The Connection Corner

When Life Feels Unfair

Daily Devotional, Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Now listen—I was not sitting around in sackcloth and ashes waiting on Prince Charming to ride up in a pickup truck. I was thirty-nine and career bound. I had a good life. I paid my bills, planned vacations, and had great friends.

But for as long as I could remember my mom always dreamed about my wedding day. I know she meant well, and she was praying for grandkids. But I was not ready for my Big Fat Greek Wedding quite yet.

Fast forward six years, and there I was, in lace and lipstick, about to experience my own happily-ever-after. But my heart was broken. No. Livid.

I knew Mom was supposed to live to be 120 or at least until Jesus would come back down in the clouds. So how was it possible that cancer could take her from this world before my wedding day? She never smoked, did aerobics faithfully, and only ever ate health food.

So, before I could say my country nuptials, I walked down by the pond, sat on the dock, and just stared at the water. I tried to remember what her voice sounded like. I tried to picture her smile.

But all I could do was whisper, “You were supposed to be here.”

The wind didn’t answer, and the skies didn’t part, but deep down, I knew I was not alone. I sensed the nearness of God—not fixing it, not explaining it—but sitting right there beside me.

Family, I would never have written the story this way, but I am learning that God can be trusted with pages that feel torn and unfinished.

There is a whole lot in this life that won’t ever feel fair, but I believe with everything in me that God still knows what He is doing. One day, we will see it all made right, but until then, He is able to redeem even our deepest pain in ways we never expected.

He sees what we’ve lost. He holds what we cannot. If all you can do today is breathe and believe He’s still good, start there. There is healing, even now, and He is not through yet.

May 17, 2025/by Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Face to Face Love

Daily Devotional, Lisa Williams

Numbers 6:24–25 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.”

It started with a simple desire. I just wanted my boys to know, deep in their bones, that they are loved.

We were standing in the kitchen. Life was moving fast, and like most families, we were living in the blur of busy. But that day, I paused and looked at Jesse, then Jon David, and said, “Let’s try something.”

I asked them to look at me—to really look me in the eyes. I held their gaze for a moment and simply said, “I love you.”

You know, that kind of vulnerable honesty takes people off guard, especially teenage boys. They laughed a little. It was that one that is half embarrassed, half unsure what to do with something so sincere, but they looked back. And they said it too.

It was weird, but we did it anyway.

And then we did it again the next day. And the next.

Day by day, gaze by gaze, we let the weirdness wear off, and eventually, something beautiful took its place. Now, we lock eyes, we hold the silence, and we say the words. And somehow—just in that simple act—it has become one of the most grounding, grace-filled things in our relationship.

Somewhere along the way, I started thinking about that ancient blessing from Scripture: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.”

That image has stayed with me—God’s face turned toward us, beaming with love. Not rushing. Not distracted. Just fully present.

That was what I wanted my boys to know. Not just that they’re loved in theory or in passing—but that my love for them is steady and intentional. I want them to recognize that kind of love by the look on my face.

When it comes to showing someone that you love them, your face is the place! Just like God’s face shines on us with His love, we can let others know we love them by looking them in the eyes, holding their gaze, and expressing love sincerely.

So, the next time you are with someone you love, try it. Pause. Look them in the eyes. Let the moment be a little awkward if it needs to be, and then say the words.

Let them see it in your face.

May 16, 2025/by Lisa Williams

Nothing to Hide

Daily Devotional, Sarah Hall

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

When my sister and I were younger, wrestling and shoving each other was just part of the fun. But one day, I pushed her a little too hard, and she fell straight into our bedroom wall, leaving a hole about two feet long.

We both froze, staring at the gaping hole in shock.

Instead of running straight to our parents, we thought we could solve it ourselves—by covering it up. We grabbed a blanket, tacked it to the wall, and convinced ourselves that no one would notice.

Of course, it did not take long for our parents to discover the mysterious, new wall decor. The truth came out, and though we got in trouble, that experience stuck with me. It is funny to look back on now, but it makes me think about how often I try to cover up my mistakes instead of facing them head-on.

In life, it can be tempting to try to hide our flaws and failures, hoping no one will see them. But God invites us to bring everything into the light.

Because when something is brought into the light, that’s where healing can begin. That is where truth grows. That is where God steps in—not to scold, but to redeem us.

So, today, please let your loved ones see the holes in your life. Let God see them too.

He already knows they are there. He’s not afraid of them, either, and He is making all things new.

May 15, 2025/by Sarah Hall