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Encouraging & Inspiring

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  • Learning from Thomas: Handling Our Questions for God

    Learning from Thomas: Handling Our Questions for God

    Do you have questions for God?

    You’re not alone. Many people have questions, and the Lord welcomes our questions. Jesus shows us this truth in his response to Thomas.

    Thomas struggled to believe because he wanted certainty. He wanted evidence. When he learned of Christ’s resurrection, Thomas said, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” (John 20:25).

    Instead of rejecting Thomas, Jesus met him where he was.

    “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (John 20:26-27).

    Christ graciously provided what Thomas needed and strengthened his faith.

    Many believers experience seasons of questions and uncertainty. We wonder why God allowed a certain situation. We struggle to understand his timing. We wrestle with difficult circumstances. As we do, Jesus meets us just as he did Thomas.

    Questions do not automatically indicate weak faith. What matters is what we do with them. Thomas brought his doubts to the right person, and we should as well.

    God invites us to seek Him honestly and sincerely. Scripture says, “Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8). The Lord desires for us to come as we are, which includes bringing our questions. The more we draw near to him, the more we discover that he is trustworthy.

    If you have questions today, don’t run from God. Rather, run to him. The Savior who welcomed Thomas still welcomes searching hearts today.

  • When the Plan Changes…

    When the Plan Changes…

    I’m a planner. I like to know what is happening and when. I do my best to have the day planned, but sometimes, the best made plans are interrupted. A well-planned day becomes chaotic, and I have to remind myself of a truth found in Scripture.

    I believe many others can relate. We set goals, establish timelines, and imagine how life will unfold, yet sometimes, all the plans fall apart. When they do, we can stand on this truth: “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21).

    Sometimes, God moves us in a different direction. Doors close, opportunities disappear, and what we thought was perfectly planned changes. These changes can feel disappointing; however, God’s redirection is often his protection or preparation. Ruth likely never imagined leaving her homeland would lead her into God’s greater purpose. Paul’s missionary journeys included numerous changes and unexpected turns. God uses every detour for good. Romans 8:28 reminds us the Lord works all things for the good of those who love him.

    When plans change, we may be tempted to panic. Instead, we can choose to trust.

    God sees roads we cannot see, and he knows exactly where he wants to lead us.

    Friends, a changed direction does not mean God has abandoned his purpose for your life. It may simply mean he is guiding you toward something better.

  • Ordinary Days Have Extraordinary Opportunities

    Ordinary Days Have Extraordinary Opportunities

    Are you waiting for the next big moment? It seems many people spend their lives waiting for something remarkable to happen. They look forward to special opportunities, major accomplishments, or life-changing moments, and while there is great joy in these moments, most of life is lived in ordinary days. Anticipating these events can be exciting, but the Bible encourages us not to overlook the power of the ordinary day.

    “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…” (Zechariah 4:10).

    Most of life is lived in ordinary moments. We wake up, go to work, complete responsibilities, spend time with family, and carry out routines that may appear insignificant. Yet, God often accomplishes his greatest purposes through ordinary days. Just look at some examples from Scripture.

    • David was tending sheep when God was preparing him for leadership.
    • The disciples were engaged in everyday work when Jesus called them to follow him.
    • A small boy offered a simple lunch that Jesus used to feed thousands.

    God delights in using ordinary people, ordinary circumstances, and ordinary days for extraordinary purposes. We should never assume that a day is unimportant simply because it seems routine.

    • A conversation may encourage someone who is struggling.
    • A prayer may impact a situation more than you realize.
    • A small act of obedience may open the door to something much greater.

    Today may seem ordinary, but when placed in God’s hands, ordinary days can become opportunities for eternal impact.

    Friends, don’t overlook the ordinary. Ask the Lord to help you recognize the opportunities placed before you today.

    Thanks for reading.

  • If you’re feeling overlooked, the Bible offers encouragement.

  • The Courage to Begin Again

    The Courage to Begin Again

    Do you find yourself starting over today? The job you had is gone. Your relationship with someone has ended. You’ve been chasing a dream, but you’ve slammed head-first into a wall. You have no choice but to start over. It is rarely easy.

    Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn. A career path changes. A relationship ends. A dream that once seemed certain suddenly disappears. In those moments, beginning again can feel overwhelming, but the Bible offers encouragement.

    Joshua understood what it meant to face a new beginning. After Moses’ death, the responsibility of leading Israel rested on his shoulders. The task before him was enormous, yet God repeatedly told him to be strong and courageous. “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,” the Lord said in Joshua 1:9.

    The responsibility of starting over may seem enormous, yet God’s words are just as true for us as they were for Joshua. “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged. For I am with you wherever you go.”

    Perhaps today you find yourself at a point of starting over. Maybe the future looks uncertain. Maybe you feel unprepared for what lies ahead. If so, the Bible says you can have courage. Amid the uncertainty, the Lord is there. Amid the unknown, the Lord is there. He is with you in the overwhelming times. God often does some of His greatest work through new beginnings.

    The God who opened doors in the past is still leading today. The God who was faithful yesterday remains faithful tomorrow.

    You do not have to have all the answers. You simply need to trust the One who does.

    Take the next step. God will walk with you the rest of the way.

  • Look Beyond Today’s Pain to Tomorrow

    Look Beyond Today’s Pain to Tomorrow

    Have you ever held onto something so tightly it became painful?

    Maybe it was a job that provided security, good health that you took for granted, or the stability of a life that seemed to be going just as planned. Then, without warning, circumstances changed. What once felt safe and secure was suddenly gone. It was painfully ripped from your hands.

    Pain has a way of turning our world upside down. We desperately try to hold on to what we know, but sometimes life forces us to let go. When that happens, we may find ourselves wondering what comes next.

    Jesus understands what it is like to face pain. He experienced rejection, hatred, and physical suffering. He knows what it is like to walk a difficult road, and through his life, death, and resurrection, he shows us where to find hope when pain becomes part of our journey.

    Look Beyond Today’s Pain to Tomorrow

    Jesus walked a path that led to a Roman cross. He knew the suffering that awaited, yet he also knew the cross would not be the end of the story. Beyond the pain was the promise of resurrection. Beyond the suffering was the hope of a better tomorrow.

    We may not know what tomorrow will bring. We may struggle to see how things could ever get better, but we can hold on to the hope that our present pain does not have the final word. God is still at work, even when we cannot see what he is doing.

    Don’t let the pain of today rob you of the hope of tomorrow.

    Rely on the Lord

    As we look toward a better tomorrow, Scripture reminds us where to find strength for today.

    The psalmist declares, “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Psalm 118:6).

    Hebrews 13:6 echoes that same promise. “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’”

    Notice the confidence behind those words. Our circumstances may change, our security may be shaken, and our pain may feel overwhelming, but the Lord remains our helper.

    If you are walking through a painful season today, remember that Jesus understands your pain. Look beyond the struggles of today toward the hope of tomorrow, and rely on the Lord to help you take the next step.

    Today’s pain is not the end of your story. Keep trusting the one who walks beside you.

  • How Bright is Your Flash Light?

    How Bright is Your Flash Light?

    Imagine walking through the woods at night with nothing but a flashlight to guide your way. The trees are tall, the path is narrow, and darkness surrounds you. You turn on your flashlight, and a small beam of light cuts through the darkness.

    You can see a few feet ahead. You can see where to place your next step, but beyond that, the path disappears into the darkness.

    You might wish your flashlight were brighter. You want to see the entire trail, know where it leads, and understand what lies ahead, but for now, you have just enough light to keep moving forward.

    Sometimes, that’s exactly what walking with God feels like. Most of us would like God to show us the entire path ahead. We want detailed plans, clear explanations, and complete certainty about what tomorrow holds. We want to know how things will work out, when our circumstances will change, and what challenges we might face along the way. Instead, God often provides enough light for only the next step.

    Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Notice that the verse doesn’t say God’s Word is a spotlight illuminating the entire journey. It describes a lamp that provides enough light to guide our steps. Faith often works this way.

    God may not reveal every detail of tomorrow, but he will provide what we need for today. Through his word, he gives us wisdom, direction, and encouragement to keep moving forward, even when we cannot see what lies ahead.

    Perhaps you’re facing a difficult decision, waiting for an answer to prayer, or wondering how a challenging situation will turn out. You may wish God would turn on the floodlights and show you exactly where the road leads, but what if he’s already given you enough light for the next step?

    Instead of worrying about the entire journey, focus on the next step. Trust the Lord with the things you cannot see, and faithfully follow the light he has provided.

    Trust the Lord today, then trust him tomorrow. You may not be able to see the entire path, but you can rest in the assurance that God knows where it leads. The Lord will light your way, one step at a time.

  • Does God Have Enough Room?

    Does God Have Enough Room?

    Does God have the full page, or just the margins?

    This is a question from a recent post by David’s Daily Dose. He writes:

    “At that point in my life, I had relegated God to the margins. In the center of the page, where people normally write, that was mine. Over on the sides–in the left and right margins–that was God’s. I quickly fell under conviction that the whole page was rightfully His; I had no right to fence off the “me” ranch.” 

    So, does the Lord have the full page? This is really a challenging question. God has a purpose and plans for our lives, but we have to give him the room to fill in the details.

    Friends, today may not look exactly as we would like, but God has started something. We’re promised he will see it through to completion. We just have to give him the room.

    Give the Lord the full page today, and watch what he writes.

    Thanks for reading.

  • Remember His Faithfulness

    Remember His Faithfulness

    As another month comes to a close, it is worth taking a moment to reflect.

    • What prayers has God answered?
    • What lessons has he taught?
    • How has the Lord provided for your needs?
    • How has he sustained you through challenges?

    We can become so focused on the future that we forget how God has already helped us, but we can gain much strength by pausing and remembering. Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us, “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”

    The Israelites frequently built memorials to remind themselves, and future generations, of God’s previous work. This was a way to strengthen their faith. When times were difficult, they could remember how God had helped.

    Perhaps you need a reminder today.

    • Remember the prayer God answered.
    • Remember the provision he supplied.
    • Remember the door God opened.
    • Remember the strength he gave.

    The God who was faithful yesterday remains faithful today.

    As you step into a new month, move forward with confidence. You may not know what lies ahead, but you know the one who goes before you, and that is enough.

  • God is Still Writing Your Story

    God is Still Writing Your Story

    Have you ever felt like your dreams are slipping away? The goals you hoped to accomplish seem further out of reach, and the plans you made for your life haven’t unfolded the way you expected. It’s easy to become discouraged when all we can see is what hasn’t happened yet. We see unfinished goals, unanswered questions, and challenges that seem to have no end. God, on the other hand, sees the complete story, and he’s not finished writing it.

    Today’s circumstances are just one chapter in the story of your life, and the encouraging news is that God is still at work, even when the chapter you’re living through doesn’t make sense.

    Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

    What a wonderful promise! The God who began a good work in your life has promised to continue that work. The unfinished chapter you’re facing today is not the end of the story. God is still shaping you, strengthening your faith, and working out his purposes in your life.

    Just look at the lives of those we read about in Scripture. Joseph’s story didn’t end in prison. David’s years of hiding weren’t the final chapter. Paul’s hardships didn’t tell his complete story, and your current circumstances don’t tell your complete story either.

    Friends, God is still at work in your life. Even when progress seems slow and the future feels uncertain, you can trust him to continue the good work he has begun in you.

    Don’t give up on the story God is writing. Keep trusting him through the unanswered questions, the unexpected detours, and the chapters that are difficult to understand. The author has not put down the pen. Your story isn’t finished yet.