The Connection Corner

God’s Mercy in my Mess

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional, Uncategorized

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

Those early postpartum days felt like a blur. My baby Lennox was everything I had dreamed of, but somewhere between sleepless nights and diaper changes my house became, well, a nightmare.

Laundry draped over chairs, dishes filled on the edge of the sink, and the floor? Let’s just say I was not winning any cleaning awards. I hated how my house looked—and how I felt living in it. Truth be told, I could not keep up. I did not have the energy, and that only made me feel worse.

One afternoon, a message lit up my phone: “Hey,” my friend wrote, “we know how overwhelming those early baby days can be. We’d like to gift you a professional house cleaning.”

I stared at my phone, mortified. Let strangers into this mess? But before I could decline, another text followed.

“It’s okay,” she assured me. “This is what friends are for.”

When the cleaning team arrived, I felt like hiding. For three hours, they scrubbed, dusted, and tackled every corner. My husband and I apologized repeatedly, but they just smiled. “This is what we do,” they said. “We’re happy to help.”

This whole experience reminded me of God. How many times had I tried to hide my life’s mess from Him, thinking I needed to fix it first? Yet, every time, He steps into the chaos and does what I cannot.

God is the friend who steps into our chaos and says, “Let Me take care of this.” He doesn’t ask us to fix it first. He doesn’t wait until we are presentable. He meets us right in the middle of our mess and lovingly makes us whole again. It is not because we deserve it. It is because He is rich in mercy.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your life’s mess today, know this: you do not have to face it alone. God’s love can transform anything. So, let Him in. Let Him show you what grace can do.

February 15, 2025/by Bri Dunn

Experience God’s Constant Love

Daily Devotional, Lisa Williams

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 36:7

I love you, I love you, I hate you.

At lunch with a friend, I was describing the confusing relationship I had with my mom. After sharing several stories of painful moments, my friend calmly said, “That’s called ‘I love you, I love you, I hate you.’”

I’d never heard those words put together like that, but they rang true. My friend unpacked it more as we ate lunch, and I realized she was describing my childhood experience.

Later, as I thought about being loved and also very harsh moments throughout my childhood, I realized my marriage had been the same way. Sincere moments of love and care were followed by dishonesty, meanness, and infidelity. The cycle would repeat over and over. I love you, I love you, I hate you.

The more I thought about this, the sadder I became. One Sunday morning while driving, I began to pour out my heart to God. “Father, it doesn’t seem fair that the two most influential relationships of my life have been ‘I love you, I love you, I hate you’.” I repeated myself to God several times, lamenting the pain and confusion of these very close but very difficult relationships.

Then, very clearly, I heard a caring, warm voice say to me:

“I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Tears poured down my face as I pulled my car over. I couldn’t stop crying for over an hour. I knew it was true. He loves us, unconditionally. Hearing this and knowing it was true, I felt healing begin.

Our earthly relationships don’t always reflect the love of God. His love is constant, unwavering, and true. He isn’t reactionary or punishing. He doesn’t withhold His love. His love is lavish, healing, and unwavering.

If you’ve been hurt by a rejecting, confusing “I love you, I love you, I hate you” experience, I’m so sorry. Please know you have a Heavenly Father who is saying to you today:

I love you.
I love you.
I love you.

February 14, 2025/by Lisa Williams

Waiting with Faith

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Hebrews 6:10

I had always imagined my life unfolding in a certain way—falling in love, getting married, and becoming a mom. But in my early twenties, none of that was happening. Friends were catching bouquets and posting baby pictures, while I was still buried in textbooks and finishing my degree.

I remember asking the Lord for help in my frustration. He placed it on my heart to serve others in the very areas I was longing for. He encouraged me to start celebrating others even when they were getting what I wanted. I did not love the answer at first, but I knew He was right.

So, I started showing up. I went to baby showers, helped throw engagement parties, and celebrated all the beautiful things happening in other’s lives.

I even remember a Valentine’s Day where two dear friends wanted to surprise their fiancés and needed help pulling off the perfect romantic evening. I volunteered to make their vision a reality.

For hours, I set the table, fluffed pillows, and added every thoughtful touch I could think of. At the end of the night, as I packed up the decorations, I prayed one more time: “Lord, next year, I would love to be loved by someone in the same way.”

That night, God reminded me: faith is not always about getting what we want when we want it. It is about trusting His heart, even when the wait feels endless.

But I have got to brag on God a little bit. Just a year later, there I was, not planning the perfect night, but living it. I found myself sitting at a candle lit dinner across from Chris, the man I had prayed for, who would soon become my husband.

This is what I want you to take away: Faith, at its core, works through love.

So, this Valentine’s Day, can I encourage you? It can be hard to celebrate others when things aren’t happening the way we hoped. But sometimes, delay is simply space for you to grow in love—and that will always prepare you for something even better down the road.

February 13, 2025/by Bri Dunn