Devotionals for the Heart: How resting in God's creations calmed my soul

Resting in God’s Creations
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”—Psalm 145:5 (NIV)

The morning began with the usual activities: Praying and sharing time with God, having a delicious breakfast of toast and chocolate milk, taking daily medicine, enjoying a refreshing shower, choosing an outfit for the day, and checking the calendar for any appointments. As I walked from room to room in the house, I looked out of the windows and watched the birds. Although there were many tasks for the day, I knew peace would come by resting in God’s creations.

The calendar was filled with medical appointments for my husband and for me. When I look at our daily schedule, I’m shocked if there aren’t any doctor visits listed. Shocked and thankful. This morning, the calendar showed medical procedures and follow-up appointments for Alan and me. Dread filled my body and my thoughts. “Why, Lord? Why aren’t our bodies healed? Why?” The questions kept coming as I spoke out loud to God.

Once again, God led me to look outside at His creations. The sunlight cast a beautiful reflection through the window. As the light touched the carpet, I walked from the window to the front door. Shadows covered areas of the hallway where the sun hadn’t reached. I smiled and reached for the door handle. As I stepped outside, the worries of medical appointments and achy bodies left my mind. I paused, took a deep breath in, then released it. My shoulders relaxed. My breathing slowed. The sun touched my face, and the warmth of God’s rest covered me.

I prayed and thanked God for the ability to rest in His creations. A ruby-throated hummingbird visited the feeder. A monarch butterfly danced around the petunias. A family of chickadees called out to each other from different trees. Red cardinals sat on the tray feeder eating breakfast.

These glorious creations were busy with their morning routines. Even the hummingbirds took time to sit on the feeder and drink the nectar. I noticed how none of these animals were in a hurry or looking rushed. Sitting on a porch chair, I listened to the sounds of God’s creations. I heard various bird calls, families taking morning walks together and sharing conversations, neighbors saying hello as they passed by our home and I felt the quiet of the morning. As I prayed, I listened for God’s guidance for the day. He answered. God showed me that although I have worries and trials, I’m never alone. I can find rest in His creations. God created these beautiful sights and sounds that brought me peace that morning.

My parents liked to sit on the porch and watch the happenings in their neighborhood. As a young girl, I wondered why they always enjoyed being outside. Now, I know. My Mama and Daddy were resting in God’s creations.

Today and every day, peace and comfort can be found with God. Praying, giving thanksgiving for His many blessings, and asking for His rest to cover us can bring calm and joy. Have you rested with God today?

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Thank You for Your creations. May we always make time to enjoy the many blessings You provide. Teach us to rest in your creation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “In the Garden” by Joey and Rory. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “God of All My Days” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Plans” by Brandon Lake. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Barlow Girl. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “The Maker” by Chris August. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “How Can You Not” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

~*~
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.

~*~
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/

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.

~*~
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.

~*~
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: Jesus Christ seeks the lost to bring them home

Finding the Lost
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”

—Luke 15:4 (NIV)

I leaned against the fence and watched children enjoying the bounce house.

Our grandchildren had been invited to a young friend’s birthday party. My husband and I were also invited. As I stood and soaked in the sunshine, a small tug at the hem of my shirt made me look down. A blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl about six years old, motioned for me to look. “The balloon is lost. It’s going to the park. We need to go get it.” Her expression and voice showed her concern for finding the lost, even if it was a balloon.

“That’s okay. There are plenty of other balloons. We can’t get that one. It’s already high in the sky.” I responded. The girl looked up to the sky and then back at me. She asked if I was sure we couldn’t go get the lost balloon.

I pointed to the numerous pink, purple, blue, and yellow balloons attached to the fence, tables, and other areas. I hoped to show her that the lost balloon was not the only one available to enjoy. With a frown, this sweet young girl turned and left my side. I watched as she went to the bounce house, removed her shoes, and entered. Her smile and laughter returned when she began bouncing with the other children.

This short encounter with a young child reminded me of the parable of the lost sheep. Every sheep and every person is important to God. There are times when we may become lost and can’t find our way to God. Personal struggles, financial problems, relationship issues, employment trials, and many other situations may cause us to stray, doubt, or lose faith.

Yet, God never leaves. God knows that emotions can take charge of our thinking at times. God knows that we will fail at times. Our hope and peace are found in knowing God and His love for us. When we are lost or feel uncertain in everyday life situations, that is not the end. The Father will search for us if we stray. He will leave the 99 and seek the lost. God will find the lost in whatever situation occurs.

Do you know someone who feels lost in their faith? Perhaps you are the one searching for answers. Prayer is key to having a personal relationship with God. Acknowledging God is the way, asking for forgiveness, and praying for wisdom, discernment, and revelation can help lead the lost. There may be times of uncertainty. God has told us that there will be trouble while we are on this earth. Peace comes from knowing this earth is not our forever home.

God will cover us with peace and comfort when we go to Him and pray. Prayers will be answered according to His timing and in His way.

Yes, the balloon from the birthday party was lost in the sky. It probably popped when hitting a tree branch. But there were other balloons for the children to enjoy. Although I didn’t leave and search for the lost balloon, I’m confident that when I stray, God searches for me and brings me back to Him.

Have you lost something and asked God for help?

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for the love, comfort, and peace that covers Your children. May we always remember to rest in Your promises. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Miracle On Your Mind” by Sons of Sunday. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Always On Time” (Bella Cordero) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

~*~
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.

~*~
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/

Interview with Nichole J. Suvar about her new nonfiction book

Interview with Nichole J. Suvar about her book, I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed

Alexis: Why did you write this book? Share the story behind its creation.

Nichole: Anxiety has been a part of me for as long as I can remember.

I have memories of panic attacks in early elementary school. It wasn't until I was 36 years old that I received a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression. At that time, I started what I call a healing journey. I saw a doctor for medication, started seeing a counselor, and began learning tools that I could use to help me address this overwhelming anxiety.

One thing that kept coming back to me as I went through this healing journey was thinking about Eden and how absolutely lovely and perfect it had to have been. Coupled with my struggle with an anxiety disorder, was perfection, and the striving for control. Because we believe that when we can control things, it helps us feel less anxious.

I would often ask myself, what part of this life that I'm experiencing right now was good back in Eden, but now it's just a little distorted because of the fall.

And because I was thinking through that quite a bit, it led me to think about different areas that God has left here for us, different attributes of Eden, that we can cultivate in our lives to better understand our Father, our Creator, and to know His peace more deeply.

Alexis: In your book, you talk about God and His creation. How did your faith in God impact your writing of this book?

Nichole: The only reason I wrote this book is because of Jesus Christ. I tried for years to manage this anxiety on my own. I thought I had to get it all figured out and had to get myself together before I could be of any use in the Kingdom of God.

Because of that, I wasn't taking it all to the Father (God) and asking Him to help me relieve it. I saw those verses in Scripture that tell us to “cast our cares on Him” and “not to be anxious about anything” as commands, not invitations. But when I started seeing my Father as One who wants to come alongside me and relieve me of these burdens, it helped me draw closer to Him rather than hide from Him and shame.

Alexis: You talk about how you lived with undiagnosed anxiety for over 30 years. How did you survive? Share how your life changed after your illness was diagnosed and treated by doctors.

Nichole: Survival is a great way of putting it because I survived, but I was not thriving. I just held on and white-knuckled my way through life. I kept myself busy. I got a lot done. As a high-functioning anxious person, I had a lot of things on my plate, and I could get a lot of things done because anxiety was fueling all of it. But if I really allowed myself to stop and slow down, the anxiety would overwhelm me. So, I just kept moving.

I tried to read my Bible more and pray more, but it came to a point where I felt shame because I just could not get a handle on the anxiety. It wasn't until I had a diagnosis and realized that this generalized anxiety disorder is more than just someone who doesn't have enough faith and they're worried about something, but it was an actual thing going on inside of my body.

And when I could see it that way, my perspective changed because I saw it as something in my body that wasn't functioning as it should. And I have to keep bringing it back to God every day, looking to Him to be the strong One to bring me through it. Instead of being the strong one and relying on myself, I have to admit that I am weak and trust Him to be strong.

Alexis: Why do you think there is a rise of anxiety in our culture?

Nichole: We have access to anything and everything. We know way more than what we need. We are handling way more in our brains than we need to. We're moving through life at increasingly faster speeds. We know way more than what our brains were made to really handle. And we are connected at all times.

Because of that, we don't have these times where we have the space to really rest. We are not spending nearly as much time with our Father (God) as we should. A lot of that is replaced by screens, endless to-do lists, and crammed schedules. Plus, social media is prevalent and always gives us a reason to compare and feel like we're behind. All of that adds up to a culture of anxiety.

Alexis: If you could speak into the life of every person living with anxiety, what would you say to encourage them in only a few sentences?

Nichole: Anxiety can come from a lot of different directions. Sometimes the root is unconfessed sin we need to bring before God. It could be a relationship that needs to be addressed. It could be an actual diagnosis of something, meaning our hormones or brain chemicals are unbalanced. There could be a lot of reasons for the anxiety.

Regardless of the source, we need to take it to Jesus first. We need to bring Him into it with us. He wants to meet us in the middle of it and to help us. And so, our first step is to invite Him in.

You can struggle with anxiety and still have a deep relationship with Jesus. Struggling with anxiety does not disqualify you in the kingdom of God. Just make sure that you're taking it to Him instead of trying to handle it yourself.

Alexis: You made an interesting point about how we as humans have always been chasing peace in all the wrong places. Why do you think it’s like that for us?

Nichole: The fall distorted things and made us start to think that we were in control.

When we're in control, we start to believe we're also in control of peace. But the problem is, we manufacture the peace instead of going to our Father (God), the true source of peace. We're trying to build it ourselves by controlling situations, people, places, and things.

It's the enemy's lie to keep us focused on our own things, thinking that we can control it. Because when we believe we can control it, we aren't taking it to God.

Alexis: What is the solution to our ongoing search for peace?

Nichole: Jesus. And we need to see that every part of our life needs to be brought to Him, every little bit. Nothing is insignificant for Him. And when we are bringing Him into the middle of everything, even the messy parts, He is ready to carry it for us. He is ready to meet us there, be with us, and carry us through.

Alexis: How did God teach you to let go of perfectionism, control and endless activity?

Nichole: It is an ongoing lesson as I continue to learn more about how anxiety affects me.

I see that when I pursue perfectionism, control, and endless activity, I am leaving less room for God to be God. When I chase after perfectionism, control, and productivity, I'm putting myself on the throne.

And sometimes, in some seasons, it has to be a daily giving up of that throne. I want to keep putting myself on it, but God has shown me time and time again that when I'm willing to let things be less than perfect, allow him to be the One in control, and to actually embrace rest, I can walk into a deeper relationship with Him.

Alexis: You said that your book invites people to return to the garden God created, one where true peace is designed. What do you mean? Please explain how this will help them as they journey through this life on Earth.

Nichole: In my book, I talk about seven attributes of Eden that are still present here today, helping us access God's peace and know Him better. I call these things God's design for mental wellness. He does not want us to live in a state of overwhelm and hurry. He wants us to live with a trusting heart, resting in his provision and not our own.

When we look to cultivate these Edenic attributes in our lives, it has to be intentional. Think about when you start a garden, you have to do your part, which involves getting seeds, tilling up the ground, planting the seeds, and even giving them a first watering from a garden hose. But then after that, the sunshine, rain, little sprouts, blossoms, fruit, and vegetables—all of that comes from God.

We have to be intentional with our part in cultivating the garden. We have to go in and pluck out weeds, but all of the increase and growth and provision comes from God. And when we are cultivating these parts of Eden, we're doing the parts that we can, and we're trusting God to bring the increase, to bring the peace.

Alexis: You’ve mentioned that God’s original plan holds the answers to our deepest desires. How so? And what was His original plan?

Nichole: His original plan was for humans to be in the garden with Him, to walk in communion with Him, to be in complete rest and peace, to be surrounded by beauty and perfectness. That is God's original plan. So, when we look at His original plan, what parts of Eden has He designed for us to still enjoy today? And those are the attributes that I discuss in my book.

Alexis: You’ve said that we don’t have to keep searching for peace because it’s been available to us all along. What do you mean by this powerful point?

Nichole: The peace that’s been available all along comes from God. We try to manufacture our own peace by checking off the to-do list, organizing more things, and getting our schedule the way it should look.

We believe that when we have those in a certain way, we will be able to calm the chaos, and we'll feel more peaceful. But the truth is, all of that is manufactured by us, and the peace attached to it is fleeting. But God's peace is permanent and steadfast, even in the middle of any kind of chaos.

That is the peace that's been available to us all along.

Alexis: What do you want readers to take away from your book?

Nichole: I want the readers to experience life with their hands open, not grasping for control or creating their own comforts, but looking for ways God is providing for them and meeting them in the middle of their overwhelm, anxiety, and chaos. I want them to see how they can have a deeper relationship with Him when they choose to let Him be the one holding everything together, not them.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Nichole! 

~*~
Author Bio:

Nichole J. Suvar is an author and speaker who knows what it feels like to live overwhelmed, rushed, and stretched thin by anxiety. 

Now, through her books, devotions, podcast, and speaking, she helps women slow down, understand what’s beneath the overwhelm, and step into a more grounded, purposeful life—one that reflects the peace God designed for them. She has published five books, her latest being I Don’t Have to Hold it All Together, Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed.

Nichole lives with her family in Northern Indiana. She collects chairs—the more colorful, the better—thinks all the best food is in sandwich form, and will stop everything to read a map. She’s a fan of hiking, cozy cardigans, and Earl Grey Tea, and she’s learning that life unfolds better with open hands instead of tightly held fists. 

You can connect with her at livewithintent.org

~*~
Blurb for Nichole's book:

In the beginning, God poured His love into a garden.

The Bible begins with the story of creation. God builds a beautiful world . . . and a garden. In the garden of Eden, creation drank of God’s goodness and lived in His perfect peace. Yet since the fall of humanity, we’ve all struggled to find or create our own versions of Eden. We’ve been chasing peace in all the wrong places.

Nichole Suvar knows this all too well. Living with undiagnosed anxiety for over 30 years, she’s tried to build a garden of Eden through perfectionism, control, and endless activity. These self-made solutions only deepened her unrest.

I Don’t Have to Hold it All Together invites you to return to the garden God created, where true peace was designed, and discover how His original plan holds the answers to your deepest desires. Weaving personal stories, practical wisdom, and insights from experts, Nichole explores the deep truths embedded in God’s original garden, truths about communion with God, purpose, community, the goodness of creation, boundaries, true rest, and more.

The rise of anxiety in our culture reflects a broken search for peace. Readers are invited to cultivate a life that seeks after God’s original plan of peace and comfort and identify areas in their life where they have built their own false Eden.

The peace we’ve been searching for isn’t something we can create ourselves; it’s been available to us all along. Come receive His gift.

~*~

Buy Nichole's book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Devotionals for the Heart: When God uses struggles to strengthen you

The Necessary Struggle
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

—1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

Nobody tells you that growth feels like breaking.

I know this because I had to eulogize my aunt, my hero, the cornerstone of my family, while I was still figuring out how to breathe without her. I stood up and found words for everyone else’s grief while mine was still raw, still unprocessed, still too big to name.

They show you the before and after, the transformation, the glow-up, the redemption and skip over the part where you were on the bathroom floor at 2:00 in the morning wondering if you will ever feel like yourself again. They skip the months when you couldn’t tell if you were healing or just getting better at pretending. I’ve been thinking about that gap a lot. The space between who you were and who you’re becoming. Nobody warns you how long you live in that space. How uncomfortable it is to exist in the middle of your own story, without knowing how it ends.

Here’s what I’ve come to believe: The struggle isn’t a detour. It is the road.

We’ve been sold this idea that difficulty is a sign something has gone wrong. That if you’re suffering, you must have made a wrong turn or picked the wrong career, the wrong relationship, the wrong path. So, we spend enormous energy trying to outrun the hard parts, or numb them, or at least make them look more bearable on the outside.

But what if the friction is the point?

Muscles don’t grow without resistance. A person doesn’t either. Not real growth, not the kind that changes how you see yourself, how you move through the world, what you’re willing to tolerate and what you’re not. That kind of change requires pressure. It requires uncomfortable confrontation with your own limits.

The struggle isn’t proof you’re failing. It’s often proof you’re in the middle of something that matters. I’m not romanticizing suffering. Let me be clear about that.

There is suffering that serves nothing and grinds you down without teaching you anything, that you should walk away from if you can. Not all pain is meaningful. Not all hard things are worth enduring. Some struggles are just bad situations you need to exit. But there’s another kind. The kind that comes from choosing something difficult on purpose and starting over, telling the truth, walking away from what felt safe, asking for help when your whole identity was built around not needing it. That struggle is different. That struggle has direction to it.

The question I’ve learned to ask myself is: Is this hard because I’m growing, or hard because I’m ignoring something? The answer changes everything about what to do next. The hardest part of my own necessary struggles hasn’t been the struggle itself. It’s been resisting the urge to rush through it.

We want resolution. We want to arrive. We want to be the person who has already figured it out, not the person still in the middle of figuring it out. So, we skip steps. We declare ourselves healed before we are. We perform the after before we’ve lived through the during.

And then we wonder why the same patterns keep showing up. There’s no shortcut through the necessary struggles. You have to let them take the time they take. You have to sit in the discomfort long enough to learn what it’s trying to teach you.

That’s the part no one wants to hear. But it’s the only part that’s true.

There’s a promise in 1 Peter 5:10 that I keep coming back to. It says, “after you have suffered a while, God himself will make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Four words. Four distinct things. And I don’t think they’re accidental. Let’s examine each word:

Perfect means not flawless, but complete. Whole in ways you weren’t before. The broken places filled in.

Stablish means established. Rooted. Fixed to something that holds even when the ground moves.

Strengthen means not just surviving, but capable. Able to carry what you couldn’t carry before.

Settle means that deep, quiet thing. The internal stillness that does not depend on your circumstances being calm.

Notice what all four of these words have in common: None of them are possible without the suffering that precedes them. You can’t be settled without having first been shaken. You can’t be strengthened without having first been stretched. The struggle isn’t the enemy of the outcome; it’s the condition for it.

If you’re in the midst of something hard right now that you chose or that chose you, I want you to know something: The fact that it’s hard doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. The fact that you’re not okay yet doesn’t mean you won’t be. The fact that you can’t see the other side doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

Remember, God promises to restore you “after you have suffered a while”. Not forever. A while. There is a duration to this, even when it doesn’t feel like it. And on the other side of it not despite the suffering but through it you will be more complete, more rooted, more capable, more settled than you have ever been.

Some of the most important becoming of your life is happening in the moments that feel the least like progress. Keep going. Not because it will get easier immediately. But because you are, right now, being built into something stronger than what you were whether it feels like it or not.

The struggle is necessary. So are you.

Let’s Pray:

Lord,

I come on behalf of everyone reading this who is in the middle of something hard—the ones holding it together on the outside while quietly falling apart within. The ones who have cried in the car, in the shower, in the silence of 3:00 in the morning when the rest of the world is asleep. The ones who are grieving for what they lost, what they never had, or who they used to be.

Meet them here. Not on the other side of this, but here. In the thick of it. In the mess and the confusion and the exhaustion of a struggle that has gone on longer than they thought they could bear.

Remind them that You are not absent from their pain. That You are not waiting for them to get it together before You show up. That You are close to the brokenhearted—not close to the healed, not close to the finished, but close to the broken, right now, exactly as they are.

And Lord, let Your promise in 1 Peter 5:10 be real to them today—that this suffering has a while on it. That is not permanent. That on the other side of this, You will make them perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle them in ways they cannot yet imagine.

Do what only You can do in what they are walking through. Make them whole where they are broken. Root them where they have been shaken. Strengthen them where they have been emptied. Settle them where there has only been chaos.

And until that day, give them just enough grace for today. Just enough strength for this moment. Just enough hope to keep going. They are not forgotten. They are not forsaken. They are being formed.

In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Wait on You” by Elevation Worship & Maverick City. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Open My Heart” by Yolanda Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Won’t Complain” by Le'Andria Johnson. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “God Restores” by Dynamic Praise. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Meet Me There” by Lydia Laird. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson (feat. GabeReal). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Jesus Walks with Me” by Be Still Studios. Listen to it here.

~*~
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.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ can heal, restore and deliver you

Jesus Christ Can Heal Your Body and Restore Your Health
A devotional by Erica Bryant

And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.

—Luke 13:11-13 (ESV)

There is a powerful story tucked in the Gospel of Luke, right between the teachings of Jesus Christ found in chapter 13.

One day, while teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus noticed a woman who had been afflicted with a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and unable to fully straighten herself. Can you imagine the woman? Hunched over and in deep despair. Her gaze most likely was downcast as feelings of hopelessness weighed heavy on her heart.

However, what’s beautiful is that this woman was in the synagogue. Despite her suffering, she chose to be in a place of worship. As Jesus taught, He saw her. Scripture states, “When Jesus saw her . . .”. It is one hope-filled phrase that changed her life forever. Jesus called her over and said, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” He laid His hands on her, and immediately she could stand up straight and began praising God. From bent over in despair to standing straight in healing and victory, this woman was healed and set on a path of freedom.

While scholars may have different opinions about the specifics of her affliction, it’s clear she suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many of us can relate to her condition. Perhaps we, too, feel bent over, suffering, and void of hope. Let this story bring you encouragement if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Here are a few important truths to remember as you journey through life:

Truth #1: Jesus sees you. Just as He noticed this woman, Jesus has noticed you. Your pain has not escaped His knowledge. He has seen every moment of your existence, from your greatest triumphs to your deepest hurts. We can find hope and comfort in knowing that we are under His loving care. The Bible says in Psalm 34:15 (ESV), “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”

Truth #2: Jesus calls you to Himself. Jesus called the woman to Him despite the crowd. He brought her closer into His presence. Jesus is always drawing us closer to Himself. When we answer His call and come closer to Him, He will come closer to us. He desires to have an intimate relationship with us. The Bible says in James 4:8a (ESV), “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” When we draw closer to Him and His heart, we receive the hope, help, and healing we need.

Truth #3: Jesus speaks over our lives. Jesus told the woman she was loosed from her infirmity. His words spoken over her life provided the release that she needed. Jesus is still speaking over our lives today. His Words are Spirit and life-giving. If you are suffering, begin to speak God’s Word over your life. Find truths that speak to your circumstances and speak words of life. Let God’s Word come forth from your lips and receive His healing. The Bible says in Psalm 107:20 (ESV), “He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.”

Truth #4: Jesus has His hands on you. Jesus laid His physical hand on this woman to heal her in that moment. But truthfully, He had His hands on her the entire time. Her whole life led to this divine moment. Just as God has seen every moment in your life, He has always had His hand on you. He didn't leave you in your darkest moment or forsake you in your sins. Instead, He was always there. The Bible says in Isaiah 41:10 (ESV), "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Remember: Circumstances will make us feel bowed down and bent over. We don’t have to stay that way. Trust the Lord, our Healer. He sees you, draws you to His side, speaks words of life over you, and can heal you with His loving touch.

Take some time to think about these questions (listed below) or write them down in your journal. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can grow and then take steps to live out God’s Word. The questions: Are there areas of your life where you feel “bent over”? How can you draw closer to Jesus in those circumstances? What specific truths from Scripture can you apply to your painful situations? How can you actively seek the Lord's healing and His presence in your life?

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for seeing me in my struggles and for always having Your hands on my life. Help me to draw closer to You and embrace the healing You offer. Teach me to speak Your truth over my life, allowing Your words to transform my heart and spirit. I trust You to turn all my pain into praise. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “He Has His Hands on You” by Marvin Sapp. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Healer” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: "Broken But I'm Healed" by Byron Cage. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “The God Who Sees” by Nicole C. Mullen. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “God Loves You” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Erica N. Bryant is a passionate Bible teacher, speaker, and author who desires to see believers live in the complete freedom and joy of the Holy Spirit. 

As the founder of Sparrow's Song Ministries, Erica invites a community of believers to get to know God by falling in love with His Word. Through Bible study resources, devotionals, teaching, and mentorship, Sparrow's Song encourages others to grow in intimacy with God and walk daily in the power of His Holy Spirit. She began The Word W.O.R.K.S. campaigns to help believers walk in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success.

Erica is a writer with several published works including devotionals for adults and children, topical and textual Bible studies, and Scripture journals. In her debut book, Dwell: Living Life Fully Knowing that the Holy Spirit Lives in You, Erica draws from her own journey of healing from childhood trauma, rejection, and the struggles of fear and anxiety. With honesty and hope, she invites readers to embrace the life-giving truth that God's Spirit resides within them. Erica believes that when you know the Holy Spirit dwells in you, everything changes.

Erica is a passionate speaker who effectively communicates God’s Word with clarity and conviction. She speaks a relevant word to hearers and ministers to their hearts, inspires practical application, and empowers them to grow in faith and purpose.

Erica is a devoted wife and loving mother who actively serves in various roles at Strait Gate Deliverance Center.

Ultimately, she is just a girl in love with God and she is a soldier for Jesus Christ.

Interview with Ashley Martin about "Lost No More" (book)

Author Interview with Ashley Martin about her debut book “Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys”

Alexis: Congratulations on writing and publishing your first book! Tell us about your journey to publication as a first-time author. Who was your publisher?

Ashley: I published with Called Creatives Publishing, a hybrid publisher, and it was truly a boutique experience. They walked me through every step of the process with clarity and detailed guidance. Nothing felt rushed or overwhelming. Their team brought real expertise to the editing, layout, and design, but what stood out most was how well they listened. My opinions and wishes weren't just heard; they were woven into every decision. The result is a book that is completely mine: my story, my personality, my calling.

Alexis: What was the most difficult part of your journey to publication?

Ashley: The most difficult part was revisiting those dark places: my first day of rehab, the mental and emotional pain I was carrying at the time. But my readers cannot truly understand the miracles God has performed in my life without knowing the depth of what He brought me through.

Alexis: What was the most rewarding part of writing your personal story in this book?

Ashley: Answering God's call to write my story. No words can fully describe what I felt the moment I held the finished product in my hands.

Alexis: What do you hope readers will take away from your real-life story?

Ashley: Hope. No matter how lost you feel, you are never beyond God's reach. It all begins with surrender.

Alexis: Who is your core audience for this book? Share how you hope to reach those readers with your message.

Ashley: My core audience is women who feel lost from God, or who once did, whether because of alcoholism, addiction, or simply the busyness of life pulling them off course. I also wrote this for the woman who wants more structure in her daily walk with God but is not sure where to start. My hope is that the three pillars of this book—surrender, prayer, and service—guide every reader into a closer walk with Jesus Christ.

Alexis: What was the most challenging part of your journey out of darkness of alcohol dependency and into the light of sobriety and freedom?

Ashley: Admitting I was an alcoholic and knowing how to ask for help. Both required a level of surrender I had never practiced before.

Alexis: How did your faith in God help you overcome your challenges?

Ashley: My mom gave me my faith. She instilled it in me daily and lived it without ceasing. Once I surrendered and allowed God to take over, the faith of my childhood returned.

Alexis: You talk about “the discipline of surrender” in your book. Tell us more. What does that mean, what did it look like for you and how can practicing this discipline help others who are struggling?

Ashley: Surrender sounds passive, but it is anything but. For me, the discipline of surrender meant choosing every single day to stop fighting God and start trusting Him. In my addiction, I was convinced I could manage life on my own. Surrender meant releasing that. For me it looked like getting on my knees in the morning before my feet hit the floor. It looked like calling my sponsor when I wanted to handle something myself. It looked like saying, "God, I cannot do this, but You can."

The discipline is in the daily practice. Surrender is not a one-time decision. It is a choice you make over and over again, especially on the hard days. For anyone who is struggling, whether with addiction, anxiety, grief, or simply feeling like life is out of control, surrender is not giving up. It is finally choosing to trust the One (God) who can actually handle it.

Alexis: When and how did you first have a defining moment and encounter God’s grace?

Ashley: The night of my last drink. I went to bed and asked God what was wrong with me. He woke me in the middle of the night and whispered one word: alcohol. In that moment, I knew His mercy and grace in a way I never had before. The next morning, I got busy and changed my life.

Alexis: What do you mean when you say that your book is not about religious obligation but an invitation to transformation?

Ashley: Spirituality is a personal, continual, transforming journey with God — not a weekly obligation fulfilled by sitting in a pew and half-listening to a sermon while mentally running through your Monday to-do list. Faith should never be reduced to "I believe because I always have" or "I believe because I am afraid of hell." That is religion. This book is about something deeper. God's grace and love should move you. They should draw you in, change you from the inside, and invite you to become a better person simply because of how much He loves you.

Alexis: How did your background in teaching, ministry and community leadership play into writing this book?

Ashley: Every road led me to this book. My master's in history taught me how to research, write, and cite sources with integrity. My years in the classroom taught me how to explain concepts clearly, which is exactly what this book requires. My call into ministry would not let me be still until every word was on the page. And my work in the community is what will carry this message to the people who need it most.

Alexis: If you could meet your readers one-on-one for coffee or at your upcoming book signings, what would you say to their heart about this book? Share your answer in a few sentences.

Ashley: I would tell them this book was written for them. Not for the person who has it all together, but for the one who is tired of pretending she does. I want every reader to walk away knowing that God has never stopped pursuing her, and that it is never too late to surrender, pray, and serve your way into the life He always intended.

Alexis: Thank you for the interview, Ashley! Do you have any closing comments?

Ashley: Thank you so much for helping me promote my book! I just want anyone reading this to know that I am not a theologian or a lifelong saint. I am a woman in recovery who said yes to God, and He did the rest. If my story can point even one person toward surrender, this book has done its job. I am grateful for every opportunity to share it.

~*~
Author Bio:

Ashley Martin is a writer, educator and speaker passionate about helping others discover healing and purpose through faith. 

With a background in teaching, ministry, and community leadership, she blends Biblical truth with honest storytelling that resonates with readers navigating life’s hardest seasons.

Her work focuses on spiritual growth, recovery, and practical ways to walk with God daily. Through her writing and speaking, Ashley encourages people to move beyond survival and into a life marked by clarity, courage, and calling.

She is known for her relatable voice, authentic transparency, and ability to connect deeply with audiences seeking hope and direction.

~*~
Book Blurb for Lost No More:

What if the valley you are in right now is exactly where God has been waiting for you?

For nearly two decades, Ashley Martin lived under the crushing weight of alcohol dependency, broken trust, and a faith she could no longer feel. Then, in the unexpected quiet of a rehab facility, God met her and nothing has been the same since.

In Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys, Ashley opens her life with rare and courageous transparency. She shares her journey through addiction, marital infidelity, and spiritual emptiness not to dwell in the darkness, but to show you the way out. With the practical wisdom of a Bible teacher and the hard-won grace of a woman who has lived it, Ashley guides you into a steady, daily rhythm of spiritual intimacy that does not require a perfect life, only a willing heart.

Whether you are quietly struggling to sense God's presence, overwhelmed by life's relentless demands, or walking through your own deepest valley, this book will meet you right where you are.

Inside the pages, you will discover how to:

• Surrender control daily and finally experience freedom from anxiety and fear
• Deepen your prayer life with practical, Scripture-rooted tools you can use every single day
• Unlock lasting spiritual peace through the discipline of serving others
• Reconnect with God through reflective journaling prompts and guided prayers woven throughout
• Find hope and healing even in the middle of your hardest season

Lost No More is not about religious obligation or checking spiritual boxes. It is an invitation from one broken, redeemed woman to stop drifting and start living in the peace that only God can give.

~*~

Buy Ashley's book on Amazon

Movie Review: He Calls Me Daughter

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to review the film titled “He Calls Me Daughter”, I agreed because it looked like a movie that would make a significant difference in the lives of females who are suffering from father wounds and struggling in their faith walk with Jesus Christ. 

Before I share my review with you, I’d like to share a word from Momentum Influencers Network about this film:

A Heavenly Father changes everything. True healing isn’t found in earthly relationships, but a relationship with our heavenly Father. He Calls Me Daughter is for women who have felt unseen, unsupported, or unsure of their worth. Through intimate, first-person stories, viewers follow women as they begin to name the pain they’ve carried for years: father wound. Audiences are invited to reflect on their own story as they walk alongside these women on a journey toward healing. He Calls Me Daughter is an invitation to experience the love of a Father who does not withdraw—One who offers peace, belonging, and restoration.

~*~

My Review of “He Calls Me Daughter” (film):

Captivating. Poignant. Transformational.

Those are three words to accurately describe this film aptly titled “He Calls Me Daughter”. If you are a female who has had a complicated relationship (or no relationship) with your earthly father so much so that it has distorted your view of your Heavenly Father, then this movie is for you.

Filled with real-life stories and testimonies from women in the real world, this movie will touch your heart and transform your mind to see God as who He really is—a loving Heavenly Father who will heal your wounds inflicted by your earthly father if you let Him.

This movie highlights the pain of several women—a few who are not well-known but have influence and the rest who are famous, including Christian comedian Chonda Pierce and Lynsi Lavelle Snyder-Ellingson who the owner and heiress of the In-N-Out Burger company that is most popular in the state of California. The testimonies shared by these ladies are both heart-touching and heart-wrenching at the same time. But the powerful point in everyone’s story is how God has touched the broken hearts of these women and carefully restored their faith in His Love which is greater than the love any earthly father can give his daughter.

I like how this movie showed a full-circle journey for each woman featured. I also appreciated how they featured stories that a variety of women from different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds can relate to. This movie leaves no stone unturned in getting their core message across to women who are hurting.

This film was worth the time I spent watching it. At the end of the film, the hosts talk to the audience for a few minutes to point them to a resource you access by scanning a QR code. The resource is a curriculum for women who need help healing from their father wounds. I’ve included the direct download link to this resource toward the end of this blog post today.

He Calls Me Daughter will play in theaters only this March 17 and March 18. You can buy your tickets to see this movie online via this website: https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/he-calls-me-daughter/

I highly recommend this movie to all females who are suffering from father wounds and need a healthy dose of hope and healing from their Savior.

~*~

Watch the trailer for "He Calls Me Daughter" here.

Visit the official website for He Calls Me Daughter film here:
https://hecallsmedaughter.org/

Download “Healing the Father Wound” curriculum (free of cost) here:
https://hecallsmedaughter.org/resources

#HeCallsMeDaughterMIN #HeCallsMeDaughter #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to "He Calls Me Daughter" for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we can always reach out to Jesus Christ

Hope in the Hem: Why Your Trembling Touch is Enough for Jesus Christ
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”—Mark 5:34 (NKJV)

There were days when simply remembering to breathe felt like victory.

Days when brushing my teeth required more strength than I thought I had. This was my reality through a decade of infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and an adoption that fell through.

In those dark moments, I longed for stories of others who understood. What I discovered in that fragile space was something unexpected: God's presence woven into every uncertain step, every whispered prayer, every tear-stained morning. Like the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) who reached for the hem of Jesus Christ’s garment in desperate faith, I too began reaching out—not yet knowing how the story would end, but trusting that Jesus was near.

When we finally welcomed three miracle babies, I understood her story in a deeper way: healing isn't always immediate, but His presence is always available. I learned that sometimes the miracle isn't just in the outcome, but in the strength He provides for each impossible day.

Perhaps you're entering this new year carrying your own heavy burdens—waiting for answers that haven't come, holding onto prayers that feel unanswered. The story of the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment speaks directly to that ache. Her desperate faith offers us a lifeline when all seems lost.

In Mark 5:25-34, we see a woman who, in desperation, reached out and found healing when she touched the hem of Christ’s garment. Despite her long suffering, she believed Jesus possessed the power to cure her. Her act was a simple yet profound step of faith—a quiet gesture that changed her life.

This story highlights that faith, when paired with unwavering trust, can transform even the darkest circumstances. As we face new challenges this year, we too can reach out to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal. Her story encourages us to believe that no matter how long we’ve waited or how heavy our burdens, Jesus is always ready to meet us with compassion.

What I've learned through my journey is this: Jesus doesn't wait for us to have perfect faith or eloquent prayers. He responds to the desperate reach, the trembling touch, the quiet cry for help. Through prayer, tears, and whispered longings, I experienced His grace in ways I never expected. The transformation wasn't always dramatic—sometimes it looked like tiny fingers grasping mine, or the strength to face another day. But each moment became evident that His life-giving presence was real, intimately woven into the fabric of my everyday life.

So how do we reach out when our arms feel too heavy to lift? How do we touch the hem of His garment when despair threatens to paralyze us? Start small. Consider creating sacred spaces in your day—perhaps a morning prayer where you literally extend your hand upward, or an evening journal where you write down the “small victories” of grace you've witnessed. These simple practices became my lifeline during the darkest seasons, and they can become yours too.

Whatever burdens you carry into this new year, whatever losses still ache in your heart, know this: Hope is never truly out of reach. It waits for you in the hem of His garment, in the sacred moment when you reach out and whisper, “Jesus, I need You.” Then in His compassion, Jesus will meet you there, ready to make something beautiful from your brokenness.

Let’s Pray: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for this new year—for fresh mercies and new beginnings. I come to You with a hopeful heart, trusting that You see every need and hear every cry. Help me to reach out in faith, just as the woman who was suffering for twelve years did, knowing that Your power is available to heal, restore, and renew. Calm my fears, strengthen my hope, and fill me with Your peace. May I always remember that no matter how long I’ve been waiting, You are the God of miracles. Meet us, Lord, in our unique needs—You who know each of us by name. Thank You for Your unwavering love. 

In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Healer” by Kari Jobe (covered by ASL & CC by Rock Church Deaf Ministry). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Just One Touch” by Kim Walker Smith. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Meet Me There” by Lydia Laird. 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: God is always with us and He fights for us

God is Always with Us
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.”—Psalm 91:15 (NLT)

This Psalm in the anchor scripture above is a very well-known Bible verse. I have heard it also referred to as the “Soldier's Psalm”—and for good reason.

My father-in-law is Latvian. He was a small child when World War Two broke out. But even before the perilous times of that war, his family experienced danger because of their faith in God and the fact that his dad was a pastor. He tells the story about his father reciting Psalm 91 to them so many times during those awful times of peril and suffering. God’s promises are true—they saw God protect them through their plight, flight and horrible living conditions for many years.

God is faithful. He does protect us—and sometimes that protection looks like allowing a believer to die but not without the hope of going to Heaven. I wish I knew the heart and mind of God as our Heavenly Father to such an extent I could know the answers to all my questions of why, but I do not. However, I do know God is faithful, He is good and He is a loving Father. He is with us in times of trouble, He answers when we call and He rescues us.

Sometimes these answers look vastly different than we thought they would. It's rather like God says to us in Isaiah 43:2. We pass through the deep waters and rivers of difficulties. But God is with us through it all. We do not walk over a bridge to the other side. We put on our waders and walk in the water, on the river rocks, over the mossy river bottoms, encounter strong currents, dodge snags, and climb up the bank, wet, tired and ready for a hot cup of coffee, tea or cocoa.

We walk through the waters, we go through the trials, we experience hardships, but we do not lose. We do not walk away in defeat. We do not get eaten alive (so to speak), unless it is our Heavenly Father's will for us to encounter more than we thought we could handle. Ultimately, the victory is ours because God is our Warrior God and He fights for us (Exodus 15:3). We will not be cast down, we will not lose our salvation and place in Heaven, nor will we lose our inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-14). These are the most important things. We focus on the temporal, the comforts, the here and now. But God focuses on the eternal and the good work He is doing in us to make us more like His Son (Philippians 1:6).

I will admit I get tripped up here a lot. I like bridges over troubled waters. I am unsure of rushing rivers and snags. I do not like to get wet if I do not have to— especially on a cold, wintery day.

But God. He has plans for us and they stand firm forever (Psalm 33:11). They are so much better than we could ask or imagine. So, as we embark into this new year, let us go forward knowing God is already there in each day. He is with us in each trouble, fear, bear encounter, rushing river, relationship, health challenge and financial situation we may face.

May we always hold on to the hope we have in knowing that He is our God and He is a good, loving Heavenly Father.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your presence with me every single day. Whether I am in the river stepping on river rock, or climbing up the bank, You are with me. Thank You that you have always been with me in the past, will stay with me in the present and continue to be with me forever in the future. I am so thankful You do not leave me in the troubled waters alone. You are with me. Even though I walk through dark shadows, You are with me. I hold onto that promise and comfort from You for this upcoming year. And I hold onto You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “You Are With Me (Psalm 23)” by Ginna Claire Mason. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “He is With Us” by Love & The Outcome. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Good Good Father” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “When You Walk Through the Water” by Allison Durham. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Fighting for Me” by Riley Clemmons. 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 find hope in broken relationships

Finding Hope in Broken Relationships
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.”—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Have you ever loved someone who ended up disappointing you? Maybe they hurt you emotionally, or betrayed you, or perhaps they did something to another person so awful you had to cut ties with them?

Broken relationships are one of the hardest things we humans navigate during our lifetime. The pain we experience, and the decisions we have to make, can be difficult and even traumatic. In my life I’ve rarely had to completely break ties with someone I’ve loved, but I’ve had to put firm boundaries in place. Even that can be tremendously challenging.

Perhaps because it’s so hard, it’s one of the topics I find myself coming back to over and over again, not only in my faith blogs and other nonfiction but in my fiction. I’m particularly drawn to difficult family relationships—mostly because you often feel “stuck” with your family, so you’re forced to find creative ways to deal with tension and brokenness. And sometimes those methods are decidedly imperfect. For instance, the sibling relationship is one of the most complicated and extraordinarily beautiful that we’ll ever experience. But sometimes, horribly painful circumstances can erect walls between siblings—walls so high they cause permanent damage.

That’s the crux of my latest novel, Tangled Roots, explores the broken relationship between Tiff and James, a brother and sister who were once so close they relied on each other for survival—but now they can barely speak to each other.

Tiff and James grew up in a dilapidated former mill town, two children of abusive, alcoholic parents. James was Tiff’s protector throughout her childhood—her hero—but their lives took two very different paths. He joined a gang and wound up locked up in prison for a hate crime, while she got a college scholarship and moved far away, burying herself in her faith and her future. Now, in peaceful Dahlia, South Carolina, she’s finally built the respectable life she’s always craved. With a proposal from her upstanding boyfriend Bobby, everything seems perfect.

Then she gets word that her brother has been released from prison—and his parole officer wants him to join Tiff in Dahlia. But Tiff hasn’t told anyone, including her fiancé, about her past—or about her brother. Nor has she forgiven her brother for the wrongs he’s done, or for abandoning her to survive the chaos of their family alone. And she can’t believe her brother really has become a born-again Christian and wants to turn his life around, despite his letters and his pleas. She’s also not convinced that she herself won’t repeat the cycle her family started.

I won’t tell you anything else, because I hope you’ll read the book and see how Jesus Christ triumphs over this seemingly irredeemable situation. But here’s the not-so-secret real-life secret: Jesus does fix our broken, seemingly irredeemable, seemingly unfixable messes.

I’m fascinated with Christian redemption stories, the way that deeply flawed people undergo a profound, miraculous transformation as they see the proverbial light and begin to walk God’s path for their lives. Perhaps it’s because I myself am a redemption story, and I’ve seen the powerful and beautiful ways God works in our lives. At its core, that’s where this book originates—in the notion that no matter how far away someone seems from Christ, no matter how many wrongs they’ve done or how bad a sin they might have committed, no one is exempt from the saving grace of Jesus Christ. No one, no matter what. There is room for everyone at God’s table.

God’s love is that powerful. One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV). It reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.” That’s how big God’s love for us is—we who genuinely believe have the opportunity for a do-over, a rewrite, a truly fresh start, no matter what. In our relationships, sometimes that’s not possible or healthy. But with God, it’s different. God wipes our slate clean.

If you’re someone who, like me, has had to navigate your share of broken real-life relationships, take heart. On this side of Heaven, things don’t always get resolved. But sometimes they do. Yet no matter what, you can be certain Jesus is walking right beside you. He knows your pain and your heartache, your baggage and your guilt, your anger and your anguish. And he can help.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for your willingness to shine your pure and holy light into the darkest of circumstances and the darkest of relationships. Thank You for meeting me in my pain and understanding the whole situation. I surrender all to You and your healing mercy. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: "I Surrender All" by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: "The Master's Hand" by Annie Herring. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: "Broken and Beautiful" by Mark Schultz. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: "Testimony" by Terrian. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.