The Connection Corner

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Heart of the Artist, Stories About Songs

Psalms 139:14 — “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like you didn’t belong because of what you were wearing? I know I have.

I never really cared much for fashion. My sisters were the shoppers and I would just wear whatever they picked out for me. However, when left to my own devices, I really wish their fashion sense would’ve rubbed off on me a little more.

Everything felt wrong and nothing I tried seemed to work.

Oh, sweet comparison.

In my head I hear words like, “not pretty, too fat, or too skinny, trying too hard, or not trying hard enough.”

I’ve cried too many times about an outfit that I didn’t feel good in. I let those words define me and be my truth when they are not reality.

The reality is that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, not because of my clothes but simply because I’m created by God. My confidence doesn’t come from my shoes (though I love my shoes) it comes from Jesus. Who cares what I’m wearing if I’m walking in that room with Jesus?

Have you noticed that the best people to be around aren’t the ones society might deem “cool?” And it’s not because of their fashion sense or their ability to do all the TikTok dances.

The best people to be around are the ones who don’t care what other people think. They aren’t worried about anything except what Jesus thinks about them.

I want to be someone who walks into a room with confidence because I’m listening to God’s word. I’m His, and that’s all the confidence I need.

I hope you know how much He cares about you. I hope that’s how you think about yourself today.

— Leanna Crawford

August 30, 2025/by David Hall

Help Always Has a Paddle

Daily Devotional, Linda Meyers

Matthew 22:39 — “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

It happened on a Thursday night that went sideways in a hurry. One minute, the sky and seas were calm, then—boom—not so much.

Locals say the wind went from gentle to howling in about the time it takes to butter toast. Unfortunately, that was exactly the same time that a couple paddled out into the sea on their kayak.

Now, to be fair, nobody’s faulting them. They probably thought they’d squeeze in one last paddle before dinner with their dogs. And it would’ve stayed sweet, if not for the New Jersey sky deciding to throw a temper tantrum.

In seconds the winds picked up immensely, and their kayak flipped. The woman and her dogs went one way. The man went another.

People started gathering on porches and decks, holding their breath at the scene.

And then came the hero. Brennan.

“He just ran,” said one of the neighbors. “Full sprint. Down the dock. Gone.”

He leapt straight into the chaos, paddling furiously, and one by one—pulled them back. First one dog, then the second. Then the woman. By that time, the man had managed to grab hold of a dock, wet and shaken but safe.

It all happened so fast. And then it was over. Everyone said the same thing: “If Brennan hadn’t been there…”

Well. He was.

And here’s the part you may not expect: Brennan wasn’t a local business owner. Brennan was one of the dogs. A Labrador retriever who didn’t hesitate to launch himself into danger for the sake of his people.

That’s the thing about love—it doesn’t overthink. It doesn’t weigh the odds. It just runs straight into the storm when someone’s in need.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God—and the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). That kind of love isn’t always convenient, and it doesn’t always make sense. But it’s exactly what this world needs.

So maybe the question today is: Who around you needs you to run into the storm for them?

Because if a dog named Brennan can do it… surely we can too.

August 29, 2025/by Linda Meyers

Not What I Planned

Daily Devotional, Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Psalms 27:14 — “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Was there ever a time when you were so sure about something, you never even thought to ask God what He thought?

That was me in college. I was twenty-one, a student at Oral Roberts University, and had been dating someone for three and a half years. We were sitting in chapel together one morning, and I remember looking around and thinking, “Everyone’s getting married, so of course we will too.”

It felt like the obvious next step—like the world had handed me a checklist, and I was just moving down it. But underneath the excitement, something did not sit right. I had not prayed about it. I had not invited the Lord into that decision.

But God did have other plans—and He was kind enough to interrupt mine.

His message was quiet but clear: “You are going to have to trust Me.”

With that, I knew. I could not marry that young man, and this was not just about walking away from a relationship. It was about surrendering the future I thought I needed.

That was the hardest part, and truth be told, I did not get married until I was forty-four.

Now, when I talk with people who are single, I do not offer easy answers or pat advice. I simply say this: unless God shows you beyond a shadow of a doubt, you do not have to force anything.

And this goes beyond relationships. In every part of life—decisions about work, friendships, calling—ask Him what He has for you. When you bring your whole life before Him, hands open, heart ready, you can move forward with a confidence that is not rooted in outcomes but in trust.

When you believe Him enough to wait, something shifts. You stop chasing what was never yours. Your peace grows deeper, and your steps grow steadier.

Your path may not look like anyone else’s. It may take longer, but Dear One, if it is built on trust, it will be worth it—every time.

August 28, 2025/by Lauren Kitchens-Steward