Berwick Christian Church

05/31/2026

2026- 05-31 Berwick Christian Church Worship Service

05/29/2026

5/29/2026 Devotion

Encouragement for Today Weekday Devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Trusting the God Who Meets You in the Unknown
by GRACE VALENTINE

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

I remember how nervous I was to start college — moving away from my hometown, praying to find friends, and getting embarrassingly annoyed at my parents while they helped set up my dorm. It felt like everything was changing.

During those years, I grew and learned. I made new friends, switched my major once (or twice), barely passed that one class, showed up to social events even when I didn’t feel like it, and watched God surprise me again and again. It wasn’t always easy, but it became fruitful — familiar even.

Then I blinked. Suddenly I was sitting with my roommates at our favorite pizza place, talking about graduation and wondering what was next.

I realized how sweet this season had become just as it was ending. I was unsure about getting a job and preparing to say goodbye to friendships that meant everything to me. Isn’t graduating supposed to feel exciting and glamorous? The unknown made my chest tight.

Someone from my hometown even told me on social media, “Enjoy it now. The best days are gone. You’re going to miss this.”

Fear crept in. What if she was right? What if everything ahead was just pressure, responsibility, and longing for what used to be?

That fear isn’t new. Scripture shows it to us clearly. At the beginning of the book of Joshua, God’s people faced incredible uncertainty: Moses, their trusted leader, was gone. The promised land was ahead of them but full of enemies they'd have to defeat. And Joshua, their new leader, was scared.

Yet God wasn’t asking Joshua to know the future — He was asking him to trust. Instead of a five-year plan, God handed Joshua a promise:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Maybe that’s what every graduate, or anyone questioning their future, needs to remember: The good days are not over.

There may be pressure about finances, timelines, and hard work required in your new season. You can have plans for those things — but more importantly, have eyes that see God in the change and a heart that trusts Him with the unknown. Even if you don’t know what’s next, God is already there.

The end of something good in your life doesn’t mean God’s goodness has ended. God won’t abandon you after graduation. He won’t disappear after the celebration. The same God who met you in late-night prayers, past growth, and deep friendships will meet you in every next step. The best days are here now as we do life with the God who blesses, leads, and works miracles.

God, when the future feels uncertain, help me trust You. Thank You for the season behind me and the good You are preparing ahead. Give me courage to move forward, peace in the waiting, and faith to believe You will meet me in what’s next. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

5/28/2026 Devotion

Encouragement for Today Weekday Devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Lord, Don’t You Care?
by JOANNA WEAVER, Author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’”
Luke 10:40 (NIV)

It began one spring as crocuses pushed their way through hard-crusted soil. But the warmth of the changing season never penetrated my soul. God seemed distant and preoccupied. It was, I suppose, my first true spiritual crisis. My van proved to be the final showdown.

I’d driven to see my mother, who was battling depression after open-heart surgery. I hoped my love would somehow fix the situation, but nothing seemed to help. Preparing to drive home, I discovered the van’s passenger window wouldn’t go up.

A nasty storm was rolling in, and the car’s heater also hadn’t worked for months. I hopped in and drove out of town, overflowing with emotions: Frustrated at the window that wouldn’t budge. Worried about my mother, who seemed to be giving up. But most of all angry at God, who didn’t seem to be paying any attention at all.

“Lord, don’t you care … ?”

Those were Martha’s words to Jesus in Luke 10:40, when her sister Mary left her to do all the housework to prepare for His arrival.

Though we haven't all said these words out loud, I think we’ve all felt them at one time or another. Lord, do You see what I’m going through? Don’t You care?

I’m so glad we can bring our questions to Jesus. And it’s important that we stick around for the answer.

In Luke 10:41-42, He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (NKJV).

Jesus’ response to Martha may seem a bit harsh. After all, Martha was just trying to serve Him. But the Lord recognized a fault line of anxiety that ran down her soul — which couldn’t be healed by more help in the kitchen.

So rather than giving Martha what she wanted, Jesus gave her what she needed, something much better: an invitation to sit at His feet. To lay aside striving and enjoy abiding. To stop trying to achieve and simply receive.

Jesus met me on that dark, stormy night as I poured out my pain and confusion to Him. Though the drive took twice as long, somewhere along those fearful, frigid miles, I lost the anger.

The last remnant of rage melted when, 25 miles from home, I realized that I was warm. Truly warm. Though my nose felt chafed by the wind and my cheeks tingled, the rest of my body was extraordinarily comfortable. Miraculously so.

My Father had heard and answered. He hadn’t rolled up the window, but He had wrapped me in His arms.

Trust Me, Joanna, I sensed Him say. I not only care about what you care about, but I have your best in mind.

Lord, thank You that I can bring everything to You — my doubts, questions, frustrations, and fears. I cast my anxiety on You today because I know You care for me (1 Peter 5:7). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

05/26/2026

5/26/2026 Devotion

Encouragement for Today Weekday Devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Why Am I Here?
by LAURA STORY, Author of Stand in Awe

“… Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:6-7 (NIV)

One morning, my son Griffin asked, “Why are we here?” He was almost 10, and though I didn’t feel fully prepared, I gave it my best attempt.

I talked about Genesis, God’s creation of the world, our responsibility to care for it, and God’s command to make disciples.

Noticing his puzzled expression, I paused. “Is any of this making sense?”

He replied, “Mom, I’m just wondering why we are here at home. School started an hour ago!”

That question of “why” lingers far beyond childhood. Every action and decision in our lives moves us toward something. But what if, when we finally reach our goal, we realize it wasn’t where we truly needed to go? It has been said that this is like climbing a ladder, only to discover it was leaning against the wrong wall. Without understanding our purpose, we risk wandering aimlessly — or even succeeding but in all the wrong things.

So why do we exist? Scripture offers this answer: We exist for God, and our lives are meant to be lived for Him.

Though simple, this truth captures the Bible’s teaching about our purpose. In Isaiah 43, God spoke to His people as they faced exile, reminding them of their identity and why they were created: for His glory. This is the very foundation of our existence too:

“… Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:6-7).

From the beginning, God has lacked nothing. In Genesis 1, we see perfect fellowship within the three-Person Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), complete and whole. Yet out of love and as an expression of His glory, God created humanity. This defines our purpose.

If this is true, two important realities follow:

1) If I exist for God, then He does not exist for me.

Growing up, I understood that Jesus died for my sins and offered eternal life. But I often viewed faith as a way to improve my life rather than surrender it. I expected God to refine my plans, but instead, He called me to lay them down entirely.

Following Christ is not about slight adjustments; it is a complete transformation. Jesus teaches that whoever loses their life for His sake will find it (Matthew 10:39). True life begins when we stop trying to control everything and instead align ourselves with God’s will.

2) If I exist for God, everything changes.

When our lives are centered on Him, our priorities shift. Our desires, decisions, and direction begin to reflect His purpose. In living for His glory, we discover the fulfillment we were designed for.

This is the paradox of faith: True freedom is found in surrender. As we are shaped by God’s Word and guided by His Spirit, we become more like Him and experience deeper joy.

Lord, remind me who I am and how I was created for You. May my life bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

05/24/2026

2026-05-24 Berwick Christian Church Worship Service

05/21/2026

5/21/2026 Devotion

Encouragement for Today Weekday Devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries.

God Sees, God Knows, God Cares
by LYSA TERKEURST

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9a (ESV)

Trying to control your own life is exhausting.

Ask me how I know.

I say with my mouth, “I trust God,” but sometimes I get overwhelmed and try to fix and control things myself. My trust in God becomes nothing but a statement I feel I should say rather than what I’m actually living out.

Distrust settles in. Self-reliance becomes my go-to. And then I wonder why I feel more and more exhausted.

If you can relate to these confessions, there are specific passages of Scripture I want us to look at together today.

Let’s start here: “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9a).

This verse is in 2 Chronicles 16, the last of three chapters detailing the story of Asa, king of Judah. Sadly, though, this promise stands in sharp contrast to Asa's behavior leading up to it.

In 2 Chronicles 14-15, because of Asa’s dependence on the Lord, God gave him rest and victory in the face of a massive army. Yet in Chapter 16, when King Asa found himself in a border conflict with a rival king named Baasha, Asa had a sudden and surprising shift in behavior. Instead of crying out to God as he had before, Asa immediately turned to his own means of addressing the situation — misusing the treasures of God’s temple and placing his hope in an unwise military alliance.

The ultimate result? Unrest for Asa and his people. The second half of today’s key verse says, “You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9b). The king whose faith meant victory in the past invited battles into his future because he refused to trust God in the present.

I find this story convicting, sobering, and so very important to pay attention to. Just like Asa, our past declarations of faith are no guarantee that we will rely on God in the future. Faith is a present, ongoing choice for every believer.

That’s why I want us to look at two truths from 2 Chronicles 16 that will help us keep choosing to trust God, not just with our words but also with our actions:

1. God is not blind to our circumstances or our choices to trust Him.

When life gets hard, we can sometimes wonder if God sees all we’re facing. But there’s a beautiful reminder tucked into 2 Chronicles 16:9: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth …”

We serve a God who sees. He is an all-knowing, ever-present God who is continually aware of every detail of our lives. And not only is God aware, but He’s also looking to strengthen individuals who are willing to wholeheartedly trust in Him.

2. God has been faithful before, and He will be faithful again.

I wonder how differently Asa’s future would have turned out if he had stopped to remember God’s faithfulness to him in the past.

Fear makes us forgetful. This is why we must purposefully look back and trace God’s hand of faithfulness (Hebrews 10:35-36). We can do this not only by looking back at our own lives but also by reading the story of God’s faithfulness woven throughout all of Scripture.

Oh, friends, are there any areas where we’re inviting not only exhaustion but possibly destruction because we’re refusing to rely on God? Do our frantic and controlling actions fail to match our faith-filled declarations?

Let’s not just declare we have faith. Let’s live out loud that we believe God is good, faithful, and trustworthy.

Let’s stop running to fix things our way so we can start fixing our eyes on God.

He sees. He knows. He cares. We can rest assured.

Father God, I confess that sometimes I forget to remember Your faithfulness from the past, especially when I am overwhelmed with unpredictable things today. Keep reminding me that not only do You see me, but You love me. I don’t know exactly what tomorrow will look like, but I do know who I’ll be looking to — You, Lord. Your love is unfailing, and Your hand is the safest place to entrust my hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

05/19/2026

Sorry for the delay....internet not working at the church this morning.

5/19/2026 Devotion

Encouragement for Today Weekday Devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries.

What Are You Withholding From God?
by MEREDITH HOUSTON CARR

“‘Don’t lay a hand on the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.’”
Genesis 22:12 (NLT)

Anytime my children come into a cache of candy, an interesting phenomenon occurs: No matter how much they already have, they still ask one another for a sample.

Recently I watched my son ask his sister for a piece of her candy stash. She agreed — after stealthily sorting her bucket and removing her favorite candies first.

This interaction made me chuckle, yet the Lord impressed upon my heart how often we relate to Him like this. We love Jesus and dedicate our lives to Him, yet we hold back “favorite pieces,” fearful of what might happen if we entrust everything to Him. Perhaps we withhold our jobs, certain relationships, our children, or our deepest dreams.

Sometimes we live most of the Christian life … but inside we’re quietly wondering: Lord, can I truly trust You with every part of me?

The Old Testament patriarch Abraham demonstrated some of the most phenomenal trust in God recorded anywhere in Scripture. God promised Abraham a son, Isaac, whose descendants would bless the world. And God miraculously fulfilled that promise even though Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were well advanced in years.

But then, in an upside-down twist, God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

If I were Abraham, I admit this command would have given me pause. But Abraham swiftly obeyed.

As Abraham placed Isaac on a wooden altar and raised a knife to take his life, God’s angel intervened:

“‘Don’t lay a hand on the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son’” (Genesis 22:12).

Abraham willingly opened his hands and gave God everything, even his most precious son. Scripture tells us he was so certain of God’s goodness, so settled in God's ability to fulfill His promises, “Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again” (Hebrews 11:19a, NLT).

That’s the kind of faith I desire, and I imagine you do too. Because that’s the rock-solid faith that leads to the abundant and satisfying life Jesus promises (John 10:10)! We won’t experience all God has for us with a holding-back-our-favorites kind of faith.

Jesus asks for all of us. Abraham willingly laid his son upon that wood because he knew God — the One who, centuries later, would lay His own Son on a wooden cross — would carefully steward his most precious treasure.

The same is true for you and me, sweet sister. The God who withholds nothing from us can be trusted with every part of our lives.

God, I’m sorry for withholding parts of my life from You. Help me entrust everything to You, resting in Your goodness and provision. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

05/17/2026

2026- 05- 17 Berwick Christian Church Worship Service