Riding with you on your way home from work or while running errands.

Trusting God in Chaos

,

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Romans 8:24-25

“What are those blasted dogs barking at?” I hollered, setting my coffee down hard on the table.

Robin bellowed from the back door, voice full of urgency. “There’s a big ole white rooster flying around in our backyard, and Harley’s got a mouthful of feathers! But I think it’s okay. It ran under the house.”

I blinked. “A what?”

“A rooster!” Robin was already halfway outside.

I shot up from my chair, my peaceful morning gone in an instant. “Robin, we do not have roosters in town!”

“Well, tell that to the sucker flapping around out here!”

Coffee forgotten, I ran out onto the porch, only to be greeted by pure chaos. The pups were going wild losing their ever-loving mind. Robin crouched down, peering into the darkness beneath the house. “I swear I saw it run under here.” m

So, naturally, we searched. High and low. Around the yard, in the shed, and under the porch. Not a cluck. Not a feather. Not a thing.

Robin finally stood up, baffled. “I don’t get it. It was right here!”

And just like that, the search was over. No rooster and no explanation. Just us, standing smack dab in the middle of our backyard, exhausted and empty-handed.

And suddenly, it hit me—how often do we do this? We demand answers, chase clarity, search for a perfect explanation when life throws us something confusing. And when we come up empty-handed? We panic.

But faith isn’t about always understanding. It’s about trusting the One who does.

Maybe today, instead of demanding explanations, we trust that God sees the whole picture—even when we are standing in the middle of our backyard, scratching our heads.

/by

A Mother’s Miracle Moment

,

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Romans 10:17

It is rare to come across a story that stops you in your tracks, but a mother wrote to us recently about her son—her bright, beautiful, nonverbal boy with autism, and I was left speechless.

Every morning, they would drive to school with Christian music filling the car. He could not express what he was thinking, but she could see something shifting. His eyes would light up, his hands would still, and his whole posture would change as if something was unfolding inside of him.

Then one morning, everything changed.

Out of nowhere, he spoke. “I want to give my life to Jesus.”

The words hit her like a tidal wave, and she nearly had to pull the car over. In ten years, he had never spoken a full sentence like that. And yet, there it was—clear, certain, and life-changing.

She had no idea that music was laying a foundation in his heart, but God knew. He was working through something as simple as a song on the radio, reaching her son in a way no one else could.

And it makes me wonder—how often do we dismiss the small things? A song, a conversation, a moment of kindness. We think they don’t make much of a difference, but what if they do?

What if the way you show up today—the words you speak, the things you share—is the very thing God wants to use to reach someone?

You may never see it firsthand. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

/by

Ice Cream and Friendship

,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

John 13:34

Kenny had learned the hard way that people don’t always care. His home life was falling apart, and he carried that weight on his shoulders every day.

At school, he kept to himself, thinking that if he stayed quiet enough, no one would notice the pain he was carrying.

But Katie noticed.

The other kids laughed when Kenny stumbled and scattered his books across the cafeteria floor, but Katie didn’t. Kenny had braced himself, eyes locked on the floor when suddenly, another pair of hands reached down to help. He looked up to see her.

She did not even hesitate. She just handed him his books and said, “Come on, let’s get ice cream.”

Kenny stared at her. “What?”

She shrugged. “Ice cream fixes a lot.”

He wanted to tell her no, that he was fine, that she did not have to waste her time. But something about the way she looked at him—like she saw him—made him follow her out the door.

They did not talk about what had happened. She did not ask questions. They just sat together in the school courtyard, letting the warmth of the sun and the cold of the ice cream do what words couldn’t. And in that quiet space, Kenny felt something shift.

For the first time in a long time, Kenny did not feel invisible.

Years later, at graduation, Kenny prepared to give his valedictorian speech. He took a deep breath and leaned into the microphone.

“Most people think life is changed by big moments,” He paused and looked at Katie, “but sometimes, it’s something small. A kindness I didn’t deserve, from someone who didn’t have to care.”

When I think about Kenny and Katie, I am reminded that loving people like Jesus doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it looks like stopping for someone who thinks no one would.

Dear one, who in your life needs that kind of love? It doesn’t take much to change the trajectory of someone’s world.

You never know. It really could mean everything.

/by

Be the Support Someone Needs

,

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

Ursula had spent her whole life being the strong one—the one who showed up for everybody else. But that day on the mountain, she had to be the one who was carried.

One wrong step, a sharp twist, and pain like fire shot through her ankle. She hit the ground hard, gasping. She tried to stand, but the moment her foot touched the dirt, she crumpled.

Miles of rocky trail stretched between her and help. There was no cell service, no way to call anyone, and for the first time in a long time, she felt completely helpless.

Then, three young men rounded the bend, breathless from their run. They could have smiled politely and jogged on past. Instead, they stopped.

One of them, a boy named Troy, crouched beside her. “Ma’am,” he said, his voice steady, “we’ve got you.”

And before she could argue, he knelt down, let her wrap her arms around his shoulders, and lifted her clean off the ground. Step by step, he carried her down that mountain, his friends steadying them along the way.

By the time they reached the bottom, Ursula’s ankle was still broken, but she felt more cared for than she had in a long time. Because kindness like that—the kind that costs something—sticks with you. They didn’t owe her anything. And yet, they gave anyway. Strength. Time. Compassion.

And the truth is, we all get the chance to be that for somebody.

Some burdens in life are too heavy to bear alone. But what if someone’s relief is waiting on your willingness? What if the kindness you offer today is the kindness that changes everything?

/by

A Song of Hope in Fear

, , ,

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4

Pam e-mailed her story to us, and when I read it, I felt the weight of it—the fear, the waiting, the desperate need for something to break through the anxiety.

I know that feeling. Maybe you do, too. This is what she said:

“I had already beaten cancer once, and I thought I was done with this fight. But then the cough started. 

At first, I told myself it was nothing. But when weeks passed, then months, I started to wonder. I visited the doctor, and he ordered some tests. 

The X-ray was taken, but the weight of the unknown pressed heavier on my chest than any illness ever could. As I left, I climbed into my car, silent, and braced for the worst.

Then, through the radio, Lauren Daigle’s voice broke through, singing, ‘You’re going to be okay.’ Tears spilled down my face. In that moment, I wasn’t just hearing a song—I knew I was hearing directly from God. 

Twenty minutes later, my phone rang. No sign of cancer! Relief washed over me, but something deeper settled in. The fear had been so real, but, I realized, so was God’s presence. 

Even before I knew the results, the healing had already begun. Because in my fear, in my waiting—God was already there. And He used this station to remind me.” 

Wow! Pam’s story is powerful because it’s real. And it is not just her story—it is all of ours. The fear, the anxiety, the nights spent wondering how much more we can take.

But God meets us there. And sometimes, He does it through something as simple as a song on the radio.

That is why this matters. Because of you, someone else will turn on the radio at just the right moment and hear exactly what they need.

Your generosity makes this possible. You are part of stories like Pam’s, and because of you, there will be more—more hope, more reminders that God is near, even in the fear.

Thank you for making that possible!

 

/by

Faith Moves Mountains

,

“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.

/by

Discover Strength Through Prayer

,

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Colossians 4:2

There was a quiet spot in the kitchen, just by the little fireplace. That was Mom’s place.

Every morning, before the day had a chance to pull her in every direction, she would sit there with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, her Bible in her lap. I can still see her, head bowed, whispering prayers that felt strong enough to hold up the walls of our home.

She never rushed and never let the weight of the day steal that time away. No matter what the day held—bills, doctor’s appointments, hard phone calls—she returned to that little corner like it was an anchor. And somehow, no matter what storm was brewing, she always found peace there.

I did not understand it then, not really.

But I do now.

I know what it is to wrestle with God in the quiet—whispering desperate prayers for a husband I had not yet met, for children I did not know if I would ever hold, for friendships that broke my heart, for parents I had to say goodbye to too soon.

And in every season, whether I was waiting or weeping, questioning or rejoicing, I found what she found.

There is a place in prayer that holds you steady when you don’t know what else to do. It is a place where the presence of God wraps around you like breath of fresh air. The answers do not always come right away. The pain does not vanish overnight. But in that space, you are not alone.

Maybe today, you need a place like that too. It does not have to be fancy. Just quiet enough to take a breath, to whisper Jesus’ name, and to lay it all at His feet. Because that is where real strength is found. And it has been waiting for you all along.

/by

Small Deeds, Big Love

,

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

Luke 6:31

Recently, an old friend of mine sent me a message out of the blue. It started with, “Lauren, I will never forget the time you
” and I thought, “Oh no, what did I do?” 

Turns out, it was not bad at all. She told me about a moment in high school I had completely forgotten about. Our drama teacher had gotten upset with her over something she didn’t even do.

She was shy as a church mouse and did not know how to defend herself, but I was not one to let things slide. Apparently, I jumped in and told the teacher, “Now, hold on, she didn’t do anything wrong!”

Here’s the kicker: I didn’t even remember it. But she did. Decades later, she still remembered how much it meant for someone to stand up for her when she couldn’t.

That message stopped me in my tracks. It reminded me of what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus—stepping into someone else’s struggle, even in small, everyday ways.

You never know when the next opportunity might come. It could be a simple word or a small act of kindness. Whatever it is, do not underestimate it. God works in those little moments, and they often mean more than we could ever know.

/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

Lighten Your Emotional Load

,

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

Ephesians 4:31-32

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

/by