Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope for when your faith in God falters


Peek-A-Boo Faith
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
—Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

My morning routine felt rushed and chaotic, as usual. I herded both kids out the door in hopes that we would not be late dropping my daughter at school. My anxiousness barely got a moment to subside before the next stressor arose.

While driving back home I heard my son mumbling and starting to whine. Although I tried to ignore it in the beginning, his agitation grew. I asked questions so that I could address his concern, but things escalated. After several minutes his reason became more clear. He was upset he could not see the sun. He cried, “The sun is gone!”

Hoping to calm him, I compared the sun going in and out to playing "peek-a-boo” (a fun game children always like to play here in America). This seemed to help some but he continued to assume any time he could not see it, the sun was no longer there. After several rounds of assuring him the sun was still there, he seemed to accept what I was telling him. However, there was an underlying tone of skepticism lingering through his sniffles.

How many of us do this with our faith?

In times we can clearly see the light of Jesus Christ, we are as happy as can be. In those seasons, we shout praises to God and share all His blessings in our lives.

However, in those seasons where it is harder to see God's faithfulness and goodness we get upset and assume He is no longer there. Anger, distrust and fear fill our heart and mind where gratitude used to be. In the trials God told us we would experience, our human nature struggles to trust that He is there with us (John 16:33). Satan uses those feelings to draw us further away from God. But Scripture tells us that even when we forget to seek God, He is still there. Even when we struggle to see His face or even lash out in anger, He still loves us through it all. 2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV) says, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”

In the book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul writes to the followers of Christ to encourage their faith. They also struggled to remember God’s faithfulness through the trials of life. In the midst of their fear and uncertainty life brings they could lose hope, just like you and I. But Hebrews 10:23 (ESV) says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” God is good and faithful. He is always working, weaving the details of our life together for our good (Romans 8:28). May this be a reminder that He always has been and always will be there.

Through the trials this broken world throws at us, God is there with us. Hold on to the hope and promises of your Heavenly Father. Trust His faithfulness and guidance. Take time today to sit in remembrance of His past faithfulness. Read God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and be encouraged by the stories found within its pages.

Pray for eyes to see Him and the ability to follow even in the midst of whatever you are walking through.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your grace and faithfulness. Thank you for Your faithful presence even when we waver in our faith. Help my eyes to see Your faithfulness in my life and encourage my faith as I obediently seek you. May I live daily in gratitude for your grace and mercy over me.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Never Been a Moment” by Micah Tyler. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children. 


She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together.

As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life.

She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, praying they gain a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Connect with Casey:
Website: https://www.caseywayne.org/
Blog: https://peaceoffaith.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseylwayne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peace.of.FaithCaseyWayne

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