Ten Dollars Well Spent

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1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 — And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Lately, I’ve had several young people knocking on my door.

And no, they’re not trick-or-treaters.

They’re looking for work.

I know that might sound a little unusual these days, but I’ve actually been pretty impressed.

One young man offered to clean up my yard.

Another wanted to mow.

And one even asked if he could clean my trash cans!

Now, I’ve got to tell you, that one caught me off guard.

But I admired their willingness to work.

These weren’t kids just standing there asking me to hand them money.

They were offering to do something to earn it.

And while I wish I could have hired every one of them, I couldn’t.

But there was one young man who stood out.

I don’t know exactly what it was.

There was just something about him.

Something sincere.

And as I listened to him, I couldn’t help wondering what might be going on in his life.

Why was he knocking on doors?

What was he trying to earn money for?

Was there something he needed that I couldn’t see?

I didn’t know his whole story.

But I knew I wanted to help.

So I found a simple little job for him to do.

Nothing complicated.

Just something he could finish and feel good about.

And when he was done, I reached into my wallet.

I had ten dollars.

That was it.

Not twenty.

Not fifty.

Just ten dollars.

So that’s what I gave him.

And friend, you should have seen his face.

He smiled.

And I watched him stand just a little taller.

Now, I don’t know what that ten dollars meant to him.

Maybe it helped him buy something he needed.

Maybe it was money he was saving.

Or maybe it was simply the satisfaction of knowing he’d worked hard and earned something.

But I could tell that moment mattered.

And you know what?

It mattered to me, too.

Because sometimes what we give someone is worth more than what’s in our hand.

Sometimes it’s encouragement.

Sometimes it’s dignity.

Sometimes it’s the reminder that somebody sees them and believes they’re worth a little time and attention.

And I’ve been thinking about that young man ever since.

Especially when I read Paul’s prayer in 1 Thessalonians.

“May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow.”

I love that word.

Overflow.

Not just enough love for the people who are easy to love.

Not just enough kindness for our friends and family.

But so much love that it spills over into the lives of people we don’t even know.

People who show up unexpectedly.

People whose stories we haven’t heard.

People who may need something we have to give.

And notice something else about that verse.

Paul is asking the Lord to make our love grow.

Because the kind of love God calls us to isn’t something we have to manufacture all by ourselves.

It’s something He grows in us as we follow Him.

And sometimes, He grows it through the smallest moments.

Like a knock at the door.

A conversation with a stranger.

Or a ten-dollar bill.

You know, I think it’s easy to overlook those opportunities because they don’t seem very big.

We imagine generosity means having a lot of money.

Or making some enormous sacrifice.

Or doing something that changes somebody’s entire life.

But what if love starts somewhere much simpler?

What if it starts with noticing?

Noticing the person who’s struggling.

Noticing someone who’s trying.

Noticing that there might be more to somebody’s story than what we see on the surface.

And then being willing to do something about it.

Now, we can’t help everybody in every situation.

And we need wisdom about how and when we help.

But we can ask God to keep our hearts open.

To help us see people the way He sees them.

And to make us willing to share what we can.

Because here’s what I’ve discovered.

When we choose to show compassion, it doesn’t just affect the person receiving it.

It changes something in us, too.

Our hearts become a little softer.

Our eyes become a little more open.

And our love has a chance to grow.

That’s what I want.

I want to be someone whose love doesn’t stop with the people I already know.

I want it to reach the person at my door.

The stranger at the store.

The neighbor down the street.

Whoever God places in my path.

So today, maybe you won’t have a young person knocking on your door asking to clean your trash cans.

But I have a feeling somebody will cross your path who could use a little kindness.

And maybe God will give you an opportunity to help.

It might not cost much.

It might not take long.

And you may never know what happens afterward.

But don’t underestimate what God can do with a willing heart.

After all, sometimes love begins to overflow when we stop long enough to notice who’s standing right in front of us.

And maybe that’s where it starts.

With an open heart.

Open eyes.

And a willingness to open the door.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever had an unexpected encounter with someone that made you more aware of the needs around you?
  • Why do you think being treated with dignity and respect can sometimes mean as much as receiving financial help?
  • Paul prays that our love will grow and overflow toward all people. Are there people outside your usual circle whom God may be encouraging you to notice?
  • How have small acts of generosity or compassion changed your own heart?
  • What is one practical way you can show someone today that they matter? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who might God be placing right in front of me today, and am I willing to stop long enough to notice? 

/by

More Than a Nice Thought

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Hebrews 10:24 — Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 

Emily Bissell once said, “Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.”

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.

Because you know what?

We can have good intentions all day long.

We can talk about kindness.

We can believe in generosity.

We can think all the right thoughts and say all the right things.

And still leave somebody standing all alone.

I mean, how many times have you thought about calling someone, but never actually picked up the phone?

Or noticed somebody having a hard day and thought, I really should check on them.

But then life got busy.

Something else came up.

And before you knew it, the moment had passed.

I think we’ve all been there.

But when I look at the life of Jesus, something stands out to me.

Jesus didn’t just talk about love. He moved toward people with it.

He noticed the ones everybody else overlooked.

He touched people others wouldn’t go near.

He stopped for the hurting.

He fed the hungry.

He made room for people who had been pushed aside.

His love wasn’t just something He talked about.

It was something people experienced.

And ultimately, He demonstrated the depth of that love by giving His life for us.

That’s a lot to think about as we move through another ordinary day, isn’t it?

Because most of us won’t be called to do something extraordinary today.

We’ll go to work.

Take care of our families.

Run errands.

Answer emails.

Do the same things we did yesterday.

But somewhere in the middle of all that ordinary life, there will probably be an opportunity to love somebody well.

Maybe it’s making that phone call you’ve been putting off.

Maybe it’s encouraging a coworker who hasn’t seemed quite like themselves lately.

Maybe it’s sitting with someone who’s lonely.

Or noticing the person everybody else seems to walk right past.

And here’s where Hebrews 10:24 challenges me.

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

I love that.

Let us think of ways.

In other words, don’t just wait for kindness to happen by accident.

Be intentional about it.

Pay attention.

Look for opportunities.

Think about what someone else might need and how you could help.

And don’t miss the other part of that verse.

We’re supposed to motivate one another.

That means the way we love people can encourage them to love somebody else.

Have you ever watched someone do something really kind and thought, You know what? I want to be more like that.

Maybe someone paid for a stranger’s meal.

Maybe you watched a friend quietly help somebody who was struggling.

Or maybe somebody showed up for you when you needed them most.

And their kindness stayed with you.

It made you want to do something for someone else.

That’s what happens when love gets moving.

One act of kindness encourages another.

One person chooses to care, and somebody else is inspired to do the same.

And suddenly, what started as one small decision reaches further than anybody expected.

Friend, the world doesn’t have a shortage of people who think kindness is a good idea.

What we need are people willing to put those good thoughts into motion.

People who don’t just say, “Somebody ought to do something.”

People who are willing to say, “Maybe that somebody is me.”

And here’s the beautiful thing.

You don’t have to have a lot of money.

You don’t have to have a perfect schedule.

And you certainly don’t have to wait until you’ve figured out some grand gesture.

You just have to be willing to notice someone and take the next step.

Because sometimes love looks like a meal.

Sometimes it looks like a text message.

Sometimes it’s a hug, a listening ear, or a few minutes of your time.

And sometimes the smallest act of love becomes the very thing that encourages somebody else to keep going.

So before today gets away from you, I want to challenge you.

Don’t just think about being kind.

Don’t just hope somebody knows you care.

And don’t assume somebody else will take care of it.

Consider one person.

Someone who could use a little encouragement.

Someone who needs to know they haven’t been forgotten.

Someone God has placed in your path.

Think about what love might look like for them today.

And then?

Do something.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever intended to encourage or help someone but never followed through? What kept you from acting?
  • Who has demonstrated Christlike love to you through something they actually did? How did it affect you?
  • What does it mean to intentionally consider how to encourage someone instead of simply waiting for an opportunity?
  • How might one act of kindness inspire someone else to show love or generosity?
  • Who is one person God has placed in your life who could use a tangible expression of love today? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who have I been thinking about encouraging, and what can I actually do for them today? 

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Barking Up the Wrong Fence

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Hebrews 13:6 — We can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” 

As the sun begins to rise, I lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement.

My morning route takes me past a used-car lot. At that hour, everything is still quiet. Rows of sedans and SUVs sit behind a chain-link fence, waiting for someone to drive them home.

But I hardly ever notice the cars.

You know what I notice?

The security system.

A hundred-pound Rottweiler.

And let me tell you, that dog takes his job seriously.

Every morning, like clockwork, the second he spots me, here he comes.

Charging across the lot.

Teeth showing.

Growling like I’ve personally offended him.

And even though I’ve run past that lot more times than I can count, I still get that little jolt of fear when he comes barreling toward me.

I mean, he’s a hundred-pound Rottweiler!

But lately, something has started to change.

Not the dog.

He’s still just as loud, just as intimidating, and apparently just as convinced that I’m a threat to the entire car dealership.

What’s changed is where I’m looking.

Instead of focusing on those teeth and that enormous dog charging toward me, I’ve started paying attention to something else.

The fence.

That chain-link fence standing between us.

Now, I still give that dog plenty of space. But when he starts barking, I remind myself that there’s a barrier between us.

And I keep running.

The funny thing is, the dog hasn’t changed.

The fence hasn’t changed.

What’s changed is what I’m choosing to focus on.

And I wonder how often we need that same reminder in our walk with God.

Because life has a way of sending things charging toward us, doesn’t it?

Fear.

Uncertainty.

Disappointment.

A difficult conversation.

A situation we never saw coming.

And sometimes those things feel enormous.

They’re loud. They’re intimidating. And they have a way of making us want to stop right where we are.

But listen to what Hebrews 13:6 says.

“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.”

And do you know what God promises in the verse just before that?

“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

I love that.

Our confidence doesn’t come from knowing that nothing frightening will ever happen.

It comes from knowing that whatever happens, God will not abandon us.

Now, God isn’t a chain-link fence.

And following Jesus doesn’t mean we’ll never get hurt, experience disappointment, or walk through something difficult.

But just as that fence reminds me there’s something I haven’t been paying attention to, God’s promises remind me there’s Someone I can always depend on.

Someone greater than the things that frighten me.

Someone who sees what I cannot see.

Someone who has promised to stay with me.

And maybe that’s what you need to remember today.

Maybe something in your life feels like it’s charging straight toward you.

Maybe you’ve been so focused on the size of the problem that you’ve forgotten the faithfulness of the God who walks beside you.

Friend, look again.

Not because the problem isn’t real.

Not because you have nothing to be concerned about.

But because the thing you’re facing isn’t the only thing that’s true.

God is with you.

He is your helper.

And He has promised never to leave you.

So tomorrow morning, when I lace up my running shoes and head past that car lot, I have a feeling that Rottweiler will be waiting.

He’ll probably bark.

He’ll probably charge.

And I’ll probably still jump a little.

But I’m going to keep running.

Because I’ve learned to remember something bigger than the thing that’s scaring me.

And whatever you’re facing today, I hope you’ll remember it, too.

Don’t let fear make you forget Who is with you.

Take courage.

Trust your Helper.

And keep running the race God has placed before you.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What’s the biggest source of fear or uncertainty in your life right now? How much of your attention has it been consuming?
  • Have you ever experienced a situation that didn’t change, but your perspective changed when you remembered God’s faithfulness?
  • How does God’s promise, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you,” affect the way you face difficult circumstances?
  • Are you allowing fear to keep you from taking a step you believe God is asking you to take?
  • What’s one practical way you can shift your focus from the size of your problem to the faithfulness of God today? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Am I spending more time staring at what frightens me than remembering the God who promises never to leave me? 

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Fear’s Not Getting Candy

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Matthew 14:27 — But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!

There’s something about a knock at the door this time of year, isn’t there?

The porch light comes on. Little footsteps make their way up the sidewalk. And when you open the door, there’s a tiny superhero, a princess, or maybe a dinosaur standing there with a bucket in hand, hoping you’ll drop in a little candy.

I mean, how sweet is that?

But you know what else comes knocking?

Fear.

And unfortunately, fear doesn’t limit its visits to October.

Sometimes it shows up as a phone call from the doctor’s office.

Sometimes it looks like bills piling up on the kitchen counter.

Sometimes it comes when your child is hurting, when a relationship falls apart, or when life takes a turn you never saw coming.

And unlike those little trick-or-treaters, fear doesn’t just want a piece of candy.

Fear wants to come inside, make itself comfortable, and convince you it’s there to stay.

And if we’re not careful, we can start living as though it belongs there.

I think sometimes, as Christians, we believe that if we have enough faith, we won’t be afraid.

But that’s just not true.

Fear is an emotion. And we’re human.

We all experience it.

The goal isn’t to pretend we’re never scared.

It’s learning that we can feel afraid without allowing fear to control how we live.

Fear may knock on your door, but it doesn’t have to move into your house.

I think about the disciples in Matthew 14.

They’re out on the water in the middle of the night. The wind is against them. The waves are tossing their boat around.

And then they see someone walking toward them on the water.

They’re terrified!

They think they’re seeing a ghost.

But listen to what Jesus says.

“Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!”

I love that.

Jesus didn’t wait until they felt brave enough to recognize Him.

He didn’t tell them they were silly for being scared.

He spoke to them right in the middle of their fear.

And He reminded them of the one thing that mattered most.

I am here.

The wind was still blowing.

The waves were still moving.

But Jesus was there.

And sometimes, friend, that’s exactly what we need to remember.

God’s presence doesn’t mean we’ll never face something frightening.

It means we don’t have to face it alone.

Maybe there’s something knocking at the door of your heart today.

Something that’s been stealing your peace, keeping you awake at night, or making you afraid of what tomorrow might bring.

You don’t have to pretend it isn’t there.

You can acknowledge it. You can pray about it. You can ask for help.

But you don’t have to hand fear the keys to your life.

Because courage isn’t the absence of fear.

Courage is remembering Who is with you when fear shows up.

So the next time fear comes knocking, remember what Jesus said to those frightened disciples.

“Take courage. I am here!”

And maybe instead of letting fear settle in, you can remind yourself of something far more powerful.

The One who walks on water is walking with you.

Fear may come knocking. But Jesus is already home.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What fear has been knocking at the door of your life lately? Have you allowed it to take up more space than it deserves?
  • Have you ever felt guilty for being afraid becasue you thought having fun meant you shouldn’t experience fear?
  • How does it change your perspective to remember that Jesus spoke to the disciples while the wind and waves were still around them?
  • What practical step could you take today to keep fear from controlling your decisions?
  • Is there someone in your life who is facing something frightening and needs to be reminded that they are not alone?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What fear have I been giving room to that I need to surrender to Jesus today?

/by

Smoke in the Kitchen

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1 Peter 4:8 — Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 

Are you a pumpkin spice and everything nice kind of person?

I’ll admit it.

I am.

But it’s not the lattes for me.

When it comes to pumpkin, I’m more like the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

Pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin cookies.

Pumpkin muffins.

If there’s a recipe that pumpkin can go in, I’m liable to try it.

So when I invited some friends over, I decided I was going to make one of my famous pumpkin pies.

And y’all, I had the whole thing planned.

Good food.

Good company.

A beautiful pie coming out of the oven.

Except there was one little problem.

I forgot about the pie.

We got to talking, laughing, and catching up on life, and before long, I started to smell…

Burnt crust.

That pie had gone from pumpkin spice to charcoal.

I was so embarrassed.

But do you know what?

My friends didn’t care.

They laughed about it and told me that none of them needed a perfect pie.

They came because they wanted to spend time with me.

And that put me in tears.

Because I put so much pressure on myself to say the right thing, serve the right food, and make all the right impressions.

Meanwhile, the people I love were just grateful to be standing in my kitchen…

Smoke and all.

And maybe that’s what good friends do.

They don’t make your mistakes bigger than they are.

They don’t let one failure overshadow the whole evening.

They give you grace.

They just love you.

And that makes me think about 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

That kind of love doesn’t mean pretending mistakes don’t matter.

It means we don’t keep score.

We don’t hold every failure over someone’s head.

We make room for grace.

And I think we all need a little more love like that this fall.

Maybe we could give ourselves—and each other—a little more room for imperfect moments.

So burn the pie.

Say the wrong thing.

Forget something important.

Get pumpkin everywhere, if you will.

And then…

love people well.

Because when love is around the table, there’s room for grace, too.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where do you put pressure on yourself to be perfect instead of simply being present with the people you love?
  • Who is someone who has given you grace when you messed up? What did their response mean to you?
  • Is there someone whose mistakes you may be holding onto a little too tightly? What would it look like to give them more grace?
  • What would change in your relationships if you stopped keeping score of every offense and chose to love people more earnestly?
  • Where do you need to receive grace for yourself instead of continuing to punish yourself for something that went wrong?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Where can I choose grace today instead of keeping score?

/by

The Sound Of Perseverance

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Galatians 6:9 — “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” 

Have you ever been told “no” so many times that you start believing it?

Well, don’t give up.

Before Lainey Wilson became a country music superstar, she heard “no” a lot.

In fact, she auditioned for The Voice seven different times.

Seven.

And she never even made it to the blind auditions.

But she kept going.

She kept writing songs. She kept performing. She kept knocking on doors.

And eventually, the girl who couldn’t get past the audition process became a country music superstar.

That’s quite a story.

But I think there’s something important we can miss if we only look at the ending.

Sometimes we look back at a story like Lainey’s and think, “Well, of course she kept going. Look how it turned out.”

But she didn’t know that.

She couldn’t see the ending.

She just knew she wasn’t finished.

And that’s where this gets personal.

Maybe you’ve been praying about something for a long time.

Maybe you’ve heard “no” more times than you can count.

Maybe you’re doing the right things, staying faithful, loving people, praying, serving—and still wondering if anything is actually happening.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Notice what Paul doesn’t say.

He doesn’t say you’ll see the harvest immediately.

He says “at just the right time.”

God sees what you can’t see yet.

So keep showing up.

Keep praying.

Keep doing the good things God has put in front of you.

You may not be able to see what He’s doing yet, but don’t mistake a season without visible results for a season without purpose.

Something can be growing long before you can see it.

So, friend, if you’re tired today, take a breath.

You have a lot going for you.

Keep sowing.

Keep trusting.

Keep doing good.

And whatever you do…

Don’t give up.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life are you tempted to give up because you haven’t seen the results you hoped for?
  • Have you ever looked back and realized that something God was doing took much longer than you expected? What did you learn from that season?
  • What “no” have you heard so many times that you’ve started believing it defines what is possible for you?
  • What good thing is God asking you to keep doing even though you can’t see the harvest yet?
  • What would it look like for you to keep trusting God’s timing instead of measuring His faithfulness by what you can see today?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Where am I tempted to give up simply because I can’t see the harvest yet?

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When Prayer Goes to Work

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2 Chronicles 7:14 — If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

I witnessed something last year that still makes me tear up.

Up in West Carroll Parish, around the Epps and Monticello area, there’s a farmer named Josh Ward.

He was working on a disc when a piece of metal flew into his eye and caused a severe injury.

And the timing couldn’t have been worse.

It was harvest season, and Josh couldn’t drive a combine.

So they prayed.

And then something unforgettable happened.

About a dozen other farmers showed up to help him.

Some brought combines and grain bins. Others brought their trucks.

These men had their own farms to worry about. Their own crops. Their own harvest.

But they saddled up and went to work getting Josh’s rice out of the field.

When I think about that story, I’m reminded of an old biblical picture.

In 2 Chronicles, God tells His people to humble themselves, pray, seek Him, and turn back toward Him.

And there’s something beautiful about what happens when people do that.

They stop looking only at themselves.

They turn toward God.

They pray.

They trust Him.

And sometimes, the answer to a prayer looks a whole lot like people showing up.

I truly believe Josh’s prayers put boots on the ground.

Maybe you’ve been praying for someone, too.

Maybe you’ve been asking God to intervene in a situation you can’t fix.

So, friend, keep praying.

But then look around.

Because sometimes we pray for God to move, and we’re watching the sky for an answer…

while God is already putting people in motion.

Maybe the answer is a phone call.

Maybe it’s a friend who shows up.

Maybe it’s a stranger who offers exactly what you need.

Maybe it’s a dozen farmers bringing their equipment to help you harvest a field you couldn’t harvest by yourself.

You never really know how God might answer a prayer.

So keep praying.

Keep seeking Him.

And keep your eyes open.

Because the answer may already be on its way down the road…

with boots on the ground.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Is there someone or something you’ve been praying about for a long time? What would it look like to keep trusting God with it?
  • Have you ever experienced an answer to prayer that came through another person? What did that teach you about God?
  • Is there someone around you right now who may need you to be the “boots on the ground” in their life?
  • What might change if, while you’re praying, you also started looking for the ways God may already be moving?
  • Where is God inviting you to humble yourself, seek Him, and trust Him rather than trying to carry everything on your own?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who might God be asking me to show up for today—and am I willing to be the answer to someone else’s prayer?

/by

Impossible Doesn’t Scare God

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Mark 9:23 — “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Have you ever looked at the odds and thought, “Well… there’s no way this ends well?”

Maybe somebody has already told you what you can’t do. Or maybe life backed you into a corner so tight you can’t see a way out.

Wilma Rudolph knew a little something about impossible too. When she was a little girl, she battled scarlet fever, pneumonia, and polio. Doctors told her she might never walk normally again, but her mother refused to let that diagnosis become her daughter’s destiny.

She told Wilma, “You will walk,” and do you know what? She did. Not only did Wilma walk, she ran. In 1960, she stepped onto the Olympic track in Rome and won three gold medals in track and field. She became the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games.

Just think about that.

The little girl doctors said might never walk grew up to run faster than almost anybody in the world. Sometimes the people who can see your limitations most clearly still cannot see the future God has in His hands, and maybe you needed to hear that today.

Because your obstacles might be real. Your circumstances may be difficult. You may have a problem in front of you with no obvious way around it, but faith doesn’t mean pretending the mountain isn’t there. It means remembering who is bigger than the mountain.

In Mark 9, a desperate father came to Jesus carrying a problem he could not fix himself. His faith was trembling. His circumstances looked hopeless. When the father said, “If you can do anything,” Jesus challenged the “if.” And the father gave one of the most honest responses in the Bible: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

Faith doesn’t require you to pretend you’re not afraid. You can believe and still need help believing.

Maybe that’s where you are today. You believe God can make a way, but you’re still scared. You trust Him, but you still have questions. You’re praying, but part of you is wondering how this could possibly work out.

That doesn’t mean you have no faith. It means you’re human—and you can bring even that uncertainty to Jesus.

We don’t know how every story will turn out, but impossible has never been a word that scares Him. So, if you’re staring at something today that feels too big, too broken, or too far gone, take heart.

You may be looking at the end of what you can do, but Jesus may be looking at the beginning of what only He can do. And goodness knows, sometimes that’s where the best stories begin.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What situation in your life currently feels impossible? Have you been looking more at the size of the problem than at the power of God?
  • Have you ever allowed someone else’s expectations or limitations to become your own? What would it look like to trust God with your future instead?
  • The father in Mark 9 had faith, but he also admitted his unbelief. Is there an area where you need to honestly tell Jesus, “I believe; help me overcome my unbelief?”
  • What is one obstacle you need to stop viewing as the end of the story?
  • Faith doesn’t mean pretending the mountain isn’t there. What does it look like for you to acknowledge the mountain while still trusting God?
  • Where are you tempted to focus on what you can’t do? How might your perspective change if you focused instead on what God can do?
  • What are you asking God to do that feels too big, too broken, or too far gone? Take a moment to bring that request honestly to Him.
  • What would it look like to take one step of faith today—even before you know how the story will end?
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The Freedom of Enough

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Hebrews 13:5 — Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

I once heard someone say, “We are not rich by what we possess, but rather by what we can do without.”

Isn’t that good?

There was a time when a new phone came out, and I felt like I had to have it.

Every time.

Not eventually. Not when my phone stopped working.

I needed the new one now.

I was the same way with cars. I used to trade mine in as soon as it hit 70,000 miles.

These days, I can’t afford to do either.

And here’s the truth I never expected:

I’m okay.

My phone is older. My car has more miles on it.

And apparently, neither one of those things ruined my life.

God has been teaching me that contentment isn’t settling for less.

It’s discovering that what I have is enough because the One who is with me has never changed.

That’s what makes Hebrews 13:5 so meaningful to me.

The verse connects contentment with a promise: God will never leave us or abandon us.

My circumstances can change.

What I own can change.

What I can afford can change.

But God doesn’t pack up and leave when the extras disappear.

I still like new phones.

I still like nice cars.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying good things.

But I don’t need those things to make me feel secure anymore.

And maybe that’s one of the surprising gifts of having less.

You discover that the things you thought were holding your life together weren’t holding it together at all.

God was.

Maybe true wealth isn’t having so much that you need nothing else.

Maybe true wealth is knowing Who you have when you have nothing left to prove.

So today, look around at what you have.

Be grateful for it.

And then look beyond what you can hold in your hands.

Because the greatest thing you have isn’t something you can buy, upgrade, or trade in.

It’s the God who has promised:

“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

And that is more than enough.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is something you once thought you needed in order to be happy or secure that you’ve discovered you can actually live without?
  • Are there things you own—or things you want to own—that sometimes become tied to your sense of security or worth?
  • What does contentment look like in your life right now? Where is God teaching you that “enough” really is enough?
  • How does the promise “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” change the way you think about having less?
  • What is one thing you can thank God for today that has nothing to do with money or possessions?
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The Treasure You Can’t See

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Colossians 3:1-3 – Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

And isn’t that true?

You can’t hold peace in your hands. You can’t put love in a jar. You can’t wrap up hope with a bow or measure kindness.

Some of the most valuable things in life are the very things you can’t see or touch.

But we live in a world that constantly tells us to chase bigger houses, newer cars, better things, and more stuff. It’s easy to spend our lives searching for things we can touch, see, and point to.

But the things we can hold aren’t always the things that hold us together.

Think about the joy of a child’s laughter. The comfort of a friend’s prayer. The reassurance of knowing Jesus is with you, even when life doesn’t make sense.

Those are the things we remember.

That’s part of what Paul is getting at in Colossians 3. He tells believers to set their minds on the things above—to keep looking toward Christ and the realities of the new life we have in Him.

Because our real life is now hidden with Christ in God.

In other words, what is visible may or may not be impressive, but what is eternal is what truly lasts.

That doesn’t mean the things we see are bad. A home can be a blessing. A car can be useful. Beautiful things can bring genuine joy.

But they were never meant to carry the weight of our identity or become the measure of a meaningful life.

So today, pause long enough to notice what you might normally overlook.

The love you’ve been given.

The peace God has provided.

The people who have prayed for you along the way.

The hope you have because of Jesus.

Set your sights there.

Because the things that matter most may not be the things you can see or hold.

They’re the things that hold you together—and they are found in Christ.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What are you spending the most time thinking about or chasing right now? Does it reflect the things Paul says to set your mind on?
  • What is something invisible—peace, love, hope, faith, friendship—that has meant more to you than something you could buy or own?
  • Are there earthly things you’ve allowed to carry too much weight in your identity or sense of worth? What would it look like to place that weight back on Christ?
  • What is one blessing in your life that you might normally overlook? Take a moment today to thank God for it.
  • What would change in your day if you intentionally “set your sights” on Christ before everything else?
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