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

Let Jesus Hold and Heal You

, ,

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

Deuteronomy 33:27a

Lauren Daigle’s song “Hold on to Me” played softly in the background. As it did, the melody pulled me into a memory—the hardest season of my life.

I was in so much pain back then and did not know what to do. One day, someone in a support group suggested, “You should try handing your pain to Jesus.”

Desperate for relief, I decided to give it a try. Later that day when I was alone, I closed my eyes, whispered, “Jesus, take this pain from me,” and waited.

But nothing happened. The pain was still there, unchanged and unbearable.

When I shared my frustration with a friend, She offered a perspective that shifted everything. She said, “You don’t hand Jesus your pain. You let Jesus hold you and heal your pain.”

So, the next time I prayed, I asked, “Jesus, will you hold me?”

In that moment, something remarkable happened. My heart was met with a love so kind, so perfect, and so present that I could not help but weep.

Day after day, I returned to Him with the same simple request: “Hold me.” And every time, His peace came like a river. What surprised me most was how tenderly He met me in the places I had hidden, wounds I thought were beyond healing.

His presence became my refuge—a safe place where I could fall apart and start again. It was not instant or easy, but it was real.

Now, when I hear that song, I am reminded of how steady and healing His love is. If your heart feels shattered, please ask Him to hold you. I pray you will find the peace and healing you have been longing for all along.

 

/by

Praise in Every Storm

,

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Romans 8:18

Ten-year-old Erin Browning danced with joy. Her small frame moved gracefully to the steps she choreographed to the Casting Crown’s song. The band’s lead singer, Mark, met Erin and her mother, Laurie, in the middle of the girl’s fight with cancer.

The mom’s faith was unlike anything he had seen before. She wept openly, asked hard questions, and even wrestled with anger. Yet, through her raw emotions, she chose to trust God.

After Erin passed, Mark sat alone with his guitar. He let the weight of it all wash over him. He could still hear Laurie’s words. She confessed no matter how dark life got, she knew God was still good, and His love still held the world together.

As Mark strummed his guitar, lyrics began to flow as a song took shape.

“And I’ll praise You in this storm, and I will lift my hands.

For You are who You are, no matter where I am,

And every tear I’ve cried, You hold in Your hand.

You never left my side, and though my heart is torn,

I will praise You in this storm.”

The song became an anthem that reminds us that worship is not confined to perfect moments. It is choosing to trust when the world feels like it is falling apart.

What would it look like for you to trust God in the hardest moments of your life? Could your faith tell a story of praise, even when it hurts?

 

/by

Find Your Freedom in Christ

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

Isaiah 61:1 

Over Christmas, Sarah and I bought Reese a play yard—what we jokingly call “baby jail.” It has been a lifesaver, giving us a safe place to keep her while we do the everyday things parents need to do. Reese, however, sees it very differently.

One day, I placed her inside to play while I cleaned up. She immediately began crying and looking up at me with desperate eyes. She thought she was trapped.

But what she did not know was that the door was unzipped and wide open—right beneath the bars she clung to so tightly. The way out had been there all along.

I pointed to the open door, trying to help her see it, but she did not understand. She felt stuck, but the truth was, she was free to leave anytime. It took a while, but eventually, she noticed the opening and crawled through.

In that moment, I saw a glimpse of myself. For so long, I felt locked in the cage of my sin, weighed down by guilt and shame. I thought those things defined me. But over time, I learned the truth.

For me, walking through that open door meant trusting God’s promises, seeking mentors, and learning to embrace His forgiveness. It changed everything.

I want to encourage you—you can find freedom, too. What is holding you back? The door is open. Will you step through it?

/by

Let God Speak to You

,

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:16

The satisfying pop of a Coke Zero can opening echoed through the room as I sank into my favorite chair, Bible in hand. I had promised myself to finish the entire Bible in 90 days, and the clock was ticking.

The first week, I felt unstoppable. My pen flew across the pages of my journal, marking progress like a marathon runner tracking miles. But by week three, it started to feel like a chore. I was checking off chapters, but nothing was sinking in.

One morning, I hit a wall. I had barely started when a single verse stopped me in my tracks. It was as if the words were waiting for me, insisting I pause. So, I did. I set the plan aside and let myself dwell on that verse.

That was the day everything changed. Now, I read differently. Each morning, I let the words come to life. I write down what stands out, no matter how small. Some days, I read chapters; others, just a line. It is not about finishing anymore—it is about hearing Him.

Friend, if you have ever felt unworthy because you cannot keep up with a plan, take heart. It is not a race. God is not asking you to read faster or do more. He is simply asking you to show up and be present with Him.

What step could you take today to meet with God in His Word, one day at a time?

 

/by

A Year of Kindness

,

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

1 John 3:17

Life can throw some hard punches, can’t it? A friend of 88.7 The Cross shared this story about the year her family’s world turned upside down.

You see, her mom was diagnosed with ALS. It was devastating, but even in the chaos, she had one simple request: she asked her husband to take time off work to care for her. He said yes without flinching.

He did not hesitate. He just did it.

But let’s talk about what that “yes” really means. No job means no paycheck—unless you have a boss like his. His employer, a faith-filled family business owner, decided to keep paying his full salary for a year. Let me say that again: a year.

That kind of generosity feels rare these days. It leaves you humbled and hopeful all at the same time.

So here is the question I keep coming back to: where can you step in and show that kind of kindness for someone else? You might not think you can do much, but trust me—whatever you do, it matters.

/by

Peace Beyond Understanding

,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27

I will never forget the day I was in the grocery store, pushing a cart and trying to catch my breath, when it hit me: I was okay.

It made no sense at all. Just six months before, my entire world had been turned upside down. One minute, I was living out west, loving my job, surrounded by friends, and checking in with my parents as often as I could.

Then, without warning, my mom passed away. Not long after, my dad underwent six bypass surgeries. So, I packed up everything and moved back home.

And yet, there I was, walking down the aisle of that store, not crushed under the weight of it all. I felt something steady holding me together. It was not my strength; I knew that much. It was the kind of peace you cannot explain, the kind only God can give.

Looking back, I see how much I leaned on Him in those moments. If you find yourself struggling today, know this: you are not alone. There is a God who is close and steady, even in the hardest moments.

/by

Courage to Choose What’s Right

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8

Abraham Lincoln stood alone in his office, wrestling with a question every leader faces at some point: What is the right thing to do?

He was not a perfect man. No. He had fears and flaws and second-guessed himself countless times. But today, that weight felt different. On his desk lay the draft of the Emancipation Proclamation—a document that carried the hopes of millions and the weight of a divided nation.

No one knew what would happen if he signed that document. His own safety was at risk, and the backlash would be fierce. He would be criticized, perhaps even hated, by some. Still, he could feel the injustice—deep in his bones—and it was something he could not ignore.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed the pen to paper. As the ink dried, he knew that the nation would never be the same. But he also knew that the long-awaited freedom for millions had finally been set in motion.

Each day, we face choices that challenge us. Choosing what is right may not always be easy, but it is always worth it. Like Lincoln, we are called to take the step of courage, trusting that God honors those who choose justice.

/by

Find Hope in God’s Faithfulness

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:23

He had dreamed of making a difference. As a young man, Thomas had pictured himself behind a pulpit, leading others closer to God. But life had other plans. Illness robbed him of the strength to preach, and financial struggles followed close behind.

One evening, as the sun dipped low and shadows filled the room, Thomas sat at his desk. His frail hands trembled as he opened his journal. He could have written about the disappointment, the missed opportunities, or the life he thought he had lost.

Instead, his mind turned to the quiet ways God had shown up: a kind neighbor bringing a meal, a check in the mail just when he needed it, a peace that carried him through sleepless nights.

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” he wrote, the words forming like a prayer. Each line became a declaration: “Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.”

That hymn would go on to inspire millions, sung in churches, homes, and hospital rooms. But for Thomas Chisholm, it was a reminder that when life does not go as planned, God’s faithfulness remains.

If today feels overwhelming, know this: God’s faithfulness does not waver. Like Thomas, you can cling to the truth that morning by morning, His mercies will meet you right where you are.

 

/by

Life Lessons from a Leak

,

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

The water leak was so small, I hardly noticed it at first. It was a slow drip, hidden away in the basement bathroom my kids used. Out of sight, out of mind.

It was easy to ignore—until the water company sent a letter. That “no big deal” was costing me a lot more than I thought. Suddenly, that slow drip had turned into an expensive issue I could not ignore.

We called a plumber, and within ten minutes, the leak was fixed. The bathroom was dry, and everything seemed normal again. But standing there, I could not shake the thought: how often do I let small problems slide until they grow into something much harder to handle?’

Fixing the leak in the bathroom was simple, but it reminded me to pay attention—not just to my home but to my heart. The truth is, life is full of “small leaks.” Little compromises, unhelpful habits, and unchecked attitudes. I want to face these things head-on before they spiral out of control.

Maybe you need that reminder too. What in your life could use your focus right now? Take some time today to stop, reflect, and make a change before the drip becomes a flood.

/by

Ignite Your Spiritual Life

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13

My spiritual life needed a spark. You see, I was raised in church from the time I was two weeks old. My family was there every time the doors were open.

I could recite all the stories, knew the songs by heart, and even sat up straight in Sunday School. But if you asked me back then why I was a Christian, I would have stared at you like you had three heads.

That changed during my junior year of high school. My Bible teacher, Gary Blackshear, stood before our class one day and said, “You need to figure out what you believe—and why you believe it. You can’t just coast on what someone else believes.”

That one statement hit me like a lightning bolt. He was teaching us to study God’s Word like it mattered. He was challenging us to not just skim through our Bibles or settle for knowing the “right answers.”

So, I started digging in scripture. At first, it felt like work, but over time, the Bible came alive to me. Faith stopped being a checklist and became a relationship. By the end of that class, I was not the same.

Looking back, I know this: faith is not a spectator sport. And it all started because someone challenged me to wake up. It takes effort, questions, and sometimes even a little discomfort. But it is worth every moment.

So, if your faith is feeling dim, ask yourself: are you coasting or digging? Seek God with all your heart. When you do, you will discover it changes everything.

/by