A Walk in the Park with God

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“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18

THE HEART ❤️ OF THE ARTIST:

Phil Wickham tugged his jacket tighter as the cool breeze swept through the park. His wife Mallory laughed softly at something he said, her hand brushing his as their dogs trotted ahead on their leashes.

This was their time—a sacred pause in the chaos of the day.

As they talked, Phil’s thoughts wandered to another walk—a far older one. He imagined God in the Garden of Eden, walking with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. No agenda, no rush, just perfect relationship.

That picture stayed with him. Wasn’t that what God wanted all along? A relationship built not on rituals but on the sharing of life through unhurried conversations.

Prayer, he thought, was supposed to feel like this. It was not about perfection or formality. It was about showing up and being real, even about the messy parts of life.

The God who shaped the stars and painted the sky longed to hear from him. Some days, his prayers were as simple as, “That was hard, God,” or “Can You believe today?” And every time, he felt God’s presence, as if He had been waiting for that moment all along.

As they turned back toward home, Phil resolved to stay intentional, not just with Mallory but with God. Because the same God who walked with Adam and Eve is still waiting—for him, and for all of us—to take that first step.

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Preparing for Miracles

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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

It is hard to believe he is finally here. As I rock baby Dunn in my arms, I cannot help but think back to the chaos of those days before he arrived.

Weekends working on his nursery were filled with paint-splattered clothes, late night Johnny’s pizza, and endless stacks of diapers waiting to be organized. Our house was a mess, but our hearts were full.

Years before, when we faced the painful reality of infertility, my husband and I could have let fear stop us. But deep in our hearts, we knew God had a different plan. So we prayed. We did not stop there—we acted as though God’s answer was already on the way.

We began filling drawers with wipes and baby clothes long before there was any sign our prayers would be answered. To anyone else, it might have looked ridiculous, but to us those small steps were a way of saying, “We believe.”

I will not pretend any of it was easy. But the moment his tiny hand wrapped around my finger, I knew every late night and tear-filled prayer was worth it. I see now how those small acts of preparation strengthened me. They gave me something tangible to lean on when uncertainty felt overwhelming.

If the Lord has placed a dream on your heart, go ahead and begin preparing for it. One day, you will look back and realize every step of faith you take, even if it feels hard or impossible, has a purpose.

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Discover Lasting Confidence

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Psalms 139:14

When I was in Junior High, I thought a new outfit could fix everything. I remember trying on the outfits I got for Christmas, feeling like I could finally step into a new version of myself when I went back to school.

That excitement lasted for about a day until I realized my confidence was not as lasting as I thought. As time went by, I realized that no matter what I wore, I still struggled with self-doubt and comparison.

It took years of facing those feelings for me to understand that what I was searching for could not be found in how I looked or what others thought of me. Slowly, God began showing me that my identity was found in how He sees me.

Now, I know that I am valued and loved by God simply because I belong to Him.

So today, if you have ever felt like you are not enough, I want you to hear this: you were made with care, with purpose, and with love. There is a confidence you can hold onto that will not fail or fade. It is found in the One who sees you and loves you unconditionally.

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Transforming Tragedy into Love

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“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Hebrews 13:16

Have your plans ever turned completely upside down in the best way possible? That is exactly what happened to a youth leader I recently talked to.

It started with a simple announcement in the church bulletin: the first fifty students to sign up could attend a Christian concert for $25 each. But two days later, everything changed with one phone call.

“Hi,” said the woman on the other end, “would it be too much trouble if my husband and I paid for all fifty tickets?”

The youth leader’s jaw hit the floor.

“It’s ok. Breathe.” said the woman.

Then, she shared her heart. She and her husband had lost their son in a car accident, but instead of letting the pain define them, they decided to make something good come out of it. They wanted to invest in the faith of teenagers, to give them opportunities to grow in ways her son would have loved. And with that, she wrote a check for $1,250.

Sometimes, love shows up in the most surprising ways—often through people who have walked through unimaginable pain. It leaves me wondering: what could you do today that might spark hope for someone else?

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Lighten Your Emotional Load

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“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

Shakespeare nearly broke my back. Not the man, of course, but thebook. In college, I was required to haul around this behemoth that held every word the man ever wrote. I am not exaggerating when I say it weighed more than a cast iron skillet.

I spent weeks dragging it around campus. My back was aching. My shoulders were sore, and eventually, it broke the metal fastener on my bookbag.

It got me thinking about the things we carry. Sure, a bookbag breaking is no big deal, but what about the emotional weight we drag through life? Those grudges we hold, those deep hurts we refuse to let go of—they are far heavier.

And unlike a book, they do not sit quietly in a corner. They grow heavier the longer we carry them, pulling us down, sapping our joy, and making everything harder.

God has a better way, though. Forgiveness, I have found, sounds like such a simple word, but it can feel like climbing a mountain barefoot. It takes time, especially when the pain cuts deep. But little by little, letting go of those burdens lightens the load.

And choosing freedom over bitterness, my friend, is worth it.

So, what about you? Is there something you have been carrying around that you are not meant to hold anymore? You were never made to live weighed down. It is time to let it go, piece by piece, and let God carry the rest. You might be surprised how light life feels when your hands—and your heart—are free.

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Lead Others to Hope

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30

John stands in the river, the weight of hundreds of eyes pressing on him. He has been here so many times before, calling people to leave their past mistakes behind and step into something better.

The crowd draws closer, their faces a mix of hope and expectation. They cling to every word, as though he holds the answers they are searching for. But John knows better. He is only the messenger. The one they truly need has not yet stepped forward—until now.

He looks up, wiping his brow, as a man emerges from the crowd and steps into the water. John’s breath catches. It is Him. Jesus. The one he has spent his entire life preparing people to meet. He carries a hope so real it can change everything.

As Jesus approaches, John whispers, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus insists, leaving no room for debate.

Taking a deep breath, John does as he is told. He lowers Jesus into the water, feeling the weight of the moment in his bones. When Jesus rises, the sky seems to burst open. A voice, unmistakable and full of love, declares who Jesus truly is— God’s Son, sent to bring life and hope to a broken world.

John stands frozen. He looks down at his hands and realizes this moment was never about him. It was always about pointing others to Jesus. That is his purpose. That is what matters.

What about you? What if your life is not about being noticed but about leading others to the one who brings true hope? Maybe real fulfillment is not found in being seen, but in helping others see Him.

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See Beyond the Chaos

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”

Psalms 19:1

Carl Boberg had not planned for a storm to change his life. He had set out on an ordinary walk to clear his mind.

Thunder cracked across the horizon, and the storm swept over the hills like a painter brushing chaos onto a canvas. Carl hurried to find shelter from the relentless downpour.

But it was what came next that truly moved him. The storm passed as quickly as it came, leaving behind a peace so profound it felt like a entirely different world. The clouds opened, birds returned to their melodies, and sunlight spilled across the landscape.

He stood there, amazed—not just by nature, but by the God who created it all.

That moment stayed with him, and he knew he had to capture it somehow. He wrote a poem about what he had seen and felt.

“O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made.”  

Years later, that poem found its way into the hymn we now know as “How Great Thou Art.” 

What if we viewed our own storms through Carl’s eyes? Could we see beyond the chaos and recognize the beauty of God’s hand at work? Let those moments point you back to Him, and let your soul, like Carl’s, sing.

 

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A Lesson on Growth and Grit

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“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Proverbs 21:5

At ten years old, most boys were just figuring out how to ride a bike or perfecting their tree-climbing skills. But not my him.

By the crack of dawn, while others were still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, he was already up and out, delivering the daily news. The weight of the canvas bag pressed into his shoulder, heavier some mornings than others, but he never complained.

This was not just a chore to him; it was a chance to build something. Each coin he tucked away had a purpose. He was saving for college. That dream kept him moving even on the coldest mornings.

The years passed, and the mornings grew longer as the route expanded. By the time he was 18, the boy who once lugged newspapers had saved enough to pay his college tuition.

But the story was never about the money. It was about the grit it took to earn it. It was about how every single paper delivered, every early morning, every sacrifice mattered. It was about discipline and determination.

Years later, I asked my dad, “How did you afford college and dental school?” He leaned back with a soft smile breaking across his face, and answered, “One paper at a time.”

That stayed with me, and maybe that is a lesson for all of us. Consider how God might be using your steps today to shape the person you are becoming. Let this story remind you that perseverance in the ordinary moments can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

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New Year, Same Joyful Spirit

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

Taking down the tree, boxing up ornaments, and packing away nativity scenes can feel bittersweet. On one hand, I feel a twinge of sadness letting go of such a sweet and meaningful season. On the other hand, there is excitement for what the New Year might bring.

I find myself reflecting on everything Christmas brought: the laughter, the peace, and the joy of being with the people I love. As I finish putting the last ornament in its box, I think about the year ahead. With it comes challenges of its own and a lot that I do not yet know.

As I place the last ornament in its box, I make a decision. This year, I will carry Christmas with me. Not the tree or the lights, but the joy and peace of that holy night. I will hold onto the promise that His presence is constant, even when life feels uncertain.

So as you pack away the lights and garland, So, as we pack away the decorations, let’s also carry the lessons of Christmas with us: the joy of Jesus, the peace He brings, and the promise that God is with us—today, tomorrow, and in every new season ahead.

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Feeling Seen by God

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Psalms 34:17

It was not the peanut butter that broke her—it was everything it represented.

You see, Penny was a single mom who had always done her best to hold things together for her daughters. One evening, her youngest asked, “Mom, it has been a while since we’ve had any peanut butter. Could we get some?”

Penny’s heart broke. She assured her daughter she would try, but deep down, she wondered how she could afford it. Later that night Penny sunk into the couch and poured her heart out to God in prayer. She cried herself to sleep that night, burdened by stress and shame.

The next day, Penny went about her routine, delivering food on her Meals on Wheels route. At one of her stops, an older woman greeted her warmly and held out a jar.

“Sweetheart, they gave me this peanut butter in my delivery yesterday. I can’t eat it anymore, but I thought maybe your girls would like it.”

Penny could hardly speak as she stared at the jar in her hands. Tears welled up as she realized that God had answered her prayer.

In that moment, she felt seen—completely and unmistakably seen by God.

So today, if you are carrying a burden that is too heavy to bear, take a moment to bring your need to God. Trust that His love for you is more personal than you know, and He is ready meet your needs in ways that might surprise you.

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