Don’t Let One Awkward Moment Stop You

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Acts 20:24 — But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Can I tell you something about myself?

I have this little habit that I’m not particularly proud of.

Okay, fine. It’s probably a toxic trait.

If I’m trying to help somebody, and I genuinely think I’m doing a good thing, but then somebody comes along and says, “Oh, you’re actually not supposed to do that,” or “Yeah, no, that’s not how we do things”…

Well.

Awkward.

And my immediate response?

I’m never doing that again.

Anybody else?

Please tell me I’m not alone here.

Because there’s just something about thinking you’re being helpful, only to discover you’ve gotten it wrong, that makes you want to disappear into the nearest hole.

And maybe stay there for a while.

This actually happened to me recently.

I was trying to help. My intentions were good. I thought I was doing the right thing.

But then I found out I had missed the mark.

And almost immediately, that familiar thought showed up.

See? This is why you shouldn’t even try. You just make things worse.

But before I could settle into my little pity party, I felt the Lord challenging what was happening in my heart.

No. We’re not turning this into a belief system.

We’re not taking one uncomfortable moment and using it as proof that trying to help people is a bad idea.

We’re not deciding that because something didn’t go the way we hoped, we should never put ourselves out there again.

Because sometimes?

You just miss the mark.

That’s it.

You can have a good heart and still make a mistake.

You can genuinely want to serve someone and discover you went about it the wrong way.

You can step forward with the best intentions and still end up feeling embarrassed.

And none of those things automatically mean you should stop trying.

But isn’t it funny how quickly we can turn one experience into a whole story about ourselves?

One mistake becomes, I’m terrible at this.

One awkward conversation becomes, I should just keep my mouth shut.

One attempt to help that didn’t go as planned becomes, Maybe I should stop getting involved.

And before we know it, we’re sitting on the sidelines.

Not because God told us to stop.

But because we’re afraid of feeling embarrassed again.

That’s what made me think about something the apostle Paul said in Acts 20:24.

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Now, Paul was facing challenges far greater than an awkward moment.

He knew that following Jesus and sharing the Gospel could bring suffering, opposition, and uncertainty.

But he had made up his mind about something.

He wasn’t going to let the difficulties along the way distract him from the work Jesus had given him.

His mission mattered more than his comfort.

And while my little embarrassing moment certainly doesn’t compare to what Paul faced, his words challenged me.

Because how often do we allow something uncomfortable to keep us from doing something meaningful?

How many times do we let the fear of getting it wrong become bigger than our desire to do what’s right?

Maybe you’ve experienced that, too.

You tried to encourage someone, but your words came out wrong.

You volunteered to help, but things didn’t go the way you expected.

You stepped out of your comfort zone to serve, and instead of feeling good about it, you walked away feeling foolish.

And now you’re hesitant to try again.

Can I encourage you?

Don’t let one awkward moment become the reason you stop showing up.

You don’t have to pretend you handled everything perfectly.

You don’t have to defend every decision you made.

And you certainly don’t have to keep doing something the wrong way just because your intentions were good.

Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is admit you made a mistake.

Apologize if you need to.

Listen.

Learn.

Make an adjustment.

And then?

Keep going.

Because God’s grace isn’t just something we tell other people about.

It’s something we need to remember for ourselves, too.

We are going to make mistakes.

We’re going to misunderstand things.

We’re going to have moments when we wish we could rewind the last five minutes of our lives and try again.

But those moments don’t have to define us.

And they certainly don’t have to disqualify us from loving and serving others.

You know what I’ve been learning?

Embarrassment is a feeling. It doesn’t have to become a decision.

Just because something made you uncomfortable doesn’t mean you should never try again.

Just because you didn’t get it right the first time doesn’t mean God can’t use you the next time.

And just because you had one awkward moment doesn’t mean you have nothing valuable to offer.

There are still people who need encouragement.

There are still opportunities to show kindness.

There is still good work to be done.

And God is still able to work through imperfect people who are willing to keep showing up.

So today, if you’ve been holding back because of something that didn’t go the way you hoped, maybe it’s time to give yourself a little grace.

Take what you learned from the experience.

Leave behind the shame that doesn’t belong there.

And ask God for the courage to step forward again.

Because the goal was never to serve perfectly.

It’s to serve faithfully.

Don’t let one awkward moment turn into a lifetime of sitting on the sidelines.

Give yourself the grace to get it wrong, the humility to learn, and the courage to try again.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever stopped doing something good because one experience left you feeling embarrassed or discouraged?
  • Why is it so easy to turn one mistake into a negative belief about ourselves?
  • What does Paul’s determination in Acts 20:24 teach you about remaining faithful when things become uncomfortable?
  • Is there a past mistake you need to learn from without allowing it to define you?
  • What opportunity to encourage, help, or serve someone might God be inviting you to reconsider?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Am I allowing one uncomfortable moment from my past to keep me from something good God may be calling me to do today?

/by

Safe After Sundown

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Zephaniah 3:17 — For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

I’ll never forget those early days after having a baby.

Especially when the “nighttime scaries” would come.

Now, if you’ve ever had a newborn, you might know exactly what I’m talking about.

Somewhere around four or five o’clock in the afternoon, when the sun started getting a little lower in the sky, I’d feel this sense of dread creeping in.

Oh no.

Nighttime is coming.

I’m going to be up a million times.

I’m not going to get any sleep.

And tomorrow, I’m going to have to do it all over again.

Have you ever noticed how your mind can take something that hasn’t even happened yet and turn it into something you’re already exhausted from?

Because that’s exactly what I was doing.

The sun hadn’t even gone down, and I was already worrying about how I was going to make it through the night.

But then one evening, I had a realization.

Wait a minute.

I’m not doing this alone.

My husband was right there.

And not only was he there, but he had four months of paternity leave.

Four months!

He could help with the baby.

We could take turns.

I could rest.

And I remember thinking, “Why am I sitting here worrying like everything depends on me when I have someone right beside me who’s ready to help?”

It seems so obvious now.

But in the middle of exhaustion and all those new-mom emotions, I had somehow forgotten something important.

I wasn’t alone.

And you know, I’ve thought about that a lot since then.

Because I don’t think you have to be a new mom to understand that feeling.

Maybe you’re looking ahead at a difficult week.

A doctor’s appointment.

A conversation you’ve been dreading.

A financial situation you don’t know how to fix.

Or a season of life that feels overwhelming before you’ve even stepped into it.

And before you know it, you’re carrying the weight of tomorrow while you’re still trying to get through today.

You start imagining everything that could go wrong.

Everything you’ll have to handle.

Every possibility you can’t control.

And somewhere along the way, you begin to feel like it all depends on you.

But here’s what I want you to remember.

You were never meant to face every unknown as though you’re facing it alone.

Now, I realize that not everybody has a husband with four months of paternity leave.

Not everybody has someone sitting beside them, ready to take the next shift.

And sometimes, the help we desperately need doesn’t seem to be coming.

I don’t want to minimize that.

Because loneliness is real.

Exhaustion is real.

And there are seasons when life feels incredibly heavy.

But even in those moments, Scripture reminds us of something beautiful.

In Zephaniah 3:17, we read:

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Can you imagine that?

God doesn’t just see you struggling from a distance.

He is present with His people.

He is mighty to save.

And He delights in them.

But here’s the part I love most.

“With his love, he will calm all your fears.”

There’s something so tender about that picture.

Think about a mother holding her crying baby.

She pulls that little one close.

Whispers softly.

Maybe even sings a song.

The baby doesn’t understand everything that’s happening.

The baby doesn’t know what tomorrow will bring.

But there’s comfort in being held by someone who loves them.

And I think there’s a beautiful reminder of God’s heart in that.

The One who created the universe is not too busy to care about what frightens you.

He’s not annoyed by your need for reassurance.

And He’s not disappointed because you’re feeling overwhelmed.

He loves His people with a faithful, enduring love.

Now, that doesn’t mean every anxious feeling will immediately disappear.

And it doesn’t mean the difficult things we’re facing will suddenly become easy.

Sometimes, we still need practical help, rest, wise counsel, and support from the people around us.

But God’s presence gives us a place to turn, even when we don’t know what comes next.

So maybe today, you’re feeling your own version of the nighttime scaries.

Maybe the sun is setting on a season of life, and you’re afraid of what the darkness might bring.

Maybe you’re already worrying about tomorrow.

If that’s you, take a moment and remember who is with you.

You don’t have to figure out the entire night before the sun goes down.

You don’t have to carry tomorrow’s worries before tomorrow gets here.

And you don’t have to pretend you’re stronger than you feel.

You are seen. You are loved. And you have not been forgotten.

The God who delights in His people is still faithful.

And the One who holds tomorrow is with you today.

So when the nighttime scaries come, let His love remind you:

You don’t have to face the darkness alone.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever found yourself worrying about something that hadn’t even happened yet?
  • What does it mean to you that Zephaniah 3:17 describes God as delighting in His people rather than merely watching over them?
  • How does the picture of God quieting His people with His love change the way you approach your fears?
  • Is there a responsibility or uncertainty you’ve been carrying as though everything depends on you?
  • What practical support might you need to ask for, alongside bringing your worries to God?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What am I already worrying about tomorrow that I need to trust God with today?

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Seven Dollars and Thirty-Two Cents

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Proverbs 15:16 — Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. 

There was coffee brewing at the radio station the morning of our fundraiser.

Which was appropriate, because Tammi and I are both coffee girlies.

And if you know us, you know we take our coffee seriously.

As we were sipping, Tammi started telling me about her morning drive-through routine.

“I know I could make coffee at home,” she said, “but it just tastes so much better when someone else makes it.”

Yes.

Amen.

I couldn’t agree more!

There are just some things in life that are better when somebody else does the work.

And coffee is definitely one of them.

But somewhere in the middle of our conversation, Tammi remembered she had a little cash in her wallet.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I hardly ever carry cash anymore.

So she pulled it out and started counting.

A few bills.

Some change.

And when she finished, she had exactly seven dollars and thirty-two cents.

$7.32.

She looked at it for a moment and said, “You know what? I’m going to give this.”

And just like that, she did.

Now, Tammi knew exactly where that money probably would have gone.

Another trip through the coffee drive-through.

Another cup of coffee she didn’t really need.

And listen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a good cup of coffee!

But in that moment, she decided there was something else she wanted to do with those dollars.

And I just loved that.

Not because $7.32 was some enormous sacrifice.

Not because it was going to change the entire fundraising total.

But because she didn’t stop to ask whether what she had was enough to matter.

She simply decided to use it for something that mattered to her.

And I’ve been thinking about that ever since.

Especially when I read Proverbs 15:16.

“Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.”

Now, that verse isn’t saying it’s wrong to have money.

And it isn’t saying that having less automatically makes us more spiritual.

It’s reminding us that the amount we have matters far less than the place it holds in our hearts.

Because you can have a lot and still feel like you never have enough.

Or you can have a little and discover a deep sense of peace because you know where your security really comes from.

Not your bank account.

Not your possessions.

But the Lord.

And that changes how we think about generosity.

Because sometimes we convince ourselves that we’ll be generous later.

When we have more.

When the bills are paid.

When there’s a little extra sitting in the bank.

And of course, we need to be wise with our money and take care of our responsibilities.

But generosity doesn’t always have to wait for some future season when everything feels financially comfortable.

Sometimes it begins with a simple question.

What do I have right now that I could use to bless someone else?

You know, that reminds me of another story in the Bible.

A little boy with five loaves of bread and two fish.

Not exactly enough to feed a crowd of thousands.

But he offered what he had.

And in the hands of Jesus, that small lunch became part of something extraordinary.

Now, I’m not suggesting every small gift will turn into a miracle like that one.

But I do think there’s something beautiful about being willing to offer what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t.

Tammi had $7.32.

The little boy had five loaves and two fish.

And maybe today, you have something you could share, too.

It might be money.

It might be time.

It might be a talent, a kind word, or an opportunity to help someone who needs it.

Whatever it is, don’t dismiss it just because it seems small.

Because generosity doesn’t begin with having a lot. It begins with a heart that’s willing to share.

And sometimes, that looks like seven dollars and thirty-two cents.

And one less trip through the coffee drive-through.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever put off being generous because you felt you didn’t have enough to give?
  • What does Proverbs 15:16 teach you about the difference between financial wealth and spiritual contentment?
  • How can small, intentional choices help us become more generous people?
  • What is something you regularly spend money or time on that you could occasionally redirect toward helping someone else?
  • How might your attitude toward giving change if you focused less on the size of the gift and more on the heart behind it?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What do I already have that I could use to bless someone else today?

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The Hundred-Dollar Handshake

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Psalms 112:4-5 — Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. 

My mom had something I like to call the “Hundred-Dollar Handshake.”

And let me tell you, she was good at it.

I remember watching her do this at church when I was growing up.

Now, you’ve got to understand. Twenty-five or thirty years ago, a hundred-dollar bill was a pretty big deal.

I mean, that’s not money you just casually handed somebody on your way out of Sunday school.

At least, that’s what I thought.

But Mom?

Oh, she had a different way of looking at things.

We’d be standing around after church, talking to people, when I’d see her spot somebody across the room.

And then she’d reach into her purse.

And I’d think, Oh, here she goes again.

She’d pull out a hundred-dollar bill, fold it up in her hand, and make her way across the room.

She’d give that person a hug.

Whisper something in their ear.

Slip that money into their hand.

And then she’d just walk away.

No announcement.

No big production.

No waiting around for someone to thank her.

Just a hug, a handshake, and a hundred dollars.

And there I was, watching the whole thing, thinking…

Mom! Why are you giving away all our money? Don’t you know I need new cleats?

I’m serious!

I thought we were poor!

And the funny thing is, we didn’t have a whole lot of money to spare.

But Mom knew something I hadn’t figured out yet.

You don’t have to have a lot to live generously.

She wasn’t waiting until we had more money.

She wasn’t waiting until every need in our own house had been met and there was plenty left over.

She simply paid attention.

If she saw someone who needed encouragement, she encouraged them.

If someone needed help, she found a way to help.

And sometimes, that help came folded inside a hundred-dollar handshake.

Looking back, I realize something I didn’t understand as a kid.

Mom wasn’t just giving away money.

She was letting people know they mattered.

She saw them.

She noticed their struggles.

And instead of walking past and hoping somebody else would do something, she chose to be that somebody.

That’s what I think about when I read Psalm 112.

It describes people who trust God and whose lives are marked by generosity, compassion, and righteousness.

People who don’t just talk about loving others.

They actually do something about it.

And that’s what my mom modeled for me.

Now, I don’t want you to think she gave because she expected God to make her rich.

That wasn’t it.

She gave because she trusted Him.

And she believed that what she had wasn’t just for her.

It could be used to bless somebody else.

You know, when I was little, I measured what we had by what we could afford.

Did we have enough for new shoes?

Could we buy the things I wanted?

Why was Mom handing out hundred-dollar bills when I needed cleats?

But now that I’m older, I see our life a little differently.

We may not have had a lot of extra money.

But we were rich in the things that mattered.

Rich in compassion.

Rich in relationships.

Rich in the joy of helping somebody else.

And rich in the example of a woman who taught me that generosity isn’t just about what you give.

It’s about whether you’re paying attention.

And friend, I wonder who might be waiting for someone like that in your life today.

Maybe there’s a single mom who’s overwhelmed.

A neighbor who’s lonely.

A coworker who’s having a really hard week.

Or somebody at church who’s smiling on the outside but quietly carrying more than you know.

You might not have a hundred dollars to slip into their hand.

And that’s okay.

Because not every act of generosity comes with a dollar sign.

Sometimes it’s buying somebody lunch.

Sometimes it’s making a phone call.

Sometimes it’s sitting down long enough to really listen.

Sometimes it’s offering a ride, bringing a meal, or simply reminding someone that they haven’t been forgotten.

The most generous thing you give someone today might not come out of your wallet. It might come out of your heart.

So here’s my encouragement.

Start your own version of the Hundred-Dollar Handshake.

Look around.

Pay attention.

Ask God to help you notice the people He places in your path.

And when you see a need you can meet, don’t always wait for somebody else to do it.

Be generous with what you have.

Because years from now, somebody might not remember exactly what you gave them.

But they’ll remember that you saw them.

They’ll remember that you cared.

And they just might pass that kindness on to somebody else.

My mom probably never imagined that all those little handshakes would become one of the greatest lessons she ever taught me.

But here I am, all these years later, still talking about them.

And I’ve finally figured out something.

Mom wasn’t giving away our riches. She was showing me what made us rich.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Who has modeled generosity in your life? What did their example teach you about caring for others?
  • Have you ever held back from helping someone because you felt you didn’t have enough to give?
  • What’s the difference between giving to someone and genuinely noticing what they need?
  • Is there someone in your church, workplace, or neighborhood who might be quietly struggling and could use encouragement?
  • What do you have to offer today—money, time, attention, encouragement, or practical help—that could make a difference in someone’s life? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who might God be asking me to notice today, and what do I already have that I could give? 

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Don’t Let Fear Send You Searching

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Psalm 62:8 — O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. 

I’ve heard someone say that parenthood is the scariest hood you’ll ever live in.

And I’m starting to understand why.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love being a mom to my little boy, Lennox.

We fought hard to get here. He’s such a gift, and I wouldn’t trade being his mama for anything in the world.

But lately, we’ve been walking through something that’s been really hard.

Lennox had been talking so well, and then he stopped speaking like he had before.

We’ve been seeing specialists to understand what’s happening, and I’ll be honest with you.

I’ve been scared.

And you know what happens when a mama gets scared?

She starts looking for answers.

Everywhere.

I researched everything I could think of. I called friends and asked, “Did your child do this at his age?”

I searched the internet.

I even went to TikTok.

I mean, if there was somewhere I thought I might find an answer, I was looking.

Because when it’s your baby, you just want someone to tell you everything is going to be okay.

And then, the other day, something happened.

I was standing at the kitchen sink, washing dishes, when Lennox came into the room.

He didn’t say anything.

He just came over and sat down beside me.

That’s it.

No big moment. No dramatic breakthrough.

Just my little boy sitting near his mama.

And even though he wasn’t speaking, I understood something.

He wanted to be close to me.

He didn’t need to explain himself.

He didn’t need to find the right words.

He just knew where he wanted to be.

And standing there at that sink, I felt like God was reminding me of something I desperately needed to hear.

Sometimes, when we’re afraid, we spend so much time searching for answers that we forget where to bring our hearts.

Now, please hear me.

I’m not going to stop looking for answers for my son.

We’re going to keep seeing the specialists. We’re going to keep asking questions and doing everything we can to help him.

Because that’s part of loving him well.

But somewhere in the middle of all that searching, I had allowed fear to consume so much of my heart.

And I needed to remember that I have a Father I can run to, too.

Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”

I love those words.

Pour out your heart.

Not just the pretty parts.

Not just the prayers that sound faithful and confident.

All of it.

The questions.

The exhaustion.

The things that keep you awake at night.

Even the fears you’re almost afraid to say out loud.

God invites us to bring every bit of it to Him.

And just like Lennox didn’t need words to sit beside me, I don’t have to have the right words to come into my Heavenly Father’s presence.

I can just come close.

I can cry.

I can sit quietly.

I can tell Him I’m scared.

And I can trust that He knows my heart, even when I don’t know how to explain what’s happening inside it.

Maybe that’s something you need to hear today, too.

Maybe you’re facing something with your child, your marriage, your health, or your future.

Maybe you’ve been searching for answers, and the more you search, the more overwhelmed you feel.

Friend, it’s okay to ask questions.

It’s okay to seek help.

It’s okay not to know what comes next.

But don’t forget that you have a Father who welcomes you into His presence in the middle of it all.

You don’t have to wait until you’re feeling brave.

You don’t have to figure everything out first.

And you certainly don’t have to pretend you’re okay when you’re not.

Just come close.

Because sometimes the greatest comfort isn’t getting an answer to every question.

It’s knowing that while you’re waiting for answers, you have somewhere safe to bring your heart.

So today, I’m going to keep loving my little boy.

I’m going to keep doing everything I can for him.

And I’m going to keep trusting the Father who loves us both.

And maybe the next time I’m standing at that kitchen sink, overwhelmed by all the things I don’t know, I’ll remember what Lennox taught me.

Sometimes, you don’t need to say a single word.

You just need to come close to your Father.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When you’re afraid or uncertain, where do you usually turn first for reassurance?
  • Is there something you’ve been carrying that you haven’t fully poured out to God because you don’t know how to put it into words?
  • How does it change your understanding of prayer to know that you can simply come into God’s presence without having everything figured out?
  • Have you ever become so focused on finding answers that you forgot to seek comfort and refuge in God?
  • What would it look like today to both take the practical steps you need to take and trust God with the things you cannot control? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Am I spending so much time searching for answers that I’ve forgotten to simply sit with my Father?

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The Night Love Went to Work

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1 Corinthians 15:58 — So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 

There is something special about a fall festival.

The air turns crisp. Friends catch up over steaming cups of apple cider. Somewhere nearby, kettle corn is popping, and funnel cakes are making it very difficult to remember that you already ate dinner.

I take it all in and look around.

Kids are trying things they’ve never tried before. Parents are laughing and talking while their children run around. Candy bags are getting heavier by the minute.

And I love it.

But the longer I watch, the more I realize what I’m really witnessing.

I’m watching a community love its people.

A volunteer kneels down beside a child who isn’t quite sure she wants to try the game.

Someone else is laughing with a group of kids.

Parents relax because they know somebody is looking out for their children.

There’s no spotlight on any of it.

It’s just people showing up and trying to show others the love of Jesus.

And it reminds me how easy it is to overlook the ordinary ways God uses us.

Sometimes we imagine ministry has to be a microphone, a Bible study, or some grand opportunity to make a difference.

But what if ministry can also be a folding chair?

A game booth?

A smile?

A conversation with a child?

A simple act of kindness that nobody else notices?

Paul told the church in Corinth to remain strong and steadfast and to give themselves fully to the Lord’s work, because their labor for the Lord is never wasted.

And I think that’s exactly what I’m seeing here:

Labor that won’t go to waste.

These people are doing little things that may matter far more than they will ever know.

Maybe that child who was nervous will remember the volunteer who knelt down beside her.

Maybe a parent will remember how welcomed their family felt.

Maybe a simple conversation will stay with someone long after the festival is over.

We may never see the full fruit of those moments.

But God does.

So keep showing up.

Keep serving.

Keep loving the person right in front of you.

Because in the hands of God, ordinary acts of faithfulness—really and truly—are never wasted.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is one ordinary thing you do that you sometimes wonder whether it really matters? Could God be using it in ways you cannot see?
  • Have you ever had someone’s small act of kindness make a bigger impact on you than they probably realized?
  • Where is God giving you an opportunity to serve right now—even if it doesn’t feel significant or impressive?
  • Are you more likely to serve when people notice, or can you find joy in serving when only God sees?
  • Who is the person right in front of you today who might need a little encouragement, kindness, or your willingness to simply show up?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What if the ordinary thing God has put in front of me today is more important than I realize?

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Stop Second Guessing

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2 Corinthians 5:7 — For we walk by faith, not by sight.

That’s not just a nice suggestion. That’s how Scripture describes the life of faith. But if I’m being honest, I think a lot of us treat it like one.

Let me prove it to you.

Think about your laundry detergent. Seriously. Go look at the cap. How much are you supposed to put in there? There are little lines inside the cap that tell you how much to use. Somebody who, presumably, knows what they’re talking about measured it out for you.

And yet…

How much do you actually put in?

Because what you should use is way less than you think it should be. Many times, it’s not even half a cap, and I look at that little line and think, “That can’t possibly be enough.”

So, I pour a little more… and then a little more. And eventually, I just pour until my heart says, “Okay, that looks about right.”

Which is funny, because they already told me!

But somehow, standing there with a pile of dirty clothes, I became the detergent expert.

And that’s where this gets a little uncomfortable, because I think we do the same thing with God.

He tells us something, and we immediately start looking at our circumstances and focusing on our feelings.

We look at the size of the problem. We look at the size of the mess. We look at everything that could go wrong, and then we look back at what God has said and think, “Okay, but… surely You meant a little more than that. I need a little more certainty and a lot more explanation.”

But faith means trusting God and learning to move forward with Him even when we cannot see the whole picture yet.

That doesn’t mean our problems are small. It means God is trustworthy even when what He has given us feels small compared to what we are facing.

So today, when you find yourself asking God for just a little bit more information, more certainty, or more explanation… pause.

Ask yourself whether you really need more information from Him, or whether you simply need to trust what He has already said.

Faith may not always let us see where the road is going, but it teaches us to keep walking with the One who does.

Maybe what He has given you really is enough.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life are you asking God for more certainty, more explanation, or more information right now?
  • What circumstances are making it difficult for you to trust what God has already said?
  • Have you ever seen God prove Himself trustworthy in a situation where you couldn’t see how things would work out?
  • What would it look like for you to “walk by faith” in the situation you’re facing today?
  • Is there something God has already given you—His Word, His promises, His presence—that you need to trust is enough for today?
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Look Up, It’s Not Over

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Psalm 3:3 – But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

“He lifts us up. He’s my glory and the lifter of our head.”

I love that picture.

And if you watch sports, maybe you’ve seen something like this. Years ago, there was a championship game where a young player missed a really important shot for his team.

He hung his head, and before maybe even two seconds had passed, his teammate lifted his chin, patted him on the back, and said, “It’s not over. We’ve got this.”

I’ve always remembered that because I thought, I want to surround myself with people like that, too.

But actually, I want to be that person.

Because there have been plenty of times when I’ve noticed somebody hanging their head a little low. Maybe they’re discouraged. Maybe they’re disappointed in themselves. Maybe they’re carrying something they haven’t told anybody about.

I’ll say a silent prayer for them. But sometimes I think, Lord, I don’t just want to pray for them. Maybe You want to encourage them through me. I need to walk over there.

God is the One who lifts our heads, and I love that picture because often, we don’t need somebody to fix everything. We just need somebody to remind us to look up.

So, if you know somebody who’s been walking around with their head down lately—your sister, your brother, your coworker, your neighbor—say the prayer, and then maybe go say something to them, too.

Because I’m thankful that God lifts our heads. And sometimes, in His kindness, He lets us be the hands that help.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Is there an area of your life where you’ve been hanging your head lately—feeling discouraged, disappointed, or overwhelmed?
  • Who has been someone God used to lift your head and remind you that you weren’t alone?
  • Is there someone in your life right now whose head seems to be hanging a little low? What might they need to hear from you?
  • When you notice someone hurting, are you willing to do more than pray for them and take a step toward them?
  • Who might God be asking you to encourage today—and what could you say or do to help lift their head?
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Jesus Cares About That Too

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Mark 2:17 – When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Don’t wait till things get too bad to get a check up. Isn’t that, sadly, so normal…to make sure everybody else is okay but to ignore our own pain?

When our children get a cough. “Okay, it’s time to call the pediatrician.”

We say, “Okay, what do you need? Do you need some vitamin C? You need a Flintstones gummy. What else can I do to help?”

But all along, your knees have been cracking for six weeks… maybe six years…and you’re thinking, “Ah, that’s just part of life.”

Why? Why do we wait so long to get things in our lives checked out? Do we not think we matter that much?

Jesus says it does matter. But he wants us to admit it. He didn’t come for people who believed they didn’t need Him. He came for people who recognized their need and were willing to let Him into it. He came for the people who knew something was wrong and were willing to let Him into it.

All you have to do is say, “Hey, Lord, I’m noticing this in my heart. I don’t want it to get bad. Let’s deal with it now.”

You don’t have to wait until the wound is worse to bring it to the Savior and let Him begin His work in you. So today, notice what’s hurting, stop minimizing it, and invite the Lord in before it has a chance to harden or deepen.

Like I said… It matters.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is something in your heart or life that you’ve been minimizing or ignoring?
  • Why do you think we sometimes find it easier to care for everyone else than to acknowledge what’s hurting in us?
  • Is there an area of your life where you need to admit, “Something isn’t right, and I need Jesus here”?
  • What would it look like to invite Jesus into that area before the hurt has a chance to harden or deepen?
  • What is one thing you can bring to Jesus today instead of continuing to carry it on your own?
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A Refreshing Plot Twist

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Proverbs 11:25 — A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Have you ever been set up by God?

Like, you sign up to go somewhere thinking you’re going to support somebody else, and then God changes everything?

That’s what happened to Miss Gwendolyn.

She took her granddaughter to the Live Original Conference, which is coming to town this weekend. Her granddaughter had really come to know the Lord through her youth group and loved Sadie Huff. So Miss Gwendolyn thought, “Of course. I’ll get two tickets.”

She imagined them buying merch, taking pictures, and making some memories. That’s really as far as she thought it would go.

But then she stepped into worship.

Through the songs, God started ministering to her heart and revealing that this wasn’t just about the teenagers.

He wanted to meet her, too.

And from that moment on, something began to deepen in Miss Gwendolyn’s relationship with the Lord. Her eyes were opened in a new way, even though she had known Jesus for a long time.

Sometimes we think we’re the ones pouring out, but God has a way of pouring into us at the same time.

That’s what I see in Scripture: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

And that’s why I think this is such a beautiful reminder for us today:

You never know where God is waiting to meet you.

There is no stage, no age, and no season of life where the Lord can’t still pierce your heart and draw you closer to Him.

You might think you’re showing up for someone else, but remember this:

God refreshes the refresher.

As you encourage someone else, serve someone else, or simply show up for someone else, don’t be surprised if God has something He wants to do in you, too.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever shown up somewhere or served someone else, only to realize God had something He wanted to do in your heart, too?
  • Who is someone you could intentionally encourage or refresh this week?
  • What might it look like to serve someone without focusing only on what you’re giving, but also being open to what God might want to teach you?
  • Is there an area of your relationship with God where you would welcome Him refreshing or renewing you?
  • How does Proverbs 11:25 change the way you think about generosity—not just giving things, but giving your time, attention, encouragement, and presence?
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