Devotionals for the Heart: When God calls you to be strong in heavy warfare

Be Strong: Why the Warfare Has Been So Heavy
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

—Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

Early one Tuesday morning, the Lord woke me with a shout: “Be Strong!” I knew immediately what He meant and I knew it was not just for me.

I have been walking through a season of overwhelming challenges, the kind that leave you literally speechless. When I asked the Lord what was happening, He spoke clearly to me: The assignment of the enemy has been to silence your voice.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you, too, have found yourself muted by circumstances, overwhelmed by spiritual warfare, or quietly wondering why the attacks have been so relentless. The moment the Lord uttered those two words “Be Strong”, I was immediately anchored in Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) that says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Notice it does not say be strong in your own strength, your own resolve, or your own resilience. It says in the Lord, in the power of His might. That is where our strength lives. And the warfare we are experiencing is often the very sign that something significant is at stake.

Heavy Warfare Means You Have a Voice Worth Silencing

The enemy does not waste his resources on things that do not matter. If he has assigned a coordinated, relentless attack against your peace, your words, your confidence, or your ability to speak then it is because what flows from your mouth carries weight in God’s Kingdom.

Scripture confirms this in Isaiah 59:19b (KJV) saying, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

A flood is not a mild nuisance. A flood is an overwhelming force designed to submerge everything in its path. If you feel submerged, it is because the Spirit of the Lord is about to raise a standard and you are standing right in front of it.

Do not misread the intensity of the warfare. The enemy is not attacking you because you are weak. He is attacking you because of what God is about to release through you. Be strong!

Strength is Not the Absence of Struggle—It is the Decision to Stand

Being strong in the Lord does not mean you feel invincible. It does not mean the pressure is not real, or that grief is not heavy, or that the silence has not cost you something. It means that during all of it, you decide this: I will not lay down my assignment.

Ephesians 6:11-18 (NIV) describes the full armor of God. Let’s read it below: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Every single piece of that armor is meant to help you do one thing: stand. “Having done everything, stand” (Ephesians 6:13). God is not asking you to win the battle in your own strength. He is asking you to stand while He fights.

The wiles of the devil are strategies that are calculated, patient, and layered. What has felt like random hardship may be a carefully constructed attempt to wear you down until you sit down. This is the moment to put on every piece of God’s armor that He describes in Ephesians 6:11-18. Remember that our spiritual armor includes these elements: Truth around your waist. Righteousness on your chest. The gospel on your feet. Faith as your shield. Salvation covers your mind. The Word of God in your hand. And prayer that is unceasing covers it all.

You may be weary. Stand anyway. Be strong!

Your Silence Is Not Your Defeat

There are moments when God allows us to be brought low not to break us, but to strip away everything we have been leaning on outside of Him. The silence the enemy intended as a weapon, God is using as a wilderness. And wildernesses, in Scripture, always precedes a new dimension of power and purpose. Remember these Bible stories: Jesus Christ came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). John the Baptist emerged from the desert with a voice that shook a nation. The silence you have endured has been preparing something in you that could not have been formed any other way.

Listen to this clearly: The enemy's goal was for you to stay silent. God's plan is for you to come out of this season with a testimony so undeniable, so forged by fire, that it breaks chains in the lives of people who hear it. Your voice restored, refined, and rooted in what God has walked you through is what the enemy feared all along.

Do not let the devil and his evil forces win. Open your mouth. Praise before the breakthrough comes. Speak the Word over your life even when your voice trembles. The flood is meeting the standard. Be strong!

Let’s Pray:

Father God, I come before You in the name of Jesus. I thank You that You are not surprised by this season and that before I ever felt the weight of this warfare, You already had prepared a way through it. You woke me with Your word telling me to “Be Strong!” You have not left me to face this alone.

Lord, I confess that there have been moments when the pressure silenced me and when the enemy's flood felt higher than my faith. But Your Word declares that when the enemy comes in like a flood, You raise a standard. Today I stand on that promise. I receive that standard. I declare that what the enemy meant to silence; You are about to amplify for Your glory.

Strengthen me now not in my own might, but in the power of Your might. Let my mouth—the very thing the enemy came after—be opened wide and be filled with Your praise, Your Word, and Your testimony. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Trust in God” (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well)” by Tori Kelly. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Stand” by Donnie McClurkin. 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: Why we should patiently wait on the Lord

Waiting on God
A devotional by Colette Christopher

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”

—Psalms 40:1 (NLT)

I don’t believe there is ever a time when people who believe in God aren’t waiting on God for something. Whether it’s for the opening of a door, salvation for family and friends, a breakthrough or something else. There seems to always be a season when we have to wait for God’s response to our petitions.

There are times when God answers our prayers immediately and there are times when we have to wait. But if you are like me, we like the immediate responses to our prayers because it feels good. On the other hand, when we have to wait and the answer seems so long in coming, we lean toward giving up.

There have been times in my life when waiting on the Lord seemed to last forever and I felt that God hadn’t heard and wasn’t mindful of my pleas for help. In those moments I can recall persisting in prayer even when the pleas weren’t as intense as when I just started. The biggest things that I noticed is that during those moments, my faith was being built up.

King David told us in Psalm 40:1 that he waited patiently on God. This couldn’t have been easy, but David knew the God he prayed to would deliver him. When we wait on the Lord like David, our patience can be tested. In the Bible it is recorded that King David started praying to God about a certain matter several chapters before Psalm 40 started. If you read chapter 37 through chapter 39 then you can hear David’s original pleas for help. Like David, we who pray to God have a track record with Him. Over time, we understand that He responds in His perfect time and according to His perfect will for our lives. God is never late and never early. He is always right on time. We limit Him with our physical idea of time when we forget that God exists outside of time.

God already knows the petitions of your heart, the urgency of your need, the dire straits that you are in. He sees you. God cares for all humankind and understands our struggles. Therefore, He gives comfort to us about this practice of waiting on Him. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 (NLT), “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

What can we take from the posture of waiting? The fact that it requires patience. It’s not something we necessarily like to hear, but it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that we need in our Christian journey. We can take hope in the fact that the Lord inclined His ear to David and heard his cry then and it’s the same for us today. As long as what we are praying for is in alignment to the word and will of God for our lives, God will not only hear but will deliver us.

The requirement is patience, and if that’s an area that you are struggling with then let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us to not grow weary, to reflect on what God has done for us in the past and be reminded that He is still the unchanging God.

Before I close this devotional, I’d like to leave you with a word of encouragement: There are prayers that I have been praying that have taken decades to come through. There were moments when I wondered if they would ever be answered. But God did answer me in His perfect time, and He was always right on time.

Friends, don’t look at the length of time it takes to receive a response from God. Instead, look at what He is producing within you as you wait.

Let’s Pray: Spirit of the Living God, I pray today that You will meet us at the point of our needs. Strengthen those who are weak and feel like giving up. Remind them that You are still the unchanging God and there’s absolutely nothing that’s too hard for you to do. Show up today, Lord. Put a new song in their mouth. May You, gracious God, be magnified today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Spirit of the Living God” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Promises” by Maverick City feat. Joe L Barnes & Naomi Raine | TRIBL. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “In the Waiting” by Vicki Yohe. 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.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope for when you don't truly feel okay

The O.K. No One Else Saw
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

—Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)

“O.K.” Perhaps you whispered that word again last night.

Maybe into the dark of your bedroom. Maybe in the car after you finally made it out of the parking lot, or in the shower where no one could hear you fall apart. That small word, barely a breath. O.K. As if saying it enough times might make it true.

I have pressed it into empty nurseries. Into hospital corridors. Into the silence after infertility treatments and the particular grief that has no name, no grave, and no casserole brought to the door. I have grieved children who arrived in my heart through adoption only to be carried away before they were ever placed in my arms. I have kept watch beside neonatal incubator in the small hours, willing tiny miracle bodies to hold on.

Hope and heartbreak are not opposites. They are, so often, the very same breath drawn in the very same moment, from the very same breaking place. I am somewhere between broken and becoming. Maybe that is where you are, too. Maybe grief is not tied to any particular date on the calendar. Maybe it simply follows you, loyal and uninvited, into each new morning.

If that is where you are, I want to sit with you here for a moment. Not to fix it. Not to hand you a map out. Just to be here, beside you, in the rocking. Grief is not a failure of faith. It is love with nowhere left to go. And it is holy.

In John 11:33-35, we see that Jesus Christ wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Not after the miracle. Before it. He stood in sorrow with those who were broken open by loss. He did not explain it, or rush past it, or offer a silver lining. He stood in it then. He stands in it now.

Did you know that “O.K.” is one of the most versatile words in the English language? Linguists marvel at how this small expression can bend itself to almost any role. It can be an adjective when saying, “She’s going to be O.K.” An adverb, when saying “Things are going OK, I suppose.”

But grief knows a different one. That exhaled, barely whispered interjection you say to yourself in the quiet after the worst has happened. The one that is not a promise. It is just a breath. It is just: I am still here.

There will be well-meaning people who will speak O.K. over you like a doctor giving a prognosis. “You’re going to be okay.” They will press it against your shoulder like a warm hand. And they are not wrong. But on the days when that assurance feels like a country you cannot find on any map, I want to offer you something sturdier than optimism.

An anchor.

The writer of Hebrews (a book in the Bible) was speaking to people who understood grief and displacement deeply. They were exhausted, persecuted, unsure if the hope they had staked their lives on was real. And into that trembling space, these words were released: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

An anchor does not stop the storm or make the waves lie flat. It holds you. It allows the boat to rock—and grief will rock you—without letting you be swept away entirely. Hope is not a feeling. It is a tether. A soul held fast, even when it cannot yet stand on steady ground.

You don’t have to be further along than you are today. Maybe O.K. is not yet an adjective that describes you. Maybe today it is only that quiet interjection, the exhaled acknowledgment. Still present. Still, somehow, held.

Maybe what you OK’d today took tremendous courage. You got out of bed. You answered a phone call. You let someone bring you a meal. You gave yourself permission to keep going, even when going felt impossible. That quiet, private O.K. you gave yourself—the one no one else saw—it counted. It is enough.

God does not need you to be fine to be near you. He does not need you to have arrived somewhere better before He shows up. He is the anchor, not the destination. He holds you in the middle: in the rocking, in the gray, in the season when O.K. is the most honest and the most courageous word you can manage.

What does O.K. feel like to you today? Bring that word, exactly as it is, to God. He can hold every version of it. O.K. You are still here. So is He.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I am somewhere between broken and becoming. I am not always certain I believe the O.K. that people speak over me, but I choose to believe in You as the anchor that holds even when I cannot feel the line. Be near to me in this grief. Let hope be not a feeling I must manufacture, but a foundation You provide. Tether me to You today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: ASL Cover of “Held” by Natalie Grant. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: ASL Cover of “Even If” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: ASL Cover of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Sound of Surviving” by Nichole Nordeman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “The Anchor Holds” by Ray Boltz. 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.

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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: For when you're searching and praying for peace

Need Peace?
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”—Luke 2:14 (NIV)

We sing songs with these words. We read these words. We want these words to be a reflection of our life. We want peace. We want God’s favor. We want peace in our homes, at work, school, in our personal lives. Above all else, we just want peace.

Is it only the quiet we crave? The silence of the forest, the roaring of the ocean waves, the absence of people? Are we so busy with our daily to-do lists that time away from it all is most desired? Is that what we equate with peace?

Or is it much deeper?

This word “peace”, in the Greek is “Eirene” and it means peace—literally and figuratively. It also means a state of national tranquility, exemption from war, peace between individuals, harmony and security. According to the Blue Letter Bible, there is a connotation of prosperity, there is peace, and there is peace. There is peace after the small children go to bed, and there is peace on a larger scale when the weapons of war are laid down and a peace treaty is signed. There is peace when forgiveness is sought and given. There is peace when we lay down our desires to God and allow Him to have full reign in our lives.

If we look closely at Luke 2:14, God’s peace is for those on whom His favor rests. It is not a one-size-fits-all type of peace. We all crave this peace, but there is a condition: God’s favor. God’s pleasure. It does not say God’s love. We know from John 3:16 that God so loves the world that He gave His only Son to die for our sins and in turn we receive eternal life with Him. His pleasure is another matter.

For years, I have sought to find passages in the Bible that speak of God’s pleasure. This has been a quest for me ever since I came across Ephesians 5:10 (NLT), that tells us to carefully determine what pleases the Lord. The Apostle Paul is telling us to search for this pleasure. We can find it by searching the Scriptures and seeing what God has to say to us as we read His Word.

First and foremost, we have the best definition: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

It’s about faith. It’s about belief. It’s about belief in God and God alone. It is not about me, my ways, my stubborn tenacity, my selfishness. It’s about letting go and letting God. It’s about seeking Him and pleasing Him in the seeking. This starts with our believing He is good, kind, compassionate, loving, for us and everyone.

Simple as that.

But it is not always that simple for us to understand and apply to our life because we tend to complicate things. We allow our selfishness to be in the driver’s seat of our lives because it is hard to trust anyone, let alone God, whom we cannot see. But to have this peace we crave, we need to please God with our faith in Him. When we do this then we can receive His peace—and I would say, in abundance.

This begs the question for those of us who know Jesus Christ but are not knowing, nor feeling His peace. Perhaps we are wondering, “What am I doing to cause this lack?” I believe that it boils down to pleasing God and asking ourselves these questions: Have I stepped away from trusting God in all areas of my life? Have I allowed Him in most areas, but not all because I’m not ready, not willing to fully give that over, or because the very thing that gives me pleasure is actually a stumbling block to my having His favor rest upon me? Is this why I don’t have peace?

This is what I’ve learned: When I find I am in turmoil in life, I need to pause and look at my heart and my eyes. Are they on the Lord and in His Word? Am I genuinely seeking God even though I do not fully understand, but fully trust Him?

It is here, on our journey, where we can find, receive and rest in God’s peace.

Let’s Pray: Father God, I need You. I need Your peace and I recognize that I do not have peace because of me. Because of my holding on, my wandering heart, my stubborn rebellion, my independence, and not letting You have full reign in all areas of my life. I fully, finally and completely, give You all. Everything. And I thank You for the peace that is mine because of this step of obedience. Please give me Your perfect peace. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “God and God Alone” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “God's Favor” by Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

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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.

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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

Devotionals for the Heart: How to see miracles in the ordinary all around us

Do You Still See Miracles?
A devotional by Heather Jeffery

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”—Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

How do you define a miracle?

It’s a word we tend to either underestimate or overestimate. Perhaps we see the miracle of healing when the doctor said there was no hope, or the miracle of a healthy child born to the couple who prayed for a decade. Do you still look up at the stars or observe the rhythmic sequence of waves crashing on the shoreline and think it’s miraculous? Some things lose their miraculous nature as they become more familiar, moving from extraordinary to ordinary.

God’s Word (The Holy Bible) opens with the miracle of creation and carries miracle after miracle throughout its pages. Seas are parted, dry bones rise, lepers are healed, the blind see, and Jesus Christ (our Savior) walks on water. And these are only the miracles recorded for us. The Apostle John reminds us that Christ’s works were so vast that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25). How could anything within our human realm ever begin to hold the infinite capacity of our God? We simply don’t have the tools, or the mental capacity, to measure such immensity.

Yet here’s the danger: The quickest way to miss a miracle is to focus on what God has not done. When our eyes stay fixed on the prayers that feel unanswered, the closed doors, or the silence in waiting, we become blind to the countless ways God has already moved on our behalf. Complaint and comparison blur our sight, but gratitude sharpens it.

When did we stop seeing miracles? When life got too busy? When we wanted God to move one way and He chose another? Or when science explained the “how” and we forgot to acknowledge the “Who”?

If we only look for burning bushes and parted seas, we will miss the daily manna waiting right at our feet. If we only seek the earthquake, wind, and fire, we will miss the gentle whisper that held Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-13). If we only chase dramatic signs, we may overlook the peaceful calm or the overflowing abundance of our basic needs.

Miracles aren’t always loud. Sometimes they’re disguised as ordinary. Such as:

A heart softened toward forgiveness.

A timely word that shifts the course of your day.

Provision that arrives just when the account runs low.

Peace that makes no sense in the middle of chaos.

A butterfly that reminds you God sees you.

This often means adjusting our expectations or timeline. Maybe we are expecting a forest but all we see are a few trees in front of us that seem to be blocking our vision. God tells us to not despise the small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). If we learn to see the miracles, we learn to see God all around us.

I invite you to pause for a moment and sit quietly with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you vision with eyes to see the tiny little miracles along our path. What miracle did you witness today? Would it be the breath in your lungs, sunrise after a long night, or the strength to keep going when you felt like giving up?

The same God who spoke galaxies into being is still at work in your story. He has not stopped doing wonders. And if He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever think to ask or imagine, then even the miracles we cannot yet see are already unfolding around us.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Open my eyes to see the miracles all around me. Forgive me for the times I have focused only on what I thought You had withheld, instead of recognizing the countless ways You provided and protected me. Give me a heart of gratitude that notices Your hand in both the big and small moments. Strengthen my faith to expect You in the extraordinary and to treasure You in the ordinary. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Million Little Miracles” by Elevation Worship & Maverick City. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Benediction” by Anthony Brown & Group Therapy. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr & Vonnie Lopez. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “So Will I (100 Billon X)” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heather Jeffery is a Christian author, mentor, and certified mental health coach specializing in emotional and spiritual abuse recovery. 

Her mission is to empower women with Biblical truth and practical tools to navigate life’s most confusing and painful circumstances. Heather’s passion for this work stems from her own experience of walking through a progressively destructive marriage and divorce, where she discovered the healing power of God’s Word. Today, she helps women set healthy boundaries and tune into the guidance of the Holy Spirit, offering hope and clarity in the midst of chaos.

Heather believes every story matters and has a purpose, just as the stories we read about in the Bible. In her mentoring and coaching, she weaves together her personal journey with the stories of women in Scripture, uncovering deeper insights below the surface that traditional teaching often glosses over. Her approach is both compassionate and practical, equipping women to reclaim their identity and live in freedom.

Heather lives in Maryland with her two teenage daughters, where she works as a physical therapist. She loves spending time outdoors, especially near and on the water, where she finds reminders of God’s faithfulness in the beauty of His creation. She believes God’s Creation has messages for all of us if we take time to look, whether it be the fluttering butterfly that happens to cross your path signifying God sees you or the twinkling of the sunrise as a reminder of God’s unending faithfulness. She is most at peace floating in a kayak taking in the sights and sounds around her as she spends time reflecting on God’s goodness.

Heather shares weekly encouragement and resources through her website at https://heatherjeffery.com/.

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Connect with Heather:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straightenyourcrown.1/

Interview with the authors of "Unexpected Blessings" (devo book)

Interview with the authors of 

“Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Trusting God in the Details”

Question #1: How did you and your co-authors meet?

Deborah: In Spring 2024, we formed a small Zoom-based writers' mastermind to help each other flourish. We were previously meeting via Facebook chat that Theresa set up after we had all been her Beta Readers for her Bible Study, “Posture of Victory.” Plus, we are all Compel Pro Group Leaders. Soon, God led us to write something much bigger than we planned with our first book, “Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God’s Best”, and now our newest book, “Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Trusting God in the Details.” We are five writers in five different states with a God-sized project who said yes. Only God could orchestrate five writers from five different states coming together to create this devotional book for our readers. All glory to Him!

Question #2: What inspired you to collaborate with your author friends and write this devotional book? Share the story.

Theresa: This is such a fun story because it really was all God. None of us could have orchestrated it with a premeditated plan and watched it unfold so seamlessly. It began as a simple idea among five writers to create a downloadable resource for readers called Unexpected Blessings: 30 Days of Discovering God’s Best. It was meant to be a small offering of encouragement to our community. On one of our Zoom calls, one of us suggested, “What if we took this all the way?” The idea was to write ten additional devotions, two from each of us, and turn that online resource into a 40-day printed devotional. The downloadable resource was released in November, and we spent December writing the extra devotions. Then we spent January preparing the manuscript for publication. The book was released just before Lent in 2025. Even before that first book was published, we sensed God nudging us toward a second one. What began as a small step of obedience became a series of little “yeses,” growing into something we could not have planned better ourselves.

Question #3: What was the most challenging aspect of collaborating to write this book? Explain how you overcame that challenge.

Nichole: So much of this project felt seamless. We shared a Google Drive folder to upload all our devotions and set deadlines to keep ourselves on track. It’s hard to say there were many challenges! Mostly, what was challenging is what is challenging with just about any writing project—editing the final manuscript. It was a joint effort of Traci checking formatting, Theresa checking grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, each of us fixing our own edits, and then I put the final manuscript into a form that could be uploaded and published. We were all working from a distance; none of us is close enough to each other to easily meet in person. So, a lot of communication was through group text. We had to be open to feedback from one another and flexible about how each of us envisioned the final product.

Question #4: In what ways do you hope your readers will be impacted by your message?

Susan: We want our readers to know that, whether it is the everyday struggles and disappointments we often encounter or the hard challenges we face, we are never the only ones who battle them. The enemy used to push me into a corner with the lie that I am the only one who has to battle what I have walked through. But whether it's struggling with doubt, fear, or even the lows from a bad day, we all go through the same things. And because we serve a faithful God, we never go through anything that we can’t overcome or walk through in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. We truly serve a God who can turn everything we go through into our good and His glory.

Question #5: Is this the second book in a series of “Unexpected Blessings” or can this devo be read as standalone? Please explain.

Traci: While this book, Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Trusting God in the Details, is the second in our Unexpected Blessings series, it can also be read as a standalone devotional, just like our first book, Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God’s Best. Our goal for this series is for each book to stand on its own while helping readers recognize God’s extraordinary blessings and trust Him in the details of their everyday lives.

Question #6: In this devo book, you teach readers to trust God no matter how overwhelmed they feel. How have you learned to trust God when you feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily life?

Traci: I used to let overwhelming circumstances and the demands of daily life define me, and as a result, I lived with constant worry and intense anxiety. For many years, I missed out on the abundant life Jesus Christ came to give. Don’t get me wrong—life is filled with real concerns and overwhelming emotions, but God’s Word reminds us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast our anxieties on Him. So what does that look like in my life? I picture myself laying down the pressures of daily life—schedules, work, family needs, and ministry—along with the emotions that come from them, at the foot of the Cross. Because of how I lived in the past, I know what it feels like to live under that kind of weight. Now, I choose to trust God because I know that is the only way I can live in true freedom and peace in the midst of everyday demands. God’s desire for us as His children is to live with hearts that trust Him and fully depend on Him.

Nichole: Overwhelm—in the negative sense—is a product of a fallen world. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us in that state. Whenever I start to feel like life’s pressures are overwhelming me, I know I need to go back to Jesus and ask Him to remove the yoke I’ve taken on myself. He promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We take on a burden that we were never meant to shoulder. Daily immersion in the Word and constant communication with the Father help me keep things in perspective and lessen the overwhelm that life’s demands bring.

Question #7: What would you say to someone who feels like they’re experiencing a difficult time when God isn’t answering their prayers, and they feel like their delayed plans and dashed dreams feel too insignificant to matter? Explain how we can trust God because it matters to Him.

Susan: It took me years to learn that just because God doesn’t answer the way I want doesn’t mean I don’t matter or that I've been forgotten. Sometimes God is working more for my good through not answering my specific prayers or not bringing my personal desires to fruition. I often learn and grow spiritually more when He allows me to wait and endure delays. It is then that He teaches me much-needed lessons, such as perseverance, temperance, long suffering, and patience. It is also during the long waits that I often feel I don’t matter, that God is teaching me how to draw closer to Him.

Theresa: This is something I’ve experienced many times, and I know we all do at different points in our lives. What I’ve learned is that often what feels like a delay is God working behind the scenes. It’s a time of preparation, a season where God invites us to lean in and trust Him more deeply. It reminds me of Traci’s devotion on the theme of blooming where you are planted in “The Unexpected Blessing of a Broken Plaque.” Sometimes God invites us to grow deeper roots during those dismal seasons so that something beautiful can bloom in His perfect timing. If you’re feeling this way now, my encouragement is to be faithful with what God has placed in your hands today and to trust that He has something in store for you beyond your imagination if you don’t give up. So keep going!

Question #8: Share a testimony from your life when God showed you that He cares about your quiet struggles and He wants to alleviate what’s weighing heavy on your heart.

Deborah: Just recently, I was feeling put together on the outside yet falling apart on the inside. As a childless older woman, I was having a hard time fitting in at our church full of young families. I prayed, “Help me Jesus,” and He brought me a new friend to share my fears and burden with. Soon, I felt the comfort and peace of Jesus and rejoiced in my beautiful church family. I know I am not the only one feeling this way. It’s so easy, though, to think everyone else has got it together when maybe we’re all feeling a little messy inside. The beautiful truth is Jesus didn’t come for the perfect woman, He came for the messy and brokenhearted ones too.

Traci: One memory that comes to mind is a season when I quietly struggled with Imposter Syndrome. I felt completely unqualified for an opportunity God had given me, and the weight of doubt brought me to tears. When I shared my struggle with my son and later with a friend, God met me through their prayer and encouragement, easing the heaviness in my heart and giving me the strength to move forward. That moment taught me that God not only sees our silent struggles but also cares deeply about them, often providing comfort, strength, and peace in very personal ways. I actually wrote about this testimony in our first book in the series, Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God’s Best.

Question #9: I love how each of you as authors shared honest reflections from your real-life experiences over the years, in this devo book! What did God teach you or reveal to you during this process of sharing your stories?

Susan: Most of the time, when I write and share, it is during my own struggles and challenges. One of the greatest lessons I have learned from sharing my personal stories and lessons God is teaching me is that the more I share encouragement with others, the more I feel encouraged. Writing the devotions for this book has also taught me to be more mindful of looking for God’s blessings, especially in the ordinary day-to-day things. It is so easy to go through your day with your mind on completing tasks and to-do lists that we can forget to look up to see what God is doing all around us. Writing these devotions has made me more mindful to ask God to reveal Himself to me and help me to encounter His goodness.

Theresa: Sharing these real-life experiences has given us the chance to be honest and transparent and to reveal the transformative work of God through them. So many moments could have gone unnoticed, yet God is truly in the details. The more we look for Him, the more we see Him at work. That has certainly been true for me throughout the process of writing these devotions.

Question #10: Let’s end with a fun question! What is your favorite beverage, coffee or tea to sip in the springtime? Take turns answering this question, please, and explain what makes that favorite treat special to you.

Theresa: The hardest question yet! After my first cup of coffee in the morning, I’m a hot tea drinker. Mint is my go-to, but if I can handle a little caffeine later in the day, the Earl Grey London Fog beverage Nichole describes below is my go-to. My version is tea, honey, and a little cream–the same way I drink my coffee. Springtime allows for hot drinks around here, as winter can last through April and even into May some years.

Susan: I am from the south and grew up drinking iced tea. There is nothing more relaxing to me than sitting on my porch swing with a good book, sipping on my favorite tea. It is even more special after a long, cold winter to get that first burst of warmer spring weather to sit outside. My favorite teas are blackberry and strawberry.

Traci: Growing up in the Midwest, I loved drinking pop. A lot of people have no idea what I mean when I say that word. But in southern Ohio, where I’m from, “pop” is what we call any carbonated soft drink, no matter the flavor—cola, lemon-lime, orange, grape, ginger ale, and more. It’s what some people call “soda” or “Coke,” depending on where they live. While I don’t drink much pop anymore because I don’t love the sugar and calories in regular, and I can’t stand the taste of diet, I still enjoy sipping an ice-cold Pepsi on my porch every now and then as the weather warms up. It feels like a little springtime treat to me. In fact, my neighbor always has one cold and ready for me whenever I go over to visit her.

Deborah: I love making mason jars full of PG Tips iced tea. There is something about letting it brew and then later adding ice cubes. I don’t add anything else to it. It’s perfect to sip as my afternoon goes by, as the days warm with a book on the deck.

Nichole: I love Earl Grey tea anytime of year, especially when I make it into a London Fog (tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup). I prefer hot instead of iced year-round. I live in the Midwest, so it stays cool and rainy through the Spring. Sitting on my covered porch with a cup of hot tea is high-end cozy for me.

Thanks for the interview, ladies! God bless you and your writing ministry.

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Author Bio for Deborah Rutherford:

Deborah's journey is one of following a deeper calling. She began her career in the film & television industry, where she was an Emmy Award-winning Makeup Artist. 

Making a significant transition, she set aside her professional brushes to pick up a pen and a mic. She now shares her voice as an Author, Poet, and engaging Podcaster.

She is the founder of the Behold-Her Beauty Podcast and Blog and one of the authors of the devotional Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God's Best. Her forthcoming poetry collection, Prodigal Daughter: Poems of Light for the Lost Ones, showcases her literary depth, which has also been recognized in journals like The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal, Vessels of Light Literary Journal, and Calla Press Literary Journal.

At heart, Deborah loves Jesus, being Don's wife, singing old hymns, and finding peace on nature walks under the Georgia pines.

You can follow her on Substack, Instagram, and at www.deborahrutherford.com.

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Author Bio for Theresa Miller:

Theresa is adventurous at heart and dedicated to pursuing spiritual, mental, and emotional healing for the betterment of future generations. 

Originally from the wooded East, Theresa now resides in the wide-open spaces of
Wyoming, nestled near the Big Horn Mountains. She cherishes her role as a wife to Rob and mother to their four children.

Weaving words has been her creative outlet since childhood, bringing clarity to life’s complexities. Theresa is the author of the Bible study, The Posture of Victory: Finding True Peace amidst Our Everyday Battles.

She actively serves in women’s ministries as a Bible teacher and a MomCo Mentor in her community. She co-founded Dandelions, Potholes, & Wrinkles and The Sisters on Purpose Podcast. In addition to guest appearing on several podcasts and blogs, she has been published in Calla Press Literary Journal, Moms Ezine, (in)courage, and various other publications.

You can find Theresa encouraging women to dig deeper to reach higher in their faith and calling on Instagram and Facebook @theresammillerauthor and on the podcast she hosts with her sisters, The Sisters on Purpose Podcast.

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Author Bio for Traci Shnider:

Traci is a passionate encourager, sharing hope and inspiration drawn from her journey of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. Her mission is to help others experience true freedom by deeply rooting their lives in Jesus, growing in His grace, and blooming into their God-given purpose. 

As a motivational speaker, Traci inspires women at Christian conferences and events, empowering them to walk boldly in faith. She is a co-author of the devotional, Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God’s Best and she’s been featured in Renew Your Mind: 40 Days to Quiet the Lies Inside Your Head through Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Traci is married to Eric, and together they have one adult son, and a quirky little terrier. In her downtime, she loves collecting seashells, painting, and unwinding with a good book on the breathtaking North Carolina coast she’s blessed to call home.

You can connect with Traci and read more of her work on her website, on Instagram @tracishniderwriter, and Facebook: @Traci Shnider-Writer.

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Author Bio for Susan Davidson: 

Susan is a freedom-from-striving pursuer and a sharer of encouragement enthusiast. God placed a pen in her hand to share His word and encourage others during one of her most discouraging and challenging seasons. She learned that encouraging others helps her live her own life more encouraged. 

She is a devotional writer featured in Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: 50 Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry, and a co-writer of Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God’s Best. She has been featured in the Proverbs 31 Ministry’s publication entitled Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, in The Awake Our Heart literary journal, Callia Press online journal, and Her View from Home.

She calls the mountains of Virginia home. She is a wife, mother, Gran Gran, daughter, and friend who counts spending time with her special people among life’s greatest blessings. She is most content when she has coffee in her cup, pen in hand, and a great worship song in her heart. She loves going for dog walks in the park and spending quiet moments sitting on her porch swing with a good book in hand.

When she is not sharing words on her blog, you will find her sharing encouragement on Facebook and Instagram.

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Author Bio for Nichole Suvar:

Nichole is a speaker, author, and Intentional Living Strategist. 

With over 35 years of lived experience with anxiety, she writes and speaks on the topic of mental health and God’s design for mental wellness. Nichole has contributed to several devotionals, including Freedom from Worry, through Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is the author of I Don’t Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed with Moody Publishers. She has also published Numbering Our Days: Combating Anxiety in the Power of Small Intentional Moments and other devotionals for Advent, Easter, and Teens.

Nichole has been a guest on numerous podcasts and blogs as well as a speaker on empathy for Great Kids MAKE Great Communities and writes curriculum for the National Suicide Hotline.

Nichole lives in the Midwest with her high school sweetheart husband Paul and their three teen children. She enjoys discovering new hiking paths, curling up with a good mystery novel, collecting cozy cardigans, and snacking on dill pickles with sharp cheddar cheese. 

She writes about living an overcoming life for Jesus, one intentional moment at a time, on her website livewithintent.org and on Instagram @nicholejsuvar.

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Book blurb for Unexpected Blessings:

Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the small, unseen pressures of daily life—the unanswered prayers, delayed plans, and details that feel too insignificant to matter? 

Trusting God can be especially difficult when the questions linger and clarity feels just out of reach. You may wonder if God is truly present in the ordinary moments, or if He sees the quiet struggles weighing on your heart.

Within these Unexpected Blessings devotions, you will read honest reflections from authors who have learned to trust God not just in life’s storms, but in its details. Through stories of waiting, surrender, and faith in the everyday, these pages remind us that God is attentive, intentional, and near. Even when the path feels uncertain, He is faithfully working in the small things—inviting us to trust Him one day, one step at a time.

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Buy this devo book on Amazon.

Devotionals for the Heart: God is always with us so we are never alone

Never Alone
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33 (NIV)

Every morning, I open the front door of the house and give thanks to God.

Then, I walk to the back door, open it, and give thanks to God again. This simple routine allows me to begin my day with thanksgiving and to remember that I am never alone. Depending on the season and the weather, when I open the doors, I experience something different. As the sun begins to rise, I watch the sky and look for indications of weather changes. God’s glorious creations cover the world and bring me joy. Looking at the sky and remembering the Creator tells me that I am never alone.

Bird watching is one of my favorite hobbies. The end table in my living room has several bird books that offer details about these winged creatures. Colorful photographs, migrating habits, descriptions of male and female traits, and more are found on each page. When I see a bird that I don’t recognize, I refer to the books. I listen for the sounds of chickadees, bluebirds, and woodpeckers as they begin the day by displaying their unique calls. Their songs remind me that I am never alone.

The past year was filled with health issues that changed the way I experienced life. Walking around the block every day became too painful. When I was asked to participate in events, I had to inquire about stairs and nearby parking. Frustration set in, and depression tried to take over my thoughts. My prayers for healing continued throughout the day and night. I changed doctors. New scans and tests were ordered. Although I was disappointed at some of the test results, I knew that God had a plan. I was never alone. God was always with me.

Pain continues to fill my body today, yet I’m not discouraged or heartbroken. Through my pain, I’m able to minister to other folks who are experiencing pain in their bodies. I want those people to know they are not alone. A listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and prayers can bring hope and peace.

There are various ways in which a person can feel lonely: The death of a loved one, losing a job, being left out of a conversation, not being able to participate in events due to health issues, living alone, or feeling isolated while in a crowd are a few scenarios where someone may feel alone.

When my husband travels for work, and I am the only person home, the house becomes quiet. I listen to the wind move branches, the birds calling their mates, and the children playing outside. Laughter fills the air. I’m not alone.

I’m thankful to go to God whenever I feel lonely. Scripture shares many verses about God being with us in every situation. The Bible says God will never leave us. Deuteronomy 31:8 shares that the Lord will go ahead of us. He will never abandon us.

How can we help others who might be experiencing loneliness? Taking time to pause and look someone in the eye when they speak, offering to visit the shut-ins in our church and neighborhood, sharing conversation and sharing prayers are a few ways to shine the love of Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for covering us with peace and comfort when we are lonely. Help us to remember that You are always with us. In every moment, your presence fills us with love. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “Oh My Soul” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “God Only Knows” by King & Country. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Still Waters” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “I Am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages sometimes humming with humor. With articles, devotions, and stories in print publications and online, Melissa shares her love for God and life. Some of the inspirations for her writing come from family life. 

Melissa and her husband Alan have been married for over 46 years. Their son Mike, and daughter-in-love Christine have blessed the family with two precious children: Rowan and Eden. These precious souls bring laughter, love, and many funny experiences, which can often be found in Melissa’s writing. The family motto is “It’s Always a Story with the Hendersons”.

Melissa is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), CWFL (Christian Writers for Life), and many other organizations.

Melissa’s books for children include Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator.

Melissa serves in Christian ministry as an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.

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Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://melissaghenderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaHendersonAuthor
Twitter: https://x.com/mimionlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahendersonauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ahenderson312/