The Connection Corner

Help Is Already on the Way

Daily Devotional, Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Psalms 40:2 – “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”

The morning seemed like any other—peaceful, calm, and routine. But then, out of nowhere, chaos struck.

Two workers at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania found themselves in a situation no one could have expected. They were waist-deep in a vat of thick, swirling chocolate. At first, it probably didn’t feel real—just a slip, a mistake, something that could be laughed off. But as they tried to move, the chocolate turned from an innocent, sweet substance into a trap, pulling them deeper with every attempt to free themselves.

Fear set in quickly. They tried to reach the edges, to find something solid to hold onto, but the chocolate was relentless, a sticky, suffocating mass that seemed to mock their every move. Desperation crept in. What if they didn’t make it out?

Help came, but it wasn’t easy. Firefighters couldn’t just grab them and pull them to safety. No, they had to cut through the vat, rip apart what was supposed to be a safe space, to get to them. It wasn’t neat. It wasn’t smooth. But it was effective.

In the end, the men were safe. No harm done. But the moment lingered—how quickly life can change from a mundane task to a life-threatening one. How often, when we feel stuck, we don’t know where to turn.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been in a similar place—overwhelmed, exhausted, desperate for a way out, but finding none. When life wraps around us like that, we panic. We try to fix things on our own, and the more we struggle, the worse it seems.

But here’s the truth: help is on the way, even when it feels like the situation is hopeless. Just like those workers had no way out on their own, but help came through a difficult, noisy rescue, God’s help is sure—even when we can’t see it yet. His promises are firm. His love is constant. When we reach out to Him, He answers.

So, if you’re stuck, if you’re feeling trapped, know this: you are not alone. Don’t give up, and don’t fight alone. Reach out to the Jesus. He promises to pull you from the muck and place your feet on solid ground.

May 29, 2025/by Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Right Place Right Faith

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

When Shelby Anders boarded the flight, she expected nothing more than pretzels and a nap. She had clocked enough hours in the ICU that week to last her a while.

But just after takeoff, a commotion started a few rows ahead.

“Somebody help! He’s not responding!”

Shelby didn’t think. She stood.

“I’m a cardiac ICU nurse,” she said, already leaning over the man. He was slumped, face colorless.

Shelby started compressions. Her arms knew the rhythm, but her heart felt the weight. An ER doctor joined. Then another nurse. They moved like a single unit, strangers with the same mission.

The man’s wife—Melanie—was shaking. “Lord,” she whispered, “I need You.”

The minutes stretched long. Too long.

And then, it happened. A heartbeat. A breath. A sign of life.

When the plane touched down in New York, paramedics waited on the tarmac. The man was still alive. His wife held Shelby’s hand for a moment before following the stretcher. She didn’t say much—just “Thank you.” But the look in her eyes said the rest.

Someone called her brave. Someone else called her a hero, but reflecting on the experience later, she shared, “I don’t see myself as a hero. I just see it as being the hands and feet of Jesus. That’s why I do what I do.”

Maybe you’re not a nurse on a flight. Maybe your gift looks more like cooking, listening, or driving someone around. You were created with something this world needs. Do not underestimate those gifts God has given you. He may not call you to save a life at 30,000 feet—but He may use you for something only you were made to do.

May 28, 2025/by Bri Dunn

Wait and Watch God Work

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Isaiah 40:31 – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

There’s something about the ocean that resets your soul. It’s loud and wild and unpredictable—but it pulls you in anyway.

During a trip to Gulf Shores, Sarah and I found ourselves right in the middle of the chaos— sunscreen in our eyes, seagulls calling overhead, and a couple of nephews ready to conquer the waves.

We handed them boogie boards and waded out together. We tried to explain how it worked. “You’ve got to wait,” we told them. “Not every wave is the right one.”

Our nephews tried. Sort of. But mostly they jumped at whatever came first. Some waves faded too soon. Others knocked them over like bowling pins. But every so often, one would lift them and send them gliding all the way to shore.

I stood there watching, grinning like crazy, when it hit me: They’re not frustrated when they fall. They’re excited to try again.

That got to me.

Because I’ve been in waiting seasons too. Not on a beach—but in life. Hoping God would give direction, open a door, answer a prayer. I’ve tried to push ahead, force momentum, make things happen. But faith is not about forcing waves, is it? It is about showing up in the water—hopeful, ready, and willing to wait for God’s timing.

So, I am learning to wait differently. Not with crossed arms, but with open hands. Like a kid at the beach, bracing for the next ride.

And maybe you are, too. If you’re waiting on something—don’t give up. You are not forgotten. Stay ready. Keep watching. The tide is turning.

May 27, 2025/by David Hall