The Connection Corner

Peace Beyond Understanding

Daily Devotional, Lauren Kitchens-Steward

“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.

January 21, 2025/by Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Courage to Choose What’s Right

Daily Devotional

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8

Abraham Lincoln stood alone in his office, wrestling with a question every leader faces at some point: What is the right thing to do?

He was not a perfect man. No. He had fears and flaws and second-guessed himself countless times. But today, that weight felt different. On his desk lay the draft of the Emancipation Proclamation—a document that carried the hopes of millions and the weight of a divided nation.

No one knew what would happen if he signed that document. His own safety was at risk, and the backlash would be fierce. He would be criticized, perhaps even hated, by some. Still, he could feel the injustice—deep in his bones—and it was something he could not ignore.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed the pen to paper. As the ink dried, he knew that the nation would never be the same. But he also knew that the long-awaited freedom for millions had finally been set in motion.

Each day, we face choices that challenge us. Choosing what is right may not always be easy, but it is always worth it. Like Lincoln, we are called to take the step of courage, trusting that God honors those who choose justice.

January 20, 2025/by David Hall

Find Hope in God’s Faithfulness

Daily Devotional

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:23

He had dreamed of making a difference. As a young man, Thomas had pictured himself behind a pulpit, leading others closer to God. But life had other plans. Illness robbed him of the strength to preach, and financial struggles followed close behind.

One evening, as the sun dipped low and shadows filled the room, Thomas sat at his desk. His frail hands trembled as he opened his journal. He could have written about the disappointment, the missed opportunities, or the life he thought he had lost.

Instead, his mind turned to the quiet ways God had shown up: a kind neighbor bringing a meal, a check in the mail just when he needed it, a peace that carried him through sleepless nights.

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” he wrote, the words forming like a prayer. Each line became a declaration: “Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.”

That hymn would go on to inspire millions, sung in churches, homes, and hospital rooms. But for Thomas Chisholm, it was a reminder that when life does not go as planned, God’s faithfulness remains.

If today feels overwhelming, know this: God’s faithfulness does not waver. Like Thomas, you can cling to the truth that morning by morning, His mercies will meet you right where you are.

January 19, 2025/by David Hall