Today’s Always Uplifting Verse and Devotional to start your day off right!

Seeing God in Closed Doors

,

Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

I thought I knew exactly what God wanted me to do. Bible school—it made perfect sense. I had the passion, the calling, the dream.

I could already see myself there sitting in class, buried in Scripture, and surrounded by people who wanted to serve God too. It felt so right.

So I chased it. I filled out the forms, picked up extra shifts, and prayed the kind of bold prayers that come trembling out of the heart, and for a while, everything seemed to be falling into place.

Until it wasn’t.

One thing after another began to unravel. A door closed. Then another. And another. The dream that once felt close enough to touch now seemed a thousand miles away.

I told myself it was just a delay, not a denial. But deep down, I was frustrated. I’d done everything “right,” and it still fell apart. People would say things like, “It must not be God’s timing.” I knew they meant well, but it didn’t help much.

One night, I sat on the front steps in the quiet, staring at the streetlights, just trying to make sense of it all. I had no words left to pray. My heart ached from wanting something so good so badly.

And then, somewhere in that stillness, a thought came that changed everything.

Maybe God wasn’t holding back or punishing me.

Maybe He was protecting me.

Maybe what felt like the end of a dream was really the beginning of trust.

It took time for that truth to sink in. But when it did, I began to see how those closed doors were good. God wasn’t ignoring me. He was redirecting me toward something better than I had planned.

And truth be told, nearly a decade later, God did open the door for me to attend Bible school at just the right time.

Something I have learned through all of this is that surrender isn’t giving up. It’s simply making room.

That’s why I really love what the book of Proverbs teaches. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

And maybe that’s what faith really looks like—not clinging to what we think should happen, but trusting that even our disappointments are being folded into something good.

If you find yourself staring at a door that won’t open, too, take heart. The God who closed it hasn’t gone anywhere. He still writes better stories than we do, and sometimes the best ones begin with a “not now.”

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Think of a time when your plans didn’t go the way you hoped. Looking back, can you see how God might have been protecting or redirecting you?
  • Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we make our plans, it’s the Lord who establishes our steps. What steps are you trying to control right now that you might need to release to Him?
  • “Surrender isn’t giving up—it’s making room.” What would it look like for you to make more room for God’s direction in your daily decisions?
  • When disappointment hits, what helps you remember that God’s “not now” doesn’t mean “never”?
  • Is there a door in your life that’s currently closed? What might it look like to trust that God still has His hand on the handle?
/by

A Faith that Finds You

,

Psalm 37:5 – Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.

Mark was never one for church. He liked his weekends quiet, his plans organized, and his problems solved on his own terms. But when his marriage ended, all that order fell apart. The walls of his apartment started to feel smaller, the silence heavier. He could fix a lot of things, but not this.

One night, he went for a drive just to escape the stillness. He passed a small church with its lights glowing against the dark. Something about it made him stop.

Inside, a man offered him coffee, a woman smiled, and nobody asked him to explain himself. He did not realize it then, but that was the first thing that felt right in a long time.

The next Sunday, someone remembered his name. That simple act did more for him than a thousand sermons could have.

As the weeks went on, he started to listen. One Sunday, the pastor spoke about grace—not as something you earn, but something that finds you when your life has gone sideways. He thought about how hard he had worked to hold it all together, how tired he was of pretending.

After the service, he stayed in his seat. The sanctuary was nearly empty. He whispered a few words under his breath. Nothing rehearsed, nothing grand. Just surrender.

“Okay, Jesus.” He said, “I’m yours.”

He walked out the same doors, but something inside was different. The world did not look fixed, but it felt lighter. And maybe that was the point.

Psalm 37:5 teaches us, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.“ So, Maybe faith is not about having all the answers. Maybe it is about discovering the one who never needed you to.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Can you think of a time when you reached the end of yourself and had no choice but to surrender? What happened when you finally let go?
  • Psalm 37:5 calls us to commit our way to the Lord. What might it look like for you to hand Him something you’ve been trying to control?
  • In Mark’s story, it wasn’t a sermon that moved him—it was kindness and being remembered. How has someone’s simple act of love pointed you back to God?
  • What area of your life still feels “unfixed”? How might trusting God with it bring peace, even before you see the outcome?
  • Surrender can sound scary, but what if it’s really freedom? What would trusting God more fully look like for you this week?
/by

Cheering Each Other On

,

1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

There is something about Louisiana in the fall that feels like home. The air smells faintly of roasted peanuts and dew, and the sky burns orange just before the lights come on at Malone Stadium.

This was the big kickoff to high school football season, Bayou Jam, and folks from every corner of our region had come out to fill the stands.

I found my seat among the chatter and brass-band energy, letting my eyes wander down to the field. There she was on the sidelines—one of the cheerleaders soaring high into the air. My niece. My reason for being there.

She has been a cheerleader since ninth grade, and now it is her senior year. Watching her there, so full of joy and confidence, I felt a swell of pride. See, I do not have children of my own, but my nieces and nephews might as well be. And she has grown into such a remarkable young woman—steady, kind, and ready for whatever comes next.

It made me think back to my own senior year, that strange in-between season when you stand on the edge of adulthood with a thousand voices telling you who to be. Life pulls at you from every direction. But when I look at her, I see someone who knows her worth, even when the world tries to test it.

Sitting there, I realized something simple but true: we all need people who cheer us on.

Maybe you are not the one out on the field or flipping through the air, but everyone has the chance to stand in the crowd and shout, “You’ve got this!” That kind of encouragement carries people farther than we know — and Scripture reminds us to do exactly that.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 

Friend, this life is a lot like Bayou Jam—full of noise and nerves and bright lights. But the victories feel sweeter when we know someone else is cheering for us from the stands.

That is what I believe we are all called to do: keep showing up, keep encouraging, keep believing the best. After all, who knows what strength our words might give to someone who just needs to know we are in their corner?

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Who are the “cheerleaders” in your life — the people who have encouraged you when you needed it most?
  • Think about someone who might need your encouragement this week. What’s one simple way you could cheer them on?
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us to “encourage one another and build one another up.” What does “building someone up” look like in your daily life?
  • When was a time someone’s belief in you gave you strength or courage you didn’t know you had?
  • How might your words today help someone else feel seen, valued, and supported — even in small, quiet ways?
/by

One Thought at a Time

,

2 Corinthians 10:5 — We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

The baby was asleep on my chest, his little fingers curled around my shirt. The kind of grip that makes you not want to move, even if your arm goes numb. Sunlight slipped through the curtains and stretched across the floor.

The house was quiet for once. There was no monitor beeping, no laundry cycling. It was just the slow, steady rhythm of breathing between the two of us.

You’d think that kind of peace would settle a person’s mind. But mine didn’t seem to get the memo.

I was in postpartum, and even in the calm, there was noise. Not the kind you can shush with a lullaby—just thoughts that crept in uninvited. Some were small, like wondering if I’d fed him long enough. Others were heavier, the kind that made me question if I was cut out for this at all.

One afternoon, I sat cross-legged on the living room floor surrounded by burp cloths and bottles and baby socks that never seemed to match. I remember feeling like I was drowning in my own head. Then, almost out of nowhere, I remembered something my pastor once said:

“You don’t have to believe every thought that passes through your mind.”

It sounded too simple to help, but it did. I closed my eyes right there, took a deep breath, and whispered a quiet thank-you to God. The longer I sat with that truth, the lighter it felt.

I realized I’d been treating every anxious thought like it was the voice of reason. But not everything I think deserves to be treated like the truth.

So I decided to start paying attention. When a thought came that sounded harsh or afraid, I held it up to what I knew about God and His Word. If it didn’t sound like Him—if it didn’t carry peace or mercy—I’d let it go. If it did, I’d hold onto it. That was my new rule.

That’s when 2 Corinthians 10:5 came to mind — “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

So I decided to start paying attention. When a thought came that sounded harsh or afraid, I held it up to what I knew about God and His Word. If it didn’t sound like Him—if it didn’t carry peace or mercy—I’d let it go. If it did, I’d hold onto it. That was my new rule.

It wasn’t perfect. No, some days I forgot. Some days I didn’t have the strength to test a single thought. But little by little, the noise started to fade.

Now, the house is far from quiet. There are still toys everywhere, cries from the monitor, and always some responsibility to handle. But my mind? It feels steady again. Not because the thoughts stopped coming, but because I finally learned which ones to believe.

And maybe that’s something you need too. Maybe your mind has been chaotic lately, and you don’t know what to do. If so, start small. Trade one anxious word for one good one.

And do it again tomorrow. Because God’s words have a way of clearing the clutter. They always do.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What kind of thoughts tend to take up the most space in your mind during stressful seasons?
  • How does 2 Corinthians 10:5 challenge the way you think about your inner thought life?
  • When you feel anxious or unworthy, what truth from God’s Word can you use to “take that thought captive”?
  • Can you remember a time when replacing a fearful thought with God’s truth brought peace to your heart?
  • What’s one small step you can take today to filter your thoughts through faith instead of fear?
/by

Jesus Seen Through Us

, ,

Ephesians 5:1-2 — Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

I can still see her face.

She was a young girl from Venezuela—quiet, reserved, sitting among a crowd of American teenagers who barely noticed her.

She had come with a visiting missions team to help us prepare for a trip to her country. Later, I learned she didn’t even own proper clothes for the journey. Someone had to buy her something suitable to wear.

That Wednesday night, she slipped into our youth group meeting and took a seat in the back. Hands folded neatly in her lap. Eyes down.

No one greeted her. Not one person leaned over to ask her name. Conversations carried on like they always did—some girls whispered about what others were wearing, others laughed about their plans for Friday night.

And there she sat—still, quiet, listening. Then, when the music started, she watched as all those same girls who had ignored her moments before raised their hands high in worship.

It’s funny—Ephesians 5:1–2 tells us to “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” That night, I realized how easy it is to worship with our lips but forget to love with our actions.

Later, her team leader invited her to speak. She walked to the front, her steps soft but sure, and began to pray in Spanish. Her voice trembled—not with fear, but with reverence. Every word seemed to hum with sincerity, filling the room. Even without a translation, we could feel it.

Then she began to speak in English—clear, gentle, and steady. And the room went still. That’s when it hit us: she had heard everything said earlier. Every careless word. Every unkind comment.

Yet there she stood—with grace.

Her voice was warm. Her message hopeful. She spoke of love, of faith, of service, and invited us to come to her country.

That moment changed me. I saw how easy it is to talk about God’s love without actually showing it. Her faith wasn’t something she wore—it was something she lived.

Real faith isn’t proven by what we say or sing. It’s proven by how we love the person standing right in front of us. Because when we love like that young woman did, we’re imitating the heart of Jesus Himself—the One who loved us first and offered Himself completely for us.

That’s where people begin to see Jesus for who He really is.

— Mark Hall

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever missed an opportunity to show love because you were focused elsewhere? How might God be calling you to slow down and see people this week?
  • Ephesians 5:1–2 invites us to “live a life filled with love.” What does that look like in practical terms in your home, workplace, or church?
  • When was the last time you saw someone live out Christ’s love in a way that challenged or inspired you?
  • How can you make your faith visible through kindness, humility, or inclusion today?
  • Who in your life might need to feel God’s love through your actions right now?
/by

Telling Troubles to Take a Hike

, ,

2 Thessalonians 3:3 — But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

Some mornings test your faith before the coffee’s even brewed.

It was Sunday. I had been invited to speak at Stark Baptist Church, and I wanted to show up calm, confident, and put together. But my new old house had other ideas.

I had only moved in the night before, and as I stood in the bathroom with my curling iron in hand, I realized there was no outlet. Not one. And to top it off, there was not even a mirror.

I stared at the empty wall like it had betrayed me. Then I texted my friend Leslie, who is a hairdresser. She’s the kind of woman who can fix anything.

“Bring every tool you own,” I told her. “I’m getting ready at the church.”

She sent back about ten laughing emojis, and I tried to laugh too. But that laugh stopped when I walked outside. My car tire was flat as a pancake.

I stood there in my driveway, looking at it like it might un-flatten out of guilt.

“Really?” I said. “This is how we’re starting the day?”

Leslie called. “Girl, you better start singing that song ‘Get Behind Me.’”

So, I did. Right there, still in my driveway, I sang Emerson Day’s lyric’s out loud. I even threw in, “Not today, Satan. Not tomorrow either. Move along, Sparky.”

And just like that, something in me unclenched. The morning didn’t change. I still had a flat tire, no mirror, and a talk to give, but my heart did feel peace. The worry lost its grip, and the humor came back.

Sometimes faith looks like standing in your driveway with a flat tire, choosing to laugh instead of panic. Sometimes it looks like telling trouble to take a hike.

I made it to church that day. But more than that, I made it through the morning without losing my peace—and that, I think, is the kind of victory worth holding onto.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

So, friend, when your day starts falling apart, just take a breath. Find your footing and tell trouble where to go. And keep your peace right where it belongs.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Think about a recent morning or moment that didn’t go as planned. How did you respond—panic, frustration, or peace?
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us that “the Lord is faithful.” How have you seen God’s faithfulness guard or steady you when things felt chaotic?
  • When life feels like one thing after another, what helps you keep your peace anchored in God rather than your circumstances?
  • Humor played a big role in Tammi’s story—how might joy and laughter be an act of faith in your own challenges?
  • What practical “not today, Satan” step could you take this week when things start to fall apart—something that helps you pause, breathe, and choose peace?

Lyrics:

When fear like a viper strikes
And worry starts to creep
I know that ain’t my Father’s voice
I could only be
That liar in my ear
Trying to make me believe
But I’m calling him out in the name of the Lord
Listen when I speak

Devil get behind me
Run on home
Back to the grave where you belong
In case you forgot
Let me tell you the truth
You’re stuck under my blood-bought boots!
Devil get behind me
You got no hold
I’ve been changed by the Holy Ghost
Try all you want but it ain’t no use
You’re stuck under my blood-bought boots

Get behind me!
Get behind me! Devil get behind me!

The same power that raised my Savior
Is the power that lives in me
So if you wanna pick a fight
You better think twice
Cause He’s got an angel army!

Devil get behind me
Run on home
Back to the grave where you belong
In case you forgot
Let me tell you the truth
You’re stuck under my blood-bought boots!
Devil get behind me
You got no hold
I’ve been changed by the Holy Ghost
Try all you want but it ain’t no use
You’re stuck under my blood-bought boots

Get behind me!
Get behind me!
Devil get behind me!
In the name of the Lord
In the name of the Lord

Devil get behind me in the name of the Lord
Devil get behind me in the name of the Lord
Devil get behind me in the name of the Lord
In the name of the Lord!

Devil get behind me
Run on home
Back to the grave where you belong
Just in case you forgot the truth
You’re stuck under my blood-bought boots!
Devil get behind me
You got no hold
I’ve been changed by the Holy Ghost
Try all you want but it ain’t no use
You’re stuck under my blood-bought boots

Get behind me!
Get behind me!
Devil get behind me!
In the name of the Lord!

/by

God Is Always in Your Story

, ,

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

I have loved singing for as long as I can remember. Music was always my dream, but life had other plans that led me through twists I never expected.

I was born with congenital scoliosis, a rare and progressive condition that stacked the odds against me early on.

Because of everything I went through, I thought I would make an impact through the medical field. That seemed like the best way for me to make a comfortable life that also helped others in pain.

When I was fourteen, I had back surgery to correct my spine. Doctors placed metal rods and screws along my back to straighten it. They told me it had a high success rate, but when I woke up, I was in excruciating pain.

The physical pain was unbearable, but the emotional weight was worse. Anxiety and depression became this smoke cloud I could not see through. I started to believe this would be my life forever.

One day, I reached for a bottle of pills and thought, “It would be that easy.”

I told God I just wanted to be with Him where it was safe and I did not have to hurt anymore. But as I carried that bottle to the bathroom, it fell from my hand and spilled everywhere. In that moment, I felt God’s presence so strongly. It was as if He whispered, “Hold on, I am not done yet.”

I threw the pills away and clung to those words. I had nothing left but a tiny seed of faith to hold onto, and that faith kept me alive.

I held tightly to Jeremiah 29:11 on a tattered prayer card that reminded me God’s plan was still good. It says, “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.”

After countless appointments, my surgeon offered a risky option—to remove the rods and screws. I said yes. When I woke up from that second surgery, the dark cloud was gone and light returned to my world.

I went on to finish my medical assisting certification, but deep down, something had changed.

Comfort no longer felt like the goal.

God was calling me to trust Him instead of my plans. So, I started writing songs and leading worship so people could see a sparkle of God’s hope in their own stories, the way I found it in mine.

When I sing “God Is in This Story,” I mean it. I’ve lived it. If you’re walking through pain or uncertainty right now, please know this. God hasn’t forgotten you. Even when the chapters feel dark, His light is still there, waiting to break through.

You may not see it yet, but one day, you’ll look back and see that He was in every line and on every page because God can step into the darkest moments and turn them into something beautiful.

— Katy Nichole

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Think about a time when your life felt uncertain or overwhelming. How might God have been working behind the scenes in that situation?
  • How does Jeremiah 29:11 encourage you to trust God’s plan for your future, even when you cannot see the outcome?
  • What “tiny seeds of faith” do you hold onto during difficult seasons? How can you nurture them to grow stronger?
  • How could your story of perseverance and faith encourage someone else walking through pain or uncertainty?
  • Are there areas of your life where you need to release control and trust God’s plan more fully?

Lyrics:

There’s torn up pages in this book
Words that tell me I’m no good
Chapters that defined me for so long
But the hands of grace and endless love
Dusted off and picked me up
Told my heart that hope is never gone

God is in this story
God is in the details
Even in the broken parts
He holds my heart, He never fails
When I’m at my weakest
I will trust in Jesus
Always in the highs and lows
The One who goes before me
God is in this story

So if the storm you’re walking through
Feels like it’s too much, and you
Wonder if He even cares at all
Hold on tight to what you know
He promised He won’t let you go
Your song of healing’s written in His scars

God is in this story
God is in the details
Even in the broken parts
He holds my heart, He never fails
When I’m at my weakest
I will trust in Jesus
Always in the highs and lows
The One who goes before me
God is in this story

If it reads like addiction
If it reads like disease
He’s the One who frees the prisoner
He’s the healer of all things
If it reads like depression
If it reads broken home
He’s the One who holds your sorrow
He won’t leave you here alone

God is in this story
God is in the details
Even in the broken parts
He holds my heart, He never fails
When I’m at my weakest
I will trust in Jesus
Always in the highs and lows
The One who goes before me
God is in this story

/by

Lessons in Faith, Family, and Finding Joy

,

Romans 12:9-13 — Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Halloween has always been bittersweet for me. Nine years ago, my sister Patti went home to be with Jesus on this very day. Patti wasn’t what the world would call “normal.” She had learning challenges and physical limitations, but those never defined her — not to us, and certainly not to her. She lived with joy, grit, and a deep love for people and for Jesus.

Every year, I remember Patti by reflecting on the twelve lessons she taught me. They’re simple, yet profound reminders of what a Christ-shaped life looks like:

  • Be resourceful. It’s not about your size or abilities, but your willingness to be part of things — no matter what others think.
  • Never give up.
  • Roll with the flow, even if it means being inconvenienced for a little while.
  • Smile and know who you are.
  • Laugh often and enjoy life.
  • Know no strangers — everyone you meet is worth your time.
  • Love your family unconditionally.
  • Love Jesus even more.
  • Serve others. No matter the hurdles you face, someone always needs help — and you can be the one to give it.
  • Be a friend to all.
  • Be yourself.

When I look at that list, I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 12:9-13:

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

That’s Patti. She lived this out not by trying to be “normal,” but by being exactly who God made her to be. My brother once said, “What if Patti was always the normal one, and we are not?” That thought still stops me in my tracks. Maybe the truest version of “normal” isn’t what culture says, but what God calls us to: childlike faith, unconditional love, unashamed boldness for Jesus, and a life poured out for others.

This Halloween, as kids run door-to-door in costumes and laughter fills the streets, I’ll be celebrating Patti — the joy she brought, the faith she carried, and the love she shared. And my prayer is that we all might learn to live a little more like her: fully ourselves, fully alive in Christ, and fully unafraid to shine His light.

Because in the end, “normal” isn’t found on a checklist of abilities or expectations. As Patti reminded me, “Normal” is just a setting on the dryer.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT:

  • Where in your life do you feel pressured to be “normal”?
  • How might God be inviting you instead to live with childlike faith, bold love, and the freedom of simply being who He made you to be?

 

/by

Leaving a Legacy of Faith

,

Psalm 78:4 — We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.

The grandkids were over again, racing through the living room. Tom sat back in his chair, letting their laughter echo through the house. He could not help but think how quickly time flies by.

He had raised his kids, watched them start families of their own, and now he was back to building forts in the living room with three wide-eyed grandkids.

They asked a hundred questions a day, most of which he did not have answers to. He wished he had more time to try.

It seemed like his wife Melody felt the same way. Later that evening, she turned over in bed and asked, “Tom, who is going to teach them truth when we are gone?”

That question led them to an unusual decision. A few weeks later, they added Christian radio to their will.

For Tom, it was not about control or making demands. It was about trust. He remembered how many times a simple song on the radio had steadied him in a storm, how a timely word had reminded him he was not alone. If it had carried him through, it could carry them, too.

He thought of the Israelites stacking stones beside the river as a marker for the children who would come later. “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.” His marker just happened to ride the airwaves, carrying truth to anyone willing to listen.

He could not choose the paths his grandchildren would walk. But he could leave a trailhead, a reminder pointing toward something real.

Someday, he thought, one of those little ones might turn the dial and hear hope when they need it most.

And maybe that is the invitation for all of us—to make sure someone else has the chance to hear hope when they need it most. After all, what better legacy could there be that’s worth tuning into?

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What kind of spiritual legacy are you leaving for the next generation?
  • Who first helped you hear the truth about God’s love—and how can you pay that forward?
  • How can you use what you have today (time, resources, or influence) to help others encounter hope tomorrow?
/by

Family On the Move

,

John 13:35 — Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. 

The move nearly did me in.

First the engine blew, then the tire went flat, and before long, I was stranded on the side of the road. It took twenty hours just to limp the moving van into my new town.

By the time I finally arrived, my own car was sitting abandoned miles away, and I was too tired to even cry about it.

The next morning my phone buzzed. It was my radio friends. They wanted to know if I was okay. I didn’t have the energy to sugarcoat it. I told them everything: about my broke down vehicle and about feelings bone-tired and a little afraid.

Before I knew it, my friends came to my rescue. Not one or two people, but a small army of them. They showed up at my new apartment and got my car to a safe place. They carried boxes, lifted furniture, and encouraged me.

The funny thing is, I never asked. They just came.

And somewhere between the boxes and the laughter, one of them looked at me and said, “Brenda, you’re part of the family now. Your family is here to help you.”

Wow. That’s what it means to be the Church, isn’t it. It’s not a radio slogan. No, it’s real love on display. Sacrificial, supportive, and never missing a beat.

And it makes me wonder: how can I live that out for someone else? How many people are quietly stranded on their own roadside, too tired or too proud to ask for help?

What if we slowed down long enough to notice them? What if we showed up without waiting to be asked?

The truth is, every act of kindness and every burden shared preaches louder than any sermon ever could. Because what we call the body of Christ, I think that’s just another word for family.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When have you experienced someone showing up for you without being asked? How did that reflect God’s love?
  • Who in your life might be quietly struggling right now — and what’s one way you can “show up” for them this week?
  • How does being part of the body of Christ — this family of faith — inspire you to live more generously?
/by