Devotionals for the Heart: Learning lessons in school and in life

When God is Your Teacher 
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”

—2 Peter 1:2-3 (NLT)

My daughter and I sat down to do her Kindergarten homework.

She was tired from her first few days of school. Everything is new and different. Every word and action expressed how much she didn’t feel like doing this anymore.

We get to a point where she has to write the number five. It's hard and she doesn't get it right the first time. There is clear tension between what she wants to do and what her body is willing to do. Tears stream down her face and she just wants to quit. I think we can all relate to getting to a place like this at some point in our life. A place where we feel like our brain can’t process anymore and our circumstances are overwhelming. We are no longer interested in learning because it is too hard. Our instincts draw us back toward what is familiar or comfortable.

Learning isn't always easy. Sometimes it can be fun, and even feel like a game. Other times, it can be painful—stretching you outside your comfort zone. Whether it's easy or not does not make the lesson any less beneficial. As a matter of fact, the lessons learned that come through struggles or making mistakes are often the ones that teach us the most. They are the ones that ingrain perseverance and strength. How we learn and grow as followers of Jesus Christ is the same. There can be times being sanctified comes easily and filled with exciting intrigue for what God will do next. Other moments it feels like God is stretching us too far.

As we learn, grow, and allow The Holy Spirit to work in us, we become more like Christ to our broken world. It is how we shine God’s light through the darkness (Matthew 5:16).

Through every season of life, God calls us to have a willingness to learn. Our willingness to be sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit is crucial for us to grow for God’s purposes. Every season of our life can be an opportunity for us to learn and grow our faith. Times of flourishing faith are an opportunity to learn how to share Christ with others more boldly with intention. During times of struggle there is opportunity to deepen your relationship with your Heavenly Father, growing your trust in God’s faithfulness.

Colossians 3:16 (ESV) says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Christ followers must be willing to be molded into a humble servant of the Lord through all life’s seasons.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your promise to provide us with wisdom and knowledge as we seek You. Give me a heart ready to learn and grow more like Christ. Sanctify me daily for Your purposes to bring You glory.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Less Like Me” by Zach Williams. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children.

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

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

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

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why you should hold fast to your faith in God

Hold Fast to Your Faith in God
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis 

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).” – Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)

Holding onto ropes while water skiing is crucial. So is it while repelling. Having slipped and slid while repelling, I was very thankful for that rope. Having drunk half a lake while attempting to conquer water skiing to any level of aptitude is another story. I’ve tried and tried, but lake water is not my favorite beverage.

Holding onto the rails of a roller coaster seat is mighty fine. I like speed—but ups and downs are another matter. How about, holding onto a shoulder when stepping down a curb? Since my feet injury so many moons ago, I welcome that assurance of strength and someone to catch me if I were to fall.

Holding onto faith. How does one do this? In this doubting world, I’ll admit it is a challenge of huge proportions. While the rest of the world stumbles, holding onto a firm foundation is out of the ordinary. While others are dropping like flies all around, the one still standing is, well, standing.

What gives? How can one be confident in faith?

According to Hebrews 12:2, Jesus Christ is the Author of our faith. He is the Creator and Writer of faith. He made it and gives it to us as an ongoing act of love. Because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus gives us the tools to please His Father (God) who, thanks to Jesus, is our Father too!

Faith is believing when one cannot see—even when one can see and is scared half to death. Faith is trusting because the situation or circumstance is out of our control. We are powerless. We are limited. We are stuck. Faith is believing God will be by our side. He will lead us when we do not see the road up ahead. Faith is holding on when all else is saying let go.

The world tells us to make our own decisions, be strong, follow your heart and do it your way. It sounds so good on those billboards and in those commercials. And even sung in elevator songs. But, does it pay off in the end? Is there peace now? Do we have the assurance of life with God by just doing it?

Holding onto Jesus is a choice we make. Holding on without letting go is a decision we make daily and it is not an easy one. It is difficult. Challenging. Trying. Tough. And it goes upstream against all the fish swimming the other way.

By holding on to faith, we are showing God we believe in Him. We are proving our faith to Him. We are choosing to believe and not doubt. Doubting is real, and it is tempting—especially when all around us is crumbling. Especially when—in my case—you are suffering from broken feet for almost three years.

How does one conquer doubt? Good question.

Call out to the Author of the faith. Much like addressing the author of a book to correct an error, one goes to the source. Let us call out to God and hold on while expecting Jesus to hold us. He is our Refuge, our Rock, our firm foundation. He is our everything. By holding onto Him, we in turn find we are being held fast by Him. And that, my friends, is a very good place to be!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for faith as it is the assurance of what we believe. And believing in You is what I want most. I believe You are good. I believe You are holy. I believe You are for me. I believe You have me in Your everlasting arms because You are faithful. Thank You for giving me Jesus so I can hold on and be held. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “You Are For Me” (song) by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 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 our 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 eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

~*~
Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

PureFlix Show Review: A Thousand Tomorrows

My Review of Episode 2 from Karen Kingsbury’s series,

A Thousand Tomorrows:

Today, I have another Pure Flix show review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! In case you didn’t know, Pure Flix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way, but the difference is in the fact that the content on Pure Flix points you to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me to review Episode 2 of A Thousand Tomorrows. This show is based on a book from #1 New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury. They say, “Only God knows how many tomorrows we have left. In the dangerous and competitive rodeo world, how will Cody and Ali make the most of their time together?”

This was the focus for Episode 2: As Ali’s health declines, her determination to keep competing catches Cody’s eye. What will her stubbornness to pursue her dreams cost?

Now for my review: 

Episode 2 of A Thousand Tomorrows

“I don’t want to be normal. I want to be different. I chose this.” –Ali Daniels

I’d say this quote is the driving force for Ali’s story. She’s bold, brave, determined and dying. Ali is also the one woman who Cody wants that everyone is saying he cannot have. 

Cody is the hero of this story. From the start, you will see why he is angry at his dad to the point where he refuses to follow in his footsteps by playing high school football. Instead, he grows up to be a bull rider who uses his anger as the driving force that helps him win every time.

Carl Joseph is Cody’s younger brother who has a disability. He is the reason why Cody’s dad walked out on his family and Cody has never forgiven his dad for making that decision. Cody is close to his brother and very protective of him.

Ali, the heroine of this story, is privately battling an life-threatening illness. Her health starts to decline in this episode and her parents try to intervene. But she’s bent on riding horses in the rodeo and making it to the major competition in a few months. Ali caught the eye of Cody but she’s not like the girls he usually dates. Ali is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and wants to do relationships God’s way, so she invites him to Cowboy Church.

Meanwhile, Ali’s Mom wants more for Ali than just the rodeo circuit. She tries to convince her daughter to take a break to enjoy a normal life in all the good and healthy ways. One of Cody’s best friends (Trey) is pursuing Ali and this causes a rift in their friendship. Also in this episode, Cody’s father, Mike, keeps trying to get in touch with him but Cody resists.

This is a well-crafted storyline. After watching it, I wanted to continue on to the next episode to see what happens next! The actors do a great job of staying in character and making their roles believable. The rodeo circuit scenes are true to real-life. It made me wonder if the actors used stunt doubles for those scenes. I sympathized with Ali’s sickness. I disagreed with Cody’s anger but could understand why it so hard for him to forgive his dad. I was on Ali’s Mom’s side because I want Ali to be healthy and happy and not be so focused on her dream that it causes her death. I definitely will watch the rest of the episodes in this series on PureFlix soon!

Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors. It’s an honor to watch this series on PureFlix about her book of the same title (A Thousand Tomorrows). I’d recommend this series to anyone who needs to be taught the blessing of faith, family and forgiveness.

Themes of this movie included:

· Sacrifice

· Supporting your spouse

· Making hard decisions

· Making each day count and living each day to the fullest

· Death, grief, loss

· Chronic illness and being a caregiver

· There is freedom in faith

A Thousand Tomorrows is a faith-based series based on the book of the same title by Karen Kingsbury that will introduce you to Pure Flix, prompt you to join and watch it. Once you’re a member of Pure Flix, you’ll find more content to view that will encourage your heart. So don’t delay, join today!

Watch the movie trailer for A Thousand Tomorrows:
https://www.pureflix.com/movie/a-thousand-tomorrows

Before you go, enter this contest for your chance to WIN a FREE 3-month Pure Flix subscription! Note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. The giveaway starts today and ends on Feb. 28. If you're participating in the giveaway for A Thousand Tomorrows, please note that we cannot accept winners that have won a Pure Flix subscription in the last six months.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c439/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. #AThousandTomorrowsMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope in a God who cannot and will not fail

A Promise of Hope
A devotional written by Essie Faye Taylor

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”—Lamentations 3:21-25 (KJV)

I dropped to my knees and sobbed.

I cried for what seemed like half an hour. I cried for my loss of love. I cried for the life I thought that I would have. I cried for the marriage I could not save, no matter how hard I tried.

I was in the living room of the small apartment that my ex-husband and I were renting. Like the apartment, I was empty, my life was shattered, and my heart was broken. After several years of emotional abuse, my ex packed his things and left. I cried as a result of the loss, but simultaneously I felt relief. Though I was hurting, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

No more pain.

How had I endured three years of extreme pain, disappointment, hurt, and maltreatment within a marriage, while operating in ministry leadership? How had I held onto my faith in such a turbulent time? It was because of the Lord’s mercies that I was not consumed by the experience.

In the text, Jeremiah who was known as the “weeping prophet”, declares a message of hope.

He was called the “weeping prophet” because his heart was tender as he delivered a message of hope and warning. This text is often quoted in circles of believers because of the encouraging and hopeful words. To hope means to trust or to have expectations of something. To extend mercy is to not give someone what he/she deserves. God gives us a new start each day, not because of who we are or what we’ve done or not done, but because of who He is. Jeremiah attributes his stability in the face of challenges to God’s Hand in his life. And so it is in our lives. Because God’s Hand is moving in our lives, we have hope that a brighter day is ahead.

Because God gifts mercies to us and He is compassionate toward us, He doesn’t allow evil to overtake us. God shields and protects us, even in the midst of the storms of life. Therefore, we are not utterly destroyed. John 10:28 (KJV) confirms that we are in the hands of the Lord and no one can take us out of His hands. In God’s hands, we are safe. In God’s hands, we are well because He has plans to prosper us and give us hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Call to Action:

1. See the hand of God in your life—in the good, bad, and ugly situations. Yes, I am hurting, but God is with me. Yes, I have lost love from mankind, yet I have experienced the beauty of my Heavenly Father’s love for me. 
2. Heal day by day through the practice of gratefulness. A grateful heart births peace and contentment despite the difficulty. 
3. Embrace hope daily—hope in God because He doesn’t fail. 
4. Renew your mind (think “right”). Storms are a part of the human experience. Our belief in Christ does not make us exempt from struggle or trouble. Our faith does sustain and strengthen us. It gives us hope.

Remember, our hope in God transcends our worldly experiences–our hope is eternal.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, You are God. The earth is Yours and everything within it. You are the Creator of the Universe. You have me in Your Hand. No one can remove me from Your care. I can trust You with my life, my possessions, and my times. Help us to trust in You and to know that You are in control of every situation that we experience. You know all about it and You care. Increase my faith in You and my hope for today and for my future. Thank you Father, for hearing and answering me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “He Has His Hands On You” (song) by Marvin Sapp. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College.

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Obedience

Within the Ark
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”–Hebrews 11:7 (KJV) 

If winter did not have so few hours of sunlight, I would not dislike it as much as I do. I can handle the cold. I can handle the frost. I can even handle the snow. But I internally cringe every time I have to set my clock back and the sun sets in the late afternoon. 

As I was reading through Genesis earlier this year, the story of Noah stood out to me as I realized there was only one window in the entire ark (Genesis 6:16). There was only one way for sunlight to enter.

What was Noah feeling the moment that God shut the door to the ark (Genesis 7:16)? It was dark. It probably did not smell too pleasant because of the animals. Were the people outside taunting him, even after God shut the door? Could he hear them jeering about how crazy he was for building an ark?

Noah was in a difficult situation. I am certain he did not feel like spending weeks in an ark that had only one window and was filled with all kinds of insects, reptiles, and mammals. So, why did he do it? God told him it was the only way to live and Noah believed Him! But furthermore, Noah did not just believe what God told him, Noah acted upon what God told him. That is how the New Testament writer of Hebrews knew that Noah had faith—obedience is the action of faith.

We often view the truths and lessons in God’s Word (The Holy Bible) as suggestions. Sometimes we even consider the Ten Commandments to be “outdated” and that most of the commandments were meant for past generations instead of for every generation. But every command that God gives in the Bible is given so that we might obey them. How can we say that we have faith and that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives, but we do not believe that every command in the Bible should be followed and we do not live in obedience to His Word?

According to James 2:26 (KJV), “faith without works is dead”, which means that our faith must be evident in our lives. What better way could we live out our faith than by obeying God’s commands even though they lead us to dark and unpleasant places? God leads us to these places to strengthen our faith and to strengthen our relationship with Him. But the best part is that He never leads us to dark places and just leaves us there. God will stay with us—even if it is too dark to see Him—and He will bring us through the dark places.

How could you live out your faith today? What act of obedience is God calling you to?

God is looking to form a deeper relationship with you by bringing you through your dark moments. He is waiting for you to obey, to be willing to step into the ark and allow Him to shut the door. Remember, the ark was a vessel of salvation, not a prison.

Obedience, though it may not feel pleasant, just may be the vessel that will protect you from a storm that is coming in your life.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word and the examples of the great men and women of faith in the Bible. Please grant us the courage to believe Your Word and be willing to do whatever you ask of us. You are the Lord of our lives, and we surrender our will to You. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” by CityAlight. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five.

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

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Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Reasons why you should follow God's plan

Following God’s Plan
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Mealtimes can be very frustrating in my household.

On this particular day, my youngest son who is five years old, sat down at the table with the expectation of earning the right to dessert as soon as he finished his dinner.

Typically, he enjoys food and appreciates different flavors and textures. He is adventurous and is eager to try new foods. In anticipation of getting the freshly baked cookies that were resting on the counter, he started off eating all of his vegetables and then he began to work his way to the beans on his plate. He really likes beans, but on this particular day, his love for dessert superseded his love for his food. He pushed his plate aside and announced that he was done with his food and he was ready for dessert.

Both my husband and I exchanged strange glances and my oldest son also looked confused since he too knew the rules. We all explained to my youngest son that in order for him to get the dessert that he desired so much, he must first finish his dinner, which meant eating the remainder of the beans that were now getting cold on the side of his plate.

Well, he adamantly refused and he got up from the table to point to the cookies that were enticing him from the kitchen counter. I reiterated that the cookies could be his if he sat back down at the table and finished his meal.

My youngest son did not like that idea at all. He began to cry and then buried his head in the couch in the living room. I could not understand this reaction, especially since he knew the rules and followed them on every occasion up until this point. He picked up his head just in time to see his older brother enjoying the sought-after cookies on the counter because his older brother finished his dinner.

About another 20 minutes went by. While the rest of the family continued on with the evening, I watched my youngest son from the corner of my eye. He wiped away his tears, slipped back into his seat, and began to spoon the cold beans into his mouth without hesitation. Within a few moments, he finished his dinner, and he brought his plate over to me with a smile of accomplishment.

I was a little shocked because he finished his food without any further convincing and he finished all of it, even though the beans were cold and had been sitting for almost 30 minutes. I smiled back at him and invited him to have the long-awaited-for cookie. He gladly accepted the offer and finally sank his teeth into his dessert.

Sometimes in life, your desire for what God has in store for you has to be greater than your displeasure of the struggle it will take  to get there. God is waiting to bless us with something that is beyond what we could ever imagine, but we are so resistant because we do not want to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced in any way. We must let go of our fears, worries, anxieties, and doubts and allow God to move in our lives. He has a plan for each of us, if only we would not delay and follow His lead.

Let’s Pray: Loving Father (God), You care so much about us that You would do anything just to save us, including sending Your Son (Jesus Christ) to die for us. Thank you for leading us through this journey called life and setting us up to receive Your blessings along the way. May we be patient as You work out Your plans for our lives. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why you should let God lead you through life

When You Let God Lead
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.”—Psalm 77:19 (ESV)

Have you ever wondered what God is doing in your life? No? Me neither.

Just kidding. In all seriousness, I think it’s safe to assume that at some point in your life, you’ve wondered why God didn’t open that door, why God gave someone else that blessing, or why He took away what He did.

Believe me. I’ve been there. Sometimes, God reveals to us the end result, and we feel Him calling us in a certain direction. But other times, we have no clue what He’s doing. In either case, usually, the path is unclear even if the destination isn’t.

As humans, we dream, we have plans, and we have certain expectations. But when God takes us in a different direction than we wanted and leads us down another road, we start to panic. We start to believe that things aren’t going as they “should’ve”, and we start to feel like we are losing control.

Friend, we were never meant to have control over our lives. I believe God wants us to dream, but ultimately, He’s the One Who knows the way we should go. He doesn’t make mistakes. God isn’t going to mislead us anywhere.

Do we know that? Head knowledge, sure. But do we deep down in our hearts know that and accept it? This doesn’t mean that the path is going to be easy and straight. In fact, it’s not. Jesus says in Matthew 7:14 (ESV), “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Now, that might sound discouraging, but hold on. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20b (ESV), “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus has promised that no matter what we go through, He is there! He is walking with us and will never leave us.

But what about the times when we are grieving? What about when things are so difficult that we can’t feel Jesus with us? You know what I’m talking about. Maybe you are there right now.

What about the times when you feel so alone and heartbroken, with an unexplainable hurt that it makes your chest ache?

When you are suffering and surrounded by darkness, remember these words in Psalm 77:19: “Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.”

Seas can be tumultuous. They can be deadly. When I think of great waters, I think of the expansive ocean that stretches as far as the eye can see with no end in sight. I think of waves in a storm, crashing violently against the shore.

God’s way for us is not strolling on the shore, with sand between our toes, while we collect seashells.

God’s way is “through the sea.”

His path is “through the great waters.”

We can take comfort in the fact that God won’t take us where He Himself will not go. He has gone before us, He will go with us, and He will be there after us. Just because we can’t see Him doesn’t mean He isn’t there. And just because we can’t feel Him doesn’t mean He isn’t there walking on the water beside us.

It could be that His footprints are unseen.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father God, I know You love me and will never leave me. Help me to believe that not just with my head but with my heart. When I go through times of deep sorrow, help me to remember that You are there with me. You have a good plan for me that will be fulfilled in your timing. I trust that You are there even when I can’t see You. Thank You for going before me and for calling me to follow You. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED - Live in Israel. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to seriously follow God’s calling to write a novel. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has at least four novels in the works. For the past five years, she has been involved with her local Biblical theater company. She wants to show others the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

When she’s not acting or working on her upcoming novel, you can find Hannah laughing with her siblings, cuddling her little fluffy dog, or reading books (usually historical fiction or fantasy stories). You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlynnauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Blog: www.loveunconditional.blog