Devotionals for the Heart: Reasons why we don't need to know it all

Why We Don't Need to Know it All
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”—Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

You have likely experienced some confusion when reading your Bible, as have I.

How did you react? Did you beg God to open your heart to comprehend His Word? Did you push your questions to the back of your mind only to have them later intrude your thoughts and induce worry? Did you just give up on reading the Bible altogether?

I often put pressure on myself when I come across a biblical concept that I don’t understand because I have believed the lie that to be a follower of God, I have to understand what every passage in the Bible means and attempt to make the entire Bible apply to my life.

I subconsciously think I am doing the righteous thing by fretting about how I don’t know the answer to my spiritual question and proceed to deny myself peace of mind until I get the answer I “deserve”. But God wants us to have peace in all the storms of life, even the spiritual ones. And God does not give us all the answers, but He does give us hope!

Let’s look at some verses to see what God wants us to do when we are struggling with wanting to “know it all” about the Bible. While the verses may not have been written about this specific issue, I think they are reminders of how God deals with His children, what He expects of us, and how He defines wisdom.

Psalms 139 is a great chapter about God’s omniscience and omnipresence, and I suggest you take some time to familiarize yourself with it. Psalm 139:1 (NIV) says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” To me, this is saying that God knows how much I desire to be close to Him. And He knows what spiritual revelations I actually need, and which ones I convince myself I need in order to serve God better. He also knows when I am making an idol out of having all the answers to all my questions as a Christian. Yes, it is possible to idolize the attainment of information.

Here are some more verses to ponder as we consider this topic:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) says: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Now let’s summarize all the verses from this devotional. 

Here are the beliefs I can cling to when a desire for all the answers to life’s questions sows seeds of worry and unease in me:

• Reverent fear of God and worshipping Him is true wisdom. It is part of my purpose.
• When I stray from living in God’s wisdom, His grace covers me. I can delight in not knowing it all because in my weakness (or lack of understanding), I am aware of my need for God’s insight and guidance.
• God knows me better than I know myself. If I trust Him, I will obey Him, not live according to my own understanding of how I think life should be.
• My limited knowledge is nothing compared to God’s infinite wisdom.

This is what God is teaching me: Being a Christian does not require me to know everything God knows. Not knowing everything requires me to trust God. I think we could all benefit from praying less for information and more often for revelation. The key difference between the two is that information is the attainment of knowledge while revelation is the attainment of understanding. We can spend countless hours gaining information from the Bible and other resources about biblical context and culture, but I believe God is the source of revelation and of understanding. It is when we have revelation that we know God and His ways more intimately in a life-changing, practical sort of way.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Help me to live in peace when I do not understand aspects of Christianity and the Bible that I think I should. Thank you for Your grace and guidance and for teaching me that You alone are God, and You alone are omniscient. May I worship You, not knowledge. Thank You for blessing me with Your wisdom and may I live wisely to glorify You.

In Jesus Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Oh, I Want To Know You More” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to be honest in our relationships

The Necessity of Vulnerability
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

—1 John 4:18 (NLT)

How does it feel when someone opens up to you?

I am usually flattered that the other person not only trusts me but also finds comfort in my listening. God creates all kinds of personalities. Some of us are more naturally reserved and have to make an effort to achieve intimacy in relationships. For me personally, it boils down to trust issues, which are rooted in fear. But, as the opening verse states, perfect love casts out fear.

Let me explain what this devotional is and what it is not: This devotional is for people like me who have struggled similarly and are striving for deeper, God-honoring connections. This is not a devotional on trust or even handling rejection, nor is it a secret recipe for perfect relationships that are free of hurt feelings.

I want to encourage you to be vulnerable in a way that strengthens the bonds of your relationships, including with God. God desires for us to be honest with ourselves, with Him, and with others. Being honest about how we feel, even if we are embarrassed to admit what we feel, can be a form of honesty. This is the first step in working through emotions or thought patterns that could lead to sinful behavior. Being honest about thoughts and feelings does not indicate that our thoughts and feelings are the truth. In fact, the opposite is often the case. When voicing our feelings to a God-fearing person who we can trust, it becomes easier to identify the lies of the enemy.

Please let me make something clear before continuing: I am not advocating that we put ourselves in situations that can be dangerous in an effort to be open with another person. And I’m certainly not saying that in order to initiate an intimate relationship we must start spewing all the traumas we have ever been through, hoping the other person might find something relatable in our monologues.

Likewise, being vulnerable with someone does leave room for rejection. Other people might not understand why you are talking about things so openly. It might intimidate them. That being said, do not focus on any perceived rejection you face. This causes rifts in relationships, and if you are like me, it will cause you to clam up and become cold and aloof. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how challenging it is to put these words into practice. I think it takes equal parts boldness and humility to be vulnerable.

Isn’t it comforting though when another Christian, especially one you have viewed as being very nearly sinless, confesses to you the struggles they have walked through? Aren’t you so thankful that person was vulnerable with you and allowed you to learn from their mistake or misfortune? Maybe you are thankful for their honesty, and it has made the bond between the two of you closer.

I’m going to be honest and vulnerable when I say that while drafting this devotional, I was tempted to avoid writing about my weaknesses and instead attack the sins I see in others as an indirect way of venting my frustrations with some relationships I have right now. As I admit this, I can scarcely believe how spiritually immature I sound! I’m glad God convicted me to write the devotional I would need. In other words, I am preaching to myself right now.

I could go on, but I think I have said enough to get you thinking about how you can put this message I’ve written to practical use. Is there someone in your life who you know God is calling you to start or repair a relationship with? Would it help if you began by being honest with that person? I do not mean confronting them about whatever wrong they may have done (that is a topic for another time). I am talking about asking God to help you remove the walls that you have allowed to guard you from being close to someone or to keep them out.

If even a small part of you identifies with what I have said and you want to change, start by praying the prayer below. And if the Holy Spirit guides you to pray about specific relationship struggles, heed that guidance. God has designed us for relationships, and He knows we are sinful, and we struggle to not let past hurts influence our decisions. God wants to help you form thriving relationships, and change starts by acknowledging you cannot change apart from God’s help.

Let’s Pray: God, I have allowed walls to be put up around my heart so that I am not close to (fill in name). I do not want to be cold and distant in my relationships. I want to shine the light of Your love. Help me to be vulnerable, open, and honest in a way that glorifies You. Let me live in love, not fear of rejection. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “If We're Honest” by Francesca Battistelli. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to comfort people who are deep in grief

Comfort for those who grieve
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”—Galatians 5:13 NIV

As someone who lost four family members in about a year’s time, I’m no stranger to grief and how it affects a person, their relationships, their health, and their outlook on life. Therefore, I would like to share some advice on comforting those in your life who are also experiencing grief.

My advice is based on my own experience and biblical concepts, but keep in mind that everyone grieves differently. This means that listening is key, not just to the words someone says but also their tone and noticing what things they are not saying.

Begin by gently asking what your loved one needs and desires in their time of mourning then brainstorm ways to meet those needs and desires that are realistic and foster an attitude of hope and healing for both of you. Remember: Everyone processes grief at a different pace. Don’t rush someone through their grief or make them feel like they are grieving incorrectly. True and total healing comes from God. It is not something we can rush or force. God is not afraid of a person showing raw emotions or having weak moments because He foresees it all.

God is the best Comforter. Point the griever back to Him because God is the only way in which a hurting person can find ultimate healing, relief, joy and peace. Reassure the griever that they are not alone. God is omnipresent. Remind them that the lessening of grief as time passes does not signify a lessening of love for the deceased person.

Suggestions of helpful questions to ask your grieving loved one are:

How are you doing emotionally?

How are you doing physically?

How are you doing spiritually?

How are you doing relationally?

Instead of saying the cliché, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help”, offer specific help. Ask questions like: “What household chores can I do for you?” or “May I run any errands for you?” or “I’d love to cook dinner for you. What’s your favorite meal?”

The following activities may be beneficial to a grieving person. You can offer to do these things with that person but be respectful and don’t take it personally if that person prefers to do these activities solo (or not at all).

Here’s a shortlist of activities that may help someone who is grieving:

#1: Write down memories of the deceased loved one to ensure the memories won’t be forgotten.

#2: Make a scrapbook about the deceased loved one.

#3: Keep a grief journal to process thoughts and pray to God, pouring out your heart before Him because He will send His Holy Spirit to comfort you.

Of course, praying for and with a hurting person is encouraging. This can be true even if the griever is not a Christian. Sometimes death opens a person’s heart to Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation because they start thinking about eternity and life after death.

Many people find comfort in the words of Job (a book in the Bible) and in the Psalms (another book in the Bible). Here are some more verses that are worth sharing and memorizing: Romans 8:2, James 1:2-4, and Romans 15:13.

There will be moments when you and the person you are trying to help are frustrated with each other. You may find yourself wondering why you are even bothering to help. In moments like these, reflect on 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV, which says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Remember: God gives us the ability to comfort people who are hurting, and He calls us to do so. Whether you ever see the fruits of your labor or not, rest assured God sees your heart, your motives, and your obedience to Him.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

I know you call Your children to imitate Jesus Christ and His attributes, including kindness and compassion. Help me to be kind and compassionate to those who are hurting, even when I face rejection. Let me point hurting people to You. Thank You for comforting me as only You can. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Reason for the World” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When and how grief can be good for us

Good Grief
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“Jesus wept.”

— John 11:35 (NIV)

What is grief? Some people would describe it as a dark night. But there is hope!

Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky who was critically acclaimed as one of the greatest novelists in the literary world, once said, “The darker the night, the brighter the stars, the deeper the grief, the closer is God!”

After unexpectedly losing my mom when I was only 21, I found myself wrestling with God in my grief. Hopefully, the insights I have gained on my grief journey can benefit you as well, even if you are not grieving the loss of a loved one. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of grief is “deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement.”

I’ve learned that grief is not just about death; it is about loss. Perhaps you are grieving losing a spouse through divorce or the lack of relationship with a child or the decision a friend made to stop following Jesus Christ. I believe grief is a good thing if done the way God intended. And knowing how to grieve in a godly way can not only help you grieve but also prepare you to walk with others in their grief journeys.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV). It says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”

Knowing that there is a season for everything—happiness and sadness—comforts my soul. I am comforted to know that God does not expect me to feel happy all the time. To me, these verses give Christians the permission to have what society deems “negative” emotions. While this is not a devotional about emotions, I will quickly say that I don’t think God views our emotions as good or bad. However, I think what matters to Him is how we handle them and how they affect our behaviors and relationship with Him and others (and ourselves). Ecclesiastes 3:4 supports this idea by declaring weeping and mourning appropriate for certain times. Notice how we are not instructed to always dance and laugh.

Another concept that has helped me understand grief from a biblical perspective is that God grieves too. And knowing that God expects me to manifest characteristics that are His, this means God expects me to grieve as well. Let’s talk this through: Jesus Christ wept on His way to raise His friend Lazarus from the dead, knowing fully well that Lazarus would soon be alive again. Yet He wept (John 11:35). Why? I believe He was not only showing His followers that it is okay to grieve, but I also love the footnote found in the Amplified version of The Holy Bible that suggests Jesus was angry at the sorrow induced by death.

Now let us look at biblical instruction on grief in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (AMP), which reads, “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life].” In other words, Christians can grieve but not without hope. We know if we continue to follow Jesus Christ then we will be reunited in Heaven with our fellow Christians who have passed away and are no longer living on Earth. When we are in Heaven, we will be fully healed and holy in the Presence of God. Simply put, in the midst of our bereavement, we can choose to rejoice that God has provided a means to eternal life with Him that is far better than this life on Earth.

So, based on these few biblical examples, it seems that grief is an appropriate response to death. God, even though He is omniscient, and death is no surprise to Him, grieves too. However, it is clear that we are not to view death as “the end.” Instead, let it serve to remind you of eternity and salvation and hope from God.

Let’s Pray: God, thank You for giving me hope while I am grieving and let me share this with others who have lost someone or something important to them. Thank You for the time I had with my loved ones who have passed away. Help me to have a healthy perspective on grief. Thank You for comforting me, Lord, when I am sad. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Light of that City” by Allison Durham Speer. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to truly appreciate the gift of today

The Gift of Today
A devotional be Kayla de Jong

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

–Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

I know God blesses me each day more than I can possibly thank Him for. This is true even on my hardest days. I am blessed more than I deserve! I admit I do not give God all the rightful glory when I finally do take a moment to look beyond the negatives in life and relish in the positive.

Fear has been a sin I have been working with God on overcoming my entire life. Maybe you call it something different: anxiety, worry, dread, distractedness, panic, unease. No matter what fancy name you give it, it’s still fear and God calls us to not let it consume us. I know I’m not the only person who struggles with fear. Based on the many instructions in the Bible to not fear, it seems like fear has been a struggle for most of humanity’s existence.

Fear has many consequences, not the least of which is the inability to be present with others and with God. If I am worrying about past mistakes or dreading future uncertainties, then I am not surrendering to God and asking Him how I can serve Him. I am not able to give my attention to the hurting people around me. News flash: Every single person on this Earth is hurting in some way. Every single person needs someone to be present with them, whether that means giving a hug and sharing a prayer or listening to burdens being unloaded or giving Biblical advice.

Fear is actually a selfish, arrogant way of thinking we know better than God and that we have to figure out all our problems without His help. Maybe we subconsciously think He won’t help us with our problems because they are too embarrassing or insignificant. The next time a fearful thought pops into your mind, remind yourself that God views fear as sin and choose to be present with Him. Start thanking Him for every blessing, great and small.

I’ve heard it said that in order to break a bad habit, you must start a good habit to replace it. My encouragement to you (and myself), is to break the cycle of fear by being present with at least one person each day. Cast aside all worrisome thoughts and invest in someone spiritually. By and by, your anxieties will dim in comparison to the love and compassion you feel for others and the joy that comes from fellowship. That being said, also strive to cut out of your life anything that causes you to distrust God: certain TV shows or movies, songs, books, podcasts, social media. Maybe you will be able to handle those things after you have grown spiritually, but right now, view them as the stumbling blocks that they are.

May we each be reminded daily that our problems are small compared to our blessings. And may God show us how to bless others with our blessings and be there for others as Jesus Christ would. Let’s make this a daily goal! If you are like me, you want practical advice. So here ya go:

Tip #1: Start a prayer journal that is only used for thanking God, instead of all the things you want to ask God to do for you.

Tip #2: Ask someone a specific way you can pray for them and then do it! Whether it’s a phone call or in person, say that prayer out loud so that the other person can hear you blessing them.

Tip #3: Offer to hug or lend a listening ear—or both—to someone who seems depressed.

Remember: You don’t have to be a Bible scholar or perfect person to offer a comforting Scripture to someone who is having doubts or questions. Perhaps consider purchasing a devotional for that person and offer to read it together.

In closing, consider this quote by Bill Keane: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

Just imagine how much better the world would be if we all started being more present with each other and with God! I believe people would feel more loved, more seen, more heard, more empathetic, and more grateful, among other things. When we take time to appreciate this gift from God called “today”, we also have the opportunity to help others and impact the world in a positive way!

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Help me to be present today by being thankful in every moment—even the hard ones—and give You the glory You deserve. Thank You for helping me through my fearful, sinful ways and molding me into a grateful servant who is present with the people around me. Deliver me from negative thoughts and help me to focus on the good You’ve blessed me with in this life on Earth. 

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song for Reflection: “Thank You” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com