Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: PSALM 139 Have you ever had a moment when you realized that someone really knows you? I had a moment like this with my housemate recently, and it made me feel so loved. I had been feeling overwhelmed and depressed for a few days. My husband took our kids to run some errands so I could get some time to finish up my work for the week and do something restful. I sat on my bed, trying to figure out how best to plan my day. Should I make breakfast and eat it here, or go to a coffee shop to get breakfast while I work? I tried to get my sluggish, exhausted brain to think through the options. I don’t make decisions quickly in the best of times, and I operate even more slowly when I’m not feeling great. My housemate, Jenn, knocked on the bedroom door and told me she was going to pick up some breakfast at a nearby fast-food restaurant and asked if I wanted any. This very kind offer meant that I now had a third option to consider. I mumbled something about not being sure, and she quickly said, “I’ll give you a minute to think about it,” and walked away. I smiled internally and thought, She knows me. Jenn has been my friend for over a decade, and she knew that I needed a moment by myself to think things through. A minute or two later I walked out and accepted her offer. Little moments like these remind me of how God knows us. He knows the very hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:29-30). He knows how we operate. He knows our good days and our bad days. He knows exactly what we need. And He loves us. Being known can be a scary thing. But not with God. Because He won’t ever use that knowledge to hurt us. Instead, He draws us ever closer to Himself. Jesus died and rose again to make the way for us to be with Him. And to be known by a God like that is the best thing I can imagine. • Taylor Eising • Can you think of a time when you’ve felt known? What was it like? • How could it be comforting to know that God knows you and loves you? O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 (NLT)

READ: PSALMS 27:7-14; 33:20-22 I keep calling out, GodEven though I am tiredEven though I don’t see You working yetEven though this life seems to be killing meI keep calling out, GodBecause You are my only hopeBecause You can bring me peaceBecause You can move into action at any timeI keep calling out, GodAnd my body is tiredAnd my throat doesn’t want to call outAnd I feel ready to just give upI keep calling out, GodPlease answer mePlease give me peacePlease reach down and rescue me • Emily Acker • Today’s poem is written in the style of a lament psalm. Have you ever felt like you just kept crying out to God without experiencing any comfort? We all go through times like these, but God does not abandon us. His presence with us gives us hope we can cling to no matter what. Can you remember what (or who) God provided to help you through that difficult time in your life? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. • Does today’s poem express how you’re feeling right now? God is right there with you. He knows your hurts, and He doesn’t condemn you (Romans 8:1). He feels your pain and He weeps with you. Consider taking some time to bring your pain to God, like the author does. If you feel like you can’t even pray right now, who is a trusted Christian in your life who can help you bring your pain to God? By leaning on God’s grace and the people He has placed around you, you can begin to heal. These feelings won’t last forever, but Jesus’s love will. And one day, He will return to make all things new. Because Jesus died and rose from the grave, everyone who trusts in Him can look forward to the day He will put an end to death and sin and brokenness permanently. Jesus is the ultimate source of our hope, a hope that endures even in the most difficult times. • This poem mentions feeling ready to give up. If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, tell a trusted adult right away.* One important way God brings healing is through medical and mental health professionals and biblical counseling. The path to healing can be long and sometimes painful, but Jesus will walk every step with you. If you feel like you can’t reach out to others because you are a burden, know that this is a lie from the pit of hell. The enemy wants to isolate us from community, but God’s truth is so much more powerful than the enemy’s lies. The truth is this: you are made in God’s glorious image, and for that reason you are beloved and incomparably valuable, and there is nothing you can do to change that. You are worth people’s time, attention, and care—even when the people around you don’t act like it. You can know that you are so precious to God because He sent Jesus to give you new life so that you could live in loving relationship with Him. Jesus did this by dying and rising again. You are an important part of His kingdom, and nothing, nothing, NOTHING can ever separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:39). • *You can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also talk with someone via web chat (988lifeline.org/chat). If your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. • *If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book yo...

READ: ISAIAH 41:10-14; 49:14-16; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-11 I saw a young child get off a school bus today— and go right into the waiting embrace of his mom. As she straightened up, he wrapped his arms around her neck, resting his head against her shoulder. I wondered if something had happened at school today, or if maybe he was just tired from being gone from home for several hours. It made me think of how God invites us to go to Him whenever we feel like that little boy, whenever we need someone’s arms to rest in. This broken world we live in can be a scary place. When the darkness around us makes us long for an escape, we can always go to the arms of God and receive comfort. He is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God sees everything we’re going through, and He longs for us to be with Him. That’s why Jesus came—He died for us and rose from the grave so that He could be with us forever. Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that, no matter what, God will hold you. You don’t have to face anything alone. God is waiting, ready to be there for you. When life in this broken world just makes you tired, when you can’t go on in your own strength any longer, you can go to God. He is your compassionate Father who will carry you. Like the little boy going from the bus to the arms of his mom, you can go from a busy and tiring day to the arms of God—and rest secure in His embrace. • Emily Acker • Jesus is Immanuel, which literally means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have full access to God, and nothing can separate you from His love (John 10:11, 27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 4:14-16). If you want to know more about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, check out our “Know Jesus” page. • What kinds of things in our broken world make you feel worn out or long for an escape? How could it be helpful to remember that God is with us in the midst of the brokenness, and that Jesus will one day return to raise us from the dead and make all things new—free from sin and death and evil and pain? (Revelation 21:1-5) “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

READ: ISAIAH 61:8; JEREMIAH 22:3; MATTHEW 23:23 It’s discouraging to see so much evil in the world. Evil and sin have been a part of the world for a long time, but as I get older, I notice it more than when I was a kid. I hear news about corruption, poverty, or health crises…and it can really get me down. It can be easy to see all this evil and either choose not to believe there’s a God, or to think that God doesn’t care—just look at how bad the world is. But Scripture tells me that God does care. He hates evil. It breaks His heart to see His creation suffering, and one day He’s going to get rid of all evil permanently. I’ve spent a little time in some of the minor prophet books of the Bible recently, and those books frequently show how vehemently opposed God is to evil. God despises evil and promises to bring down these ancient empires that were built on greed and oppression (Nahum 2). Through the prophets, God foretells the justice He will bring and the restoration that will come after. Part of this restoration has already happened through Jesus Christ. After Jesus defeated sin and death and evil through His own death and resurrection, our relationship with God was righted. Our sin was paid for, and we were able to be accepted into God’s family. And one day, God’s justice will come in full, and He will right all wrongs and rid the world of all evil, and our struggle with sin will finally be over. So, it’s not a question of “Does God care?” anymore. With the knowledge of Scripture, now it’s a question of “When will God’s justice come in full?” And even as we wait for the day Jesus will come again, we can participate in God’s kingdom here and now, acting in love and justice with confident hope for the future. • Naomi Zylstra • Can you think of a time you felt discouraged when you saw evil in the world—either on the news, in your community, or in your own life? Jesus weeps with you. You can bring these feelings to Him in prayer anytime. • What opportunities and skills has God given you to pursue justice right where you are, at this time of your life? Who are trusted Christians you can talk to about this? The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 11:25-30; MARK 12:29-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58; GALATIANS 6:9 I walked with determination down the hallway. Maybe this time will be different, I thought, knocking on the classroom door. At the beginning of the year, I’d volunteered to mentor a second grader through a program helping youth with behavioral concerns. Once a week, I arrived at the school during my lunch break to spend time with “Justin” (not his real name) and show him some undivided, positive attention. I embraced this opportunity as a chance to connect with a child needing love. Justin, however, did not embrace this opportunity. Each time I entered his class, he rolled his eyes and slumped to the little room where we sat to play games. For nine months, I met with Justin weekly, and his walls never came down. I understood he needed unconditional love; I just believed he didn’t want it from me. When we experience Jesus’s unconditional love for us, we naturally want to share it with others. God’s never-ending, always-pursuing, never-giving-up love was put on full display at Jesus’s death and resurrection. When we wanted nothing to do with God, He made the way for us to be in relationship with Him by giving up His own life for ours (Romans 5:10). His love changes us and transforms us so that we can love God and others. Yet, as followers of Jesus seeking to obey His command to love our neighbors as ourselves, sometimes we wonder, “Does this matter? Does all my work count for anything?” Not only does Jesus invite us to step out in faith and trust Him with the results, He also gives us encouragement when our faith feels weak. Jesus invites us to bring our weariness and burdens to Him, our great burden-bearer (Psalm 68:19). He understands we’ll face discouragement in doing good work (whether it’s mentoring a struggling eight-year-old or working our hardest at school), and He assures us that He is with us and He is at work even when we don’t see it. We may not see the outcomes we expected to, but we can trust God with our obedience. After all, He promises us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Allison Wilson Lee • Have you ever felt worn out while trying to love your neighbor? Jesus understands, and He is with you. Remember, the results of your work aren’t up to you. They are not on your shoulders. Jesus is the One who brings about change in people’s hearts. He is at work in you, and He is at work through you. Consider taking a moment now to pray for a neighbor you’re trying to love. • Some days, we’re like the author of this story—giving love and help. Other days, we’re like Justin—the one receiving the love and help. We’re all in need of love, and we’re all in need of help, even when we don’t want it. So, God gave us community in His family, the church. Through the church, we can give and receive God’s love, uplifting each other and being uplifted. What are some ways you’ve seen this play out in your life? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to help you notice ways He is inviting you to give and receive love and help as you live life alongside fellow Christians. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 1:27; 1 JOHN 4:7-19 You probably already know that snowflakes are remarkably unique from one another. And the reason each snowflake has a one-of-a-kind crystal structure is because every developing flake experiences slightly different atmospheric conditions as it falls from the sky to the ground. But have you ever thought about what they have in common? Even with all their differences, each snowflake is made of frozen water and has six points. It’s like that with people too. No two people are exactly the same or have the same experiences, but we often forget that we’re also alike in many ways. People from different parts of the world have their own languages and customs, but deep down we all have the same feelings and desires. We all want to feel loved and accepted and valued. Another thing all people have in common? We’re all created in God’s image, and He loves us all so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to live among us, die for us, and rise again from the dead so that everyone who trusts in Him could live with God forever. And one day, Jesus will return to make all things new, free from sin and death. As Christians, we are now God’s children, we are forgiven and clean as fresh snow (Isaiah 1:18), and we “are being transformed into his [Jesus’s] image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). God calls us to share His love with others—even those who seem different—because we all have the same need for Him. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to love others as God loves us, accept others as God accepts us, and value others as God values us (Matthew 10:29-31; John 13:34; Romans 15:7; 1 John 4:19). So, as we look at snowflakes, we can remember that Jesus made each snowflake, and He made each of us. He calls us to enjoy our beautiful differences. And as we rest in His great love for us, we can show that same love to everyone we encounter. • A. W. Smith • Humans are remarkably diverse and yet have so much in common. What are some differences between you and your friends and family? What are some similarities? Consider taking some time to thank God for creating such an amazing world with so many different types of people! • Today, how could you show Jesus’s love to someone who is different from you? How could remembering what we have in common with all people help us walk in love toward one another? Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 4:8; MATTHEW 11:28-30; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 The sound of white noise as we lay down to sleep can give us comfort and cover up distracting sounds that might keep us awake. A fan going while we rest can help us feel comfortable and breathe easier. Some of us have a particular pillow we need to sleep, and some of us can only sleep in our own beds. There are things we gather and routines we go through to get to sleep…and intentional time with God can also be part of those routines. If we know Jesus, God is always present with us through the Holy Spirit, and getting ready for bed can be a great time to focus on His presence. He loves us so much that Jesus died and rose again to be with us. So, before we go to bed we can spend time telling our incredible, loving God about our day, thanking Him for the blessings He gave us, bringing Him any requests we have, and sharing any hurts we experienced with Him and receiving His compassion. We can cry out to God when we’re laying down to sleep and we’re feeling anxious, and we can also talk to Him when we’re feeling peaceful. We can get in the routine of talking to Him each night and sharing our problems with Him before we sleep. And if we wake up in the night terrified because of a nightmare, we can turn to Him for comfort. God goes with us during the day, and He’s also right there with us as we start to prepare for bed and as we lay down and close our eyes. Let Him be involved in your nighttime routine, and rest in His presence as you drift off to sleep. • Emily Acker • What routines do you follow before you go to sleep at night? There are lots of different ways we can incorporate intentional time focusing on God’s presence into our routines. Some people like to put a note with a Bible verse on their bathroom mirror so they see it when they’re brushing their teeth. Some people like to kneel by their bed to pray, and some like to write down things they’re thankful for from that day. You can also look back through your day and ask God to show you His presence with you during it. If you’re not sure what routines you’d like to try incorporating into your bedtime routine, who are trusted Christians you could talk to about it? • Sleep is an important part of our physical, mental, and emotional health. Sometimes, we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that’s okay. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor? I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 145:8-16; MATTHEW 6:25-33; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-20 One year as summer approached, I needed to buy some shorts. With my budget in mind, I browsed at a second-hand shop and found two pairs in the right size. Including a discount, I could pay for the clothes using a gift card I’d received. It would cover the entire cost…except for eleven cents. But I only had one penny in my wallet. So, what did I do? Did I leave the store empty-handed? Nope. Near the cash register, I noticed lots of loose change in a “leave a penny, take a penny” bucket. Right on top of the pile of coins, I found a dime and then finished paying for the clothes I’d picked out. Even before I needed to use that dime, it was there. Some generous stranger had dropped it in the coin container before I arrived at the shop, not realizing how helpful it would be at just the right time. The kind person who tossed the dime into the canister for another shopper didn’t know I would be the one to need those few cents, but God, the all-knowing Lord, always knows what we need. Before we ask, before we even recognize our own needs, He is working to provide for us. And He has already provided for the greatest need any of us have: to be rescued from sin and death. Because Jesus came, we can have a relationship with God through trusting in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Then, not only do we have the sure hope of being raised from the dead to live with Him forever, but we can also approach God anytime to ask for His help and provision—just as a trusting child approaches a caring father. We can lean on God for all we need because He loves us. What an amazing invitation to come to the Father who knows all our needs and cares about each one. • Allison Wilson Lee • One of the primary ways God provides for His people, is through His people! Can you think of a time someone helped meet your tangible needs? What was it like? • God cares about all our needs, but He doesn’t promise we’ll never experience hardship. Jesus said we will have trouble, but He also promised to be with us through it all, and to return one day and make all things new; then lack will be replaced with abundance (John 16:33; Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-5). As we wait for this day, He comforts us with His presence and strengthens us to endure in times of plenty and times of lack. How could these promises give us hope? I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

READ: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-22; 1 PETER 5:6-11 We are faced with countless decisions every day. What do I want for dinner? Should I read or play video games after work? Where do I go to college? Should I even go to college? Some life decisions are bigger than others, and they require more thought too. I can usually decide what I want for dinner by the end of the night, but larger decisions take more time. So how do I make the big decisions in life? One of the things I do (or try to do) early on is pray about the decision. Throughout the Bible, God invites us to bring our concerns to Him because He cares about what we’re going through (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus Himself would often take time alone to pray. Jesus is God the Son, and He lives in close relationship with God the Father. And because Jesus died and rose for us, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus can be in close relationship with God. When I’m making decisions in my life, I can pray and ask God for His guidance on this decision. If I don’t get any sort of clarity (which unfortunately happens often) I can also consult with the trusted Christian friends and family in my life, especially if they’ve lived through the decision I’m going to make. And whenever I make a decision, I can trust that I serve an infinite God who can draw good out of any bad situation (Romans 8:28). One of the most comforting things is that God wants the best for me, and He cares about all my problems and all the decisions I face. Even the ones as small as what to have for dinner. • Naomi Zylstra • When we have a decision to make, how could it be comforting to know that we can bring all our concerns to the One who loves us so much He was willing to give up His own life for us? • Jesus will return one day and make all things new, and in the meantime He promises to be with us no matter what. God’s will for us is part of His great plan to renew heaven and earth at Jesus’s return. Day by day, He guides us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians you can talk to when you’re facing a tough decision? Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

READ: ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12 There are times in life when our need for others becomes clear. If you try to take on a big project, you may quickly realize that you need to ask for help. When trying to learn something new, you probably know that you need to ask an expert for advice if you want to do it right. We can think about following Jesus in a similar way. Like accomplishing a big project or learning a new skill, learning more about the gospel, the Bible, who God is, and how to walk in obedience to Him can feel overwhelming. None of us can do everything ourselves, and God knows this! He invites us to ask for help. We don’t have to be ashamed to ask for help or advice. As Christians, we’re meant to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Sometimes the best thing any of us can do is seek advice from someone else. It’s good to get a trusted Christian’s opinion and learn from them. The Bible talks about this frequently in the book of Proverbs. For example, Proverbs 19:20 says “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” And Proverbs 12:15 says it even more strongly: “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” In addition to asking for advice, we can also ask for help doing the task before us. Like it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” God has given all of us different gifts and abilities, and working together with someone who has different gifts from you can make the task easier— and the result better. God graciously provides us with the help we need, often through other people. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, He has made you part of His people, the church. We can rely on one another and seek God together. We can pray and ask our loving God to guide us and help us know what to do and to give us the help we need. So let’s remember, it’s great to get together with other Christians. We can learn a lot from each other as we encourage each other in our walks with Jesus. • Bethany Acker • Who is a Christian in your life you’ve learned a lot from? Consider thanking this person and letting them know what they mean to you. If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. • Have you been able to encourage someone in their walk with Jesus? What was it like? “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I [Jesus] am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 (NLT)

READ: EZEKIEL 40:1-19; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17 Chapters 40-42 of the book of Ezekiel may not seem very interesting at first glance. All three chapters are a tour of a future temple. An angel led Ezekiel through this temple in a vision. There are many, many specific measurements included—enough that you may get bored. There is a measurement for everything in the temple, each room and each doorway. There are also specific details mentioned, like carvings of palm trees, cherubim, a lion’s face, and a human face. So, if they aren’t very interesting chapters, why am I telling you about them? Well, because of a sentence in 2 Corinthians 6:16: “For we are the temple of the living God.” There are other verses that say the same thing—that we are God’s temple. Isn’t that amazing? In the Old Testament, the temple was where God’s presence dwelt with His people, and then His presence came fully when Jesus, God the Son, came and lived among us. In fact, Jesus even called Himself a temple when He predicted His own death and resurrection (John 2:19-22). Now, if we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us, so our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Not only that, but the Spirit unites us with other believers, building us together into His temple, the church (1 Peter 2:5). And someday Jesus will return to make the whole earth His temple—His dwelling place with His people (Revelation 21:1-5). God loves us so much that Jesus came to die on the cross for us and rise from the dead so He could dwell with us and we could spend eternity with Him. And if He took the time to talk about the specific measurements of each room and doorway of the temple, how much more does He care about the details in our lives? Matthew 10:30 tells us that God knows how many hairs are on our heads! That sounds like a pretty specific detail for God to care about. He wants you to know that no detail about your life is too little for Him to care about. He wants you to know you can go to Him about every little detail of your life, and the big moments too. • Kimberly Brokish • How does it make you feel to know that God cares about all the details of your life? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about any part of your life that comes to mind, big or small, good or bad…even though He already knows it all, He loves listening to everything you have to say. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV

READ: HEBREWS 13:5-8; 1 JOHN 4:15 This world changes,But You, my Lord, never changeThe Lord who created the worldThe Lord who told Noah to build an arkYou are the same Lord who lives in me todayThe Lord who led the Israelites out of slaveryThe Lord who gave us the commandmentsYou are the same Lord who lives in me todayThe Lord who cares for the poorThe Lord who healed thousandsYou are the same Lord who lives in me todayThe Lord who died for my sinsThe Lord who rose againYou are the same Lord who lives in me todayThis world changes,But You, my Lord, never change • Kimberly Brokish • Do you have a favorite story in the Bible? Just think about how the same God who breathed those words, who was present in that story, is the same God who is alive today! • Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus—believing He died and rose again for you—God lives in you. As 1 John 4:15 says, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” If you want to know more about putting your trust in Jesus, see our “Know Jesus” page. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 10:11, 27-30; HEBREWS 11:1-6; 1 PETER 1:8-13 Did you know kittens are born blind? They have to rely on their mother to care for them since they can’t do anything on their own, but how do they know she’ll be there for them if they can’t see her? They use their other senses. Specifically, kittens rely on their sense of smell to let them know their mother is near. As Christians, we live in a similar way. Like helpless newborn kittens, we rely on God to take care of us and be with us through everything we face. Even though we can’t see God, we know He’s there. In a way, we know this because of our other senses. Specifically, we can hear God because He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible (Romans 10:17). All throughout His Word, He tells us how much He loves us and He promises to be with us no matter what. Ultimately, the Bible is the story of God’s love for us, and the climax is when He reveals Himself in Jesus. He came and lived among us, fully God and fully human. He died for us and then rose again to beat sin and death. And He is returning one day to make all things new. As we wait for that glorious day when we will finally see Jesus face-to-face, we can rest knowing that we are held by God, even though we can’t see Him. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit reminds us of His promises and helps us rest in His love (John 14:26). Through the Holy Spirit, we can have faith in God, even when we can’t see Him. Just like kittens know their mother is with them, even though they can’t see her yet. • A. W. Smith • Consider taking a moment to read Matthew 28:20 and Romans 8:33-39. How could the promises in these passages remind us of God’s love and presence when we go through difficult things? Do you have any favorite Bible passages that have helped you in tough times? Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

READ: JEREMIAH 17:14; 30:16-18; PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11 I’d been eating the cashews for several days before I stopped to ask why they seemed so small. Then I noticed the label on the canister: halves and pieces. I thought I’d bought the same kind of cashews I usually did—roasted and sprinkled with sea salt—but I hadn’t paid attention to the entire label. Cashews are one of my favorite snacks, and I liked them no matter their size. The halves and pieces offered the same flavor as the whole ones. They were just as filling, just as savory, just as satisfying. Though they were broken, they had just as much goodness to offer. Sometimes I’ve felt like those cashews—crushed to pieces. Difficult circumstances have a way of doing that. Trying our best but being turned down anyway, loving a person who doesn’t love us in return, being passed over for an honor we believe we deserved…those situations can leave us feeling rejected, wondering, “What’s wrong with ME?” Perhaps you feel split in half because your parents are divorced, and you live divided between two different homes. Or perhaps you feel like a piece of you is missing because you’re adopted, and even though you’ve become part of a loving family, maybe you wish you knew more about who your birth family is and why they couldn’t care for you. These kinds of circumstances can make us question our value, our love-ability. We might feel less than whole. Jesus knows we all have broken places, and He has declared that we are immeasurably valuable. God’s love for us is so great that Jesus gave up His life for us on the cross and then rose from the grave so we could enter a relationship with Him. He came to heal us of our wounds and restore us to God our Creator. When we put our faith in Jesus, He forgives our sins and begins a good work in us. He saves us from sin and death completely. And when He returns to make all things new, He will heal us completely, too. Until that day, even though we still experience brokenness, we can rest knowing that God loves us just as we are, and He invites us to be part of the good work of restoration He is doing in and around us. • Allison Wilson Lee • What kinds of circumstances in life have made you feel less than whole? • In what ways have you seen glimpses of God’s healing work in and around you? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God for this anytime. He loves to answer these prayers. Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 22:37-40; LUKE 6:43-45 What comes out when you squeeze a ketchup bottle? Ketchup, of course. And what comes out if you squeeze a mustard bottle? Mustard! Whatever is inside comes out. And it’s the same with us. How we react in a situation says a lot about what’s going on in our hearts. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus says, “The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” What we say—and how we say it—shows what’s inside our hearts. When we’re coming from a place of resting in God’s love, what comes out of us will be good and wholesome, like patience and kindness. But when we’re coming from a place of unhealed wounds and self-reliance, what comes out of us will be harsh and bitter. The stresses of life have a way of squeezing reactions out of us. What comes out of your mouth if you’re squeezed by something you don’t like? What you say shows a little bit of what’s in your heart. God calls us to use our words carefully to build each other up, not to tear down (Ephesians 4:29). So when we find ourselves saying things that hurt others, it’s an important indicator that our hearts need some attention. God has compassion on us, and He is eager to fill our hearts with His love (Romans 5:5). But when our hearts start overflowing, not with love but with unhealed hurt or harsh words, it’s time to talk to Jesus about it. He can handle any emotion we’re facing. He empathizes with us, and He always wants to help us. One of the primary ways He does this is by providing people in our lives—like therapists, friends, teachers, parents, pastors, etc.—who can help us when we’re especially stuck, when bitter reactions keep coming out of us when we’re under pressure. The journey of healing and growing with Jesus is long and not always straightforward, but we can know that Jesus has promised to be with us every step of the way, gently healing our wounds and helping us grow to become more like Him. We can trust Him and rest in His love, no matter what. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time you were facing a tough situation but you were able to rest in Jesus’s love through it? What about a time when it wasn’t so easy to rest in His love? • When you’re feeling stuck in your reactions to tough situations, who are trusted people God has put in your life you could talk with—such as therapists, friends, teachers, parents, pastors, etc.? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. “The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” Matthew 12:34b (CSB)

READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; EPHESIANS 2:1-22 “How does God see my generation?” It’s a good question, and one we don’t often think to ask. We hear a lot of talk about the different generations: what they’re like, what their strengths and weaknesses are, how they’re different from other generations, and on and on. The concept of generations is interesting. In our time, people generally separate us into different social categories based on which set of fifteen years we were born in, and therefore which significant events we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. Those of us who are currently teenagers or young adults are often considered “Generation Z.” In my experience, being part of Gen Z is hard. I often hear people from older generations talking about us as if we’re a conundrum or a nuisance. But on the other hand, I’m also tempted to find fault with their generations. Sadly, as humans we have a tendency to put down people who are different from us, often as a way to try to make ourselves feel better. But this is not just unproductive, it’s also unkind. Thankfully, there’s a way out of this judging and finger-pointing. The most helpful thing I’ve heard about my generation came from a woman at my church who was praying for me a few Sundays ago. She’s part of Gen X, and she said, “Do you know how God sees Gen Z? As people made in His image.” That declaration startled me. As her words sank into my heart, I began to feel relieved, calm, and hopeful. We are not a conundrum to God. We are not a nuisance. He made us on purpose, and He understands us completely—even when we don’t understand ourselves. And He loves us, just as much as He loves every single generation that came before us, and every single generation that will come after us. His love is so great that He was willing to die for us so that we could be restored to relationship with Him. And He is working in our generation, drawing us close to Himself and empowering us to be part of the good work of His kingdom. While thinking about people in terms of generations can sometimes be helpful as we look for ways to understand ourselves and those around us, I don’t think that what generation we’re part of is the most important thing about us. We need Jesus to save us just as desperately as the other generations do. And when Jesus returns and makes all things new, everyone who has put their trust in Him will be raised from their graves like He was, and we will live forever with Him in restored creation. Then, we will be in perfect community with God and with all our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those who were born thousands of years before us! We will finally understand each other and be able to enjoy one another freely—without shame or fear getting in the way. Even as we look forward to this glorious day, we can catch glimpses of the restoration Jesus is bringing in our hearts and in our relationships here and now. As we rest in His love and kindness to us, we can see ourselves and everyone around us the way God sees us: as people made in His image, people He loves. • Hannah Howe • How have you heard people talking about your generation? What things have been helpful, and what things have been unhelpful? • Why do you think we’re often tempted to be resentful or overly critical of other generations? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this, confessing any sins that come to mind and asking for His help to see others as He sees them—and love them as He loves them. (It might be helpful to read Matthew 9:36.) • Sometimes, we can feel like our very identity is defined by what generation we were born into, but that’s not how God sees us. He is the One who crafted us carefully and purposefully (Psalms 119:73; 139:13-17). And He sees us in light of what Jesus has done for us by d...

READ: JEREMIAH 18:1-6; EZEKIEL 36:26; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 Tamora’s orange eyes were wide with excitement. Today, Grandmother would teach her how to weave a sala basket, a rite of passage in her village on a planet in the Cloudina Galaxy. Tamora watched Grandmother’s wrinkled purple hands lift a bucket filled with water and colorful qasab reeds out of the wash basin. “Watch carefully now,” said Grandmother. She demonstrated how to bend the reeds and explained the ancient weaving pattern, more intricate than any Tamora had learned before. Soon Tamora was ready to begin her own basket. “That’s the way,” Grandmother said after Tamora had completed several rows. Tamora beamed and then returned to weaving, stopping only now and then to ask Grandmother for help. After a while, Tamora said, “This reed is not bending well.” She was holding the last one from the pile Grandmother had made when they began. “Let me see.” Grandmother inspected the blue reed. “This reed is too dry. You need to put it back in the water and get a different one. It’s important to keep your reeds wet.” After switching reeds, Tamora began weaving easily again. Grandmother smiled and leaned back. “When I weave with qasab reeds, I’m often reminded of what the Maker does for us.” Tamora raised her eyebrows as Grandmother took a reed from the basin. With a twinkle in her eye, she continued, “We can all be like that dry, unbendable reed, stubbornly insisting on our own way instead of trusting our Maker to guide and shape us. But just like a basket weaver wets unbendable reeds to work with them, the Maker’s Spirit softens our hearts in the waters of His love and sacrifice for us, making us humble and pliable. Then, He can form us into people who love well.” “The Maker sounds like a potter,” said Tamora. “My friend Gamal was telling me that dry, hard clay can be made soft and moldable again by soaking it in water. Then the potter can shape it into something beautiful and purposeful.” “Indeed,” said Grandmother. “Every time you look at your basket, you can remember the Maker’s presence and love in your life. Because you and I belong to Him, let us be like damp reeds or soft clay, trusting Him to shape us.” • A. W. Smith • If you know Jesus, how have you seen Him change and mold you? In what ways do you love God and other people more than when you began your journey with God? (Matthew 22:36-40) …O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 14:23; JOHN 15:5-9 I love God and value my relationship with Him, but I have periods in my life when I struggle to make time to focus on being with Him. I do really well when I have a lot of structure surrounding my own faith. This was great when I was in college and I had built-in daily chapels, church on Sunday, and a weekly Bible study with my dorm floor. After I graduated I lost some of that built-in structure, and now I find it more difficult to make time to focus on God’s presence. It can be helpful to think about my relationship with God like other relationships in my life. I love my friends, family, and husband, but spending quality time with them doesn’t happen automatically. It takes intentional planning and time. It’s similar with my relationship with God. We see this truth in Scripture. Many times in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus sought out quiet time to pray and speak to God the Father because He loves Him. Sometimes this involved getting up early in the morning or walking away from a crowd to climb up a mountain. Jesus also went to the temple to be with God’s people and hear Scripture being read aloud. Even when Jesus was hanging on the cross, He cried out to the Father multiple times, communicating until the very end. And when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, God the Father sent us the Holy Spirit so He can be with us all the time, whether we’re intentionally focusing on His presence or not. He loves us so much that He never leaves our side. The way Jesus prioritized His relationship with the Father is a great reminder to me of the importance of spending time giving God my intentional focus. This time could be used in prayer, serving others, learning, spending time with God’s people, tending to creation, or lots of other ways. But I know myself, and if I’m not purposefully setting aside time to focus on God’s presence with me, that time gets gobbled up by something else in my life. Just like my other relationships, my relationship with God flourishes with intentional time, energy, and planning. Remember, Jesus loves us, and He made the way to be with us always. He enables us to spend time focusing on His loving presence. And that’s always time well spent. • Naomi Zylstra • If we know Jesus, He is always with us through the Holy Spirit. So, in every moment of our lives, we can be sensitive to His presence. Additionally, there are many ways we can set aside time to focus on His presence with us, including prayer, church, communion, music, time in nature, Bible studies, etc. What are some ways you like to focus on Jesus’s presence? [Jesus] went up into the hills by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23b (NLT)

READ: GENESIS 1:14-19; PSALM 33:6; ISAIAH 40:26 BOOM! POW! BANG! The thunderous echoes of a fireworks display ring out. The noise isn’t always great, but fireworks sure are beautiful when they light up the night sky. Gasps of “ohh” and “ahh” can be heard as rockets whistle through the air and burst into umbrellas of brilliant, jewel-like sparks. The sky fills with many brightly colored lights, making the dark almost as light as day. And though fireworks shoot up high into the atmosphere, they don’t hold a candle (pun intended) to the shining stars above. When God sees our fireworks, maybe He smiles and says, “Quite impressive, folks, but have you considered the lights I put in the sky? They can be seen all over the earth. And they don’t die out in a matter of seconds.” When we look up at the heavens, we get a glimpse of just how huge and vast the universe is. What an awesome reminder of how great and powerful God is— and how much He loves us. He created the sun and moon and countless stars for His glory and pleasure, and also for us. He provided great spheres of fire and reflection so we could have lights in our sky, not just on festive days when fireworks illuminate the night, but every day. The sun, moon, and stars—and everything else God created—remind us of the love of our Creator God. It’s hard to fathom that the all-powerful Maker, who made the “starry host by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6), is the same God who became human and lived among us. His great love for us compelled Him to conquer sin and death so we could live with Him forever. And the only way to do this was by laying down His own life. Jesus, the Light of the world, was laid in the darkness of the grave—for us. But after three days, He rose again. And now Jesus sits enthroned over all creation. He directs the sun and moon and stars, and He is intimately involved in the details of our lives. He beckons us to put our trust in Him and experience “the inexpressible and glorious joy” of knowing the One who formed the stars—and formed us (1 Peter 1:8). So today, let’s take a moment to behold Jesus’s beautiful universe and be reminded of His immense love for us and for all of creation. • A. W. Smith • Even though the universe is broken by sin and its effects, we can still see glimpses of God’s goodness in what He has made, and we can also look forward to the day Jesus will return and make all things new. According to Romans 8:18-25, how does God’s love impact creation? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 119:73; 139:1-12; John 1:1-5; 8:12; Colossians 1:15-20.) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-21 Lots of things in life can feel important in the moment. You might worry about your grades. You might think you need the most fashionable clothes. Maybe you feel pressure to be the best athlete on your team. Maybe you want to learn to drive and get your license and a car as soon as you can…but what happens when things don’t turn out like you’d hoped? When your grades slip, when you don’t have the money for all the things you want, when you don’t perform well in your sport, when you don’t have the independence you thought you’d have…you might start to worry. You might feel like you’re not good enough. When our circumstances leave us feeling disappointed and frustrated with life, what can we do? We can turn to Jesus. He sees our disappointments, and He grieves our losses with us. And He also reminds us that life is about so much more than all of that. You don’t have to have the nicest clothes to try to fit in. After all, true friends should accept you for who you are, not based on what you wear. And although it’s good to do well in school, you don’t have to get the best grades. Sports can be great, but winning isn’t the most important thing either. Milestones like driving sometimes come with pressure, but you don’t have to do everything in the timeframe anyone else thinks is right—you can go at your own pace. God has given you life, and He invites you to live it with Him. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, you can know the God who made the entire universe, and who made you specifically, and you can be part of the good work of His kingdom. There is so much more to this life than all the little things we find ourselves concerned with moment by moment. Things like grades and clothes are temporary, but God’s kingdom is eternal. You can trust your life to Him and know it will be more meaningful and purposeful than you could have imagined. • Bethany Acker • What kinds of things have made you feel disappointed or frustrated lately? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about it. He feels your hurts and grieves your losses alongside you. • Especially when things don’t seem to be going right, how could it be freeing to rely on God to give purpose and meaning to your life and to provide for all your needs? What might it look like for you to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”? (Matthew 6:33; 22:36-40) “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25b (CSB)

READ: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11; JAMES 1:19-20 I had just entered my first summer in Romania as a missionary, and one morning I discovered a stranger at my apartment door spouting words I didn’t understand. To give some background information, the city had recently turned off the hot water to our apartment buildings, and this lasted for a month over that season. Lack of hot water created a challenge when it came to taking showers. So, instead of using the shower, my roommate and I decided to run cold water from the faucet into the bathtub, and then pour in hot water we boiled on the stove to create a comfortable temperature for baths. It seemed to work—until my downstairs neighbor appeared banging angrily on our door. I couldn’t understand much of what he said except “water” and “down.” Then I realized the water that was draining from our bathtub had been leaking from the pipes into his apartment below. Before, the shower must not have had the same effect since the slow stream of water dripped down the drain gradually. But a full bathtub being un-stoppered, sending gallons of water out all at once? I grasped how this might cause a problem. So, during the rest of that month, I would drain the tub throughout an entire day, pulling the plug out and then plunging it right back in over and over. It must have worked; the downstairs neighbor never returned. To solve the problem of the leaky bathtub, I needed to take on a posture of humble listening. Jesus Himself listened to questions from His disciples, challenges from Pharisees, and cries from those longing to be healed—and He still listens to us today. When we trust in Jesus and all He’s done to bring us into a relationship with God, He also empowers us to take on His humility. Even though Jesus had all the answers (He is God, after all) He still took time to listen and respond to people’s needs. He humbled Himself even to the point of dying on the cross for us so He could meet our greatest need: to be rescued from sin and death. When we consider others’ needs—as Jesus considers ours—we can show the loving humility of Christ. • Allison Wilson Lee • How is a listening posture also a Christlike posture? How could remembering that Jesus listens to us make it easier for us to listen to others? • If what we’re doing hurts others, God calls us to stop, listen, and carefully consider how to change what we’ve been doing. Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you discern God’s guidance as you navigate situations like these? In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

READ: ROMANS 6:4-11; COLOSSIANS 3:1-4 Do you have a favorite book or movie that you like to read or watch over and over? Do you ever find yourself wishing you were part of the story? It can be fun to get wrapped up in a good story and imagine ourselves in it. And let’s not forget the epic story we’re already part of—the story of how Jesus saved the world from sin and death and how He will one day make everything right. That story is real, and it’s the greatest story of all. To understand where we are in this massive story, it can help to think about it in four main parts: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. In the beginning, God created all things good—including us. But at the fall, when humanity rejected God to go our own way, sin and brokenness came into the world and fractured God’s creation in deep ways. God was heartbroken, yet His love for us and for the rest of His creation was undaunted. He was determined to bring about redemption so His people could be near Him, and all creation could be made whole once again. The way He brought this redemption is the climax of the story: Jesus, who is God the Son, came and lived among us. When Jesus willingly died on the cross, He conquered sin. And when He rose from the dead, He vanquished death, so everyone who trusts in Him could have eternal life. Now, we live as forgiven people in this in-between space after Jesus has come the first time, before He comes again. We’re looking forward to the final restoration Jesus will bring when He returns, raises us from the dead, rights every wrong, and heals every brokenness. And as we wait, we have purposeful work to do. God invites us to join with Him in sharing the good news of His great story, all the while bringing restoration to the areas of brokenness we find around us. It’s amazing that we are part of God’s story, and that it’s all true. It’s not a story about made-up characters—Jesus is real, and His story is our story. When things are looking bleak, we can remember how the story ends: with Jesus getting rid of sin forever and making the whole world new. In a way, every story connects to this great one, echoing themes like betrayal, rescue, self-sacrifice, true love, and beautiful restoration. As we face the ups and downs of life in a broken world, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s story has the best ending of all. • A. W. Smith • Have you ever thought of your life as part of God’s epic story? How could this truth give us comfort and purpose through good times and bad? (For more about God’s story, see our “Know Jesus” page.) Since we have been united with him [Jesus] in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. Romans 6:5 (NLT)

READ: PSALMS 34:15-18; 139:7-12; HEBREWS 13:5 When it all slips awayWhen I am left aloneThe darkness surrounds meI feel like hidingWhen it all gets too heavyWhen life is hard to bearThe world is too much for meI remember I’m not aloneMy Savior is with meHe knows my painMy God does not forsake meNo matter how hard life getsGod loves me and heals meHe helps me when I’m weakGod is always near meI don’t need to be afraid • Bethany Acker • Even when we feel alone and overwhelmed, God is always there. He will never forsake us in our pain. He is always eager to help us. Can you think of a time you were comforted by God’s presence with you? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. If nothing comes to mind, you can ask Him for this anytime. He loves to answer these prayers. • Jesus invites us to tell Him about all the things that are weighing on us. He sits beside us in our pain and weeps with us. Consider taking a moment to bring Him any burdens that come to mind. • In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to, people who will listen to you and help shoulder your heavy burdens and bring them to Jesus? (Galatians 6:2) If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (CSB)

READ: MATTHEW 25:35-40; LUKE 2:15-20 Do you ever get that bored, depressed, or letdown feeling after Christmas ends? When all the fun and festivities come to a close and we wait for the new year to begin, it can be a bit, well, boring. But boredom can be a really cool opportunity to show Jesus’s love. Think about your community. Other people may be feeling bored, depressed, or let down too, especially people who can’t get around easily, like those who are sick and can’t leave their home, whether that be an apartment, a house, an assisted living residence, or a hospital. Sometimes, these people in our communities get lots of attention before Christmas—carolers, visitors, programs, and so on. But when Christmas is over, they may be extra lonely. If you have some extra time, one option could be doing some research and finding out the best ways to serve these people at a time when they may be especially forgotten. In a way, getting out in our communities and showing Jesus’s love has some similarities to what the shepherds did when Jesus was born. After seeing the baby Jesus—after the very first Christmas—they went and told others about Him, declaring His love for the world. So during this year’s after-Christmas lull, consider how you might show Jesus’s amazing love to your neighbors! Christmas may be over, but we still have the opportunity to remember how Jesus came to save us, and we can keep sharing His love with others. • A. W. Smith • What people in your community (groups or individuals) might be feeling especially lonely during the after-Christmas lull? Are you feeling especially lonely this year? Consider taking a moment to ask God for ideas of ways to share Jesus’s love with the neighbors around you. • If you’d like to help people in your community, do you know of any organizations that are already helping? How could you find out more about them and learn from the work that’s already being done? After doing some research or talking to people from an organization, if you decide this is a place you’d like to serve, follow the steps for volunteering that they’ve set out. In this very tangible way, you can show the love of Jesus in your community! After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. Luke 2:17 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 2:1-12; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:15; JAMES 1:17 Galumph, galumph. The magi had been traveling for weeks. Nothing but sand under their feet and stars in the sky above. Though the heavens were scattered with twinkling stars, one stood out amongst them all. The star. The one leading them to the King of the Jews. It would be unthinkable to come empty-handed. So, before setting out, they had contemplated what gifts would befit this king. “Gold, of course,” confirmed one. “Frankincense would honor his purity,” suggested another. A third observed, “Great power brings great responsibility—and suffering. It is troublesome to be a ruler. Myrrh would sweeten his reign.” So, it was settled. The magi were on their way, pursuing the mysterious star that had appeared many months before. By now the sky had darkened, and the guiding star directed them. Slowly they advanced, until they reached a humble abode on the outskirts of Bethlehem town. Cautiously, they alighted from their saddles, and taking their costly cargo, made their way to the entrance. The carpenter Joseph invited them inside. The Child, asleep in His mother’s arms, soon awakened and with a wide-eyed expression watched the magi humbly bow before Him. They presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. For a few minutes, the room was filled with an unmistakable radiance. Slowly, the magi rose from their knees and, filled with wonder, stepped quietly out the door and into the night. • Jarm Del Boccio • Today’s story is how one author imagines the events described in Matthew 2:1-12. Consider taking some time to read this passage for yourself and imagine what it might have been like for the magi to search for and find Jesus (probably months or years after his birth). What do you notice? What questions do you have? • While the Bible doesn’t tell us a lot about the magi, some believe they were a priestly tribe of an ancient people called the Medes, in the part of the world where Iran and Iraq are now. The magi were very well educated in astronomy and mathematics and very powerful politically. One of the main jobs of the magi was to crown kings. So, by causing a star to rise, God led these ancient magi to proclaim Jesus as King, and their gifts reflect this. Why is it important for us to know that Jesus is the true King? • How is Jesus different from other kings? (Hint: Read all of Matthew 2 and look at King Herod.) • Have you ever wondered why the magi chose to bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus? While the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically, we can find some interesting connections throughout Scripture (Exodus 30:6-9, 34-38; 30:22-33; 1 Kings 7:48-51). For example, the only other place in the Bible where we find the combination of myrrh and frankincense is in Song of Songs 4:6, 14 in the context of the king and his bride. Jesus is the King of Kings, and the church (all Christians everywhere) is His bride. Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) so that we could be forgiven and united with Him as His bride, and so that His good reign could extend over all creation. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our “Know Jesus” page. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2 (NLT)

READ: GENESIS 4:2-5; EXODUS 3:1-4; 1 SAMUEL 16:11-13; LUKE 2:8-20 Shepherds couldn’t even testify in a court of law. That’s how much people looked down on us. They assumed we were liars. I hated that. Not to mention we were too dirty and “unclean” to enter the temple because we cared for animals, dealing with their manure and blood. But even worse was how people avoided me. They seemed to forget everyone needed lambs for the temple sacrifices. And sheep need to be led and protected. They sometimes do incredibly stupid things. Whenever I complained, my older brother reminded me of our ancestors. “Remember Abel and Moses? They kept sheep. So did Jacob. And David was a shepherd before he was king.” Try telling that to the townspeople who held their noses when I passed by! Then one night, everything changed. We were out in the fields tending our flocks when suddenly a bright light split open the night sky. I froze. Some of the other shepherds fell to the ground in fear. My brother trembled as he drew me close. “An angel,” he whispered. Then the angel spoke: “Don’t be afraid!” How was that even possible? My knees couldn’t stop shaking. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” All people? Even shepherds? Even me? Suddenly, a whole multitude of angels appeared. They were singing, “Glory to God in highest heaven.” Then the angels disappeared as quickly as they’d come. But they’d given us instructions. Where to go. What to look for. “Hurry!” my brother took hold of my arm. “We’ve got to go to Bethlehem.” I protested, “But what about the sheep? Won’t they be in danger?” He shook his head. “If God tells us to go, we need to go. He can protect our sheep until we get back. The Messiah is here!” • Carol Raj • This story is how one author imagines what it might’ve been like for the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. Jesus, the Savior of the world and bringer of peace, came for all people—including those society casts out. What can this Bible passage reveal about who God is and how He sees us? • Like the shepherds might’ve worried about leaving the sheep, we can often fall into believing our responsibilities matter more than resting in the good news of Jesus’s love and forgiveness that He’s given us through His death and resurrection. God gives us opportunities to experience His vast love for us, but we’re often tempted to prioritize other things. What might those things be for you? Consider taking a moment to pray about whatever comes to mind. You can rely on the Holy Spirit to help you surrender all these things to God and receive what He has for you. “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 (NLT)

READ: LUKE 15:11-32; ROMANS 5:6-8; 15:7; 1 JOHN 4:9 As a kid, the one thing I wanted for Christmas—every Christmas—was a puppy. Sometimes a collie, sometimes a German shepherd, sometimes a cocker spaniel. But always a puppy. Every year I got what was second on my list. One year it was the doll I wanted. One year it was a wristwatch. But never my puppy. Looking back on those days, it’s obvious to me that it wasn’t a puppy I wanted at all. It was love. Someone to happily greet me—no matter what mischief I had been into that morning. Someone to follow me everywhere—even when my best friend wasn’t speaking to me. Love. It wasn’t until years later that I learned every Christmas is a reminder of love. Real love. Love that will never die. Love that accepts me with all my faults. Love that will never let go. The love of Jesus. God took on human flesh and lived among us. He humbled Himself to be born where the animals were kept. Imagine! Livestock bleating and pooping and chewing their cuds. It was probably noisy and smelly, but He came with one purpose in mind: to die on the cross. An excruciating death. For me! For you! For people who did not deserve to even untie the straps of His sandals (Luke 3:16). He would lay down His life. But that wouldn’t be the end. After three days in a tomb, He would rise from the grave, defeating sin and death so everyone who trusts in Him could live with God forever. That love remains. The love of Jesus for this world He created and bodily inhabited—and will return to one day. His love for you. His love for me. Much greater than the love any puppy or any person could give. A love that will never die. A love we can never lose. • Carol Raj • Can you remember a time you felt truly loved and accepted? What was it like? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. • We all want love. We want to know we are loved. We want to be told we are loved. We need to believe we are loved. The good news is, that’s who Jesus is for us. He assures us of God’s love. God longs to accept us into His family, and He made this possible through Jesus’s death and resurrection. His desire is for everyone to know His unending love through trusting in Jesus (Psalm 136:1; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). If you want to know more, check out our “Know Jesus” page. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

READ: MICAH 5:1-4; MATTHEW 2:1-6; LUKE 2:1-15 Are you a detail-oriented person? Some people are, some people aren’t, and some people—like me—can be if it’s something they care about. Did you know God cares about the details? All the way back in the writings of the prophet Micah, He left us specific details about a ruler who would be coming. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This ruler of Israel is Jesus. Even though this verse was written hundreds of years before Jesus came, Micah says the promised ruler would be born in Bethlehem… and that’s exactly where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1). Even more specific than that, Micah outlines that He would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah. There were two different cities called Bethlehem—one in the north, near Nazareth, and one in the south, near Jerusalem. Bethlehem Ephrathah is the one near Jerusalem, and it had special significance as the town of David (Luke 2:4). Joseph, Jesus’s earthly father, was a descendent of David, and that’s why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem when Caesar decreed that everyone must be registered in a census. Isn’t it amazing how God works through all the details to unfold His great story? Micah described a ruler who would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah and “shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD” (Micah 5:4). Approximately 700 years later, Jesus revealed that He is the Good Shepherd, who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Since Jesus died for us and rose from the grave, everyone who puts their trust in Him gets to look forward to the day our great Ruler-Shepherd will return, and we “will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4). And even now, we can rest knowing that God cares about every detail—in the Bible and in our lives. • Kimberly Brokish • How can looking at Old Testament promises help us understand who Jesus is and what His life, death, and resurrection mean for us? (If you want to know more, check out our “Know Jesus” page.) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 (NIV)

READ: 2 KINGS 6:8-23; PSALM 135:5-6 Wars, earthquakes, crime—all kinds of awful things are going on in the world. Sometimes it seems like there’s only bad news. But when things look bleak in our broken world, we can have hope as we remember that Jesus is coming back one day, and when He does, He’s going to destroy sin and death forever, and the world will no longer be a scary place. Instead, Jesus will make everything new and beautiful. Even now, He is working all things “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” and all along the way, He is transforming us to be more and more like Him (Romans 8:28-29). Yes, the sin and death we see in our world are powerful forces. But they are not nearly as powerful as God. That’s something Elisha’s servant witnessed firsthand in 2 Kings 6. A strong force of soldiers with horses and chariots were about to attack Elisha, and his servant was terrified—until God opened his eyes so he could see the large number of angels God had sent to guard them. In a similar way, when we see all the chaos and evil things happening around us, it can seem like the world is beyond repair, like there’s no hope. But the One who is in us is greater than all the powers of evil (1 John 4:4). When things look dark, the Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus will never abandon us, and He will make everything right one day. Because He is always with us, we don’t need to be afraid. We can trust Him no matter what happens. While we shouldn’t close our eyes to the problems in the world, we can also open our eyes to the power and promises of Jesus. He won’t ever leave us alone in this dark world. He will comfort us and strengthen us to take part in the good work He is doing, even in the places that seem broken beyond repair. Jesus is working all things for His good purposes, and because He died on the cross and rose from the grave, we can know that His victory is certain. • A. W. Smith • What things scare you the most about our world? Who are trusted people you could talk to about those things—such as friends, parents, pastors, therapists, teachers, etc.? • What are some tangible ways you’d like to show the love of Jesus in the midst of the brokenness of our world? …the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4b (NIV)

READ: LUKE 2:4-7; JOHN 1:1-18 Christmas tends to get a lot of hype as far as holidays go. I love the holiday personally. It’s a time when I get to celebrate with my family, share presents, and eat good food. It’s also a time I get to remember the story about how God became a human. After living through 25 Christmases, I’ve noticed the same themes tend to pop up. I hear stories about Mary and Joseph and how difficult their journey was. I hear about shepherds, magi, or angels. Of course, Jesus is the star of it all—well, not the literal star the magi followed, but still. Baby Jesus is the center of our attention in the manger. As the song “Away in a Manger” goes, “The cattle are lowing / the Baby awakes / but little Lord Jesus / no crying He makes.” But that’s not true. Jesus did cry. He probably cried a lot during the first few years of His life. Because He was fully human. That’s the amazing part of the Christmas story! God becoming a human being and living among other humans. He cried, was hungry, felt sad, got tired…all the same experiences we have. To me, this is what makes Christmas so miraculous. Yes, Jesus’s conception was miraculous too—He was conceived through the Holy Spirit, not by a human father (Matthew 1:20, 25; Luke 1:34-35). But the fact that God came down to earth to be with humankind and live a human life amazes me. God the Father sending God the Son to earth, as a human, shows how much love and compassion our God has. And Jesus wanted to come, not just to live among us, but ultimately to die on the cross in our place—and then rise from the grave—so that everyone who trusts in Him can live with God forever. He loves us that much. Other gods of the day would demand human sacrifices, but we have a God who became the sacrifice Himself, on our behalf. • Naomi Zylstra • Have you ever thought about what it means that Jesus became human? Why is Jesus being fully human and fully God central to the meaning of Christmas? • What is something Jesus did in Scripture that humanizes Him to you? The Bible tells us Jesus experienced crying, hunger, sadness, tiredness…He did not withhold Himself from any part of human life. (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 53:2-3; Matthew 26:36-39; Mark 11:12; 14:32-36; Luke 4:1-2; 19:41; 22:39-44; John 4:6; 11:35; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7.) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (CSB)

READ: PSALM 62:5-12; MATTHEW 2:1-11; LUKE 2:1-7 From the time we’re young, Christmas can leave us feeling disappointed. As a little kid, you might have longed for a certain gift and gone without it. You might have hoped a family member would be around to celebrate the holiday season with you and found that they were too busy with work or they weren’t able to travel because of weather or sickness. Maybe you hoped Christmas would be more magical than it was, and you ended up feeling disappointed and hurt. As we get older, Christmas can still disappoint us. After all the special foods are eaten, the favorite stories are shared, and the presents get unwrapped, we might be left with a hollow feeling, like “That’s it?” It seems like Christmas should continue on and be something more. When we look closely at the Christmas story, we find that the birth of Jesus was a disappointment from many perspectives. People expected the Messiah—God’s promised Rescuer—to be a great and mighty king. No one expected Him to be born into a poor, unremarkable family and laid in a manger. It’s not surprising then that God works through disappointments. So, when we feel let down during the holiday season, we can take comfort in God’s presence with us—His humble and unexpected presence. After all, Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When the people in our lives fail to show up in the ways we hope they will, and when traditions fail to be enough, we can lean in to Jesus. He will always be there for us, surprising us with all that He does for us. When gifts leave us disappointed, we can look to the perfect gift He gave us—Himself. Because Jesus came and lived among us, ultimately dying on the cross for us and rising from the grave, we can know that God will always be there for us, in the busy holiday season and all throughout the year. God loves us, and no matter what disappointments we experience, we can celebrate Him this Christmas. • Emily Acker • What are some disappointments you’ve experienced around Christmas time, either this year or in the past? Consider taking a moment to lament, sharing these disappointments with Jesus. • Maybe this Christmas isn’t like you expected or hoped it would be, but it can still be good. God helps us be present and enjoy what there is to be enjoyed, and He often surprises us with good gifts. What good gifts might God be inviting you to enjoy this holiday season? (James 1:17) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 1:26-56; 2:1-35; 1 TIMOTHY 4:12 In Luke 1, when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared out of nowhere, Mary was probably no more than sixteen. As if the angel wasn’t terrifying enough, he also brought distressing news: she—still a virgin and engaged to be married—would soon become pregnant with the Son of the Most High God. Talk about rocking your world! Things were different then, and Mary would not have been considered too young to become a mother, as Jewish women often became engaged in their teens. Yet Mary was understandably “confused and disturbed” (Luke 1:29). Just imagine being in her shoes…what would you say? To Joseph? To your parents? To anyone? I mean, angels only spoke to prominent people, right? Yet Mary’s response to Gabriel revealed a remarkable faith and a humble heart: “I am the Lord’s servant,” she replied, “May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38). To understand how astonishing Mary’s faith was, let’s take a moment to contrast her response with the responses of others (adults, no less) who God also called to do frightening tasks. For example, Moses and Gideon reacted with protests and excuses when God called them to lead His people and deliver them from their oppressors (Exodus 3–4; Judges 6–7). On the other hand, when God offered Mary the opportunity to participate in His story of deliverance, she not only responded to God willingly, she also offered Him her heartfelt praise. Listen as Mary breaks out in song while visiting her cousin Elizabeth: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!…For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me” (Luke 1:46-49). The next time we’re faced with frightening circumstances, let’s turn to God in faith as Mary did, relying on God’s power instead of looking at our own limits, and join in her joyful song. • G. Kam Congleton • When God invites us to be part of His good work of deliverance and restoration, it can often be frightening. Yet, through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to do everything He calls us to do. There is great joy in saying “yes” to His invitations! How could Mary’s story, and the way God did seemingly impossible things in her life, give us courage when we face frightening situations? Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38a (NLT)

READ: GALATIANS 4:4-5; REVELATION 21:1-5 When He came the first time The world was in dire need Arriving as a newborn baby Not atop a gallant steed This might come to some’s surprise The way He came to us But, Jesus comes with power and love Not with pompous fuss When He came the first time He changed the world forever Now those who trust in Him are His And His love for us He will not sever But, do you know something? He’s coming back again! Just imagine how the world will change Then • Molly McTernan • The word advent means “important arrival.” In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many Christians observe the season of Advent as a time to remember how Jesus came to earth the first time as a baby, and how He will come a second time to make all things new and dwell with His people forever. Even if the Christmas story is familiar to you, consider taking some time to think about how Jesus came the first time(Matthew 1:18–2:15; Luke 2:1-7). In what ways was His arrival surprising? Why do you think God the Father decided to send God the Son in such a humble way? • What changed after Jesus came and lived among us, ultimately dying on the cross for us and rising from the grave? And how will the world change even more when Jesus returns? (Find out more on our “Know Jesus” page.) For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (CSB)

READ: ISAIAH 9:1-7; MATTHEW 1:18-23 God with us. Closer than our very breath, YH-WH, “I am,” here (Exodus 3:14). From the seeking of humanity in the Garden of Eden, when we first sinned and God called to us, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). To the seeking in the desert, when the LORD spoke to Hagar and she said: “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:8-13). To the pivotal moment of Love come down in the manger. “Immanuel…‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). All the way to the cross, where Immanuel gave up His life and said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). The whole of history is this beautiful chase. God creating, bending, heart-rending. God reaching, earth crying, hearts breaking, long waiting until the promise was fulfilled: God with us here, now, always. You can trace the line of promises kept from the Garden to the Flood, from the Manger to the Cross, from the Resurrection to the Ascension. And then, a mighty, rushing wind; tongues of holy flame settling on and always in—the Holy Spirit with us (Acts 2:2-4). Our Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Comforter—God in us (John 14:16-17, 26). God with us wherever we go, God in our midst, God dwelling in us, God among us. All we need, always, even as we wait until He comes again. Lord, thank you for coming to us in our need and brokenness. You came from glory and perfection to mire and destruction. You came as the Light in the darkness to set the captives free and to dwell among us—and in us. You are Immanuel. We are not forsaken. We are not alone. There is no need for striving, for working to attain—in Jesus, it’s already done. Risen from the dead, coming back again. The greatest gift is God with us: You came for love. Today, may we rest and believe that You are more than enough. • Savannah Coleman • At Christmas, we remember how Jesus came and lived among us. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). How can looking at God’s pursuit of us throughout the Bible help us more fully understand the significance of Jesus’s coming? How has Jesus revealed God’s never-ending love for us? (Find out more about why Jesus came on our “Know Jesus” page.) • If you want to dig deeper, read Joshua 1:9; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 28:20; John 1:5, 14. “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 (NLT)

READ: PSALMS 39:4-7; 90:1-17 When I was young, my family would visit my grandmother 750 miles away, and at night, she would sit with me on her lap and read from her Bible and tell stories of her life. She often said, “It wasn’t long ago I was your age.” I would look at her gray hair and wrinkles, in disbelief that she could think that. She was in her fifties. For me, a lifetime passed just waiting for Christmas. Fast forward to my senior year in high school. I was driving home from a school activity, thinking about my future and what I might want to do in college. I had always wanted to take ballet, but my parents never would pay for lessons. Should I take ballet in college? Then it occurred to me: I was 17, too old to start a career in ballet. Already, the chance to seize some of life’s opportunities had passed. In that sobering moment, I realized time gets spent whether or not we know how we want to spend it. As our time passes, opportunities come and go. But I know I get to spend eternity with God, who loves me so much He sent Jesus to die and rise again to make the way for me to dwell with Him forever. If we know Jesus, we have a confident hope that He will return to resurrect us from the dead so we can live with Him forever in restored creation. Because of that hope, we can participate in God’s kingdom here and now with joy instead of fear. After I realized how quickly time passes, I began thinking about how to best use the skills and interests God gave me to further His work and make the most of my time. The work God is doing is wonderful, and it’s a blessing to get to be part of it. We don’t know how long this life will be or when Jesus will return, but we do know that God is at work in every moment of our lives, and He invites and equips us to participate in that good work. • Ronica Stromberg • It can be disappointing to miss out on opportunities. But God is with us in these times, and our disappointments matter to Him. Have you been disappointed by a missed opportunity lately? Consider taking a moment to bring this to God in prayer. • God has given all of us skills, talents, and abilities that we can use as we participate in His kingdom. What skills, talents, and abilities has He given you? If you’re not sure, who is a trusted Christian who could help you find out—such as a pastor, parent, youth leader, or counselor? Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 2:25-35 Long ago, God promised Simeon that before he died, he would see the Messiah. And so, Simeon waited. I imagine that, as he grew in years and felt his physical strength lessen, Simeon became weary of anticipating and expecting. The Bible tells us that Simeon looked forward to “Israel’s consolation” (Luke 2:25). No doubt Simeon saw the trials of the nation around him and wondered when God would finally fulfill His promise—when the Messiah would finally come and crush the enemy to the ground (Genesis 3:15). But still, Simeon waited. At some point in our lives, we all wait for something. Sometimes it’s a new job, a relationship, acceptance into college, physical healing, or new friends. Or maybe it’s simply waiting for God to reveal the next step in our lives. But because God is good, gracious, and sovereign, we can trust that He will be with us in the waiting. As we read through the stories in the Bible we see that, time and time again, whether it’s a covenant to an entire nation or a promise to a single person, our God tells the truth and keeps His word. We know that people don’t always keep their promises, and sometimes we have a hard time trusting because others have broken that trust in the past. But because of who God is and all that He has done, we can count on His words completely and fully. God didn’t leave Simeon in a time of expectation forever. In Luke 2:28 we see that one day Simeon finally held the newborn Messiah in his very own arms. As he looked into the face of Jesus Himself, Simeon lifted up praise to God, the Promise Keeper. • Katherine Billingsley • Can you think of a time you had to wait for something that was important to you? Are you in a time of waiting right now? Consider taking a moment to tell God about what you’re longing for. Even in the waiting, we can rest in His abiding love and constant presence with us. • It can be helpful to remember that, even if the things we long for don’t happen, we can rely on Jesus’s promise to return and make all things new. Then all our longings will be fulfilled in His wonderful presence (Revelation 21:1-5). How can we find comfort in the fact that God never breaks a promise? “…and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you.” Joshua 23:14b (CSB)

READ: EPHESIANS 6:10-20 If you live in a part of the world where the winters get cold and snowy, you’re probably used to putting on layers of warm clothes before venturing outside. Hats, mittens, coats, and boots protect us from the cold and wind, and they can also help us understand today’s Bible passage. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul urges the Christians in Ephesus to “put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (verse 11). Paul goes on to describe each piece of God’s armor, echoing the words of Isaiah 59:17, when the LORD “put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.” This Old Testament passage ends with a promise: the Redeemer—who we now know is Jesus—would come to save everyone who turns from their sins, and God’s Spirit would never leave them. So, why do we need God’s armor if He has already come to redeem us and defeat sin and death for us? Well, until Jesus returns to fully restore our broken world, life can get pretty cold and harsh. But God doesn’t abandon us to shiver and get frost-bitten. He gives us His armor. In fact, Jesus gifts us Himself as our armor, inviting us to depend on who He is and what He’s done for us. Just like we need plenty of clothing for protection against winter weather, Christians have the armor of God to protect us from the lies of the enemy. Just like your hat protects your head and your gloves keep your hands warm, each piece of God’s armor protects us in a different way against the lies we might be tempted to believe. God’s armor reminds us we belong to Jesus and we don’t have to give in to any temptation we might face. Instead, we can rely on God’s power to live in a way that reflects our love for God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40). So today, whether it’s cold where you live or not, consider taking some time to reread Ephesians 6:10-20. As you do, think about each part of the armor. Notice how God compares truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—which are all given to us in the gospel—to various pieces of armor soldiers needed. And remember, you can rest knowing that, in Jesus, you have all the protection you need against the lies you might hear. • A. W. Smith • What questions do you have about the armor of God? What piece sticks out to you most today? • What lies do you tend to believe about yourself? How can God’s armor remind us of who we are in Jesus— how beloved and how empowered we truly are? (Ephesians 1:3-23) Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 25:16-18; 1 PETER 1:3-13 Lonely, sad, life isn’t what I hoped Desperate, scared, I feel alone No one is for me, I stand by myself Many are against me, I can’t face them I need mercy, need someone to help I need strength, need to be held I cannot go forward on my own I turn now to cry to You, my God When troubles are big, my heart sad I know You notice and You care When anxiety is great, fears large I know that You offer me peace Going forward, I need You with me Give me peace, show me mercy I need You here, my great God Do not leave me to handle all alone • Emily Acker • Today’s poem is written in the style of a lament psalm. Lament is the practice of honestly bringing our hurts to God, and it’s a vital part of the Christian life. God knows our hurts, and because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can freely bring them to Him in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). Lamenting reminds us that Jesus cares about our pain, and He’s going to do something about it—either now or when He returns to make all things new. Consider taking some time to write your own lament, telling God about the things that have left you feeling hurt, disappointed, frustrated, afraid, or demoralized lately. For more examples of lament psalms, check out Psalms 13, 38, 42, 43, 88, or 130. • We all go through times when our problems feel overwhelming and God feels far away. But as Christians, we can know that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). We can rest in this sure hope: that because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we belong to God and He is always with us. Do you have any favorite Bible passages that remind you of God’s nearness, love, and power in difficult times? • Have you ever felt depressed? Depression causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. God created the world good, but when humans went their own way against God, the result was death and decay and sickness—including depression. But God has not left us alone in our struggles. He has compassion on us, and He came to live among us and, ultimately, to heal the world of all brokenness. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have the sure hope that Jesus will return to restore His creation—and, as His forgiven followers, we will get to live with Him forever. Then we will finally be free from sin, death, and every kind of brokenness. As we wait for that glorious day, Jesus is with us. He identifies with us in our struggles, feels our sorrows as His own, and weeps alongside us. • God does not want us to face depression—or any other kind of brokenness—alone. Christians can bring each other hope and comfort in hard times, pointing each other to Jesus. When you are struggling, who can you reach out to? If you know someone who is hurting, how could you come alongside them? • If you have been feeling depressed, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a therapist, parent, pastor, or teacher? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the re...

READ: ACTS 2:42-47; 4:32-35; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:25-26 For a few years, my family and I lived near enough to our church’s meeting location that we could bike to church services. The youngest ones, too little to bike any distance, could ride in a bike trailer behind a grown-up’s bicycle. I was too big for the trailer, but I didn’t have a bike of my own. Sometimes I would try to keep up with my family on a scooter. That was hard work, though, and I couldn’t scooter fast enough to stay with the rest of the family for long. However, a couple at our church—Ted and Kim—noticed our dilemma and decided to help. They owned a bike that would suit my size, and they weren’t using it at the time. Ted and Kim didn’t ask my family to pay for the bike; they simply gave it to me. And thanks to that gift, my family enjoyed many hours of outdoor time, including biking to church together. In the book of Acts, we see people during the time of the early church who were radically changed by the forgiveness and new life they were experiencing in Jesus, and they shared what they had with one another—just like how Ted and Kim gave that bike to me. The Christ followers described in Acts gave generously to one another, sharing in one another’s needs by helping to meet those needs. This kind of love for others is a gift from God, the natural overflow of His enormous love for us (1 John 4:19). As we consider how to live out our faith in Jesus, the One who rescued us from the punishment our sins deserve and brought us into a relationship with God, we can look to the early believers as an example—and then look for people in our lives who might need the exact thing we can share—all the while looking to Jesus, the One who is so generous to us. • Allison Wilson Lee • When Jesus came and lived among us, He not only showed that God cares about our needs, but He also identified with our needs. God humbled Himself to experience pain and lack firsthand, ultimately dying on the cross for us, so that we could be with Him forever and share in the abundance of the new heavens and earth with Him. As we wait in hope for Jesus’s return, we can catch glimpses of the restoration He is bringing when we see people who have been changed by His love and the power of His resurrection who are giving generously to one another. Can you think of a time someone stepped in to help when you had a need? What was that like? • Consider taking a moment to pray, thanking God for His generous love and asking Him for ideas of how you could share with someone who could benefit from what you have to offer. All the believers…shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 (NLT)

READ: ISAIAH 53; LUKE 2:1-21 Listen. Can you hear it? That whisper of hope on the horizon? The echoes of an infant King born in a manger. The culmination of hundreds of years of prophecy born in a tiny babe in Bethlehem— Immanuel, God with us. The rush of the season, the crush of life— expectations from within and without. How will we hear if we don’t choose to be still and listen? Advent is about hoping, waiting, rejoicing. Being present to the One who presented His One and Only Son as the one-time atonement for our sins. Being present to the One who is after only one thing: your heart. Colorful lights wink on an evergreen tree. Let it be a reminder of the Light of the World, who gave up His life for you on a tree fashioned into a cross. But that thrill of hope? It’s not an illusion. The Light of the world is still shining—Jesus is alive! Love was born The veil was torn Death was defeated! Listen to the promise: He’s coming again. It may be hard right now. Your mind and body may be weary. Wait in hope! The One who came as a baby will, in the twinkling of an eye, come back to make all things new, to raise us from the dead, to make His home among His people. Then, we will be with Him forever. • Savannah Coleman • As we wait for Christmas day during the season of Advent (which means “important arrival”), we have an opportunity to turn our hearts to the coming of a baby in a manger, the Savior of the world. Beyond the birth of our King, Advent is also a time of preparation for His second coming, when He will return to earth and make all things new. Even as we wait for that glorious day, He calls us to be attentive to His presence with us, here and now. When Jesus took His final breath on the cross, at that very moment the veil in the temple (that separated the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was, from the rest of the temple) was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). Jesus came because God wanted to be with us, so much so that He was willing to die for us! Then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. Now nothing can separate us from His love. How can you prepare your heart to focus on the presence of God today? • If you want to dig deeper, read Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:22-23; John 8:12; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 14:6; TITUS 2:10-14 Have you ever helped decorate a Christmas tree? In many families, this is a yearly tradition, especially in the United States of America. Some families even like to add new ornaments every year! In some cases, each person will make their own ornament, or the family will go to a store together and have each family member pick out one new ornament. Then, they’ll put all the ornaments on the family Christmas tree. What really makes a tradition like this fun is the way the unique personality of each family member comes out in the ornaments each person makes or chooses—in how each person helps decorate the tree. In a way, Christians are kind of like Christmas tree ornaments. In Titus 2:10, Paul says that God’s people “adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.” To adorn basically means to decorate. Just like each Christmas tree ornament is different but decorates the same tree, each Christian has different talents, interests, and life circumstances, but we all represent the same truth—that Jesus loves us, and He died and rose again to save us from sin and death. God’s truth is already beautiful on its own, similar to how an evergreen tree is beautiful even without any ornaments. And yet, God calls us each to decorate His truth to help others see just how beautiful it is. In fact, God says we are part of the beauty of His gospel, or good news. The gospel isn’t just words on a page—the gospel is demonstrated in our lives. When we share what Jesus has done for us and use our gifts, personalities, and the various things we do to express our love for Him and others, we put the beauty of His love and grace on display for all to see. In Titus 2, Paul writes about all kinds of Christians, each with unique circumstances and abilities. If you know Jesus, you can show others His love wherever you are by using the gifts He has given you. So the next time you see a Christmas tree, think about how you can “adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things” (Titus 2:10) and point others to the beauty of Jesus. • A. W. Smith • Throughout the Bible, we see how God both calls and empowers His people to do good works (Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). It’s fun to notice how God made every person unique, and so the ways we do these good works will also be unique! What are some of your talents, gifts, and interests? How could those things in your life be like ornaments that decorate God’s message of hope in Jesus? …they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. Titus 2:10b (WEB)

READ: MATTHEW 7:1-5; JAMES 4:11-12 It’s such an easy temptation. How quick we as humans are to make judgments by pointing a finger at someone else instead of looking at the problems in our own lives. It can be so easy to criticize the way other people live. When was the last time you found yourself judging others for the things they do that are different from what you think is right? It’s easier to point out other people’s shortcomings instead of our own, isn’t it? But that’s not how Jesus calls us to live. He died on the cross and rose from the grave for all sin—including yours—and He’s the only One who can judge. He calls us to focus on living our own lives and leave the judgment to Him. But what if we see somebody do something wrong? you might ask. We have to make judgments sometimes, don’t we? Yes, there are times when we need to confront others about wrongdoing or tell someone in authority so they can help—especially if a person’s actions will hurt themselves or someone else. But that doesn’t give us a right to put ourselves above someone else, to think of ourselves as better than other people because the sins they struggle with might be different from the sins we struggle with. The fact is, we all desperately need Jesus—He’s the only perfect person who’s ever lived. He’s the only One who never sinned, and His death and resurrection is the only way we can be forgiven and restored to relationship with God. Let’s not lose sight of this good news by pointing fingers at each other. Instead, let’s remember that God desires to bring us close to Himself, to heal our lives from sin, and to make us new. We need to leave the judging up to Him…because He is the only just Judge. • A. W. Smith • Are there sins you find easier to judge? Why do you think that is? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this. • How can knowing that Jesus is a just Judge give us comfort when we see things go so wrong in our broken world? • How can knowing that Jesus will right every wrong when He returns help us love our neighbors like Jesus loves us? (1 John 4:19) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you— who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 1:26-56 At the time of Jesus’s birth, most Jews would have known the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, including a young virgin from the town of Nazareth named Mary. Then one day, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that God was going to bring the Messiah into the world…through her. He said, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Through the Holy Spirit, a virgin would become pregnant. I wonder what happened after Gabriel left. Perhaps Mary sat down to think about what just happened. Maybe she needed a moment to process all this. Was she really chosen to give birth to the Messiah—the same Rescuer that had been promised generations before? Scripture doesn’t tell us what came flooding into her mind at that moment. Was she overwhelmed with excitement or filled with a calm sense of peace? What we do know is that the next thing Mary did was go to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She found Elizabeth pregnant, just as the angel had said, “Your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month” (verse 36). The two women rejoiced together! But after three months, Mary returned home to some very difficult situations. Here’s the problem: Mary was engaged to Joseph, and in ancient Jewish culture they would have been considered legally married even before living together and having sex. Within a few weeks of her return to Nazareth, people would have begun to realize that Mary was pregnant. In a Jewish culture following the law of Moses, she could have been stoned to death for sexual immorality. At the very least, she would’ve been an outcast. This also put Joseph’s reputation at risk because if he went ahead with the wedding, people would think he had violated God’s law of celibacy by having sex with Mary during the engagement period. Today, we can read the Bible and see how God provided for Mary, but in the moment, there was no way she could have known what would happen to her, and she probably experienced any number of doubts and fears. Still, Mary trusted God to see her through these difficult times. And God was faithful to take care of her and fulfill His promises. • Doug Velting • Imagine yourself in Mary’s place. What would you be thinking coming back to Nazareth? • Can you think of a time you were in a difficult situation and God helped you through it? Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!… For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.” Luke 1:46-49 (NLT)

READ: GENESIS 2:2-3; EXODUS 10:8-10; DEUTERONOMY 5:12-15; HEBREWS 4:9-11 Have you ever felt guilty for resting? I know I have. When my body tells me I need to take a break and slow down, I always try to fight it. This world is fast-paced, and I always feel like I can’t keep up—rest isn’t going to help that, right? Our society values hustle and non-stop work. We’ve all but forgotten rest. But God hasn’t. The Bible talks about rest—and how important it is—many times. One of the first times is in Genesis 2:2-3, when God took the seventh day to rest after creating the world. What if we all took off one day a week to rest? A while ago, I would have said, “How am I supposed to get ahead if I spend an entire day resting? There are only so many hours in a day, and school takes a lot of them.” But then I realized something important: I wasn’t relying on God. I was doubting Him, going against what He said about rest, and doing my own thing. If God told me to rest, wouldn’t He provide for me using the other six days of the week? I still feel guilty when I rest, but I try to remind myself that God rested and He told us to rest. Through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, He has already made the way to save us from sin and death, including the sin of self-reliance and overwork. And He is always with us through the Holy Spirit, reminding us of His gentle, loving care for us. He will provide for us, and as we rest in that truth, we can be good stewards of everything He has given us, including our bodies, our health, and our time. • Kimberly Brokish • In Deuteronomy 5:15, God says to His people, “Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the LORD your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.” In this way, God is reminding them that they are no longer slaves, and He is not like the slave-driving Pharaoh. Instead of piling harsh commands and tasks onto His people, He invites them into His rest. What are some ways you could incorporate this kind of rest into your weekly routines? Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

READ: NUMBERS 24:17, 19; ISAIAH 42:1-4; MICAH 5:2 The world-famous superhero, the Black Panther, was played by Chadwick Boseman. Every day while filming was in progress, I imagine he would get up, eat breakfast, suit up, and step in front of a camera to thrill us as an action hero. Gal Gadot did the same thing as Wonder Woman. And decades before, Christopher Reeve did likewise before he stepped up to save the world as Superman. Why did they do it? I think there are two reasons. We love a hero, and we long to be rescued. As small children we often see ourselves as the hero—perhaps rescuing a pet, a sibling, or even a toy. As we enter our teen years we may look to various influencers for direction and validation. But as we mature, the need grows greater for real answers to life’s troubles, and those answers don’t come from play acting. In times of great stress, we need something real. Threaded throughout the Old Testament we find God’s promise of a great hero. And for generations, God worked through people like Moses, David, and Deborah. Many kings, prophets, military leaders, and almost all types of heroes are woven into the fabric of our salvation tapestry. But in one way or another they all failed to deliver. The relief they brought was only temporary. We were not rescued from the ultimate enemy: sin. So the longing went on. Then, under the darkened skies and among the lonely hills near a small town called Bethlehem, the hero of the ages was born. With astonishment and awe, a chosen few gathered to worship Him. They could not have fathomed the great ministry and miracles to come, how He would rescue them, not by force, but by laying down His own life—and taking it up again (John 10:18). There is much we don’t know about this hero, and yet He changed the whole world. Imaginary heroes fill a void for many. But those who know Jesus find the true hope we all long for. The Black Panther, Wonder Woman, and Superman are all eclipsed by the real hero. Jesus was, is, and always will be the Hero of Eternity. • Susan Sundwall • What heroes have you looked up to, whether in your life, movies, history, current events, the Bible, etc.? How have they fallen short? Jesus, the greatest Hero, was willing to die for us. Let that sink in. It was because He loves us that the all-powerful One laid down His life. And then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death once and for all. (Find out more about this epic rescue on our “Know Jesus” page.) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; 28:16-20 Recently, I was looking up verses about Jesus being with us, and I noticed something really cool. In Matthew’s Gospel—his account of Jesus’s life— Matthew includes two pointed statements about how Jesus is with us, and he places one of these right at the beginning of his account and the other right at the end. It seems like Matthew did this on purpose to sort of bookend the story of Jesus with a key statement about who He is and what this means for us. The book of Matthew starts with a genealogy, showing Jesus’s lineage all the way from Abraham to Joseph. Matthew writes that Joseph was “the husband of Mary…the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah” (Matthew 1:16). Matthew then explains that Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married, but while Mary was still a virgin, “she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (verse 18). Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained all this, telling him to go forward with his wedding to Mary and to name the baby Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins” (verse 21). Next, Matthew explains that all this fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy: “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (verse 23). Jesus is the promised Immanuel. Just take a second and try to let that sink in. Not only is Jesus human—He is God, and He is with us. Now let’s jump ahead, all the way to the end of Matthew’s Gospel. After Jesus does many wonderful things, culminating in His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, He speaks to His disciples on a mountain. Matthew records Jesus’s words: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:18-20). And those are the final words of Matthew’s Gospel. Even though Jesus was about to ascend into heaven (as the other Gospel writers tell us), He made sure His followers knew that He was still Immanuel. The deep desire of God’s heart is to be with His people. This is why He came and lived among us, why He died for us, why He rose again, and why He will one day return to fully restore His creation. Jesus is God, and He is with us…always. • Hannah Howe • Jesus came because God wants to be with us, now and forever. Why do you think this truth was so important to Matthew that he began and ended his Gospel account with it? “And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 14:15-31; GALATIANS 5:22-26; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 Advent takes place during the four weeks before Christmas, and it’s a time when some Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’s first coming and look forward to His return. During Advent, many Christians reflect on different themes each week, and one theme is God’s peace. Peace isn’t something we earn. It’s not something we can work to receive on our own. Peace is a gift Jesus freely gives. We see this truth in John 14, when Jesus comforts His disciples as the time of His death draws closer. He promises them the Holy Spirit, and another thing too—peace. “Peace I leave with you,” Jesus tells His disciples in verse 27. “My peace I give you.” Paul also references the peace Jesus gives us in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Peace is not something God dangles way out in front of us as a reward for our future successes. He offers it to us now. In fact, when we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating the coming of the Prince of Peace to this earth. And He came bearing these gifts we celebrate during Advent: hope, faith, peace, joy, and love. As we go through this Advent season and prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us accept His gift. Let us allow His peace—perfect peace that is beyond our understanding—to saturate every part of our lives. Receiving this gift doesn’t mean we are going to feel at peace all the time—that won’t be possible until Jesus returns. But it does mean we can know that the Prince of Peace is with us all the time, even when life feels incredibly unpeaceful. And maybe when others notice this transcendent peace in our lives, they’ll want to experience it as well. • Becca Wierwille • The Hebrew word translated “peace” in the Bible is shalom. It’s a rich word that means everything is complete and whole and all things are operating in right relationship to each other. While we will never fully experience this type of peace until Jesus returns, He gives us glimpses of it through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). How have you seen glimpses of shalom in your life? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God for this anytime. “Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)

READ: ROMANS 8:12-17; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 Do you have any siblings? And if so, are you the oldest, youngest, or somewhere in the middle? In biblical times, birth order mattered a lot. If you were a firstborn son (sorry daughters) you would inherit the birthright from your father. This could be anything from sheep and property to a kingdom if your father was a king. But even though this was the standard in the ancient world, giving a birthright to the oldest sibling was not God’s standard. In fact, God often elevated a younger sibling above the oldest. Even with the first siblings, we hear that Abel’s offering pleased God, while his older brother Cain’s offering did not. We also see this theme when Joseph was elevated to a position of power over his ten older brothers and over all of Egypt. Not to mention Joseph’s father Jacob was the younger twin, yet Jacob was chosen to be a patriarch of the nation of Israel. In Colossians 1:15, Jesus is called “the firstborn over all creation.” As God the Son, Jesus is God the Father’s “one and only Son” (John 3:16), and therefore He is considered the firstborn. So, according to Israelite standards, this would put Him in place to inherit the Father’s power and authority. Jesus certainly does have all power and authority—He said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). But, similar to some of the Old Testament stories, Jesus subverted this narrative as well. Jesus is God, and He is King over all, but He also became a servant. He taught, “the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16), totally opposite of what people would expect. Jesus even humbled Himself to a death and punishment fit for the worst kind of criminal. The King of kings, who deserves to be served and sacrificed to, loves us so much that He became the sacrifice for us. And then, Jesus flipped the narrative again by not staying dead. With His resurrection, Jesus overcame what people expected to be the end, and He became “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18). Now, He invites us to become coheirs with Him, to share in His sufferings as we lay down our lives for each other, and to share in His glory when He returns to raise us from the dead and make all things new (Romans 8:17). • Naomi Zylstra • Why do you think God often works in unexpected, counter-cultural ways? • If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 4:1-5; 25:19-26; 45:4-8; Revelation 17:14; 19:16. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (CSB)

READ: PSALM 86; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-9 Have you had a very bad day recently? The kind of day when you’re late to school or work, forgot your lunch at home, and realized you didn’t turn in an important assignment? Or worse, the kind of day when you get really bad news, and all the sudden your world is turned upside down? Sadly, very bad days are so very common in our broken world. But God sees all the struggle and pain we go through, and He doesn’t sit idly by. He shares our pain and weeps with us. He invites us to draw near to Him and receive His compassion and comfort. And He provides trusted people who can help shoulder our heavy burdens (Galatians 6:2). The truth is, God made us for community. We can share our problems, and the accompanying feelings we have about them, with trusted people in our lives—people like friends, parents, therapists, pastors, and others. We can also share our problems with Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He knows what it’s like to have a bad day. He experienced the worst day of all when He died on the cross, defeating sin in a very public and painful execution. But He was willing to endure all this pain, ridicule, and betrayal so that everyone who trusts in Him could be with Him and one day be free of bad days once and for all…because He rose again three days later to defeat death too. So, even on our worst days, we can take great comfort in the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done and promises to do. Whatever you’re going through today, Jesus wants to walk with you through it. He loves you, and He truly cares about what you’re going through. He already knows all about what’s bothering you, and He invites you to tell Him about it. You can talk to Him anytime, and He’ll listen. He will be with you and remind you how much He loves you, no matter what. • A. W. Smith • What has your week been like? What are some of the tough things that happened? Consider taking a moment to talk with Jesus about these things and how they’ve made you feel. • In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted people in your life you can talk to about these things—such as friends, therapists, parents, pastors, etc.? I call on you in the day of my distress, for you will answer me. Psalm 86:7 (CSB)

READ: PSALM 1:1-3; JEREMIAH 17:7-8; JOHN 7:37-39; 15:4-17 Minutes before sunset was my favorite time of day. I sat on an outcropping of rock, dangling my bare feet above a crystalline spring of water. My home, this floating island in the sky, was level with the setting sun precisely at this time. Golden light skimmed the surface of the water as I splashed my feet in, smiling. Overhead, the wind rustled the leaves of the silvery bark tree I sat beneath. The roots of the tree stretched out like fingers, thirsty for the life-giving stream water. It was like this all over the island, roots running to the streams, streams spilling over the rocks, water cascading off the island into the sky. Before my people trusted Yahweh, our home was devoid of all this life. Try as we might, the roots of our trees were withering, and there was no fruit to fill our families’ aching hunger. When Yahweh came, He taught us a better way. No longer did we place our trust in ourselves, but we listened to the One who gave us life. Yahweh showed us how to plant our trees by the streams so the roots could reach deep into the water. Day after day, we experienced growth—and, finally, fruit. I pulled a golden fruit from the tree I lounged under and took a bite. I sighed as I tasted its ripe juices, sweet and nourishing. Yahweh, help me trust You each day, I prayed as the leaves above me rustled in the evening breeze. I want to delight myself in You and meditate on You. Sometimes my heart quakes when hard times come, but I know I don’t need to fear. Your love is constant as a stream that flows and never runs dry. May my roots be deep in Your life-giving water. • Savannah Coleman • In today’s allegorical story, we see that when we are apart from God, we are devoid of life. But when we are with God, we have life to the full (John 10:10). Though we have all been separated from God because of sin, He made the way for us to be near Him through Jesus: Because of His great love for us, God the Son came and lived among us. Yahweh, the great “I AM,” took on human flesh, and gave up His life for us so that our sins could be forgiven. And the God of life could not be held by death—three days later He rose from the grave. Now Jesus gives eternal life to everyone who puts their trust in Him. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our “Know Jesus” page. • Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and He taught His followers, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:5, 9). What do you think it means to remain in Jesus’s love? • Jesus invites all who are thirsty to come to Him, and He promises them living water—this living water is the Holy Spirit (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39). Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit begins to transform us, helping us grow to become more like Jesus and bear fruit. According to Galatians 5:22-23, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Have you ever tried to produce these fruits in your own strength? How did that work out? • Our lives bear fruit when we are living in reliance on God, resting in His love and following His lead. He invites us to trust Him and rely on Him for everything. Even when hard times come, He will never fail us. In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to rely on God? Consider taking a moment to come to Jesus in prayer (Matthew 11:28-30). You can be honest about all your struggles, frustrations, fears, and hurts. He longs to remind you of His deep...