The Connection Corner

The Friend Who Never Left

Hebrews 4:16 — Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I can still see him in the back seat—legs swinging, eyes shining, talking a mile a minute. He could hardly sit still because we were on our way to see his buddy, Max.

Back then, I could glance in the rearview mirror and see both boys grinning, covered in dirt, and full of plans that always seemed to involve snacks.

These days, my boy rides up front. He’s taller than me now, with a deeper voice and a driver’s permit that still makes me a little nervous. And today, we’re driving to the racetrack—same event, same two friends, just a few years older and a lot more sentimental on my end.

Their friendship started years ago under unusual circumstances. My son was pulled out of his own school once a week to attend a special program at Max’s school. I remember wondering how he’d handle being the new kid in a strange classroom. But then he met Max—and that was that.

That summer, their friendship stuck. Though we lived ten minutes apart, both sets of parents took turns shuttling them back and forth, week after week. They were inseparable.

And now, watching them pick up right where they left off—it gets me every time. There’s something beautiful about a friendship that doesn’t fade, no matter the distance or time apart.

But it also makes me think. Why is it so easy to believe that people can stay close through time and distance, but so hard to believe that about God?

Life gets busy. We drift. And before long, we convince ourselves we’ve gone too far to find our way back. But God never moves. He’s still standing right where you left Him, smiling, ready to welcome you home without a hint of hesitation.

Maybe that’s what grace really is. Not shame. Not scolding. Just joy at the reunion.

It reminds me of Hebrews 4:16, which says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

That verse isn’t an invitation for perfect people—it’s for wanderers, drifters, and those who feel like they’ve waited too long to return.

So if it’s been a while, maybe it’s time to buckle up again. The Friend who never left is still waiting—and the race of faith can start again right where you left off.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When was the last time you “drew near” to God without hesitation? What made that moment possible?
Where in your life have you drifted, and how does Hebrews 4:16 reshape the way you think about returning?
What would confidence look like for you this week as you approach God—emotionally, spiritually, or practically?

November 21, 2025/by Jeff Connell

Worship from the Back Row

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Psalm 48:9 — O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.

This is so different than what I am used to.

Picture me last night at church—diaper bag at my feet, stroller close by, sitting on the back row. Mickey Mouse is playing on my phone with the sound turned off, and I’m pull out toys, snacks, and anything else that might keep my son Lennox occupied.

I am used to being the one on stage leading worship or sharing the message. Now, I am up and down, slipping in and out of the baby cry room between songs.

And you know what? That’s okay.

I will not pretend that it is easy. I am tired in ways I did not know before. In this season of my life there late nights, early mornings, and constant demands of a baby who needs me. There are moments when I miss serving like I used to. I miss the rhythm, teamwork, and energy of ministry.

But when I look down at the little boy in my arms and breathe, I just feel gratitude. Because he lifts his chin up and gives me that toothy grin, and I know I wouldn’t trade this for the world.

I think about how long I prayed for this and the years of infertility. I think about how faithful God has been to get me here. Every cry, every diaper, every late night—it is an answer to prayer. God did not miss a moment, and I believe He will not waste this one either.

So wherever you are today—rocking a baby, caring for a loved one — just know that it matters and keep going. Because worship isn’t limited to a song or a stage. It’s found in in loving well and showing up where God has placed us.

Seasons come and go, and one day I may lead from the stage again. But right now, I am content to worship from the back row. This is what I am called to do in this season. Even the quiet sacrifices that no one else sees—heaven does.

And I’m thankful for that. Just like the psalmist said, it is so good to “meditate on (God’s) unfailing love as we worship in (His) Temple.” After all, if worship is about giving God our all, then maybe I have never been closer to the front than I am right now.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What season are you in right now, and how might God be inviting you to worship within it rather than in spite of it?
Where do you feel unnoticed or unseen, and how does remembering God’s unfailing love shift your perspective?
What ordinary, quiet acts in your life could become acts of worship if you invited God into them?

November 20, 2025/by Bri Dunn

Love In the Breakroom

Daily Devotional, Sarah Hall

Luke 6:27-28 — But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

It started with a phone call. My sister’s voice cracked as she said, “I think my coworker just doesn’t like me.”

She’d only been at this new job a few weeks, and she was doing everything she could to make a good impression. But something was off.

So, she kept her head down, focused on her computer, and tried to stay out of the way. Still, she could feel the tension every time she walked into the room.

She’d come home tight and quiet, replaying conversations in her head, wondering what she had done wrong.

That night on the phone, I just listened. She didn’t need advice as much as she needed a safe place to land. And somewhere between her tears and my silence, a verse came to mind—the one about loving your enemies, doing good to those who treat you poorly, and praying for them.

That night on the phone, I just listened. She didn’t need advice as much as she needed a safe place to land. And somewhere between her tears and my silence, a verse came to mind—Jesus’ words in Luke 6:27–28:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

I hesitated to say it out loud, but before I could finish, she nodded.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “That’s what God’s been saying to my heart too.”

So we prayed. We asked God for peace, for wisdom, and maybe even for a small miracle in the breakroom.

The next week, she decided to live it out. She prayed for her coworker every morning before clocking in. She greeted her with kindness, even when it wasn’t returned. She offered help without being asked.

And while nothing about her coworker seemed to change, something in her did. The stress in her voice disappeared. The tension in her shoulders eased. She was lighter, freer—like she’d been unburdened.

Looking back, that coworker may or may not have had a grudge, but my sister definitely felt the “not-love” in the air. Still, God kept showing her: love your enemies, even when you don’t know where they stand.

And that’s what’s powerful about her choice. Because when we choose to love anyway—even when it costs us comfort or pride—we get to take part in the healing God is already doing in the world.

Who knows? Maybe the hardest person to love today is exactly the one who needs it most.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Who is the “difficult person” in your life right now, and what small step of love or kindness could you offer them today?
How have you seen God transform your own heart when you chose to love someone who was hard to love?
What might you need to release—pride, fear, assumptions—in order to pray sincerely for someone who has hurt you?

November 19, 2025/by Sarah Hall