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

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

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

—2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Can I sit with you for a minute?

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

I see you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

~*~
Let’s Pray:

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

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

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

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

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

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

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: How to rest in God as the source of joy and peace

Good News in the Suffering
A devotional by Christine Monteiro

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

The year 2024 ended differently for me.

Twelve days before Christmas, my mom had a stroke. I complained to God about my mom because this is the third time I have had to take care of a stroke for a family member. My grandma was first, my husband with his brain cancer, and then my mom. Suddenly, I had to carry all the burdens one more time—from finances to preparing her back from the hospital, preparing all the medical equipment and caretaker for her because she could no longer be independent since she was half-paralyzed. Additionally, I don't get to see my children this year. The best thing we did was a video call from three different countries. It was challenging, but it eased my heart.

I had planned my December and kept myself busy since I knew I could not spend it with my children. Last year was the first time we all had to celebrate Christmas alone. So, I agreed to join the choir ensemble and sing for Christmas Eve. But when my mom was hospitalized, I almost gave up all of them. I missed the practice. I was tired and invested in my problem. My spirit was crushed, and I didn't feel like doing anything. I was angry.

Suddenly, the rush from the past overloaded my mind. I am trying not to repeat the same pattern. The old me would give in to the situation and paralyze myself with the big problem in front of me. Then I thought, I need to learn to calm down in this situation since this isn't new to me. The unfortunate tragedy happened during the most joyous season when everybody looked forward to celebrating Christmas and the holidays. While debating how to deal with this situation, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 popped up in my mind to remind that God tells us to “Rejoice always!” It says always, not telling you to rejoice only in certain circumstances. Then it says to pray continually, and we were asked to keep praying and to give thanks in all circumstances. Again, it says all. Not “pick and choose” certain circumstances.

While meditating on that verse, I could feel the many changes within me. I decided to put my burdens and anger in God’s hands. I started to give thanks for all the things that happened in that short period. With all my strength, I went to church and finished what I started. When I sang “Joy to the World” for the first time, it resonated with my life. I realized that despite my problems, Jesus still comes to give joy to the world, no matter our circumstances. He is here to share the joy, the good news.

The new year is here and some of us may be facing 2025 with uncertainty. I am sure most of us have anxiety about wondering what is next in life. But with the perspective of God as our Heavenly Father, we can rest in that He is the source of joy. We can rely on Him. Joy should always be in our hearts, and that gives us peace.

Let's Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are an amazing God whose very presence promises to bring peace into our lives. I want to surrender my life to You. Thank You for holding me in the palm of Your Hand and never letting me go. Thank You that I don't have to take on all the burdens in this life alone. Please forgive my unbelief and doubt that you can give me joy in the hardship when life is overwhelming and tough. You tell us to give thanks in all circumstances so You can give us joy. Thank You for always being with me and holding my hands. May Your will be done in my life. I love you, Lord.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” (song) conducted by John Rutter. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christine Monteiro is a certified transformative coach, writer, and keynote speaker who is passionate about helping others navigate the complexities of purpose, personal growth, and resilience. 

Christine’s journey to becoming a coach started four years ago, following the loss of her husband to brain cancer. That experience left her feeling as though she had lost her purpose—a feeling she deeply understands in clients who she works with now. Through self-discovery and training, Christine found the missing pieces in her life and regained her purpose and drive that now motivates her to help others.

Christine coaches her clients from all walks of life—from young adults to retirees—helping them to embrace change, set meaningful goals, and confidently pursue their dreams. She has received training through Creative Results Management and holds credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Christine also has certifications in Positive Psychology and Mental Health Coaching from Yale and Light University. Her diverse approach to coaching her clients combines empathy with strategic insight, helping them to navigate every stage of life.

When she writes, Christine likes to focus on topics like finding purpose, coping with grief, and achieving personal transformation. As she writes, Christine draws from her own experiences as a single mom and empty nester. She enjoys sharing these insights on various platforms to reach a wider audience and foster community support.

When not coaching or writing, Christine spends her time sipping black coffee and swimming in the pool. She has found that having three independent children gives her a privilege to have a lot of “me time” that she didn’t have when they were growing up.

Thankful Thursdays: God Speaks

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for when God speaks!

Late Wednesday night (August 12), I was trying to focus on scheduling next week's set of devotionals for my blog. But my heart was heavy and my mind was bogged down by the issues that were hurting my heart. After what may have been about 20 minutes of feeling depressed, I felt God speak these words into my spirit:  Listen to "I Bless Your Name." 

So I went to YouTube and I looked up the version of the song "I Bless Your Name" that is performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

As I listened to this beautiful song of praise to God, slowly but surely, I felt like singing praises to God too! As I began to sing with the choir my burdens were lifted, my heart was healing, and my mind was given a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

I was also reminded of the Bible story about Paul and Silas who followed Jesus and preached for Him. The pivotal part of the story takes place in prison where Paul and Silas are shackled is chains. This was after they were beaten by people who thought they were a threat to society. Not everybody wants to hear about Jesus Christ, but Paul and Silas were not afraid to preach the truth. They were not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they were willing to die for the cause of Christ! Their passion for God landed them in a desolate place (a prison cell).

But Paul and Silas did not let the bleakness of their situation rule in their hearts nor stay in their minds. They chose to lift their voices in singing praises to God! And when they praised His Name, God set them free! Literally! Read about it in Acts 16:25-34 (KJV) which says:

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." 

This song and Bible story gave me so much encouragement!

 I am so thankful that God is faithful! God speaks ... do you listen?

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA

Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: For the Lonely on Valentine's Day

Rejected Love
A devotional by Wade Webster

And the LORD said to Samuel: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” 

–1 Samuel 8:7 (NIV)

The season of love is upon us. At least that's what Valentine's Day means to many folks. But for some of us it's just another day, or one we'd rather skip altogether.

I remember vividly the day of April 14, 2015. I had to have my wife sign our tax forms for what would be the last time we filed jointly. She had moved out over a year prior to this. I was doing my best to pursue her to no avail. Divorce was imminent even though there were no biblical grounds for it. I did the best I could to offer my love to her. I couldn't force her to accept it.

A month and a half earlier I gave a eulogy at my mom's funeral for my six siblings. It was excruciating. I had to hold off my remorse while I traveled from Texas back to Michigan. Then while I prepared my talk. I finally found a moment of semi-solitude in the church during the viewing before the funeral service. The tears and anguish flowed for the woman who gave me life and then devoted her life to her seven kids and her husband who passed on eleven years before her.

I went for a stroll in my neighborhood that evening after I talked to my wife. Grief was mounting again from this loss. This loss that seemed so unfair and unnecessary. Fortunately, I was next to a wooden fence when the grief wave struck. I leaned into the barrier and let the tears flow. They tasted just like the ones at my mom's funeral.

I knew God was with me, as he always is. When I walked a half a block away a thought struck me so I asked God a question. “Is this what you feel like when somebody rejects you?”

The prophet Samuel felt this same rejection when the Hebrews requested a king to replace him. The sting was personal until God assured him that it wasn't directed at Samuel but God himself. When we tell others about the amazing gift God offers through his Son, Jesus Christ, don't take it personally when they reject it. It's not you they're rejecting. They're rejecting God.

For those of you who have a special someone in your life, enjoy this time of love like there's no tomorrow, because there might not be one. Also keep in mind those of us traveling alone at this time in our lives. We long for love, too.

The sting of rejection and loss can be unbearable at times. Give us some encouragement by letting us know we're still important to you. Give us some of your time. Pray for us to draw closer to God during this test in our lives.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Wade Webster lives with is best friend (Jesus Christ) in Plano, Texas. 

His main source of income comes from driving trucks. 

He has a part-time job painting houses on the side...and the front and back and inside. 

He's the author of a book titled 100 Prayers of a Writer.

Connect with him via his official website, wadewebster.com. 

Devotionals for the Heart: Peace

When Jesus Christ speaks peace over your life
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 (NIV)

My day job involves working with the public so I have seen it all or at least I feel I have. Recently though, after helping someone with a difficult and tricky situation, I got an email back from them that made my jaw drop and not in a good way.

It was a kick to the gut full of anger over an error in their minds, which was actually just an omission on their own part, something outside of my control. The day had already been a rough one and this email, arriving late in the day, was extra painful.

I was utterly overwhelmed and sad as well. I had liked this client and thought I had made them happy with my work. To get an email telling me the exact opposite, with a rather vulgar term thrown in, was gutting. I left the office feeling about as low as I ever had at work. Driving away, I realized what I needed to do was pray for my client. Whatever they went through today had to be pretty bad to have produced an email like that. I had already taken the action needed to address their concern so that part was done. Letting what they said trouble me wasn’t going to help anyone. In prayer, I could unburden my soul.

After praying for them I felt a kind of peace, the kind that only comes from the Spirit. It didn’t take away the disappointment I was feeling entirely, but I was comforted. It reminded me of the verse above. Often I wonder how can I not be troubled in this world full of it? There’s so much to be fear, so much to worry about sometimes and it’s utterly overwhelming. But, people of faith have a God to turn to when the storms of life start to blow. No matter what happens, God is provident. He has us in His hands.

The peace of God's Holy Spirit has been left with us. When life is hard, when we’re troubled, when we feel overwhelmed, that’s the time to pray. From the big stuff to the little, before we react, before we take how we’re feeling out on the world, we can pray and ask for peace. Not the peace of a quiet life and boring news cycle, but the peace of God, which passes all understanding. 

Remember: Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Whatever feels like it will overwhelm you, remember our God is provident, omnipotent, and He loves you. If you believe in Him, He has given you His peace.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Everything

He Left Us Everything
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

I’m reading a memoir and the title is “They Left Us Everything.”

It is written by a woman who recently lost her mother, her father died years previously and she’s in the process of cleaning out the family home. A house she and her three brothers called home for over half a century. She, now in middle age along with her brothers are left to ‘empty out’ a twenty-three-room house where every corner in every room offers a memory. Middle-agers who have gone through caregiving and burying our mothers will find this book relatable.

As one reviewer wrote, this book, “hits you deep in the gut…amid the scraps of paper left in jacket pockets, family photos and pieces of furniture, part of the ‘everything’ our parents leave us with are our memories of them, good and bad. Perhaps figuring out what to do with them is as close to a manual of grief as we get.”

This book has opened a plethora of memories for me. I lost my mom two years ago, and I still find pieces of memories in out of the way places, little things that remind me of how much I miss her.

This morning I got up early, not because I wanted to, but because my darling cat, Juliette was hungry. She has learned to wake me gently, and I appreciate her respecting my rest. The title to this book grabbed me in a profound way. They Left Us Everything. I saw Jesus in this title and through Him God has left us everything!

I was reminded of a time twenty-years ago shortly after my brother died. Losing him at such a young age rocked my world. I’d thought we’d grow old together. It was a difficult time for me while grief devastated me. It was during my caterwauling and pity party that God spoke to my spirit reminding me that He understood my grief. He’d sacrificed His son for humanity. It quickly put things in perspective.

I bemoaned why Ronnie, my brother, wasn’t healed and the unfairness of it all. God is so patient with us. We can’t know everything. It was Ronnie’s time. He’d rededicated his life to Christ before passing, and he was actually ready. I wasn’t. I didn’t want him to leave.

God also reminded me that the blood of Jesus, the Cross, and The Comforter are all we need in this life to overcome the world and our eternal enemy. He’s done all He’s going to do. The rest is up to us. I began to search the scriptures to confirm what He’d shared.

John 3:16 (KJV), the very first scripture I committed to memory, took on a whole new meaning. It reads: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth in you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.”— John 14:16-18 (KJV)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” — Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” — Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

BC (before Christ), these scriptures were just words. They didn’t gird me, heal me or penetrate the armor I wore daily to circumvent any emotional conflict. I didn’t want to feel anything. Many of us walk around numb, defeated and allowing the cares of this life to drag us down.

AC (after Christ), once I understood the weapons of our warfare, the power in the blood of Jesus Christ and the guidance from the Holy Spirit, I knew what the Father meant. 

Accepting Jesus opened my blind eyes to see and my deaf ears to hear. I saw the world around me with the blinders taken off. He did leave us everything.

What’s even better? The best is yet to come!

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci writes Inspy Amish romance. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two fur kids, Romeo and Juliet, rescue cats. She is working on her debut novel, Plain Justice.

She retired earlier than planned from nursing to care for her mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her mom passed last year at the age of ninety-nine and Nanci has delved more into her writing.

She is active in an intercessory prayer ministry in her church, belongs to The Woman’s Club, a service-oriented volunteer organization dedicated to the welfare and enrichment of the community and volunteers two days a week at the Mary Washington Museum.

Currently, she's enrolled in Rhema Bible College’s correspondence Bible studies. She belongs to ACFW and RWA. When she’s not working, reading or writing she’s hiking with her husband at Shenandoah National Park.

Thankful Thursday: God Knows

The song above says it ALL.

I could end this blog post right here, right?

But I won't because it's Thursday and I'm thankful for the fact that God KNOWS.

He knows it ALL and not in a puffed up persona. No, God knows it all because He created this world and everything and everyone in it. Beyond that, He created and rules the entire universe. Newsflash: there are other worlds beside this one and I don't just mean the planets in our solar system.

So why not trust Him with every single detail of your life? Why not wait on God for that best friend, that significant other, that dream job, that quiet hope in your heart that only...yes you guessed it, GOD KNOWS.

My favorite way that God speaks to me is by dropping songs into my spirit. I know He speaks to me this way because when I am discouraged or hurting, a certain Contemporary Christian or Gospel song will start playing in my mind. Sometimes it's just the first few lines/lyrics or the chorus. But ALL the time, it is exactly what I need to hear and I become calm and focused. God totally readjusts my attitude and outlook on life when He breathes life into whatever situation seems hopeless, through the music ministry of my favorite Christian musicians.

God gives us the breath of life. No, it's not your alarm clock that wakes you every morning, it's Your Creator God who allows you to see another day. God loves you will all His divine heart. He wants what's best for you.

So again, why not go to Him with all of your concerns, questions, fears, hopes and dreams? Because remember, He knows.

"If God already knows what I want," you may be thinking right now. "Then why ask?"

The answer is the same for people in relationships--communication. God wants to hear from you every day if not every moment of your life. You don't have to talk out loud or kneel to pray. He's given you the power and privilege to pray silently without uttering an audible word. He can read your thoughts because yes, you guessed it, He knows! :)

Finally, a thought to remember: When you feel like no one understands you because they have not been through what you've endured and don't know how to help, go to God because...that's right, He knows! Not only does God understand you, His Son Jesus Christ has been through everything you're going through and more. Best of all, God's not going anywhere. He's here for you and He knows exactly what you need.

Be encouraged.

Love,

Alexis

P.S._ Read Psalm 139 for Bible-based insight into why God knows everything about you.