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

Letting Go of Worries

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“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

I could feel the weight of it pressing on my chest before I even opened my eyes.

The endless list of things to do. The responsibilities. The expectations. The constant need to plan, manage, and make sure everything stayed together.

I had started this year with so much hope. I had set my goals, mapped out my plans, and committed to growing in my faith. But now? Now I just felt tired. I was doing everything I could to keep up, but no matter how hard I tried, there was always something slipping through the cracks.

Sitting in the quiet of the morning, Bible in hand, I felt the frustration rising. Lord, I’m trying. I really am. But it never feels like enough.

And then, in the stillness, a truth settled over me like a warm embrace: It was never supposed to be yours to carry.

Tears blurred my vision. I had spent so much energy trying to control things that were never mine to control. I had mistaken worry for responsibility, as if my stress could somehow change outcomes.

But God had never asked me to hold the weight of the world.

He had called me to prayer, not pressure. He had asked me to seek Him. To trust, not control.

I had been exhausting myself over things I was never meant to manage, when all He had ever asked me to do was prepare my heart for where He was leading.

And so, I let go.

Not because everything was fixed. Not because I suddenly had all the answers. But because I finally understood—peace does not come from control. It comes from trust.

Maybe you are feeling it, too. The weight, the worry, the overwhelming pressure to figure everything out. But friend, you do not have to carry this.

God is already holding everything in His hands.

Let yourself breathe again. Let yourself rest. Just seek Him.

That is all He has ever asked.

And that is enough.

 

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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God Speaks, We Follow

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“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27

I can still remember the way my heart pounded in my chest.

“Hey, I don’t know why, but I just feel like I’m supposed to ask … Can I pray for you?”

My manager barely looked up at me. “No, I’m fine.”

So, I nodded, said something nice, and walked away feeling embarrassed. Maybe I had misunderstood God. For a while after that, I questioned if I had just imagined it.

Life moved on, and if I am honest, I stopped stepping out in faith like that. Years passed. Then one day, out of nowhere, a message appeared on my phone screen.

“David, I don’t think I ever told you, but thank you. The last time we talked, I told you no. What I didn’t tell you was that I was badly addicted to meth at the time. I lied to you. I was not okay! But you told me that God loved me, that He had a plan for me, and that He would make a way out. 

A couple of weeks later, I hit rock bottom and called my parents. Things did not go the way I expected, but somehow, I ended up in Chicago, and I have been clean ever since. Three weeks after getting sober, I found out I was pregnant. My daughter could have suffered from all the choices I made, but by some miracle, she was born completely healthy.”

I sat there, staring at the screen, completely undone. All those years, I had believed that moment was a failure. That I had missed it.

But God does not miss it.

He never does.

How many times since then had I ignored His voice, assuming it would not matter? How many moments had I let slip by because I was afraid of looking foolish?

Not anymore.

God is speaking. He is moving. And if He is nudging you today—don’t ignore it. You have no idea what He might be setting into motion.

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God is Still with You

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“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

There are people in your life who make you stop and think, How does she do it? Sarah is one of those people for me.

Three kids with special needs, a life that never slows down, and a faith deep enough to carry it all. I have watched her handle things that would have leveled me. But today, as we sat across from each other, I saw something different in her eyes.

She stirred her coffee and said, “I’ve been trying to put the last few years into words, and I finally figured it out.” She glanced up. “It has been a hurricane.”

I frowned. “A hurricane?”

She nodded. “For so long, I was just trying to survive. Holding on, keeping my kids safe, and fighting to keep everything from falling apart.”

My chest ached at the honesty in her voice.

“And then one day, it was over. The storm passed. Life was … calmer.” She hesitated. “I should’ve felt relieved.”

I waited.

“But instead, I finally looked around and realized—things were broken. My marriage had cracks I didn’t see before. Some friendships didn’t make it. And my own heart?” She exhaled. “I wasn’t the same either.”

She met my eyes. “I thought the miracle was that God got me through. But the real miracle is that He’s still here. He’s standing in the wreckage with me, showing me what’s worth saving and what needs healing. He doesn’t just rescue us—He restores us.”

I sat there, her words pressing into places in my own heart I hadn’t even realized were aching.

We talk about God parting the sea. Calming the storm. Delivering us. But we don’t always talk about the God who kneels beside us afterward, helping us pick up the pieces.

If you’re looking at what life has left behind and wondering how to move forward, listen—God is still here. He’s not done with you.

The storm may have passed. But the rebuilding? You don’t have to do it alone.

Let Him be more than the one who saved you.

Let Him be the one who stays.

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Faith Moves Mountains

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“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. ”

Jeremiah 32:17

It is easy to believe in miracles until the door slams shut in front of you.

Sitting in that embassy office, I felt crushed under the weight of disappointment. Everything for the adoption had seemed perfectly aligned—the paperwork, the planning, the prayers. And yet, here I was, immobile and speechless as the dude behind the desk shared these words:

”You will never bring these children home!”

As I left, grief threatened to overwhelm me. But in the middle of despair, I found myself saying words to another grieving mother as she sobbed leaving the embassy: “Let me tell you something! If these children are meant to be ours, the Lord will move, and nothing can stop Him.”

The words were not just for Karyn, the other mother—they were a lifeline for my own heart. Though the path ahead was unclear, we chose to trust that God’s plan was still unfolding.

Now, years later, I look at my teenage daughter, Channing, and marvel at what God has done. Every tear, every delay, and every heartbreak brought us to this moment—a beautiful soul growing into the person she was meant to be.

Dear one, if you are staring at an impossible situation, do not let fear convince you that God has forgotten you. He is still moving, still working, and still making a way. Keep trusting. Keep standing firm. The story is not over yet.

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Knowing God is Still Good

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“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

I meant well. I really did. I had spent the afternoon helping my uncle around his house—fixing small things, making conversation, just being there. It was the least I could do after everything he had been through.

As I grabbed my keys and turned to leave, I threw out a casual, “God bless you.”

Without skipping a beat, he pointed at his amputated leg and said, “I think God has blessed me enough.”

Cue the longest, most painful silence of my life.

Eventually, I muttered, “Alright, well… see ya,” and practically sprinted out the door.

The moment clung to me the rest of the day. Wow, I really got that wrong. I had no clue what my uncle actually believed about God. And yet, here I was, confidently acting like we had been having deep spiritual conversations for years.

But even though I misread the moment entirely, I could not shake the truth: God is good. Even when life does not look like it. Even when it hands you something you never would have chosen.

Maybe my uncle does not believe that right now. Maybe you are not sure either. But what if the very things that feel like the hardest parts of your story are the places where God is working the most? What if—despite everything—He is still turning broken things into something good?

Because I believe He is. And I hope one day my uncle does, too.

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You Are Safe in His Everlasting Arms

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“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Deuteronomy 33:27(a)

Elisha’s chest ached. He was supposed to be writing encouragement for his Christian publication, but how could he encourage when the war had stolen so much?

Outside, the world was moving on—shops opening, carriages rolling by—but when he closed his eyes, he saw the families left in pieces.

He had read their stories in letters, seen it in the eyes of his friends. Mothers burying sons.  Young men burdened by memories too painful to speak out loud.

He exhaled slowly. “Lord, what can I say?”

His worn Bible lay open beside him, and a familiar verse stared back at him:

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” 

A lump formed in his throat. “Yes, Lord. That is the truth they need.”

He set his editorial aside. This needed to be something different—not just words of encouragement, but a song for weary hearts. And as he wrote, the words came effortlessly:

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms; 
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

“Let them feel it, Lord,” he prayed. “Let them know they are not alone.”

And somehow, they did. “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” traveled beyond his study, slipping into homes, churches, and hearts that needed it most. It carried people through storms and became a melody of comfort when they felt like falling apart.

And now, here you are.

Maybe you, too, have been living through suffocating grief or trauma. Maybe your heart is weary from carrying the weight alone.

But you are not alone. There is a love stronger than your pain, arms that will never let you go. No matter what has been lost, no matter how uncertain tomorrow feels, you can rest in the unshakable truth that you are loved by God.

Will you let yourself be held today?

 

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Saying Yes to God’s Call

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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

“What if we stepped out in faith, together?”

That’s the question my friend and I in high school kept circling around. We had talked for months about starting a Bible study—dreaming of growing in our faith, learning from each other, and supporting one another. But the more we thought about it, the more uncertain we felt.

Were we really qualified? Would anyone even come?

But one afternoon, after another heart-to-heart about what God might be calling us to do, we made a decision. We prayed for courage and clarity, and just like that, we took the plunge.

We began meeting weekly, unsure of what we would find, but we trusted that God would be in the middle of it. Though we questioned out abilities, we clung to our belief that God doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called.

Our first Bible study was small, just the two of us, but it felt like a great start. We discussed passages from the Bible, asked questions, and prayed for each other.

We did not have all the answers. But we were willing. Willing to show up. Willing to open our Bibles and learn together. Willing to trust that even our small, hesitant steps could become something bigger than we could see.

And they did! Week after week, our group began to grow. More friends joined. We didn’t know it then, but God was at work in our hearts—and in theirs.

Starting that Bible study taught me something I’ll never forget: God uses our small steps of obedience to do far more than we could ever imagine.

So, if there is something God is stirring in your heart today, don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. You do not need to have all the skills or the answers! You just need to say yes. Take a step, right where you are, and watch how God will use your obedience to bless others in ways you never expected.

 

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Love That Can’t Be Ignored

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:14 

If you drove past our house when I was growing up, you might have seen a garden hose hanging from the highest limb of the big oak tree out front.

That wasn’t an accident. That was Granddad.

Every time he came to town for a doctor’s visit, he would stop by our house, usually without any warning. He made it a point to leave behind a sign of his visit.

After waiting around a bit, He would wander to the side of the house, grab the water hose, and send it soaring into the leaves. And I would come home from school, pull up the driveway, and there it was swaying in the wind.

My mom would burst into laughter. Dad would shake his head, muttering as he wrestled it down. And me? I never understood why.

But now I think I get it. It was his way of saying, I was here. I care about you.

It was odd, yes. Unconventional, absolutely. But that’s the thing about real love—you can’t ignore it.

And isn’t that exactly what Jesus calls us to do? To leave behind proof of love.

He didn’t come in the conventional way either. With him, He healed, He forgave, and He gave dignity to those others ignored. He did not leave people wondering if He had been there. His love left a mark.

So today, when you have the chance, don’t hold back. Leave love behind. Send the message. Give the encouragement. Show up for someone in a way they won’t forget.

Because sometimes, love looks like words. And sometimes, it looks like a hose hanging in a tree.

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God’s Road to Redemption

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Luke 15:7

It started with a road trip—one my dad took very seriously. He and Mom were helping me move into college, and once that car hit the highway, there was no stopping him. The man had a mission, and absolutely nothing was getting in the way.

Or so he thought.

We stopped for gas in a little Arkansas town called Hoxie. Mom slipped inside while Dad filled the tank, stretched his legs, and glanced at the passenger seat. A bundle of blankets sat where Mom had been, and in his focused little world, that was good enough.

So off he went.

Eight and a half hours later, he made another fuel stop, turned to speak to Mom, and came face-to-face with… no one.

The realization hit like a brick to the face.

By the time he screeched back into that gas station, Mom was pacing the parking lot like a firecracker with a short fuse. Her arms were crossed tight, her lips pressed thin.

When she saw him, she leveled him with a stare so sharp it could have cut glass.

“You need your head examined.”

Now, I can’t help but laugh every time I tell that story. My dad had never been more grateful to still be alive. But isn’t that just like life?

How many times have we made a mistake that took us further than we ever intended to go? Maybe not eight and a half hours out of the way, but far enough to wonder if we could ever make it right.

But here is the truth, dear one. God never leaves us stranded.

You are never too far gone for God to come back for you. The same God who turns pain into joy, regret into wisdom, and mistakes into redemption is holding out His hand.

Whatever wrong turn you have taken, trust me—He knows exactly how to bring you home.

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God Sees Your Tears

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“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalms 103:2-5

I did not expect waiting to feel like this.

From the time I was very young, I dreamed of being a mom.  I would name my dolls and dream of the day I would hold a baby of my own. When I married at eighteen, my husband and I shared that dream—but we decided to wait a couple of years before starting our family.

But life doesn’t always follow the plans we make, does it?

At twenty, I lost my first pregnancy. The pain was unbearable, but I reassured myself, Next time will be different. Except it wasn’t. Year after year, I didn’t get pregnant again. Instead of searching for answers, I buried my grief in busyness, trying to outrun the pain.

But the ache only grew.

I whispered prayers like “God, I trust You,” while my soul screamed in doubt. I begged Him to move. When He didn’t, I pleaded for Him to at least take away the longing. But He didn’t. Instead, He let me carry it.

And that was the hardest part.

I wrestled with that silence. If He was good, why was He withholding this good thing? If He loved me, why did He feel so distant? I did not have answers, only the daily decision to trust Him even when I could not understand Him.

Then, one day…Wow God!

My son JD was born in 2007, and Jesse followed in 2008. The moment I held them, the years of waiting suddenly made sense. Because I was different. The waiting had shaped me, deepened me, changed me. I wasn’t just a mother—I was a mother who had learned to trust in the silence.

I call my boys tender mercy and loving kindness because that’s what they are. God heard me, and He healed me through their love.

In the same way, if today you are struggling with an aching heart and the sting of silence, please know this: God sees every tear, hears every prayer, and is not indifferent to your pain. Hold on, because your story is still unfolding. God still has so much in store for you.

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