Tag Archives: Psalms

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Healing the Broken Hearted

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We’ve all been there—standing in the middle of life, holding the pieces of a broken heart. Maybe it was the unexpected news, the relationship that ended, the job that slipped away, or the deep loss that left a silence in your soul. Life has a way of hitting hard sometimes.

But in those heavy moments, Psalm 147:3 offers a quiet, steady hope:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

What a gentle reminder that God is not distant from our pain. He doesn’t just see it—He steps into it. He’s not afraid of the mess, the questions, or the tears. In fact, He leans in when we feel like falling apart. While others might offer quick fixes or empty words, God offers something more lasting: healing.

Notice the personal touch in this verse. He heals. He binds. This isn’t rushed or careless. It’s deliberate and tender. When our hearts are shattered, He doesn’t ignore the broken pieces—He gathers them. He holds us close. And He starts the slow, loving work of restoration.

It doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes healing takes time. But just because it’s slow doesn’t mean it isn’t sure. The God who created the stars (Psalm 147:4) is the same God who cares deeply about your wounds. He’s big enough to run the universe, yet close enough to care about what’s hurting you right now.

So, if today feels heavy, or your heart feels a little bruised—know this: You’re not alone. And you’re not forgotten. The Lord is with you, working in ways you may not yet see. One piece at a time, He’s restoring what has been broken.

Let that truth settle in: He heals the brokenhearted.

Thanks for reading.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Embrace Each Day: A Reflection on Psalm 90

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2025 is passed the half-way point, and summer is quickly turning to fall. Where has the time gone?

Time has a way of slipping by when we’re not paying attention. One moment it’s morning, and the next, we’re turning out the lights, wondering where the day went. Moses, in Psalm 90, reminds us of something we don’t often like to think about—life is short. But rather than causing fear, this truth should inspire purpose.

Moses prays, “Teach us to number our days…” He’s not just talking about keeping a calendar or setting reminders on our phones. He’s asking the Lord to help us live intentionally, to value each day as a gift, and to approach life with wisdom that only comes from God.

We spend so much of our lives waiting for the “next thing.” The next season, the next break, the next achievement. But in the process, we can overlook the moment we’re in right now. Numbering our days means recognizing that this day—today—is worth something. It has purpose. It has potential. It matters.

It also means we learn to say “yes” to what truly counts. We become more patient with our loved ones, more generous with our time, and more grateful for the little blessings. We stop living on autopilot and start walking in the kind of wisdom that brings peace and perspective.

Psalm 90:12 is a simple verse, but it carries a powerful reminder: Life is a gift, and wisdom is found when we make the most of the time we’ve been given.

So today, let’s ask the Lord to help us number our days—not to count down, but to count up—to live with purpose, to love deeply, and to walk wisely.

Thanks for reading.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Finding God in Everyday Life

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“Whether I’m looking for him or not, that’s where I find God.”

He may show up in the strangest of places. For someone hitting rock bottom, he can be the person who lends a listening ear and gives advice. For the parent who is struggling, he can be the friend who offers a great idea. For the husband or wife who is ready to throw in the towel on marriage, he can be the older friend who offers encouragement. We never really know where he will reveal himself.

God can be found many places in our daily lives. He is not restricted by buildings or worship services, and he promises he is always with us. He will show up at the right place and time. Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will work out his plans for my life. For your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me for you made me.”

We just need to be attentive to his presence and recognize his work. You never know when the Lord will show up.

Thanks for reading.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

How God’s Truth Guides Us in Uncertainty

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The image features a digital illustration with a warm, earthy color palette. At the bottom, an open Bible is prominently displayed with thick, clean lines and minimal detailing, suggesting importance and clarity. Above the Bible, the phrase Store Up God’s Word in Your Heart is written in a bold, serif font, creating a strong visual and thematic focal point. To the right of the text, there’s a simple yet striking compass graphic. The compass, with its clear directional markings (N, S, E, W), visually reinforces the theme of guidance—tying directly into the message about Scripture helping us navigate life’s storms. The background has a parchment-like texture, adding a subtle, timeless feel to the overall design.

Psalm 119 encourages us to store up God’s Word in our hearts—and there’s a powerful reason for that.

Back in 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his team set out from England on an incredibly ambitious journey: to cross Antarctica from one side to the other via the South Pole. But things quickly took a turn for the worse. Their ship got trapped in ice, the hull was crushed, and eventually, it sank. The team ended up stranded on a remote place called Elephant Island with little hope of rescue.

Desperate to save his crew, Shackleton and five others climbed into a 20-foot lifeboat and sailed 800 miles through some of the most dangerous, storm-ridden waters on the planet to reach South Georgia Island—where help was available. For 15 days, they braved 100-foot waves with only a compass and sextant to guide them. Frank Worsley, who had captained the Endurance, navigated them safely to land. Eventually, they secured another ship and rescued the entire team. Shackleton became a hero for his leadership and determination.

Life can feel a lot like that sometimes—tossed around by storms we didn’t see coming, surrounded by uncertainty and overwhelmed by misinformation. In those moments, Psalm 119:11 reminds us to anchor ourselves in something solid:

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

In other words, storing up God’s Word helps us know what’s right, what’s true, and how to stay on course—even when everything else is shifting. Just like that compass helped guide Shackleton’s team through the unknown, Scripture can guide us through life’s chaos.

Our emotions might pull us in all kinds of directions, but God’s Word is steady. It’s trustworthy. And it’s the best way to navigate through uncertainty.

Let this be your reminder to lean into God’s truth—especially when the seas get rough.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to share this if it encouraged you!

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Letting God Lead: Your Path to Victory

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It seemed like an easy project. Just follow the directions and everything would come together, or so I thought. Have you ever tried to do something entirely on your own only to realize that you’re in over your head?

Same here.

David gives some great advice for these moments.

“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12).

Whether it’s tackling a big life decision, fighting off fear, or trying to stay patient during a tough season, we often default to self-reliance. We plan, hustle, and push… and then wonder why we feel so drained.

Psalm 60:12 reminds us of something simple but powerful: victory comes with God, not without Him.

David didn’t say, “I’ve got this!” He said, “With God, we will gain the victory.” That little phrase changes everything. It’s not just about believing God is around or aware—it’s about actively walking with Him, depending on Him, and letting Him lead the way.

The truth is, we don’t have to face our “enemies” (whether it’s anxiety, a hard situation, or even self-doubt) alone. God isn’t a distant cheerleader; He’s the one who goes before us, fights with us, and brings the win.

So today, whatever challenge you’re facing, ask yourself: Am I trying to do this on my own? Or am I inviting God into it?

Victory isn’t about being strong enough—it’s about being close enough. Close to the One who never loses a battle.

With God, you’ve got this!

Thanks for reading.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Finding Hope in Heartbreak: Mary Magdalene’s Encounter

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The events of the past few days have certainly been difficult. Watching someone you are close to suffer the excruciating horror of crucifixion is enough to make even the hardest person’s emotions raw. For those close to Jesus, the grieving process had to pause a bit because of the Sabbath, but now that it is over, it is time to pick up where they left off earlier: visiting the tomb to ensure a proper burial. The Gospel writers tell us Jesus’ friends headed to the cemetery as soon as the sun was rising and the Sabbath was ending. Heartbroken, they didn’t want to waste any time.

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John’s Gospel specifically tells us Mary Magdalene was the first to go and realize the tomb was empty. Mary thinks she’s going to ensure a proper burial, but she finds an empty tomb and neatly folded linens with no Jesus. What happens next shows us the compassion the Lord has for the broken-hearted.

John 20 records, “Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Mary is seeing something here that looks an awful lot like the Ark of the Covenant. Prior to now, the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the Lord’s presence, was only accessible in the Holy of Holies, and only one day a year by one person – the High Priest. But not now! The presence of the Lord is accessible to this heart broken woman.

She is not the High Priest nor is she in the Holy of Holies. She is a common person standing in a garden, outside an empty tomb, in tears because she doesn’t know what is happening. The person she cared about so deeply was ripped from her life, he was tortured to death, and now she can’t even make sure he has a decent burial because he is missing. Heartache is stacked on top of her heartbreak. Can you understand how she feels?

We are certainly not strangers to this pain. Heartache comes to us in any number of ways. The person we thought we were going to marry walked away from us. The child who should have outlived us didn’t. The husband who pledged his faithfulness was anything but faithful. The spouse of 50 years was ripped from our arms by death. The pain of a broken heart is not a foreign experience.

Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, “Yeah, I know how she feels. It is exactly how I feel today.” If so, please remember, you are not alone in this moment.

Mary’s story shows us we are not left to drown in the tears of our heartache. As she is standing there crying, Mary is not alone. John 20 continues, “She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. ” Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

Jesus does not leave Mary standing in the garden with tears running down her face. The tomb is empty, and Jesus is right beside Mary amid her heartbreak. He brings compassion and grace. He brings encouragement and comfort. Jesus brings himself to the heartbroken Mary, and he brings himself to those who are heartbroken today.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

When our hearts are broken, we can look to an empty tomb and find a Savior who comes to the heartbroken. Just like he was with Mary amid her heartbreak, he is with us amid our heartbreak. The same accessibility and compassion are present. Jesus does not flee from the heartbroken; he comes to us. Jesus is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those with a crushed spirit.

Because of an empty tomb, you and I do not have to be alone in our pain. We can allow the Lord to come close and rescue our crushed spirit.

Thanks for reading.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Finding Hope in Despair: Lessons from the Cross

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“My God, my God, why have you left me?”
That was his desperate cry as life’s weight came crashing down, suffocating him. He felt completely alone, abandoned. He called out, hoping someone would hear — but no one answered. No one was there. His enemies circled around him, closing in, and all he could hear was silence. His cries just seemed to fade into the wind.

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Most of us, when we hear those words, think of Jesus on the cross — and we should (we’ll talk more about that in a minute). But those words didn’t start with Jesus. They were David’s words first.

In the middle of deep suffering, David cried out to God and got nothing but silence in return. The weight of life mixed with the silence of God felt unbearable. So he asked, “Why, God?”

And if we’re honest, we’ve all been there. Maybe not in the exact same way, but we’ve felt the crushing pressure of life and wondered if God had forgotten us. Maybe you’ve lost people you love, one after another, and you feel abandoned. Maybe your home or everything you’ve worked for was destroyed in a moment — and you feel lost, alone, and overwhelmed. Maybe the weight of life is pressing down so hard, you’re crying out, “Why, God?”

But here’s the thing — even in those moments, we can find hope.

And we find that hope when we look at the cross and look to Jesus.

The cross reminds us that Jesus gets it. He knows exactly what it feels like to be abandoned, to feel completely alone, and to be crushed by sorrow. Remember, He even prayed, asking if there was another way. But the cross still came. And those hours of suffering? We can’t fully grasp how painful they were, but we know they were excruciating. Jesus endured all of that, and because He did, He understands exactly how we feel when life is too heavy to carry. And the best part? He’s promised to be right there with us through it all. Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you. I will never abandon you.”

Looking at the cross gives us hope, not only because Jesus understands, but because it reminds us that this isn’t the end of the story.

On that day, as Jesus endured the weight of God’s wrath, He knew vindication was coming. He knew victory was just around the corner. His pain wasn’t the final word. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Because of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” The cross wasn’t the end — the empty tomb was.

And the same is true for us. When life feels unbearable, we can look ahead to victory.

This season of struggle won’t last forever. There’s vindication, restoration, and joy coming.

Psalm 22 — the same chapter where David cries out in despair — doesn’t end in hopelessness. It ends with victory. Verse 24 says:
“For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.”

So if you’re feeling crushed right now, like there’s no way out — look to the cross. Look to Jesus. He knows exactly how you feel. And just like His story didn’t end in suffering, neither will yours. Victory is coming.

Thanks for reading.

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Hannah’s Prayer: A Lesson in Faith

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As he watched, the priest wondered if she was drunk. She was at the temple, and it appeared as if she was praying. But the priest thought there was something odd about her appearance. Her mouth was moving but no words were coming out, and was she weeping? He approached her and boldly asked, “Are you drunk?”

She explained that she was sober. She was just so involved in her prayer that he thought she was under the influence. Her name is Hannah, and we read her story in 1 Samuel 1. We find out she is going through a really hard time, and she has come to the temple to pour her heart out to the Lord.

The Bible encourages us to pray without stopping; we should always be communicating with the Lord. In the best of times and in the worst of times, the Lord wants to help us, and we can talk with him through prayer just like Hannah, and just like David.

David exhorts in Psalm 62:8, “O my people trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”

When David and Hannah were going through rough times, they poured their hearts out to the Lord. When they were in the best of times, they thanked God in prayer. They always prayed and left a mark in history challenging us to do the same.

Our prayers are just conversations with the Lord. They don’t have to be fancy, and we don’t have to be overwhelmed by the idea we may say the wrong thing. You see, we’re having a conversation with a great friend who doesn’t judge us by the words we use, but by what is in our heart. The Lord is always listening and always desiring to hear from us.

Spend some time talking with the Lord today. Share your thoughts with him. Ask for guidance as you plan tomorrow. Ask for help with your struggles. Don’t be afraid. He is your friend who wants to hear from you.

Please consider sharing this with a friend.

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Psalm 59: A Fortress in Life’s Struggles

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His enemies were hard at work. The bullies were continually taunting and chasing him. Gossip about him was always being spread. There was no rest, and it was this struggle that gave birth to Psalm 59. David wrote these words of encouragement:

“But I will sing of your strength,

in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress….”

As David wrote Psalm 59, his enemies surrounded his home with murder on their minds (1 Samuel 19), yet he knew he could rely on the Lord. We may not awake to find our home surrounded, but our enemies are hard at work. The taunting of a bully, harassment of a coworker, or the passing of a loved one may be overwhelming us. It may be the crippling affects of physical illness that is crushing us. Our worries batter us; our struggles bruise us. Our enemies have many shapes and sizes, but the truth of Psalm 59 conquers them all. The Lord is our fortress; he is our strength. The Lord reminds us his grace is sufficient. His grace is all we need (2 Corinthians 12:9).

It is no secret life can be hard. but we can rely on the Lord. When we are feeling battered, he is our fortress. When we’re feeling bruised, he is our refuge.

Allow this truth to sink in for a moment, then go out and face your enemies with a newfound confidence. You know the Lord is your fortress on whom you can rely.

Thanks for reading.

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Sunshine and Thunderstorms

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There is an errand I typically complete by walking to the store. The weather is usually cooperative, but a few weeks ago as I was walking home, it started to rain. With each step, the rain intensified until I found myself caught in a down poor.

As I was splashing my way home, I realized this is a metaphor for life. Life’s sunshine may usually shine, but occasionally, we find ourselves in the rain. Perhaps even a torrential down poor, but the truth of God’s Word is always the same.

Whether we are gingerly walking through the sunshine of life or running through life’s thunderstorms, the Lord is helping us.

“The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:5-8).

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