: When you're wondering if you can trust God

Can You Fully Trust God?
A devotional by Patricia Russell

This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”—Jeremiah 17:5-7 (NIV)

“Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” is one of my favorite songs. It’s a classic.

The melody is easy. The words are simple to understand. There is one line that has become my constant prayer because I know my trust in Him will be tested often. My prayer is, “Lord, give me grace to trust You more.”

In high school, I had a teacher who taught us that trust is earned. That lesson has stayed with me over the years, particularly when people would say, often without prompting, “You can trust me.” Yet, they have only known me for five minutes.

How do you develop trust? Trust is developed in relationships when people have shared a variety of experiences together. When we first met at a youth rally, my husband did something very interesting. We had a brief conversation, but afterwards he spent the next couple of days doing research on me. He wanted to know who I was, so he did what anyone does when they’re interested in a subject: they research. This, I found very admirable. It meant that he was serious in wanting to truly know me to establish a solid relationship. Do you know that God knows us intimately right down to the very number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7).

According to Psalm 139:1-4, God tells us how important we are to Him and how much He loves us. He knows what we think, when we sit down, and how we move. When my husband tells me he loves me, it means a lot to me. When God tells us He loves us and shows us in His Word (The Holy Bible) how very important we are to Him, He wants us to know this so that we know we can trust Him. If God were to ask us to use a measure of 1 to 10—with 10 being the highest—to rate our trust in Him, how would we rate our level of trust and confidence in Him?

As we read the Scriptures, study them, and learn about who the Lord is, and see His character revealed throughout the historical records, our love for Him grows. Our confidence in Him grows. Our trust in Him should also grow. Our confidence in a God who never changes—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—can be grounded in certainty.

Reading about Him and communicating with Him in prayer is one thing, but the greater test comes from obeying His commands. God knows what He is asking us to do, even though it may seem difficult for us. He wants us to believe He is in control. He wants us to obey Him and trust that He will work things together for our good as His Word declares in Romans 8:28. When I think about someone who was obedient to God even though it was dangerous, was Corrie Ten Boom. I highly recommend you read her book, The Hiding Place.

Corrie Ten Boom and her family rescued and hid hundreds of Jews from the Nazis. Someone betrayed her family, causing them to be arrested and taken to a concentration camp to be punished. They endured excruciating pain, heartache, stress, and torture by their enemies. Yet, because she learned from a very young age to put her faith in the One who sees, hears, and knows all things, she was set up to face this tumultuous period in her life.

Corrie felt pain in her mind, in her body, and in her soul, but after enduring, she had this to say about her God: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Although she suffered and was severely persecuted, Corrie did not backtrack on her love, commitment, and faith in her God. Her love was strengthened and her commitment grounded deeper.

Many times, it is through our suffering that our trust becomes deeper and our love for the Lord grows stronger. If you’re in a struggle right now, consider journaling the things God is teaching you as you sit in the pain. Yes, the struggle is real, but God’s love is also. Be encouraged!

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, today I trust You with my life. I do not know what the future holds, but I know that You hold the future. I’ve heard and seen You do wonderful things for others, so I trust You with my future. I trust You, Lord. Please give me grace to trust You more, especially when my mind and my heart are overwhelmed. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Trust Me” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I’ll Trust You, Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “For the Good” by Riley Clemmons. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology "Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit", as well as Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. Hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

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Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: There are blessings that we often overlook

The Blessings We Often Overlook
A devotional by Erica J. Hill

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

—Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

As summertime arrives and our children are home from school, our houses often become fuller, louder, and busier.

Between the extra meals, errands, activities, and endless requests, it is easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted. Yet, we must not forget that the Bible says in Psalm 127:3, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Instead of focusing on the busyness of the summer months, let’s choose to notice the small moments and be grateful for our children who are the precious blessings God has entrusted to us.

Most parents would say they love their children, but gratitude is something deeper. Yes, they get on my nerves sometimes, and they worry me more often than they know. Yet I am grateful for them because they remind me daily that they are God’s gifts to me—His heritage and reward entrusted to my care.

I often find myself wondering how my children became the people they are. Most parents might be quick to claim credit for the good qualities and blame someone else for the difficult ones. Yet I have learned that the qualities we sometimes struggle with our children having are not always weaknesses. Sometimes the traits that test our patience today become the strengths they will need tomorrow. When I look at my children—their character, their choices, and the direction their lives are taking—I am reminded that God has been faithfully guiding them all along. In those moments, I thank God for all the people who have prayed for them, even before they were born.

One of the greatest gifts of parenthood is what my children continue to teach me. As parents, we often assume we are the ones doing the teaching, but many times our children become our greatest lessons. Through their dreams, determination, and resilience, they remind me that God is still at work shaping each of us.

Education has always been important in our home, so it brings me great joy to watch my youngest son share that same passion for learning. Since elementary school, he has dreamed of becoming a doctor and has worked hard to excel in school. His confidence and determination remind me that God often places dreams in our hearts long before we understand where they will lead.

My middle child amazes me with his creativity and determination. While many teenagers spend their free time focused on the present, he enjoys talking about business ideas and future opportunities. As I listen to him dream beyond where he is today, I am reminded that God often plants dreams in our hearts for a reason. Watching him pursue those dreams reminds me that God is faithfully at work in his life.

My daughter has made thoughtful decisions about her future. She chose to finish her education, invest in her marriage, and then start a family. Today, she and her husband are praying for God to bless them with a home, but they are also faithfully doing their part by budgeting carefully and saving for the future. Watching her trust God’s timing while walking in wisdom reminds me that God’s guidance is often revealed through the ordinary decisions our children make each day.

I often complain about driving my sons from place to place, but if I am honest, I enjoy those moments in the car. Sometimes that is when I hear what is really going on in their lives. What feels like an inconvenience today may someday become a memory I wish I could relive.

The older my children get, the more I realize how easy it is to take these moments for granted. We are often quick to thank God for our health, finances, and careers, yet overlook the people who mean the most to us. Too often, we focus on what family members do that frustrate us instead of appreciating the blessing of having them in our lives. Gratitude shifts our perspective and reminds us that the ordinary moments we often overlook are gifts from God.

When we walk through the door after a long day and the music is too loud, we can be grateful that our children are where we can see them. When they constantly ask for things, we can be thankful that we are able to provide for their needs and that they do not live with a constant sense of lack.

We must learn to be grateful for the little things as much as the big things. Gratitude is found in everyday moments—the laughter around the dinner table, the unexpected phone call, the safe arrival home, the dreams our children share, and the smiles on the faces of the people we love. These moments may seem ordinary, but they are often the very blessings we once prayed for.

As you move through the busyness of this summer season, pause and thank God for the people He has entrusted to you. They may not always feel like a reward in the moment, but they are among His greatest blessings.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of family and for the blessings You have placed in our lives. Help us to look beyond the busyness and frustrations of daily life and recognize the joy found in the ordinary moments. Give us grateful hearts and remind us to cherish the people You have entrusted to our care.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “The Blessing” (Lyrics) ft. Kari Jobe Carnes, Cody Carnes and Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Gratitude” (Chosen Performance) by Brandon Lake. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Erica J. Hill is a wife, mother, and proud grandmother living in Georgia. 

With a career spanning both elementary education and higher education, she has served as an elementary and middle grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and now works as an administrative assistant in higher education. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media Center Specialist, Erica’s love for learning and teaching runs deep.

Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, she has faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and now as one of the youth directors at her church. A lifelong writer at heart, Erica once set her passion aside to pursue other career goals—but recently felt God’s undeniable tug to pick up her pen again, this time to write for His Kingdom.

She is currently working on her first book, Worthy. Whole. Woman. It is a devotional that she hopes will be an encouraging resource created to uplift and empower women—especially women of color—to walk confidently in their God-given identity.

Through her words, Erica blends faith in God, personal reflection, and practical wisdom to inspire women to heal, grow, and embrace the fullness of who God created them to be.

Originally from Atlanta, Erica now calls Macon County home, where she lives with her husband and children. In her free time, you’ll usually find Erica curled up with a good book, working on DIY projects, or planning her next travel adventure.

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Connect with Erica:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsgrace2931/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahsgrace2931/

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we can trust God to guide us through life

Trust That God’s Leading the Way
A devotional by Alicia Searl

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”—Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

This morning I went on a walk all by my lonesome. It was wonderful. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy walking with my pup, crew of kiddos, or my husband, but today, I needed it to be just me and God.

When I get the simple pleasure of going for a walk alone, God always meets me in the most beautiful ways. Today was no different, yet His approach was a little more unusual this time. Maybe because He knew I needed Him to meet me in this season with a bit of His firm love. Yes, the love that comes with conviction. Sigh.

The last few months have held both beauty and sorrow, but I will be the first to admit that I have fallen into some not-so-great habits. From binge watching shows late at night and escaping reality by immersing myself in the mindless scroll of social media to feeding my emotions with an entire bag of pretzels, let’s just say my body was telling me, “Enough is enough!”

Now to be fair, my kids have been home all summer, my hubby has been working most weekends, and our oldest daughter is about to leave for college. So, if my girl wants to watch a sappy rom-com at midnight with buttery popcorn, you better believe, I’m all in! In other words, I am going to pounce on that opportunity because time is of the essence. Yet, if I am being fully honest with myself, my momma heart has been weary, my mind completely overwhelmed, and my body continues to remind me of how old I am getting with every ache and pain, especially in the morning. Yet, this morning those body aches and pains prompted me to hit the pause button and forced me to shift my focus. It was time!

After a hurried and hasty rush out the door and getting back into a school routine, I finally got the chance to dive into God’s Word in my quiet home. It was utter bliss. Yet, what I found was that I was naturally reaching for my phone. Just a quick look led to an hour detour. Old habits are hard to break. Thankfully, God’s firm love met me with the conviction to put the phone down, pry myself off the coach, and step outside.

Honestly, I needed it more than I realized. The sun saturated my skin. The whisper of the trees calmed my soul. Then God softly touched my heart, reminding me to trust Him. So, I moved from my backyard around the house, to the street. I felt like God was telling me: Keep going. Take the next step, the next block. Go the extra mile. I listened. I obeyed. And I was recharged. As I took each step, I was blessed in that moment to experience God’s presence and His gentle response to the choices I had been making. Choices that I didn’t think were “all that bad” but surely didn’t honor God and put Him first.

In the Bible book of Psalm, King David is open and honest with his struggles and how his sinful choices that affected his walk with God. Yet, time and time again, we see how God met him right where He was and whispered for him to keep going because He was leading the way.

As people who believe in God, we can rest assured that we have a faithful Father who knows what is best for us and walks beside us, goes before us, and picks up the pieces behind us (Deuteronomy 31:8). That includes the times we fall into habits that may not be good for us. God always meets us with His gentle yet firm hand, reminding us that He calls us to live this life abundantly (John 10:10). When we do, we find this sweet place where hope meets healing.

Maybe you need to be reminded to press the pause button in your life and let God do a little spiritual realignment. Step out in faith today and see where God leads you. All you have to do is trust that His is guiding you and then be bold enough to take the first step.

Let’s Pray: Faithful Father, thank You for meeting us in all walks of life and bringing us sweet reminders of Your love. As we fall into patterns that pull us away from You, meet us with bold convictions and give us the space to humbly submit to Your will and way. Help us not to be swayed by worldly temptations and grant us the wisdom to heed Your instruction and follow Your truth. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “First” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Walk by Faith” by Jeremy Camp. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “The Sun is Rising” by Britt Nicole. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Lead Me Lord” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir w/ Elizabeth Goodine. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Alicia Searl is a Christian author, writer, writing coach, and speaker who is passionate about sharing God’s Word to spread hope and healing. She has an educational background and a master’s degree in advanced literacy. 

Alicia is a contributing writer for iBelieve, Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and Your Daily Prayer. She has authored two devotionals, a children’s book of grief, and several Bible studies and prayer journals.

She enjoys helping new and aspiring writers follow their calling and pursue their God-given purpose and shares personal faith stories on her blog. Alicia’s heartfelt words and authenticity are portrayed in each of her literary pieces in hopes of bringing her readers a sense of understanding, comfort, and encouragement on their faith journey.

Alicia resides in Texas where her family is currently fixing up a tiny home in the Piney Woods in East Texas to spread hope, bring healing, and share God’s love with others.

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Connect with Alicia:
Email: alicia.searl@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why God is our stable Rock in troubled times

God is My Rock and My Fortress
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

—Psalm 18:2 (KJV)

There's a verse I keep returning to when everything feels unsteady.

King David didn’t write this verse (Psalm 18:2) from a place of comfort. He wrote it after years of being chased, betrayed, and nearly killed. He wrote this verse after watching the ground shift under him over and over again. What he landed on, after all of that, wasn't a strategy or a self-improvement plan. It was not a person. He landed on the Lord. David didn’t say, “the Lord helped me build something stable.” He said, “The Lord is my rock.” The difference is everything not “God helped me get stable,” but “God is my stability.” David didn't build it. He didn't earn it. He just stopped looking elsewhere and stood on what was already holding him.

That’s the difference I want to sit in today.

Notice how many words David uses to say the same thing: Rock. Fortress. Deliverer. Strength. Buckler. Horn of salvation. High tower. Seven images, one truth, said seven different ways.

I don't think that's poetic excess. I think it's what happens when one word isn't enough to hold what you're trying to say. When you’ve been steady in some ways and shaken in others, strong in some ways and terrified in others, you reach for every word you have because no single image captures the whole of what you need God to be.

A rock holds your weight. A fortress keeps danger out. A deliverer reaches in and pulls you from where you are. A high tower lets you see what’s coming before it arrives. David needed all of it because life doesn’t threaten you in just one way. It comes at you from every direction, and so his language for God had to come from every direction too.

Here's what stands out to me most: David doesn't say God gave him a rock. He says God is the rock. That’s not a small distinction. A rock you’re given can be taken away. God the “rock” cannot. If my stability depends on a job, a relationship, a season of life going well, then the moment any of it shifts, my stability goes with it. But if my stability is God himself, nothing that changes around me can touch the foundation because the foundation was never any of those things to begin with.

I think this is why so many of us feel unstable even when nothing is technically wrong. We've built our sense of safety on things that were never built to hold that weight such as: achievement, other people's approval, the absence of conflict, the illusion of control. Those things shift constantly because they were never rocks. They were just things that looked solid until the weather changed and we realized they were like sinking sand.

David is naming something different. He says, “My God, my strength”. He isn't crediting his resilience or his track record. Not in how well he’s holding it together. He’s naming where the strength lives: in God, and nowhere else. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV), “for my strength is made perfect in weaknesses.”

I want to be honest about something: Saying “the Lord is my rock” doesn't make the storm disappear. Remember: David wrote this after the danger, not instead of it. The men were still after him. The years of running were still real. The fear in the moment it was happening was not fake just because he later wrote a psalm about trusting God through it. Faith here isn’t the absence of fear, it’s what David reached for in the middle of the fear.

That matters, because I think a lot of us quietly believe that needing to lean on God this hard means something has gone wrong with our faith. It hasn’t. King David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), needed seven different metaphors to describe how badly he needed somewhere solid to stand. If he needed that many, we’re allowed to need ours too. One of my favorite places to stand is Romans 8:18 (KJV). It says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Let’s look at our anchor text (Psalm 18:2) again and focus on where David wrote these words: in whom I will trust. That phrase sits in the middle of the verse and it’s easy to read past it, but it's doing a lot of work. Allow me to explain: Trust isn't a feeling you wait for. It’s a decision you make, often while the feeling is nowhere close. David didn’t say “in whom I feel safe” he said, “in whom I will trust.” Future tense. A choice being made in the middle of the hard place that hadn't been resolved yet. He was choosing to trust the rock before he could fully feel its solidity under his feet.

That’s most of what trust looks like, if I'm honest. Not the calm certainty we picture, but the decision to keep standing on something you can’t fully verify yet because you’ve decided it’s trustworthy, not because the ground has stopped shaking. My late pastor used to tell me, “Faith is not needing to know the details.” We learn to trust God when we can’t see nor trace Him.

If you’re in a season where everything you used to lean on feels unreliable—people, plans, even your own resolve—I don't think the answer is to try harder to make those things solid again.

I think the invitation is the same one David found his way to. Stop asking the shifting things to hold your weight. Instead stand on the thing that was never going to move. Not because it will remove what you're facing. David still had men after him. The storm doesn't always pass just because you’ve named your rock correctly.

But you can be in a storm and still be standing on something solid. That’s not nothing. That might be everything. My rock. My fortress. My deliverer. My strength. My high tower. My buckler. My horn of salvation.

Let’s say it the way David did with all seven words because one was never going to be enough. Let these words be true before it fully feels true because that’s where trust starts. Not at the end of the storm, but in the middle of it, on a rock that was never the one shaking to begin with.

Let’s Pray:

Lord,

You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. You are my God, my strength, the one in whom I choose to trust not because I always feel it, but because I have decided You are trustworthy. You are my buckler, the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

I confess that I have spent seasons leaning on things that were never built to hold my own strength, other people's approval, plans that felt solid until they weren’t. Forgive me for asking shifting things to do what only You can do. Teach me to lay my weight down on You instead, even when I cannot yet feel the ground beneath me.

I will not pretend the storm isn’t real. The danger David faced didn’t disappear just because he knew where his strength came from, and mine may not either. But let me be like him—afraid and trusting at the same time, shaken and standing at the same time, in the middle of the storm and still fixed on something that isn’t moving.

Where I am unstable, be my rock. Where I am exposed, be my fortress. Where I cannot save myself, be my deliverer. Where I have no strength left, be my strength. Where I need to see what’s coming, be my high tower.

I will trust You. Not because everything is resolved, but because You have never once stopped being who You said You are.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Cornerstone” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Great God” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “My Help (Cometh from the Lord)” by VaShawn Mitchell (ft. Maranda Curtis). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Way Maker” by Sinach. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “He Will Hold Me Fast” by Keith & Kristyn Getty. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

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Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

Devotionals for the Heart: When you are struggling to trust God

Why We Can Always Trust God
A devotional by Colette Christopher

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

—Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

I woke up in the middle of the night and remembered the current deadline I couldn’t meet and all its implications.

I had no idea what would happen for the rest of the month or the months ahead. Fear came over me in the dark as I wondered where God was and how long He would take to respond to my prayer. My heart broke, and tears welled up in my eyes.

Then I heard a gentle, caring voice say, “Trust Me.” As my mind returned to the situation, I heard it again, even more softly: “Trust Me.” The second time, something changed within me, and peace filled my soul. My body relaxed, and my thoughts settled on my Heavenly Father’s invitation to trust Him. This is what I’ve learned: It is easy to lose sight of God in the middle of a trial or a difficult season. It is easy to forget His words and His promises to us.

Isaiah 41:10 was a reminder to the children of Israel who were in exile in Babylon. They were taken away from their homes, hundreds of miles away in a foreign land, to be oppressed by the Babylonians. They burned their cities down, including their place of worship—the temple where God dwelt among them. I can only imagine how they must have felt, abandoned and wondering if God cared for them. This was the place I was at, and possibly, it is the same place you are as well. My sweet friend, God has not and will not abandon you. His love carries us. His Word (The Holy Bible) reassures us of His promises, and His covenant is unbroken toward us.

It’s not easy to trust God when bills are due and the finances are lacking, a health crisis looms, and there seems to be no way out of your current circumstances. I know I have been there. God reassured the children of Israel by saying these words in Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” God is lovingly reassuring and comforting you with those same words. Truth be told, God, our Heavenly Father, is trustworthy. His words are His bond, and it's impossible for Him to go back on what He says.

As I leaned into the comfort of the words the Lord whispered to me this morning and the subsequent peace they gave me, I refocused my prayer instead on the promises of God. Instead of “Woe is me”, I used back His words to Him, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NLT).

Those are His words to me. What words has He spoken to you as you wrestle with the weight and burden? Are you able to trust that God is well able and more than capable to meet your needs—whatever they may be?

Sometimes the way in which we want our prayers answered, God knows that’s not the best option for us right now. In that, He still says trust Him. It is amazing to know that we have a Heavenly Father who has the absolute best plans for us, but our impatience sometimes robs us of His best.

Although I believe and pray for the best outcome, my God knows what’s best for me and what’s best for you. Today, trust Him. He knows the needs that must be met and the right path to take. The same God who loved and cared for the children of Israel cares for you in the same way. In the darkest of the night, let us trust Him, when it seems not to make sense, still trust Him. When you feel like letting go, trust Him. His ways are past finding out, and though it may seem as if He is taking a long time to come through, please know that what He is preparing for you and me is His absolute best for us.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, help us to trust You even when the path does not seem clear. Help us to lean on You and know that You love us. As we wait, help us to trust that You are working all things out for our good. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Trust Me” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I’ll Trust You, Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “In the Waiting” by Vicki Yohe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “More Than Able” (feat. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colette Christopher is an empowered woman who inspires women to be who they were created to be. Her core message is empowerment. She is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership team. 

Colette believes that an empowered woman empowers others and is powerful in knowing who she is and what she can accomplish. Colette is on a mission to impact the lives of the women assigned to her, whether she is their coach or trainer or shares a word that will transform their lives.

Colette utilizes her Christian principles as the base of all her engagements. She is passionate about fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women to know who they are, rebuild their confidence, and use their voices as tools to uplift themselves and others.

​​She is the founder of the M.E.E. Movement L.L.C., a faith-based empowerment ministry business that helps women of faith rebuild their confidence and use their voice to walk in their purpose through life coaching, mentoring, and empowerment speaking. Colette believes in using the gifts God has given her to help women be who God has called them to be and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which they were created. She lives by Romans 8:28 (NIV), that promises, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

A native of Jamaica, Colette resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the mother of two beautiful young women, a son-in-love, and two grandsons. Colette enjoys reading, writing, watching good movies, and chatting with her daughters and friends.

~*~
Connect with Colette:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2367935
Email: Colettemarieonline@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God allows you to experience tough times

When we are pressed hard but not crushed in despair
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

—2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Can I sit with you for a minute?

I know summer has arrived. I can see it. The evenings are longer, the neighbors out on their lawns, the kids with their popsicles and their noise. Maybe you are watching all of it from somewhere that still feels very far away. Maybe you are doing the thing where you smile at the right moments and show up where you're supposed to, and nobody quite knows how much you are carrying just to get through an ordinary day.

I see you.

There is something about the brightness of it, the way the world just keeps going, relentlessly cheerful. Like everyone else received an invitation to feel alive this season, and yours got lost somewhere. Like joy is happening just on the other side of a window you cannot quite open. You are not behind. You are just in it. And it landed here, in June, uninvited and unimpressed by the weather.

There is a passage I keep returning to in seasons like this. Not because it ties anything up neatly, but because it doesn't try to. The Bible says we are hard pressed, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair. Struck down, but not destroyed. Two words keep catching me every time I read this verse: but not.

Not, “it's okay now.” Not, “the hard part is over.” Just “you are still here.” And that is not nothing. That is, in fact, everything. And so is God. Still here. Not in a hurry with you. Not watching the calendar. He hasn't forgotten a single thing about what this has cost you.

I wonder if somewhere in this summer, hope might find its way to you in the quiet ways it tends to. Not announced. Not dramatic. Just a moment that catches you off guard, where something still feels like something. A conversation that goes longer than you expected. An evening that is just soft enough. A small, unremarkable thing that reminds you that you are still capable of being reached.

I think of the years I spent grieving children I never got to hold. The ones lost before I could meet them, and the one who was promised to me and then taken away. I remember sitting in a nursery I had barely begun that I had to quietly dismantle, certain that grief like that simply does not get redeemed, that some losses just sit there forever, unanswered. In a way, they still do. I did not get the ending I prayed for. But somewhere in the unraveling, I found that I had not actually been let go of. God did not rush in with an explanation or a replacement. He just stayed. He stayed through the waiting rooms, the empty rooms, the rooms I could not walk into for a while. That is the part I did not expect: not that the ache would disappear, but that I would slowly become someone who could carry it without being consumed by it. Hard pressed, yes. Still not crushed. I say this not as someone watching from a distance, but as someone who has waited through summers like this one.

I do not think hope means the pain is gone. Maybe it just means you are still reachable. Maybe that is enough to carry into today. Not healing. Not answers. Just the quiet possibility that you are held—even now, even here, even in the middle of a summer that arrived before you were ready.

~*~
Let’s Pray:

God, I'm tired in a way that's hard to explain to people. Summer showed up and I'm still here. Still in this. I'm not asking You to rush it or fix it into something pretty. I just need to know You're close. That You see what this actually looks like from the inside. Hold what I can't. And when something like hope starts to come, help me recognize it. Even if it's small. Even if it's quiet. I'm still here. And I know that matters to You.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “It Is Well” (Acoustic version) by Kristene DiMarco. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Come As You Are” by Crowder (Cover by Vanessa Magnon in ASL). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Steady My Heart” by Kari Jobe (cover in SASL Translation by St. Vincent School for the Deaf). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Dr. Patti Schultz’s inspiring journey weaves a tapestry of compassion, resilience, and divine hope. 

Formerly a public school principal, professor, teacher, and interpreter for the deaf, she now dedicates her life to a heartfelt ministry rooted in her personal experiences.

As a mother to three miracle boys here on Earth and a member of a heavenly soccer team, Patti’s story is one of unwavering faith and profound love. Her decade-long battle with infertility and recurrent loss fuels her deep compassion for grieving mothers, guiding them toward healing through the comforting embrace of Jesus Christ’s garment.

Patti’s gentle wisdom offers a safe haven for women navigating pain, reminding them they are never alone. Through her ministry, she seeks to envelop grieving mothers in divine comfort, encouraging hope, renewal, and the reassurance that God's love is always near, wrapping them in His compassionate hem as they walk the path to healing.

Living in northern Michigan, she cherishes precious moments with family and community, drawing strength from faith and connection.

~*~
Connect with Patti:
Website: pattischultz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.pattischultz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Patti.Schultz
Email: dr.patti.schultz@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God helps you use what's in your hand

What’s In Your Hand?
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

—Exodus 4:2 (NIV)

We carry many things in our hands. Keys. Food. Backpack. A loved one’s hand. Money. A tool. And many of these things are quite useful throughout our day.

If you are a chef, then a sharp knife is essential. If you are a dog trainer, then a leash along with dog treats is in order. If you are a mommy, then your empty hands are needed to help, guide, carry and comfort a child.

What we carry in our hands can be used by God, if we let Him. Moses had just been called by God to go to Pharoah to bring His people, the Israelites, out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). Moses had met God via a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6). It was then when Moses received a call from God and the instructions of what his life would look like from here on out. But he had some questions for God first.

Moses asked God for a sign—multiple ones, even though he had just had the burning bush experience in which God’s voice was heard from a fire-engulfed bush that was not consumed by the fire. Perhaps Moses was afraid to step out into the wide unknown. Maybe that is why he asked God for a sign. God answered Moses by telling him to look at his hand then gave him the sign he needed. Has this ever happened to you? You feel a nudging from God to do something new to you and you do not know where to begin. Maybe you have many different hobbies, interests, and likes, but they don’t necessarily go together except at a salad bar.

This does not matter to God. He takes all things and uses them for His glory. Even our experiences from the past such as the pain, the betrayal, the unforgiveness, and the secret parts of our lives we don’t share because they are too private. God can use it all to transform us and inspire others to know Him on a personal level.

God is a creative God. His creativity is displayed around is in His creation. Animals like the wildebeest, a zebra, a giraffe, a monkey or a hippo are unique in appearance. I saw all these animals on a recent trip to a safari park in East Africa. On that safari, I saw how creative God is in the colors and patterns He chose to incorporate in animals. He was creative because it was in His hand to be creative. It is God’s nature and we are the ones who benefit from the works of His hands.

Before this trip to a safari, God used what was in my hand in a very unexpected way. My husband and I were going to Tanzania for him to teach at a Bible college and I had different teaching type things I was going to do. I had a lot of free time after I completed my assignment. The missionaries we were working with asked me if I had any hobbies or interests. I replied yes and mentioned my passion for sewing garments. And I have a passion for helping women sew garments for themselves, their families, and as a business.

She asked if I could hold a day-long seminar to demonstrate making products for themselves. I began drafting patterns, getting them in Swahili and praying about this day. When we arrived in Tanzania a month ago, that one day seminar turned into a sewing clinic at the training center of the mission. It was going to be a month-long clinic where students lived at the center, learned how to use a treadle sewing machine, learn a skill, how to manage a small business and a budget, and learn more about Jesus Christ.

What I do for personal interest for myself and others (and mine is not a business), became used by God for others to make a living for themselves and their families.

When I saw the training center for the first time getting painted and ready for the 11 students, plus the 15 new treadle machines (electricity is not that reliable), I was overcome. God was using what was in my hand. I thought I was going to teach one small class in something I consider a hobby, where God was using it to reach more for His glory and His work.

I did not ask God for a sign, rather He gave me a powerful lesson on obedience. We went out of obedience to Tanzania. We do not go for the ‘adventure’, nor did we go because we had not been to Africa before. We went because God called us to go. We went because He had something for us to do. We went because of obedience and love. And we received way more than we gave.

Let’s Pray: Father, I have stuff in my hands, but I am not sure if it can be useful for You and I want to glorify and honor You with what I have in my hands. Show me Lord what it is You want me to give to You. I don’t necessarily need a sign, rather a direction on how to use what You have given me for Your kingdom purposes. I lay (fill in the blank) at Your feet, for Your use. And I do it willingly. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Available to You” (ft. J Moss) by Melinda Watts. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Out of My Hands” by Jeremy Camp. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Use Me” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children—two of whom are married—and a new grandson, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served on the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the States to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 26 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in the church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than 10 years, a Bible study writer for six years, and a devotional writer for more than four years.

Kerry Sue feels led to write about finding God’s Sovereignty in our suffering because of her own journey of more than five years with broken feet. She hopes to to encourage others with her faith walk and real-life stories.

~*~
Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog