god

Still Among the Sheepfolds

There are moments when the greatest danger is that we have become very comfortable listening without moving. “Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks?” (Judges 5:16). That question lands harder the longer I sit with it. Reuben was not asleep spiritually. There were great “searchings of heart.” He was…
When God Leaves Something to Fight

There are times when I would very much like God to remove some struggles altogether. Flatten the mountain. Silence the opposition. Close the difficult door before I ever reach it. Spare me the detour, the resistance, the uncertainty, and preferably anything requiring character development before breakfast. But sometimes God does something very different. Sometimes He…
Still Standing

“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river.” — Jeremiah 17:8 There’s something about a good storm that gets my attention. The wind picks up, the rain starts pelting the windows, thunder rolls across the sky, and suddenly everything outside is getting a…
When Your Feet Are Still Showing

Scripture: “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” — Psalm 119:114 I was never especially gifted at hide-and-seek. For one thing, I laughed. For another, I once believed that standing behind a curtain made me completely invisible, even though my feet were clearly sticking out. Apparently, childhood logic insists…
Blanket Fort Faith

Scripture: “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” — Psalm 119:114 There’s something wonderfully comforting about a blanket fort. It doesn’t matter that it’s nothing more than an old quilt draped over a couple of chairs. Once the flashlight is inside and a plate of cookies and a glass…
The Safest Place on Earth

Psalm 119:114 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” There are moments when the soul grows tired. Not necessarily from great tragedy, but from the steady accumulation of ordinary burdens. Another decision. Another disappointment. Another night of unanswered questions. Sometimes we wish we could simply step away from it…
Broken Boards

(Part 3 of a 3-Part Series) Scripture Focus: Acts 27:33-44 By the time daylight began to approach, the men aboard Paul’s ship had been fighting the storm for fourteen exhausting days. They had been driven across the sea without knowing where they were, unable to see the sun or stars, and uncertain whether the next…
The Storm That Couldn’t Sink a Promise

(Part 2 of a 3-Part Series) Scripture Focus: Acts 27:14–32 When we last saw Paul’s ship, it was moving away from Fair Havens beneath a gentle south wind. The sail had filled, the sea appeared cooperative, and the harbor they preferred seemed close enough to justify leaving the shelter they already had. To everyone aboard,…
When Fair Havens Wasn’t Enough

(Part 1 of a 3-Part Series) Scripture Focus: Acts 27:1–13 Have you ever been completely convinced that somewhere else would be better than where you were? Perhaps another job appeared less stressful, another home seemed more comfortable, or another season of life promised fewer complications. We are remarkably skilled at imagining that contentment is waiting…
Guarding the Gateway

Scripture Focus: “…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5 Have you ever noticed how one unpleasant moment can seem to erase an entire day of blessings? You might wake up to a beautiful sunrise, enjoy a conversation with a friend that leaves you smiling, receive an unexpected compliment,…