The Difference Between Entertaining and Hospitality

The Difference Between Entertaining and Hospitality

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Hospitality. What is it, really? When we overstress, overplan, and overthink inviting others into our lives and homes, hospitality becomes overwhelming to our souls. We become slaves to the expectations of others. We freeze at the mere thought of extending an invitation. Craving both perfection and polished perception, we fall victim to a cruel taskmaster. So how do we find the balance here? How do we open our door to the unknown without opening ourselves to dread and discouragement?

It comes down to knowing the difference between entertaining and hospitality.  

The entertaining host seeks to elevate herself. When the guest arrives, the entertainer announces, “Here I am. Come into my beautiful abode and have the honor of partaking of all the wonderful things I’ve spent hours getting done for you. Look at this lavish buffet, the intricate décor, and the wonderful party favors. How fortunate for you to be here and be part of this.”

While I embellish on what a hostess might actually say, we’ve all encountered this attitude once or twice, haven’t we? Maybe we’ve even allowed a similar tone to slip ever so subtly into our own hosting.  

Hospitality, unlike entertaining, treats everyone as a guest of honor rather than grasping at honor for yourself. Biblical hospitality offers our best to Him first, understanding that our best to others will then fall into place. It transforms our selfish motives and elevates our guest. When the hospitable hostess swings wide the door, all her attention focuses outward: “You’re here! I’ve been waiting for you. No one is more important today than you, and I’m thrilled you’ve come.” Shifting our focus from us to them removes all unnecessary expectations. No need to worry about what to say or how to act. Just come as you are.  

Opening your door has nothing to do with the actual setting, the guest list, or the food. The atmosphere can be exactly the same yet have very different results based on the heart attitude of the one who welcomes.  

Status-seeking versus servanthood.  

“Here I am” versus “here you are.”  

Self-serving to serving others.  

We have no grand blueprint for hospitality aside from loving others. As the master architect, God drew up hospitality so that it gravitates around this core component. 

He is not shy about interrupting our best-laid plans. He will ask us to give up the ordered control we consider so crucial before we’ll open the door. But the reason we open the door anyway is because we’re driven by the main principles of hospitality: loving Him, loving His will, and following His will into loving others.  

The deep-seated worrying, the excuses, and the overthinking of a simple invitation should be warning signs, telling us we’re confusing social entertaining with hospitality. When we use our lives exactly as they are, desiring only to create a sacred space for our guests, mixing it with the countercultural truth of loving Jesus and loving others, we turn entertaining upside down, and it becomes radical hospitality. 

Every time we choose open-door living — whether in our homes or by taking hospitality on the road just like Jesus — those we invite in get to experience the lived-out Gospel, and we trade insecurity for connection. It’s never perfect, but then neither are we.

Truly, our homes—no matter how imperfect—are the most likely location for changing the world around us. 

The secret is to start small. Be spontaneous. Invite one friend over for coffee and offer delicious store-bought coffee cake. If you have time to make your favorite homemade recipe, that’s wonderful, but don’t let that dictate whether you extend an invitation.  

 Here are a few simple suggestions to get you started: 

  • Invite your friends or neighbors to a root beer float party. 
  • Send a group text invitation for a “Popsicle and Pop-in” time with the kids.  
  • Gather the neighbors together for a hot chocolate party. 
  • Host a “Build Your Own ________ Bar” meal. Be creative! You can have a build-your-own ice cream bar, baked potato bar, burrito bar, or pizza bar. For a fancier occasion, try a bruschetta bar or mashed potato bar (served up in martini glasses for a dramatic flair). These work well for large groups, and everyone can bring a topping, which means minimal work and cost for the host.  
  • Never underestimate the power of the grill. Throw chicken and hot dogs on the grill and have everyone bring a side or dessert to share. 
  • Pizza Party — everyone loves pizza!  

Opening your door doesn’t require you to be a gourmet chef or have the resources to throw an elaborate celebration. All that’s required is a willingness to say “yes” to inviting others into your life. 

What is one simple step you can take to open your door to a friend or neighbor this season?  

Article by Jen Schmidt from the (in)courage archives and featured in Everyday Faith Magazine.

The Fall 2025 edition of Everyday Faith is available now, and you’re going to love it! 

From cover to cover, Everyday Faith Magazine is brimming with articles that bring hope. In this issue, you’ll find:

  • tips on how to study the Bible with intentional gratitude
  • excerpts from new books and devotionals
  • encouragement for what it can look like to trust God through difficult seasons 
  • autumn traditions and recipes
  • stories of faith, messages of comfort, and nuggets of truth from God’s Word!

There’s even a super cute fall friendship bucket list!

The article above is just one of many featured in Everyday Faith Magazine, which is perfect for gifting to a friend, Bible Study sister, Sunday School teacher, or neighbor. And to help you do just that, we’re giving away* FIVE sets of magazines — one for each winner and one for them to give to a friend!

Leave a comment telling us to whom you’d gift a copy, and we’ll draw five winners.

*Giveaway is open to US addresses only and will close on 9/7/2025 at 11:59 pm Central.

What If the Call Is What We Carry?

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There is an Icelandic phrase my husband and I say a lot — whether just between us or when encouraging others:

Andrúmsloftabreytari

Or, in English, atmosphere changer. My husband started using it frequently after we moved to Iceland, though it took us several months to realize the words weren’t actually grammatically correct in Icelandic. He was sharing the idea in a literal translation to convey what he meant.

But the idea holds. We want to be people who shift the atmosphere when we walk into a room. This may sound vague or lofty, but we know that this is the reality for those who know Christ and are known by Him. One of my favorite passages in Scripture is John 12:3, where Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’ feet with her costly perfume, and the fragrance fills the room.

Or perhaps you relate more to Matthew 5:14-16, where the atmosphere is shifted through the light of Christ within us?

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

Yet as the years passed, this reality seemed hard to grasp when we made our move back to the States. Because hadn’t we been called to minister in Iceland? Had we failed in shining our light or releasing a sweet fragrance because we were in a different place? Was the call over, or was it paused for a moment?

But as we settled into a new season, we recognized that although the language and people had shifted, our conversations were familiar. People in Alabama were struggling with things similar to those in Iceland. Our interactions with those we ministered to weren’t so different despite a change in cultures and time zones.

My husband and I pondered what it meant to be called and what it meant to be assigned to something. Assignments could put us in different places and in different seasons. But the call didn’t have to shift, because it wasn’t just based on location. The call was what we carried.

That same desire to see the environment around us infused with the presence of Jesus didn’t go away because we moved from the Arctic North to the humid South. It didn’t change just because our roles shifted from varied international ministry to work within the local church. And the call surprisingly didn’t shift when we struggled for a few months, grasping to understand what God was doing.

The call isn’t just about what we do, but about who God has shaped us to be, and because of that, what He trusts us to carry.

Something about that feels much more vulnerable and free — and dare I say, bold.

From this perspective, I recognize that I don’t own anything, yet I carry something that’s been entrusted to me. I can be honest about what I don’t have and clear about what I do.  And if God is trusting us to carry that something, He knows exactly how we are supposed to carry it out.

I recently spoke a message at my church about the chapter in Acts where Peter and John are asked for money from a lame man. They didn’t have what he asked for, but instead of letting that stop their ministry, they were open and honest and vulnerable and bold about what they did carry.

“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.”
Acts 3:6-7 NIV

What a beautifully simple answer and powerful result. Something that we can apply to our own lives. Silver and gold I don’t have, but what I do have is… fill in the blank.

What has God given you to carry?

I jokingly said in my message that this response could even apply to our kids — because I know I’m not the only mom who gets asked a hundred times a day what’s for the next meal. How would my four children respond if I said, “Chicken nuggets and fries I do not have, but what I do have is spaghetti…”

I know this may be a silly way to look at that verse, but it is quite serious when it comes to living out the calling God has placed on our lives. There are many things that you and I don’t have. Maybe the call you thought was so certain turned out differently than you expected. Perhaps God is reminding you, like He did with me, that your call is not just about what you do, but about what you carry when you walk into the room.

Because of Jesus, you are an Atmosphere Changer. Andrúmsloftabreytari.

That phrase — born out of my husband’s imperfect words and shaped by years of life and ministry — has taken on a life of its own. It’s now spoken in churches in Iceland, not because our call was executed perfectly, but because we intentionally did our best to carry what God had entrusted to us into every room, every conversation, every season. It’s a reminder that what we bring — our faith, our courage, our presence — has the power to shift the atmosphere around us.

What about you? What do you carry when you walk into a room? And how might God want you to steward it today?

Listen to Jenny’s devotion here or on your fave podcast app!

Eyes Up, Eyes Out

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

It’s easy to imagine God’s love as something distant or reserved for our most “put-together” moments. But Psalm 34 reminds us of a stunning truth: God is close to the brokenhearted. Not just aware. Not merely watching. Close.

His compassion isn’t conditional. It doesn’t depend on our mood, our behavior, or how clean our house is. God leans in when our hearts are heavy. He draws near when we feel most alone. And that kind of presence changes everything.

But it’s not meant to stop with us.

The love and compassion God pours into our lives is also a call — a call to live eyes up and eyes out. To notice the weary mom in the grocery line. To check on a neighbor we’ve been meaning to text. To pause and pray instead of rush and scroll.

Love shared is love multiplied.

Sometimes sharing God’s love is easy: sending an encouraging text, making someone laugh, offering a helping hand.

Other times, it’s costly: forgiving when we’ve been hurt, choosing kindness in conflict, listening when we’d rather walk away.

But every time we reflect God’s love — even in the smallest ways — we create space for someone else to feel seen, known, and loved by Him, too.

Let’s live with our hearts open, our eyes up, and our hands ready to respond.

Prayer:
God, thank You for being close when I’m brokenhearted and crushed. Help me receive Your love fully — and then give it freely. Open my eyes to see the needs around me today, and give me the courage to love like You. Amen.

 

See God in Every Season + a Recipe for the Return to Routine

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“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

I live in Minnesota, usually thought of and referred to as a frozen tundra. Which is entirely accurate for about half the year. But truly, this is the land of four distinct seasons. Our summer, autumn, winter, and spring seasons are each beautiful in their own unique ways, and living here for them all helps me see the Lord.

Summer here is hot. Humid. The bugs come out (especially the dang mosquitos) but so do the birds. Loons can be heard calling sweet and strong across our many enormous lakes. In the summer people flock “up north” to cabin country, gather in backyards for cookouts and bonfires, and meet up in neighborhood parks and pools. The sun sets glorious, the sun rises early, and the days between are sticky with heat and melted popsicles.

Autumn blazes a trail of glory in the now red and orange forests of maple, birch, oak, and elm. The early morning sparkling drops of dew return to still-green blades of grass when the air turns chilly again. Sweaters make their return, pumpkins sit on porches, and orchards open for apple picking. We pray for the harvest and the farmers, rake leaves off lawns, and relish in the return to school and routine. Some of us also rejoice at the return of pumpkin spice everything.

Winter here can be harsh, but it can also be beautiful. I, for one, love it. The bite of the wind, faced while wearing a parka, boots, mittens, and a knit hat. The crunch and glitter of freshly fallen snow. Hot cocoa and lit fireplaces, shoveling each other’s driveways, and kids building snowmen and sledding the day away.

Spring is a welcome respite from the bitter winter, with warmth returning to the undercurrents of the breeze. Annuals and planted bulbs burst through dull earth, and everything seems to sigh as it thaws. Blossoms open slowly on flowering trees, rain washes away the dust and refreshes the gardens, and we pull on galoshes and raincoats to stay dry. The sun seems to shine a little brighter, warming front porches and our hearts.

His glory is on display in each and every season — if we just remember to look for it. And when we look, when our eyes stay open to seeking His glory, we remember that Jesus came for us all — all the time. In the grey days of November. In the summer heat of August. In the slushiness of March and the blossoms of May. When we’re looking for Him and when we’re running from Him. When our hearts are soft and open, and when they’re hard and closed.

In all seasons of the year and of our lives, Jesus comes for us. He welcomes us wholly at any time, in any space, in all of our seasons.

By Anna E. Rendell from the (in)courage archives

We’re whispering ‘welcome’ to the return of routine, rhythm, and all things autumn as kids head back to school and calendars begin to fill up. This flavor-packed baked oatmeal is great as a brunch offering at a potluck, or can be cooked and reheated for an especially busy morning at home. A perfect recipe as we tiptoe into welcoming autumn!

Scroll down for the recipe (courtesy of our friend Nancy) and download a FREE printable recipe card!

Apple Baked Oatmeal

Download the FREE recipe card here!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 2 cups diced apples

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Lightly grease a 9″ round deep dish pie plate or 8×8″ square baking pan; set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the milk, applesauce, and eggs. Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients in the large bowl and then add in the oil; mix everything together well. Then stir the diced apples into the mixture.
  4. Pour the oatmeal mixture into your prepared pan and bake at 350˚F for 35 minutes, or until set in the center. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then spoon or cut the slices or squares and serve in bowls – you can pour some milk over the top of each serving if desired.

To enjoy the look Nancy created for this dish, use the Grace & Gratitude White/Blush All-Purpose Bowl, and set it atop a Grace & Gratitude Blush Accent Plate. You’ll have a lovely breakfast table in no time! Find these beautiful pieces and more in the full Mary & Martha collection at DaySpring.com.

The Scandal of God’s Mercy

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He was furious. And only the glass of the driver’s side window separated us. I knew he wanted me to lower my window, but I hesitated, bracing myself for whatever happened next. 

A few minutes before, I’d pulled our boat trailer out of a parking spot and headed toward the boat ramp where my husband and daughter waited. We’d spent the morning and early afternoon enjoying a day on the lake. We’d planned to stay longer, but a storm rolled in. So I’d rushed to get the trailer, anxious to get my loved ones off the lake before the lightning and thunder hit. 

Little did I know, a bigger storm was headed my way. As I drove through a complicated parking lot, trying to get to my family while keeping an eye on the incoming storm, I must’ve cut in front of another driver who was also trying to pull his boat out of the water. Of course, I didn’t know this as the red-faced man stood on the other side of my window with murder in his eyes. 

Every nerve stood alert as I slowly lowered my window. 

“Can I help you?” I asked.

I will spare you his vitriolic language. In short, he proceeded to accuse me of all manner of parking lot etiquette offenses. It’s remarkable how quickly the brain processes danger, absorbing information and attempting to determine the best course of action. The man’s rage was barely contained, all reason gone. I had every right to defend myself and give him a dose of his own medicine. He was out of line, and someone needed to call him on it. 

But that day, I didn’t.  

“I’m so sorry,” I apologized, hand on my chest, attempting to keep my voice calm and earnest. “I had no idea. I didn’t see you.” 

His tirade stuttered, but didn’t quite stop. 

I repeated myself. 

“I believe you. Based on what you’re saying, I’m sure I did that.” I nodded. “It’s just that I didn’t see you. I was so focused on the signs and trying to turn the right way, I completely missed seeing you doing the same. Again, I am so very sorry.” 

It was as if my words absorbed the oxygen out of his. His rage dissipated, his face returned to a normal color, and his words evaporated.

“Why don’t you go in front of me?” I encouraged him, smiling. “I’m not in a hurry. Please, go. I can wait.” 

He shook his head and backed away, telling me it was fine. I smiled and offered another apology, then wished him a good afternoon. And that was that. In moments, the storm was gone. 

I wish I could tell you I handle all heated exchanges with the same amount of calm. I don’t. When it comes to personal relationships, I often turn defensive rather than disarming, critical rather than conciliatory. I defend my rights and match another’s anger with a healthy dose of my own.

The problem is that anger and defensiveness are completely ineffectual in putting out a fire. They only add fuel to it. 

Mercy, on the other hand, acts like a balm on a wound, water on a flame. It breathes life where there is death, shines light where there is only dark.  

I thought mercy was something that was earned. By definition, however, mercy is something you give when it is not deserved, not earned.

Mercy is choosing pardon over punishment, forgiveness over fury, kindness over contempt. Not because they deserve it, but because they don’t. To be clear, mercy is not codependence or covering up a crime. That would be enabling. Mercy, sourced in divine love, always has the other person’s best interest in mind. It pays the price of someone else’s mistake, absorbing the expense and covering the cost. 

Why? Why would we offer mercy when someone deserves anything but? 

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
Romans 2:4 NLT

We offer mercy simply because we are sitting on storehouses full of it. As people who have already received an ocean of unearned, undeserved mercy and forgiveness from a good Father, we have more than enough mercy to spare for those who are desperate for it. Mercy transforms broken people, builds bridges in broken relationships, and heals wounds that have long refused to heal.

It’s scandalous, God’s mercy.

The one thing we are so reluctant to give is the very thing we (and our world) need most.

Ultimately, we must choose. Will your life be marked by offense? Or by God’s mercy? Choose the first, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by raging fires that consume your joy. Choose the latter, and those who receive your offer of mercy might learn something of the unearned, undeserved mercy and forgiveness of God for themselves.

 

Listen to Michele’s devotion here or on your favorite podcast app. 

A Cup of Kindness: How a $10 Gift Card Reminded Me of God’s Love

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Church hurt is awful. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know what I mean.

I’ve recently been in one of those seasons — the kind that leaves you weary and broken-hearted. When many people you love and care about are also sad, disillusioned, struggling, confused, or angry. When finger-pointing is rampant and people disappoint you on a level you didn’t know was possible. When your eyes are irritated with their own planks.

Humans are so human, and we sure can make a mess of things.

We flail around trying to handle life and all it hurls at us in our own strength, only to realize eventually that self-reliance is folly. We forget that our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. We have a hard time remembering to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. If we remembered this, then we would have everything we need — truth, righteousness, peace, faith, our salvation, and God’s Word — to resist evil and stand firm. (See Ephesians 6:10-18 NASB.) As this passage teaches, spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons.

I’m finding now, as I’ve discovered so many times before, that when we come to the end of our abilities, experience, and wisdom – to the end of ourselves – there’s room for God to show up and do what only He can do. Frequently, He will teach us something we need to learn. Sometimes, He’ll bring physical healing. And, in some cases, when you least expect it, He’ll work through people to encourage you when you’re at your lowest.

He did this for me just a few weeks ago when a text popped up on my phone, alerting me to a $10 Venmo notification with a note that read, “Coffee on me—love you <3”

A simple gesture paired with five words and a heart emoji. That little gift from a friend spoke volumes. It wasn’t only about receiving a cup of coffee — it was about being noticed, valued, and loved. It was a gentle nudge to stop focusing on the circumstances I found myself in and to remember that God is at work no matter how I feel, regardless of the tempest engulfing me.

In this unexpected moment, God whispered a sweet truth to my heart: “If a friend notices your need and cares enough to respond, how much more do I see you? How much more do I love you?”

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” That gift card was tangible proof of God’s attentive love, delivered through the kindness of a friend. Her ten-dollar gift far exceeded its actual value because of the message it conveyed, one I desperately needed: I am with you in this storm. You are not alone.

The brokenness in our church and in my own heart wasn’t suddenly mended, but for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of God’s love for me. 

When the world is reeling all around you, centering on God and His Word brings calm and clarity. God cares for even the smallest details of our lives. Remember Luke 12:6-7? Even a sparrow is not forgotten by God — and we are worth far more than sparrows. If He knows every hair on our heads, He certainly knows when our hearts are tired and our spirits need refreshment.

The unexpected Venmo reminded me of something else, too: God often uses people as vessels of His love. Whether or not she knew it, my friend’s simple act of generosity was a holy assignment. 1 John 4:12 (NIV) says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” My friend was doing important kingdom work — allowing God’s love to flow through her to encourage me.

Ever since I received that $10 cup of kindness, I’ve been asking myself, Who needs a reminder of God’s love today? Because it doesn’t take much — a small gift card, a handwritten note, even a quick text — to reflect the heart of God.

Maybe you’re in a weary season, too, and you could use today’s reminder: God sees you. He cares for you. And He will provide for you in unexpected ways, maybe even through the kindness of a friend..

This truth isn’t new. We’ve known it for centuries: Sometimes, the smallest gifts carry the biggest messages. After all, Jesus came as a baby, right?

 

Listen to Robin’s devotion here or on your favorite podcast app.

Open the Gift Anyway

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I have two kids, and they are both so different. My son is your typical boy who doesn’t know what to do with all that energy inside his tiny body. My daughter is the calm one who loves reading a book or playing the piano.

Even as babies, when we would get them a new toy, my son would beat it, bite it, bang it, and figure it out with full enthusiasm and zero hesitation. Meanwhile, my daughter would carefully analyze it with her eyes and inspect it with her hands, but would wait for us to show her what to do with the toy before she would actually play with it. Almost like she was waiting for permission.

I used to think it was just her temperament — thoughtful, cautious. But the older I get, the more I realize: she got that from me.

She inherited that quiet perfectionism and fear of failure from her mama.

This has been a struggle most of my life, and something I have to intentionally fight, even now.

Often, when God gives me a gift — a calling, a nudge, an opportunity — my first response isn’t to take it fully and explore it. I want to obey, but I hesitate. I circle around it with prayers for clarity and confirmations. Not because I’m holy, but because I’m scared. Scared to mess it up. Scared I’ll do it wrong. The fear of failure disguised as waiting on God.

Waiting for someone to come open the door for me or walk in with me. Waiting on God to make it easy and clear.

But here’s what I’m learning: God doesn’t hand us gifts with strings attached. He hands them with trust. He trusts us with good gifts without expecting perfection.

Throughout Scripture, we see the same pattern: God doesn’t wait for people to be ready.

Moses was a runaway with blood on his hands, but with faith, he raised his staff and watched God part the sea. David was a young shepherd, but with faith, he slayed the giant. Peter was a fisherman, but with faith, he walked on water.

But don’t forget, they all messed up, too.
Moses struck the rock in frustration.
David abused his power.
Peter denied Jesus three times.

The heroes of our faith didn’t get it all right either. God knew they wouldn’t, but He chose them and gave them the gift anyway.

If perfection is the goal, we will always live in fear. Thank God, He just wants us to be faithful.

He is more concerned about our hearts than the gift. He is not going to get mad if we make a mess. Friend, we are not powerful enough to mess up God’s plans. So be wise, but don’t use prudence as an excuse.

What gift is God giving you? What call has He placed on you?

Is it starting a podcast? Writing a book? Joining the worship team? Opening a business?

You don’t have to figure it all out before you say yes.
You don’t have to be the best to begin.
You just have to open the gift in faith.

Over the years, my daughter has received enough gifts from her parents that she is no longer cautious or waits for permission to play. Because she knows us. She knows that we love her, so she can trust us with the gifts that we give her.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…”
James 1:17 ESV

The gift is good because it is from our Good Father.

I wonder what it would be like to see our Heavenly Father watching us unwrap the gifts He’s placed in our lives. I don’t think He’s standing with judgment, as we unwrap them. He’s not impatient when we fumble, nor does He yank the gift away when we don’t get it right the first time.

No, I believe He watches like a proud Father — delighting in our joy, our awe, and wonder. He smiles when we take that first uncertain step of faith.

He gave us the gift not because we’d handle it perfectly, but because He loves us deeply.

You don’t need to wait for permission. You don’t have to wait for perfect circumstances. If God was ready to give it to you, He knows you are ready for it. The gift is yours — open it.

 

Listen to Simi’s devotion here or on the (in)courage podcast wherever you stream!

Who Are You. . . Really?

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“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1 NLT

“Who are you?”

If someone asked you that question, would you know how to answer?

You might say, “My name is so-and-so.” Or maybe, “I’m Bobby and Cindy’s mom.”

You might respond with, “I’m a teacher” or “I work at a doctor’s office.”

If you’re married, you might say, “I’m married to Joe.”

But none of those things define you. Until you know who you really are — not what you do or whom you’re related to — you will struggle to know your place in the world.

Before there was a husband or kids or a job, even before you drew your first breath, you were a child of the Most High God. And you’re still His kid, even now. Once you realize Whose you are, you can know who you are.

When you come to fully understand what that means, when you have rooted and grounded your identity in Him, then your response to the “Who are you?” question will be made easier. You are a daughter of the King, fully loved and cared for. A plan has been in place for your life before you were ever even born — you are entirely unique, entirely special, entirely adored.

Knowing who you are will help you stick to your guns when you need to. But most of all, you’ll have the assurance that the same God who created daffodils, cumulus clouds, crystal-blue Caribbean seas, and teensy-tiny tadpoles, created you as well. And He adores you with a love that goes beyond anything you could imagine.

This loving, gracious Creator has big things planned for you. The reason you can be assured of the fact that you have brighter days ahead is because He’s the one illuminating them. And no one does a finer job of lighting your path than He does!

AFFIRMATION: Today, I choose to recognize Whose I am so that I can fully understand who I am.

GOD SAYS: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 ESV

TRUTH FOR TODAY: I am not defined by my talents, abilities, or physical appearance, but by how deep my roots go down in Him.

REFLECTION: If someone were to ask, “Who are you . . . really?” I would respond . . .

Discover the beauty of hope in the midst of hard times. That’s the message of Hope in the Hard, a journal full of relatable devotions, inspirational quotes, selected Scriptures, and prompts for reflection designed to help you process your emotions and gain a hopeful outlook during challenging seasons. Easy-to-digest stories and encouraging reflections — like the one above! — will remind you that there is purpose in your difficulties and that you are not alone as you trek through the unbearably familiar or the unnerving unknown.

This journal is SO unique and would make the perfect gift for a dear friend who needs a dose of hope, or for yourself if you’re walking a new path.

Pick up your copy of Hope in the Hard here, and leave a comment answering the reflection question above. We’ll mail five commenters* a copy of this new devotional journal.

 

*Giveaway open to US addresses only until 8/22/25 at 11:59 pm central.

Enter The DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms Giveaway!

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We welcome Trieste Vaillancourt, DaySpring Editorial Director and the writer behind the devotional content in the DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms! Keep reading for a special excerpt from her heartfelt introduction and selected sections from this meaningful Bible, then enter for your chance to WIN a copy!

I wrote the devotional thoughts for the DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms over the better part of a year. And as you can imagine, spending so much time in intimate connection with God’s Word has changed me. I am more aware of His presence in my mothering. I am more thankful than ever that I’m not alone. I am humbled by His desire to come with me into the weeds of everyday life, and I find it easier to worship Him there. I am praying for you to experience the same and more.

“God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”
Genesis 1:31 NLT

I want you to know that God sees you as His beloved and beautiful daughter.

I want you to know, from the moment your alarm goes off in the morning to the moment your weary head hits the pillow at night, that God made you to thrive as a mom.

Motherhood, as wonderful as it is, can steal your sense of self-worth. That sometimes happens when you become responsible for little children who tend to take you and the peace and stability you give them for granted. You are an umbrella for them in a rainstorm of worldly influence, and they shelter under your protection. You are a voice of assurance in the face of young and budding courage. You are the hand holder, the healer, the hug that means the most. Your deep love for them fuels their sense of adventure and their understanding of just how much they are loved by the Creator of the universe.

Motherhood is a gift — one that would deplete our physical, emotional, and spiritual resources every day if it weren’t for God’s willingness to fill us up as we pour out what we have. Knowing how much we need Him, God invites us to shelter under His protection, find reassurance in His voice, and be loved by His generous heart. And He invites us into His Word.

I imagine that, like me, you could use a reminder of how much you mean to your family. You might appreciate knowing that the Lord knows you personally and cares about you deeply. You would benefit from hearing the truth of how you, a devoted mother and follower of Jesus, are making an indelible and eternal mark not only on your children but also on history.

But there are plenty of things in our daily lives that can make us feel like we’re not measuring up. Maybe it was as simple as getting all the clean laundry folded. Perhaps you resolved to play with your kids more or refine your meal plan. No matter your goal, you might be the only one who sees the way you fell short of your own expectations. But you still beat yourself up for not accomplishing what you set out to do.

Motherhood is not a series of accomplishments, and its success is not measured by the checks on our to-do lists. Our heavenly Father wants us to know that He made us and considers us very good whether the laundry gets folded or not.

Being one of God’s very good creations is not something that can be checked off a to-do list. We can’t just make it happen any more than we can make toddlers eat their Brussels sprouts or teens clean their rooms. Instead, the Bible tells us that God made us in His image and blessed us (Genesis 1:27-28). This means that we are important and loved before we ever do one single thing.

As mothers, we tend to beat ourselves up because we don’t feel like we measure up. But for every shortcoming, God’s grace is sufficient. Every time we pray, “Help me, God! I can’t, but You can,” God leaps to the call and gives us just what we need. Genesis 1–2 reminds us that God made everything, including and especially us; and when He looks at us, He sees something very good. God cares about the things we care about — our unfolded laundry, our meal plans, our children’s futures — but He doesn’t expect us to make it all happen on our own.

So admit your weakness and who you are as God’s good creation, and let God show you the amazing things He can do in and through you!

You were handcrafted and handpicked for this family, for this season, for this life, and God says this is “very good!”

Lord,
Whatever my goals are for today, I trust that You want me to thrive. Remind me that You made me and called me good before I even did anything. Help me to model this truth for my children. Thank you for creating all of us.
Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you discover more about your value in His eyes through the daily devotions and profiles of women and moms highlighted in this Bible and — even more importantly — throughout His Word.

You are loved. You are seen. You are not alone. You are the mom God made you to be.

—

We love this new DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms! This clear and accurate NLT edition includes 365 encouraging devotions created specifically for moms, 31 profiles of biblical women to encourage you, daily prayer prompts to remind you of God’s presence, wide margins for journaling and reflection, and a full-color interior design to enjoy as you read the Bible in a year.

This Daily Devotional Bible for Moms was created with busy moms like you in mind ― real moms with real life joys and challenges. You’ll be encouraged with daily reminders that God sees you, loves you, delights in you, and is with you always.

Pick up your copy today, and jump into our GIVEAWAY! Yep, we’re super excited to give away the Daily Devotional Bibles for Moms right here. Just leave a comment, and you’ll be entered to win*.

For  moments of bite-sized, consistent, truthful encouragement, the DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms is just the ticket. We know you’ll love it.

 

*Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Find My Friends … and Fix My Control Issues

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I have an app on my phone that gives me the illusion I’m running a tight ship. It’s called “Find My Friends.” But really, it should be called “Find My Control Issues.”

Thanks to this handy little dot-tracking miracle inside of my phone, I can see where my daughters are at any given moment. (Please don’t tell them I can still track them. They’re in their early 20s now, and I’m trying to be chill.)

Lydia recently finished her master’s at Cambridge in England, and I loved watching her dot cruise alongside cobblestone streets, like something out of a storybook.

And Anna is about to move to Indonesia to serve full-time in ministry, which means her dot will soon be floating on the other side of the world.

You’d think I’d be obsessively monitoring their global whereabouts. But oddly enough, I checked that app waaaay more when they were teenagers – especially during winter mornings while they drove to school. I’d refresh the screen frantically, trying to make sure our daughters made it safely.

If the dots froze on the screen?

Clearly, they were in a ditch.

And if the dots moved too fast?

Probably an ambulance.

One day, I told a friend how “responsible” I was, with all my dot-watching. She didn’t miss a beat: “Wow,” she said dryly. “It’s incredible how your obsessive tracking prevented all those accidents.”

Touché.

That’s when it hit me: Sometimes my so-called “care” is really just control dressed up as concern. I had confused vigilance with virtue, anxiety with love. And in trying to play God, I was missing the peace He actually promises.

Hi. My name is Jennifer, and I’m a recovering control freak.

Over the years, my control freakery has affected my parenting, for sure. But truthfully? I have actually wanted to run the show in nearly every other area of life, too.

For a long time, I lived like God was a helpful assistant instead of the actual boss of my life.

I wanted His help – but only if He stayed in His lane. If I truly let Him lead, I was afraid of what would happen.

I’d hand over my marriage … sort of.
My kids? Okay, but only if You promise nothing bad will happen, God.
My finances? I mean, I’d like to trust You, but the electric bill is due Tuesday.

Letting God lead felt so risky, so out-of-my-hands.

But maybe the greatest freedom begins when we admit we were never meant to be in charge in the first place.

I looked at the way John the Baptist responded when people asked who he was. His answer? “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20 ESV). Just like that, John drew an important boundary between who he was, and who he wasn’t.

I didn’t cross-check the Greek or anything, but I’m pretty sure God isn’t taking applications for His position.

Repeat after me: “I am not the Christ.”

We can stop trying to run the world and instead remember that we are not the Savior, not the Solution, not the CEO.

We are beloved followers of the One who doesn’t need to refresh a phone screen to see where His children are.

When we stop trying to be Jesus, the astonishing result is that we actually become more like Him. We hear the Father more clearly. We see the paths before us. We become more like Jesus, not by trying harder, but by trusting deeper.

Today, if you’re tempted to track everyone and fix everything, take a deep breath and say it one more time:

“I am not the Christ.”

And then?

Rest in the beautiful news that you don’t have to be.

 

Listen to today’s devotion here or wherever you stream podcasts!

You Were Made for Rest

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“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

If you’re tired — bone-deep, soul-heavy tired — you’re not alone.

The world keeps spinning and the demands don’t stop. Your people need you, your inbox overflows, the dishes multiply, and maybe your own thoughts feel louder than any voice in the room. You keep going, because you have to. But friend, you were never meant to live like this.

You were not made to work 24/7.
You were not made to carry the weight of your marriage, your mental health, or your child’s future.
You were made for reliance — not on yourself, but on Jesus.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus doesn’t say, “Come to me after you’ve figured it out.” He says come to me, weary and burdened. And in exchange for your exhaustion, He promises rest — not just physical relief, but rest for your soul.

Let that sink in.
Jesus doesn’t ask you to hustle harder.
He invites you to rest deeper.

Rest doesn’t mean everything gets done. It means you remember who God is and who you’re not. He is your Provider, your Protector, your Healer, and your ever-present Help. He carries what you can’t, fills what’s empty, and calms what feels out of control.

So exhale. You don’t have to be the hero. You just have to be held.

A Prayer for Rest:
Jesus, I am weary. I confess that I’ve tried to carry too much for too long. Help me release what was never mine to hold. Thank You for seeing me in my exhaustion and inviting me into Your rest. I trust You to meet my needs — physical, emotional, spiritual. Teach me to rely on You moment by moment. I don’t have to do it all, because You already have. In Your name I rest, amen.

 

The Glory of the Middle of Your Story

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When I gave my life to the Lord four years ago, I was given a conviction: Take people on a journey. Invite them into the middle.

I grew up in church, but not with Jesus. The name of God was passed around my home, but I didn’t see His love lived out. Soon, I became an adult and started making my own choices. Most of those choices led to destruction and rebellion. When I was in my darkest moments, I remember choosing to watch testimonies. I was curious about God, but I was also afraid of Him.

I felt too far from Him to reach out and trust that He would be there. So, instead, I watched hours of testimonies on YouTube. Some days, I’d come home from living in ways that killed me from the inside out and, with tears streaming down my face, I would look up testimonies. I needed to know that Jesus cared about my story and that I could encounter Him in the middle of a journey like mine.

For seven years, I would watch stories, I would watch and listen, and read stories more than I would read my own Bible or pray. I could not comprehend the possibility of the goodness, love, and hope of a God who, all along, I believed was far and distant. I was compelled by the testimonies of others and convinced I needed to live another day. For the first time ever, I burned with the knowledge that Someone cared for me.

I gave my life to Christ in 2021 on the floor of my one-bedroom apartment, still deep in sin, grieving, angry, and full of questions. My salvation moment was private. It wasn’t in a room full of cheering people, or in the presence of friends and family. It was alone; it was just me and Jesus. It was uneventful. Still, I knew something changed. With that one choice, my journey with Jesus began. 

Our stories are teachers — teachers to people in the church and outside of the church. Most people are drawn to vulnerability and reality, and this is what I loved about the many testimonies I watched. I saw humanity in their stories, and I could relate to the broken woman or the lost man. Each person spoke from a place of victory, but they were still brave enough to share the messy middle and invite others to believe God can meet anyone in the middle of their own story.

So, today, in full honesty and transparency, I choose to share about my own glorious middle. People can argue with the Bible, they can disagree with facts, but they cannot fight against your story. Your journey, your encounter, your testimony, and your experience of how God revealed Himself to you. In today’s age, we need more stories. We need more testimonies. We need those who will go first and share about their messy middles.

The truth is, you will never be ready to share your heart. You may never be ready to be vulnerable — but that is where Jesus comes in. That is where He will lead your words and guide you to the people who need to hear what you have to say. Yes, we might all still feel fear or worry about our im[erfections. Moses stuttered. Paul killed Christians. Rahab was a prostitute, the list goes on and on. But, yet, all of them submitted their weakness to God, and, more importantly, each of them saw His glory in their obedience.

When I have moved forward in fear, I have always found freedom. When I have acknowledged my weakness, I have always found His strength. Our stories have the power to bring people to the feet of Jesus and the table of plenty. They have the power to bring the Kingdom down to earth. Do it afraid or full of confidence. You never know what your story will do for someone else. 

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11

The Slow Road to Reconciliation

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Hello. I’m Karina and I’m a slow processor. When I say slow, I mean, ridiculously slow. Think of molasses. When I’m hurt, forgiveness, for me, is the easy part. Forgiveness is an act of the will. I don’t necessarily have to feel it to do it. 

It’s my feelings that are slow in catching up.

I am one of those highly sensitive people who just feel things deeply. I have a million and one feelings. And I have a million and one feelings about those feelings. I guess this is what makes me a good creative — my mind is always thinking, circling, and analyzing on a continuous loop.

I eventually get to a place of healing, wholeness, and possible restored fellowship, but it takes me a minute to get there. Oftentimes, it takes me more than just a minute.

I used to think that there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t just quickly get over something that hurt me or frustrated me or angered me. But God created us all differently, and we process differently. We heal at different speeds. And that’s okay. There is no one way to journey with the Lord in this process. God’s desire is simply that we remain humble, teachable, and dependent on Him. It matters that the process is only unto His glory.

Now, I’ve had my fair share of friendship struggles. But a recent one hurt me deeper than I can adequately convey. I have spent the better part of 2024 and the first half of 2025 in a season of profound sadness. One of the causes for that sadness has been a great rift between me and a dear friend.

There was a string of circumstances where I felt left out, unwelcome, and unloved. Whether or not it was intentional or just my interpretation, those instances simply didn’t feel good. I was so grieved that I pulled back from our friendship. I was already overwhelmed by the season I was in. This proved too much of a weight to bear.

This was the first time in our seven-year friendship that we’d faced anything like this. I wasn’t sure if our friendship would survive. I imagined all the ways this situation could play out. I even wondered if the friendship was worth saving.

Sadly, some fractured relationships haven’t been saved. But I realized this one was most definitely worth it. She realized it was too.

I felt the Lord assuring me that this part of my season would be healed. I just wasn’t sure how. My friend took the first step and asked me to lunch. I took the next step and wrote her a letter. I’ve discovered that I work through conflict best by having time to write out my thoughts and feelings, followed by a conversation, versus having that conversation in the heat of a moment. I guess that’s the writer in me.

Our lunch was sort of an icebreaker. I filled her in on some of the hard I’ve been walking through, and she shared some of the highlights of her recent months. It felt good to reconnect a bit. It was a good start.

A few weeks later, we had another lengthy conversation. This one was more in-depth. My friend was able to respond to aspects of my letter. Misunderstandings were cleared up. Perspectives were shared. The truth of God’s Word was prayed. Prophetic declarations were released. And so many tears were shed.

Colossians 3:13 reminds us of the Lord’s forgiveness towards us. Because of that forgiveness, we are to bear with one another and forgive every grievance against another.

We forgive because we love God.

We forgive because we love others.

We forgive out of obedience.

We forgive because it sets us free.

I’m sure this won’t be the last time my friend and I will be confronted with hurt feelings, confusion, or misunderstandings. But now we have a stronger foundation built on God’s truth and love. Honesty, trust, and vulnerability are leading the way.

Working through conflict and discomfort and heartbreak are never the way I want a friendship to grow, but I am grateful that the Lord proves faithful at every step.

When we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit, His love overflows. His grace sustains. His Spirit empowers. His peace floods.

I’d love for you to share a testimony of reconciliation! I want to join you in thanking God for this ministry!

 

Listen to Karina’s devotion here or wherever you stream podcasts. 

Hope for the Mama of a Lonely School-Aged Daughter

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My daughter’s friendship situation in high school was, to be blunt, a bunch of crap. Her “friends'” behavior often left me fuming. They’d pretend to treat her kindly one day, only to ghost and ignore her the next. They’d make plans to hang out with her early in the week and cancel the day of. When she’d inevitably tire of their behavior and reach out to new girls, they’d accuse her of acting like she was too good for them.

This hot and cold behavior went on (and on!) within the public school system, which is maddening enough. But when this happens within the context of your church’s youth group, your frustrations level up. Kids who profess to love Jesus all over their social media accounts but in person behave at best unwelcoming and at worst just plain ugly… well, it makes you want to grab a ponytail or two as you initiate some tough-love conversations.

Exclusive, mean behavior can be experienced on sports teams and in school clubs too. Yesterday, my chiropractor shared with me that his freshman daughter struggled to find her people on her high school volleyball team because several of the upperclassmen had a serious mean streak. I told him how sorry I was to hear that as I reassured him that his daughter’s experience isn’t an isolated one.

Ugh, the interpersonal turmoil of high school can be such garbage.

Now, could my own daughter’s experience have been worse? Absolutely. But it could’ve been so much better — she never found her people in high school. Thank the good Lord, though, she did find her people after high school.

If past experiences have you fretting that your beloved child will be lonely this new school year, I’m so sorry. You’re square on my heart, as I know how this can fill yours with anxiety. But as my daughter’s difficult time is now in the rear view mirror, may I, as a mama who has been there, place some hope in your praying hands?

Here are 4 positive things that came from my daughter’s negative high school friendship experiences:

She learned what it looks like to be a good friend. In baptism-by-fire ways, my daughter’s high school experiences honed her friendship-making skills. She learned there are different kinds of friendship, and when a friendship is and isn’t meant to be. Since my daughter was on the receiving end of a lot of friendship-killing behaviors, like fickleness and ghosting, she learned the value of letting her yes be a yes (Matthew 5:37). She also learned how to reach out toward others in friendship instead of waiting on someone else to reach out to her first — a skill that paid off big time in college.

She learned how to process and accept rejection. If my daughter reached out to someone who rejected her efforts, she learned that she didn’t need to take it personally. Oh, it may feel very personal (and all the more when girls who’d accepted her suddenly did an about-face). But as my friend Salena says, rejection is God’s protection against what’s not in our best interest. Rejection is hard and painful, yes. But it’s also an inevitable part of life. It’s something that God uses for us, not against. So, when my daughter was rejected, she learned to trust that rejection from one potential friend meant that God had another friend in mind who would be a better fit for her.

She learned that home was (and is!) a safe place where she’s beloved and welcomed. My daughter was home more than the average kid during her high school years. While I felt sad for her about this, I did my level best to make sure our house was a place where we honored one another in devotion and love (Romans 12:10). Regardless of how friends treated her, she could count on her family to be in her corner. God made her the way she is on purpose and for a purpose, and I wasn’t shy to tell her how thrilled I was that He thought enough of our family to place her within it.

She learned that while friends may fail her, her Friend Jesus never will. Jesus knew what it was to be the friend on the outside (Hebrews 13:12). He knew what it was to be betrayed in epic fashion (Matthew 26:14-18). My daughter learned how to deeply rest in Jesus because Jesus understood how it felt to be lonely even better than she did. She found comfort in His presence like never before.

I’m so thankful to God that my daughter continues to make beautiful bouquets of friends in college and in other places, too. And while I would love for her high school years to have been more friend-filled, God, in His redemptive love, has used that terrible time then to mold her into an amazing woman and friend now. And that benefits her current relationships in ways I never could’ve imagined.

Whatever the age or stage of your school-aged daughter, I pray she has a great start to this new school year. May God bless and keep her and make His face shine upon her by bringing her reliable, relatable, kind-hearted friends.

But if she’s lonely, take heart. High school does end, eventually. And until that time, God is with her in the hallways, lunchroom, and classroom. He’s with you, too, as you pray her through these years.

Find healing from your own friendship struggles and hope for the connections yet to be made in Kristen’s new book, Desperate Woman Seeks Friends. 

 

Listen to Kristen’s devotion here or wherever you listen to podcasts!

When You Can’t See God in the Pain

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We were wrapping up a church ministry meeting, casual mom-chatter humming around the outdoor patio, when a soul-piercing scream cut the air and turned every head. I didn’t realize it was my son until Jude turned around — blood gushing down his little face.

Later, I’d learn he had bent down to grab a rock and gashed his forehead on the jagged edge of a cinderblock planter. Later, my husband would tell me that it’s normal for head wounds to bleed a lot. But in the moment, the only thing I could register was the horror and helplessness of watching my toddler hurt and hysterical.

By the time we got to Urgent Care, the bleeding had slowed, but the evidence of trauma was everywhere — smeared across Jude’s tear-streaked cheeks and soaked into my shirt sleeve where he had buried his little face.

The waiting room felt eternal, though now I know that was the easy part.

Once called back, the doctor quickly determined Jude needed stitches. Any parent knows how hard it is to keep a squirmy two-year-old still and calm on a good day, let alone when a needle is involved. So we agreed to swaddle him tightly — arms pinned, legs tucked — his small frame now restrained for his own good. My husband and I stood on either side, speaking calmly, trying to infuse comfort into chaos.

Then the doctor said she needed to cover his face with a thin sheet of sterile paper to protect the suture site and his eyes.

The moment that crinkly paper settled over Jude’s face — cutting off his vision of us — he lost it.

The entire Urgent Care surely heard his blood-curdling screams.

“Mommy! Mommy! Moooommmmmy!”

He cried out for me again and again, even though I was right there — my voice in his ear, my hands on his legs, my heart breaking in my chest. No matter how I reassured him, as long as Jude couldn’t see me, his terror consumed him.

That was more than a decade ago. The scar on his forehead has faded. But I’ve never forgotten what it felt like to be on the other side of that barrier — aching to rip the sheet away, to cradle my son in safety, to stop the pain. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Because the barrier was protection, the pain was part of healing, and the distance between us was temporary.

Everyone in the room knew that.

Everyone except the little boy sweating and screaming under a thin veil of paper.

Isn’t that how suffering feels sometimes?

When pain is pulsing through your story and fear is your constant companion, it’s nearly impossible to see anything — or anyone — else. The trial becomes the truest thing. The ache is all you can feel.

And you cry out to your Heavenly Father.

You beg Him to come close. To rescue. To stop the pain.

You wonder why He doesn’t rip off the thing that’s blocking your view, why He doesn’t unbind you, why He doesn’t heal you in an instant. After all, He could.

I’ve asked those why’s too.

I don’t have tidy-bow answers. But I have tasted the presence of God even in the places I couldn’t see Him. I’ve learned that what feels like distance isn’t absence. What feels like silence isn’t neglect.

God is not indifferent to your suffering. He is not removed from your anguish. He’s the Father standing beside you, speaking words of love you may not be able to hear through your sobs. He is the one who is with you even when you can’t feel Him near.

Scripture anchors us in this truth:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

You may be in a season where the pain is loud and God feels hidden. But hold fast to this promise: He has not left. He is not done.

The barrier is not forever. Healing is on its way.

And hope — real, soul-deep, God-given hope — will meet you there.

For regular reminders of God’s presence when life is heavy, sign up for Becky’s new HopeStack newsletter.

 

Listen to Becky’s devotion here or on the (in)courage podcast!

Restored & Transformed

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Hi, friend. I’m so excited to share something really special with you.

My new devotional, Embrace Your New: Discovering God’s Restorative Power, was born out of a powerful encounter with the Lord during a women’s retreat.

While I was singing worship music, God gave me a beautiful vision. He kept telling me to go up and share this vision with the others there. I sat there nervously for a while, then decided to obey His calling. So, I raised my hand to share, stood up, and walked to the front of the room.

I asked the women in the audience to close their eyes and imagine this scene with me. 

“Picture yourself as a wooden dresser being made by the Lord — so beautiful, created of new wood, maybe with some artistic carvings,” I said. “But over the years, you end up getting some dings, you’re painted over a few times, and because of life’s wear and tear, you end up looking like something that’s been put along the side of the road for free. 

“Now picture this: Jesus is carrying you to His workshop. As you see the light coming in from the dusty windows, He gently strips off all that paint, fills in the dings, and restores you to reveal what was hidden underneath all along… so you can see yourself how you are seen by the Lord, restored to your former glory.” 

Friend, we all are broken, and we can all be restored, just as that dresser was, in Christ. The holes will never be perfect, but they can be filled. We all go through a lot in life, but we can be made new by our Creator. We can make a choice to continue down a road that doesn’t serve us, or we can take a new path of healing and restoration. 

Today is the day when you enter the workshop. Take a look around, get used to the surroundings, and know that God is with you, always. In time, He will begin to strip off all the paint, allowing you to get real with yourself and embrace a new you — one that has been hidden inside.

The journey isn’t an easy one, but let me tell you, friend, it will be worth it.

Here’s a sample devotion from the book to encourage your heart…

Be Transformed

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:1–2 ESV

When I look at my garden, I love to think of how we planted little seeds, and from those seeds, something amazing happened — they turned into green, growing plants that have provided delicious fruit or gorgeous flowers.

Friend, in this restoration process, you can change into something beautiful and joyful, too. You can plant seeds of new thoughts, beliefs, and intentions in your heart, but you also need to water those seeds by nurturing and cultivating them. You can do this by making a consistent, conscious effort to see the “new you” grow. This could involve taking action or creating a supportive environment. But be patient as God grows these actions into something new and exciting, fresh and beautiful. There may be some days in this process that it doesn’t feel like it, but it is happening! Good things often take time to achieve. 

Shedding layers and becoming made new isn’t easy, and often it takes the tears and pain of learning more about yourself and uncovering things from your past. But know that God made you with the ability to change. Just because you carry wounds from your past doesn’t mean you can go back and fix them, but you can decide today to change and be restored rather than staying stuck in your old patterns. You can start to emerge from the seed, as you grow toward the light. Remember, friend, with God, all things are possible! 

Friend, read Romans 12:1–2 again. Then know — and believe — that you can be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Certain patterns and ways can be changed as new pathways are created. It takes time and repetition to allow being made new to happen. But with God’s help, you can be transformed. You can do this! 

Life takes its toll. The more we experience, the more we may start to see ourselves in light of what’s happened to us instead of what God thinks about us. In fact, we may fear that our damage is irreparable, and it may keep us from drawing closer to Him. In Embrace Your New, Melissa reminds readers of the depth of God’s compassion and the strength of His restorative power. It will refresh your mind and heart with the truth that God makes all things new, especially us!

We LOVE this devotional, and to celebrate its launch, we’re giving away FIVE copies*! To enter, just leave a comment below. Then tune in this weekend on the (in)courage podcast for a bonus episode with Becky and Melissa. You will be SO inspired by their conversation!

*Giveaway open to US addresses only, and closes on 8/18/2025 at 11:59 pm Central.