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06/18/2026

Your Daily Prayer
A Prayer for Letting Go of What Is Weighing You Down
By: Heidi Vegh

Bible Reading:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” - Isaiah 43:18-19

Last year, I had the privilege of hosting a grief retreat at my church. We invited a speaker from an organization called Spark of Life, and he shared about the weight we carry in our lives.

At one point, he asked for a volunteer from the audience. He brought them on stage, filled a backpack with rocks, and placed it on their back. As the volunteer walked around, you could see it, the weight slowing him down, changing his posture, affecting how he moved.

Then, the speaker had him take the backpack off. One by one, he opened it and removed the rocks. Each one had a label: grief, loss, regret, shame, worry, disappointment, unforgiveness… and more.

It was such a powerful picture.

Because when we choose to carry these things, they affect how we walk through life. But the beautiful truth is, we don’t have to carry them.

We are actively choosing what goes into our backpacks.

Every morning, we wake up and decide what we will carry.

We choose to dwell on our past mistakes, forgetting that we are forgiven.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1

We choose to hold onto shame, forgetting that we serve a God of restoration.
“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith… who endured the cross, despising the shame…” — Hebrews 12:2

We pick up the rock labeled grief, and sometimes it feels like the heaviest one of all, and still, we choose to carry it instead of surrendering our pain to Jesus.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” — Psalm 34:18

What we carry is up to us.

We have the choice of what we keep in our backpack and what we lay at the foot of the cross.

Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of this kind of surrender in the story of Joseph in Genesis. After everything he went through, betrayal, slavery, suffering, he chose to release his pain and forgive. He said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”

God can—and will—use everything we’ve walked through for good. But we have to give Him space to do that. We have to lay down what hurts so we can pick up His peace and His purpose.

He is a God of restoration.

He takes what hurts and brings beauty from it. He does a new thing. He uses our pain to shape us into who He’s calling us to be.

Our pain is not wasted.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17

When we give the Lord all of our rocks, then our backpack can be filled with peace, love, and joy. Freeing us to walk with a lighter step, a bolder stance, and a more purposeful posture.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, my backpack is heavy, sometimes too heavy to bear. I long to walk in freedom from my past, from challenging circumstances, and from the weight I carry every day.

Remind me to leave these rocks at the foot of the cross instead of placing them back into my backpack each morning. Give me the strength and endurance not to pick them back up, but to continually surrender them to You.

I choose to believe that You are a God of restoration and peace. I choose to believe that You can take the ugly parts of my life and the regretful parts of my past and make them into something beautiful.

I open my heart to You, Lord. I invite You into the deepest and darkest parts of my soul, the places that hold bitterness, resentment, regret, shame, disappointment, and grief, and I ask that You replace them with Your peace. A peace that surpasses all understanding.

I long to walk in freedom, and I know that it is possible because of the sacrifice of Your Son. I believe that because of what Jesus has done, I can live free from the weight I so often choose to carry.

I know this will be a process of letting go, so please give me the endurance and trust I need to fully surrender, to release it all, and to walk in the freedom that only You can give.

In your precious name I pray,

Amen.

Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader based in Western Washington. A remarried mother of four, she is navigating blended family life after losing her first husband to cancer in 2013. Through her writing and speaking, Heidi encourages those who have experienced loss, offering hope and practical guidance for the journey toward healing and renewed life.

She is the author of The Hard Journey to the Good: A Widow’s Journey from Loss to New Life, a heartfelt account of grief, faith, and rebuilding after devastating loss, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

You can find Heidi at her website mrsheidivegh.com where she shares devotionals and reflections on grief, healing, motherhood, faith, and the beauty and complexity of blended family life through her monthly newsletter. She holds a degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and serves as Ministry Director at her local church, where she is passionate about helping women grow in faith and experience the transforming love of Jesus.

06/18/2026

Daily Devotionals
How to Live Fear-Free in a Fearful World (Matthew 10:29) - Your Daily Bible Verse - June 18
Lynette Kittle

How to Live Fear Free in a Fearful World
by Lynette Kittle

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.” - Matthew 10:29

If you’re feeling anxious, fearful, or distraught over current headlines, you’re not alone. An unstable and volatile world is causing people to feel vulnerable at home, in school, at work, in travel, and as they go about their daily activities.

Still Scripture encourages you to not be afraid of those who kill the body (Matthew 10:28). God doesn’t want you to live a fearful life and urges you to “Have no fear of sudden disaster” (Proverbs 3:25).

So how is it possible to live fear-free in a fearful world?

Since God has not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), it’s up to you to choose to trust Him no matter what you’re facing, to walk around assured He is with you, and to believe His promise that, “Never will I leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

In life-threatening situations, you can be assured God is with you. Scripture describes what Stephen experienced when he came under attack, how “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).

God was with Stephen in the darkest of circumstances and when he died, he passed into new life. Like him, your life in Christ is eternal as explained: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

You belong to God and your life is safe and secure in Him. As Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.”

The Apostle Paul understood God’s eternal provision for life when he stated, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Even if threats of death increase in the world, you don’t have to live a fearful life because nothing, not even death, can separate you from His care. Romans 8:38, 39 states, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Whatever situations life may bring, resist the urge to be afraid. As Stephen did, look to God, being assured He is with you knowing, “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).

06/17/2026

Daily Devotionals
A Prayer for When Storms Arise - Your Daily Prayer - June 17
Tammy Darling

A Prayer for When Storms Arise
By Tammy Darling

Bible Reading:

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’” Mark 4:35, NIV

During a time of prayer, my husband heard the words, “Build a boat.” Asking me what I thought it meant, I jokingly replied, “I don’t know. Maybe we’re going on a cruise.”

For weeks, we pondered the meaning of those words, with no further insight from the Lord. We simply did not know what “build a boat” meant.

And then a storm arose.

My husband reluctantly went to the local convenient care center after experiencing pain on the right side of his neck, which then radiated down his chest. After being sent to another clinic for further testing, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

From the initial diagnosis, my husband had perfect peace; I, not so much. I feared losing my husband of nearly thirty-five years; I had known him since I was nine years old.

Though I took my fear to God and kept my focus on relevant Scripture, I still didn’t feel the peace my husband did. Even though my husband, at twelve years old, lost his father to cancer, he had absolute peace that he was going to be okay.

“Build a boat.” Why? Because we were going to the other side. Just as the disciples did, we needed that boat to get to the other side.

After a long day, Jesus told his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Long story short: Jesus took a nap. A storm arose. Jesus calmed the storm, and subsequently, his disciples.

God told my husband to “build a boat” because we were about to be tossed about in a storm we never saw coming.

My husband’s thyroid was completely encased with a mass, and so the doctor said the thyroid would need to be completely removed, along with surrounding lymph nodes, “to be safe.” The doctor was convinced the surgery would take care of this “easily treatable” cancer, and all would be well.

Given all these positives, I was not prepared for the surgeon’s first words to me after a three-hour operation: “The surgery didn’t go as planned.” (Major waves rocking the boat right here.)

This surgeon, while top-notch in his field, is known for his bluntness. My heart hit the floor, and I was speechless. I held my breath as the surgeon continued: “The mass was larger than I thought… attached to the back of the throat… couldn’t get all the cancer… the right side of his throat is paralyzed.”

A T-Rex walking into the waiting room would not have been more shocking. When the surgeon asked if I had any questions, all I could do was shake my head no. I had all the questions; I was just in shock and unable to speak.

I recalled the boat my husband was instructed to build and the message behind it. While we would have loved to see instantaneous healing, God had other plans. God wanted to take us through. Through the trial. Through the uncertainty. Through the storm. To the other side.

My husband was going to be okay, and I mostly believed that now, but I also believed that this was something Jesus wanted us to go through, just as with His disciples. And I had no idea how long it would take to get to the other side. Because all the cancer was unable to be removed, further treatment would be required.

Eight months later, after a $48,000 radiation pill, a full body scan revealed my husband was cancer-free. The cancer was completely eradicated, just not in the way or the timing we had hoped.

This going to “the other side” stuff was hard, I’m not going to lie. Those middle moments can try one’s faith like nothing else can. Like the disciples, all I could see were the waves battering the sides of the boat and feeling the wind tossing me back and forth. Perhaps that’s why Jesus asked his disciples after He calmed the storm, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Like the man whose son needed deliverance in Mark 9:24, I could only reply, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

Being battered and tossed about by the waves of life—life’s like that sometimes, isn’t it? But here’s the thing: Jesus is with us in the boat. We’re not alone!

And we need those middle moments, as much as we’d like to avoid them. Those middle moments are sacred. Holy. Some of the greatest growth we’ll ever experience comes from going through something to get to the other side. These are the moments that grow our faith and trust in God.

Let’s Pray:

Jesus,

We thank You that even through the roughest of storms, You are with us. In that knowledge, we can rest, nap even, as You did in the boat when the storm raged on. When You say we are going to the other side, we rest assured that we will make it through whatever trial we are facing. You are truly with us in all things.

With grateful hearts we pray, Amen.

Tammy Darling is the author of 1,600 published articles and three books. She writes from her home in rural Pennsylvania.

06/17/2026

Daily Devotionals
Jesus Is Praying for You (Romans 8:34) - Your Daily Bible Verse - June 17
Lynette Kittle

Jesus Is Praying for You
by Lynette Kittle

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” — Romans 8:34

Growing up it was comforting to know my grandparents and parents were praying for me. Many times their prayers were taken for granted but as they have passed away, I’ve become more aware of just how much their prayers meant to me.

Knowing they were daily interceding for me provided me with a strength, security, confidence, and support that God was leading in my life.

Just like their prayers encouraged me through life, I’ve realized there is another who is always praying for me, a risen Savior who is daily interceding on my behalf.

Hebrews 7:23-25 states, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

If like me, you’ve experienced the loss of loved ones who you knew were interceding for you on a daily basis, or if you’ve felt alone at times thinking no one cares or is praying for you, realize that Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for you.

As 1Timothy 2:5 explains, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

His ascension to Heaven did not stop His ministry to you. Along with paying the price for your sin, He is alive and serving as your advocate before the Father.

And why might you need an advocate? Because as 1 Peter 5:8 describes, you have an adversary, the devil, who is seeking to devour you.

Still you can rest knowing Jesus is pleading your case before the Father. 1 John 2:1 states, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Furthermore, Hebrews 9:24 describes how, “Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

Jesus has not taken His priestly duties lightly, but rather has carried His love, concern, and ministry to you to the very throne room of God.

06/16/2026

Daily Devotionals
A Prayer for Refreshment in God’s Presence - Your Daily Prayer - June 16
Keri Eichberger
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A Prayer for Refreshment in God’s Presence
By Keri Eichberger

Bible Reading:
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (Jeremiah 31:25)

Weariness is brewing just below the surface of my soul. And oh, how I long to suppress it. To wash away every weak remnant of burden and brokenness. To bring strength back to my body, and song into my spirit. To find the sweet aroma of refreshment that breathes fresh life into my inner being. And to hold it tight until it sticks and stays.

You yearn for a fulfilling flow of refreshment, too, I know. Whether you’re desperate for it at this very moment or have to dig a bit deeper to notice your need, you also carry a craving to be renewed and refreshed. It is there you find the enjoyment of life you long for. Where you gain a perspective of goodness around you and the bright hope of more good to come. Where you feel free to live and love freely. Where do you find relief from the chains of exhaustion? That dreaded place you wind up time and again when life wears you down with its demands, expectations, and relentless calls to hurry and hustle. It's draining demand to give more, do more, try harder, and work faster. To keep going and never stop. When you at last become worn down to utter weariness. And you’re dying for a deep drink of refreshment. For a savory sip of the Lord’s living water that refreshes the weary and satisfies the faint.

And here’s the beauty. You can have this today. And every day. Our almighty Father’s hands are held out and open, reaching toward you with a bottomless pour of his refreshment. Always. He is present. He is peace. He is power. And he is waiting for you to come to him, and to receive him. His flow never stops. It is abundant, and it satisfies the deepest void, quenches the greatest thirst, and fills the most empty soul.

Let’s turn to him right now. Let’s pause and drink from the fountain of his presence. Feel him fill you with his peace, protection, comfort, and care. Notice him refresh each and every weary well of your heart and revive the hibernating seeds of strength in your soul. Sit still with him, stay there with him, fill up on him—your Lord, Savior, and friend Jesus—now, every hour after, and then again and again.

When you look to the Lord, he will indeed refresh and satisfy your soul. He is waiting and ready, always, to refresh and satisfy your soul.

Let’s Pray:

Jesus, My Friend, You are living water. You are my continual source of refreshment. The only constant source that never dies or dries out. You offer renewal to my weary soul whenever I turn to you. There are days and moments when I am overcome by the weariness of the weight of the world. And I confess I don’t always turn directly to you to restore my spirit. But, I know I should. You alone can fill all of my deepest desires, and you long to do that for me.

I praise you for always refreshing me when I sit still in your presence, when I surrender to your power, and when I simply receive your unconditional love and peace. Lord, fill me right now with your refreshment. With the satisfaction of your living water. With your love, comfort, and peace. And Lord, may I grow in my desire to run to you repeatedly for my fill. Build my confidence in the truth that your blessings are always available in overflowing abundance. I praise you for the refreshment and satisfaction I find in you, unfailingly. Thank you, Lord.

In your refreshing name, Amen.

If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!

Keri Eichberger is a Jesus-loving Kentucky girl. She is married to her best friend, Mike, and has a full house of five kids. After years of writing for an online audience, Keri became ordained through Southeast Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes, and has a passion for sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at kerieichberger.com or Instagram.

06/16/2026

Daily Devotionals
Things That Seem Good (Genesis 3:6) - Your Daily Bible Verse - June 16
Jennifer Waddle

Things That Seem Good
By: Jennifer Waddle

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. - Genesis 3:6

As Eve gazed at the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, it’s easy to understand why she was drawn to it. Delightful to the eyes and desirable for wisdom, it was too tempting to resist. Many of us can relate to Eve’s dilemma as we encounter things that seem good—too good to pass up. But in the end, some of those seemingly good things lead us away from the intended path God has for us. And, the delight of our eyes can leave us with a mess of unfavorable consequences.

One practical example would be buying a car. You set out to replace your old, unreliable car for something newer. However, the moment you step onto the lot, your budget-friendly goals are quickly met with stars-in-your-eyes options that offer the latest and greatest everything. Those brand new, shiny vehicles are a delight to the eyes. And there is a pull for your affections that’s difficult to resist.

The thing is, temptations that seem so good, often lose their appeal (and value) once you give in to them. That top-of-the-line vehicle depreciates the second you drive off the lot. And the hefty monthly payment soon becomes a burden you wish you didn’t have to carry. What seems so good at the moment almost always opens your eyes to the undesirable consequences that follow.

I wonder how many times Eve thought about that fateful moment in the garden. Did she and Adam lay awake at night, talking about how different things could have been—should have been? Genesis 3:6 describes the battle of the flesh—the tendency to follow our own desires. Yet, there was another element to Eve’s dilemma that happened right before she considered the forbidden fruit. The enemy slithered in without warning and disrupted her thoughts. As she went about her day, without a care in the world, the serpent swept in with a single question.

The life of contentment Eve had was suddenly disrupted by a suggestion of doubt. And it’s no different for us. We go about our lives doing just fine until one thought, one question, one suggestion offers us something too good to pass up.

Eve’s story can be a guide for us; an example of how NOT to listen to the whisper of the enemy. Even when something seems so good, we can (and should) take a moment to pray and ask for God’s wisdom. His Spirit will either confirm that it is good, or He will open our eyes to the truth of the situation.

Imagine if Eve would have recognized Satan’s question as a diversion from the truth. If she would have stepped away from the situation and called out for God’s help, imagine what a different world it would be! The next time something seems too good to resist, allow yourself some space to ask for God’s direction. That is one good course of action you won’t regret.

Jennifer Waddle is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth.

06/15/2026

Daily Devotionals
A Prayer for Carrying More Than You Were Made to Carry - Your Daily Prayer - June 15
Rachel Wojo

A Prayer for Carrying More Than You Were Made to Carry
By Rachel Wojo

Bible Reading:
"What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” - Exodus 18:17-18

I can still see the brick fireplace in our old living room. My special-needs daughter, Taylor, thought running across the raised hearth was the best game in the house. At the time, all those years ago, she was strong, she was fast, and she had no concept of danger. That was the hardest part of caring for her: I could explain why the bricks were dangerous until I was “blue in the face,” as my mom used to say. Explanations did not change her habits.

One day, she slipped.

She didn't fall hard, and thankfully, she didn’t hit her head. But I saw her feet go out from under her, and for a half-second I braced myself, then something inside of me broke. I had a three-year-old behind me. A nineteen-month-old in the playpen. A newborn in the bouncy seat. And I realized, standing there with my heart in my throat, that I had been trying to be four people at once, and one day soon it was going to cost one of them something I couldn't give back.

I don't remember what I did next, but I do remember one particular thought. Her safety is more important than my pride.

For months, I had been telling myself I should be able to do this. Other moms managed four kids. Other moms didn't need help. If I were the right kind of mother, the right kind of Christian woman, I'd figure it out. Asking for help meant I wasn't enough. Asking for help meant I was failing. So I kept trying to carry it all by myself when my husband was at work. All the usual parenting tasks plus the constant hovering watch over Taylor. Oh, and the laundry and meals. Honestly, I kept silently resenting God for not making me stronger.

But friend, it wasn't that God hadn't made me strong enough.

I was carrying things He'd never handed me in the first place.

In Exodus 18, Moses is doing the same thing I was doing. He's sitting as a judge for Israel from morning until evening, settling every dispute and answering every question.

His father-in-law, Jethro, watches him for one day and speaks up: "What you are doing is not good."

Not "you're doing great, just pace yourself."

Or if he’d sounded like he was from my Appalachian roots, "bless your heart, you're so devoted."

He says this is bad for Moses and bad for the people Moses loves.

"The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone."

He then tells him to keep only the things you can do and release the rest.

That's the part I missed for years. I thought the choice was between carrying everything and giving up. I didn't realize there was a third option, and it’s the one God actually offered: carry what's yours, and let Him, through His people, carry the rest.

The day after Taylor almost hit her head on the bricks, I picked up the phone and asked about respite care. When the respite worker started coming, my first reaction wasn't relief; it was grief. I cried because I felt like I had failed. I cried because I thought asking for help meant I loved Taylor less than a mother who didn't need help.

It took me a long time to understand that letting someone else carry part of the weight was the most loving thing I could do for Taylor, for my other babies, for my amazing husband, Matt, and yes, for me. Moses didn't love Israel less when he let the seventy elders help. He loved them even better.

If you're reading this today and your shoulders ache from something that was never yours to carry, whether it’s another person's choices, another person's emotions, a caregiving load designed for a team instead of one person, a burden you took on because no one else would, then hear what Jethro said to Moses, and what God is saying to you through this passage. What you are doing is not good. The work is too heavy for you. God’s not accusing us; He’s inviting us into a different solution.

You were made to carry something. You were not made to carry everything.

And you were never made to carry anything alone.

Pray with me?

Let's Pray:

Heavenly Father, I'm coming to You today tired in a way sleep doesn't fix. You see the load I've been carrying. I have things that are mine, and then the things I picked up somewhere along the way without anyone asking me to. I've been telling myself that a stronger person could handle this, and a better Christian wouldn't need help. Those are lies.

Lord, would You show me the difference? Show me what's mine to carry and what was never mine in the first place. Give me the humility to set down the weight that isn't from You, and the courage to ask for hands to help with the weight that is. Forgive me for confusing exhaustion with faithfulness. Forgive me for thinking I had to prove something to You that You've already told me I don't.

Thank You that You gave Moses a Jethro. Thank You that You put people in my life who can see what I can't admit. Help me remember that letting someone help me isn't a weakness. It's the way You designed this whole thing from the beginning.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Rachel Wojo is an inspirational author, public speaker, and podcaster known for her popular blog, rachelwojo.com. Through her biblical approach and personal life experiences, Rachel empowers women to discover strength and hope in everyday situations. Despite enduring the loss of her mother, adult special needs daughter, and father, Rachel remains resilient. She has authored the uplifting book, Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments and a new beautiful, spiral-bound prayer journal, Praying the Promises of God, Rachel is crazy in love with her husband, Matt, and cherishes her motherhood with six children on earth and two in heaven.

06/15/2026

Daily Devotionals
God's Sovereign Plan (Isaiah 14:24) - Your Daily Bible Verse - June 15
Amanda Idleman

God’s Sovereign Plan
By: Amanda Idleman

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” – Isaiah 14:24

As you read through Isaiah, you are clued into the nature and character of God through the prophetic gift given to Isaiah. Isaiah’s mouth is filled with words that paint a picture of what God has planned for the future. He clearly articulates God’s many emotions when it comes to His people. All of the prophecies from Isaiah became verifiable, historical fact.

Through the miraculous fulfillment of prophecy, we can see the absolute dependability of God’s plan. We can rest assured that no matter our present situation, we can stand on the promises of God who articulated them in His Word. In our most hopeless moments, we can draw encouragement from the sovereignty of our Lord.

God has a plan. He is not distant and uninvolved in the happenings of our world. We may look at world events and see random occurrences. We may become overwhelmed by your own powerlessness to change the tide of our society. But God does not see randomness, and He has the power to change things that feel impossible to us.

In Isaiah, God warns Israel from relying on the surrounding nations for security. God’s plan went against what seemed like a logical solution to the Israelites. He warned that the two major powers in the region, Assyria and Babylon, would fall despite appearing to be unbeatable forces in the region. These prophecies were fulfilled when the Assyrian Empire was crushed by Babylon. Later, as prophesied by Jeremiah, Babylon fell too.

The Israelites who heard these prophecies for the first time probably were skeptical and doubted God’s power over the forces that appear to rule our world. Yet, God’s Word has proven to be reliable over the course of history. When we see what feels like confusing and unbeatable challenges, rest assured in God’s sovereign plan for our world.

Just as God’s plan for the nations are fulfilled, so are God’s plans for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 gives us this personal encouragement, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This is a promise you can stand on. God’s plan is a good one. Even when evil attempts to steal from us: God is present, He is working, He is faithful, and He is good.

Isaiah 43:1 tells us even more about God’s reliability. He makes a beautiful promise and offers us words of encouragement for our moments of difficulty and doubt. God says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” The Creator, Sovereign God of all knows it’s easy to be afraid. That’s why He so clearly offers us words of comfort and assurance. Our Big God identifies us as His. He is close, He is personal, and He is for you. Rest in the knowledge that we serve a sovereign God.

Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for the Daily Bible Devotions App, she has work published with Her View from Home, also for the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Amanda on her blog or follow her on Instagram.

Covington United Methodist Church

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