The Connection Corner

A daily source of encouragement and inspiration to connect your heart to hope and faith.

The Sound Of Perseverance

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?

October 6, 2026/by Tammi Arender

Taco Soup for the Soul

Daily Devotional, David Hall

Psalm 98:1 — Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!

There is just something about fall.

The days get shorter. The air gets cooler, and the leaves start to change.

Porch lights come on a little earlier, and suddenly everybody seems to have a pot of something warm on the stove.

And maybe that’s why I loved this particular evening so much.

My wife and I have a set of couple-friends who are pretty special to us. They’re the kind of friends who somehow knew both of us separately for more than a decade before Sarah and I ever started dating.

They actually introduced us.

Needless to say…

We love these people.

It had been a while since we’d all gotten together, so they invited us over for taco soup.

And if you’ve ever had really good cornbread with taco soup on a fall evening, you might already know where this story is going.

We sat around the house while it got dark outside.

We ate.

We laughed.

We talked about the highs and lows of life.

Their girls ran around the house and loved on our toddler.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, I just felt grateful.

Not for one big thing.

For all of it.

Lately, I’ve been hearing Forrest Frank’s song THANKFUL, and it reminds me to notice the things I often overlook.

A roof over my head.

A bed to sleep in.

Food in the kitchen.

Good friends.

Even a big mess that I’m actually grateful to get to clean up.

It’s a reminder that sometimes we’re surrounded by blessings we’ve simply gotten used to seeing.

Sitting there with our friends, that’s all I could think about.

Soup on the stove.

Blankets on the couch.

Laughter in the next room.

People I love sitting across the table from me.

There was only one word for it.

Breathtaking.

And I think that’s one of the beautiful things about fall.

It gives us so many ordinary moments to notice.

And when we turn our attention toward God in those moments, something happens.

Gratitude starts to rise.

And before you know it, you’re singing your own song of praise.

Psalm 98 says, “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds.”

Maybe your new song today doesn’t start with a melody.

Maybe it starts with noticing.

Look around.

Notice what God has given you.

Notice the people He has placed in your life.

Notice the ordinary blessings you’ve stopped seeing because they’ve become so familiar.

And then look up.

Because when you begin to recognize the goodness of God in the middle of an ordinary day, you may discover that you have more reasons to sing than you realized.

We really do have so much to be thankful for.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What is one ordinary blessing in your life that you’ve become so accustomed to that you rarely stop to thank God for it?
When was the last time you felt grateful “not for one big thing, but for all of it”? What made that moment special?
Who are the people in your life who make ordinary moments feel extraordinary? Have you told them how thankful you are for them?
What changes in your perspective when you intentionally look for God’s goodness in the small things?
If you were going to write your own “new song” of gratitude to God today, what would you include?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What blessing have I gotten so used to seeing that I’ve forgotten to thank God for it

L Y R I C S

I’ve got so much to be thankful for

Look, I’ve got a roof and a bed
A couple groceries to stay fed
I’ve got a phone and clean water
And some shoes when I wanna go farther

Today, I’ve got so much to be thankful for (hey)
I woke up this morning thinking, “Thank You, Lord” (hey)
For giving me everything I could ever need and more
I’ve got so much to be thankful for (oh, yeah, run it back)

Ayy, I have lights and a fan
A couple people who know who I am (know)
I have a car and clean clothes
Pots and pans I can cook on the stove

I have the sun and air in my lungs
And a big mess that I get to clean up
But most of all, one thing’s true
Jesus, I’m grateful for You (you, You, ah)

Today I’ve got so much to be thankful for (thankful for)
I woke up this morning thinking, “Thank You, Lord” (thank You)
For giving me everything I could ever need and more (need and more)
I’ve got so much to be thankful for (ayy)

One more time
Today, I’ve got so much to be thankful for (thankful for)
I woke up this morning thinking, “Thank You, Lord” (thank You, Lord)
For giving me everything I could ever need and more
I’ve got so much to be thankful for
Oh, say it again, say it again
I’ve got so much to be thankful for

October 5, 2026/by David Hall

The Night Love Went to Work

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

1 Corinthians 15:58 — So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

There is something special about a fall festival.

The air turns crisp. Friends catch up over steaming cups of apple cider. Somewhere nearby, kettle corn is popping, and funnel cakes are making it very difficult to remember that you already ate dinner.

I take it all in and look around.

Kids are trying things they’ve never tried before. Parents are laughing and talking while their children run around. Candy bags are getting heavier by the minute.

And I love it.

But the longer I watch, the more I realize what I’m really witnessing.

I’m watching a community love its people.

A volunteer kneels down beside a child who isn’t quite sure she wants to try the game.

Someone else is laughing with a group of kids.

Parents relax because they know somebody is looking out for their children.

There’s no spotlight on any of it.

It’s just people showing up and trying to show others the love of Jesus.

And it reminds me how easy it is to overlook the ordinary ways God uses us.

Sometimes we imagine ministry has to be a microphone, a Bible study, or some grand opportunity to make a difference.

But what if ministry can also be a folding chair?

A game booth?

A smile?

A conversation with a child?

A simple act of kindness that nobody else notices?

Paul told the church in Corinth to remain strong and steadfast and to give themselves fully to the Lord’s work, because their labor for the Lord is never wasted.

And I think that’s exactly what I’m seeing here:

Labor that won’t go to waste.

These people are doing little things that may matter far more than they will ever know.

Maybe that child who was nervous will remember the volunteer who knelt down beside her.

Maybe a parent will remember how welcomed their family felt.

Maybe a simple conversation will stay with someone long after the festival is over.

We may never see the full fruit of those moments.

But God does.

So keep showing up.

Keep serving.

Keep loving the person right in front of you.

Because in the hands of God, ordinary acts of faithfulness—really and truly—are never wasted.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What is one ordinary thing you do that you sometimes wonder whether it really matters? Could God be using it in ways you cannot see?
Have you ever had someone’s small act of kindness make a bigger impact on you than they probably realized?
Where is God giving you an opportunity to serve right now—even if it doesn’t feel significant or impressive?
Are you more likely to serve when people notice, or can you find joy in serving when only God sees?
Who is the person right in front of you today who might need a little encouragement, kindness, or your willingness to simply show up?