05/25/2026
Hello friends,
Monday Morning Devotion
May 25, 2026
Turning Darkness Into Hope
Growing up, we all knew kids who, for whatever reason, didn’t like us no matter how hard we tried to get along with them. In school, on the playground, even in church, we were viewed as an enemy. It’s all part of growing up. In third grade there was a boy named Charlie Muller who didn’t know me but was threatening to beat me up for whatever reason. Sometimes, we have the same problem in our adult lives. Perhaps they are projecting their own faults, fears, and problems on to us… who’s to say. What do we do when we encounter this? Good question – it’s never easy. We don’t want to constantly be harassed or threatened by these people, we just want them to go away, right?
When facing this problem, the best place to find our answer is in the Bible. Many of the psalms begin with a plea for God’s help or a prayer for patience during these difficult times. We read in the Psalms, “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1) or “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!” (Psalm 70:1). Jesus taught us to love our enemies, even as difficult as that can be. (Read Matthew 23) We might not have good relations with them, but we are to love them nonetheless. We pray for them and ask God to turn their hearts. Who knows, through Jesus working through us, our love for them might just turn their hearts!
So what ever became of Charlie? Later that year we got to know each other and became best friends! We played ball together, hung out together, and Jean and I even sang at his wedding to a mutual friend, Elaine. We still talk to this day. God is good!
We pray: Dear Lord, please work in us and through us so that we can turn the hearts of enemies to you. Amen.
