Mount Princeton was directly in front of us and so close it felt like we could touch it. From the balcony of our cabin we could see the outstretched valley below us. During the morning hours the valley was covered in bright sunlight, but by afternoon, the sun had dipped just behind the mountain enough that a massive shadow was cast over the entire valley. You could see exactly where the sun started and stopped. It was massive and powerful to see every day.

When David wrote about his soul taking refuge in the shadow of God’s wings in Psalm 57:1, I imagine it looked and felt like the shadow of Mount Princeton that I witnessed. The psalm’s superscription tells us that David had been fleeing from Saul. He was worried for his safety, had nowhere to turn, and was hiding from his enemies. I’m sure he was feeling anxious and afraid. Sometimes, when it feels like the world is out of control, we long for a place of security and rest.

Like David, I, too, have felt worried and scared. And I have found that the best thing I can do is go to God and seek His shelter. When we cry out to Him, the truth of His character and His love give us refuge from the turmoil we are feeling. God offers protection even in the midst of a storm that appears to have no end in sight. Our immediate circumstances may not change, but when we trust Him we move from fear and despair to hope and peace.

My favorite part of this psalm is the way we can see David move from fear and desperation to joy. Toward the end of the psalm he had begun to sing praises and give thanks to God! While the enemy would love to remind us of the loneliness and hopelessness we feel in scary circumstances, we can take refuge under the wings of God’s protection—and have hope.

As the night drew to a close, it was almost painful to think the joy filling that room would fade with the final song. But before the concert ended, the artist led us in prayer—asking God to send us out with that same joy, carrying the gospel into a world that often feels cold and resistant.

This is what I imagine Acts 19 looked like. The gospel of Christ was spreading like wildfire through Ephesus and beyond. Paul described a season filled with both revival and riots—a collision between deeply rooted cultural traditions and the unstoppable power of the Holy Spirit. God used Paul’s teaching and ministry to boldly proclaim the gospel in the synagogue, much to the dismay of the Jewish leadership. People—both Jews and Gentiles—were committing their lives to Jesus and instantly became a new church family. All across the region, people were being baptized in the name of Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, witnessing miracles, and prophesying.

While powerful conversions were taking place throughout Ephesus and Asia, the gospel also faced fierce resistance. This new movement of Christianity must have been both exciting and challenging for the early believers. Even today, though Christianity is well established, I still find it difficult to share the gospel with friends and neighbors when I sense their resistance to Christ.

But I believe that’s exactly how Acts 19 can be encouraging to us: The ministry of the gospel and the movement of the Holy Spirit through God’s people will always be more powerful. We do not need to be afraid. The reason there is resistance is because our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the evil and darkness present in this world (Ephesians 6:12). This spiritual warfare is no surprise to God.

These scriptures remind us that God has called us to share the gospel of Jesus with everyone, and the resistance to the gospel often reveals where great need is present. Even when we feel inadequate, we can take courage in knowing that God is with us.

In the same way, Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. In today’s Scripture reading, we see that God had gone to great lengths to prepare His people for the one true Savior. In Isaiah 40:1–5, we read that God saw the struggles His people had faced for generations. He knew their pain and suffering, and He promised that it wouldn’t last forever. He comforted them, spoke gently to them, and assured them that He would make a way. There would be a path to repentance and hope.

In the New Testament, Luke 1:5–25 shows us that God continues to be faithful and fulfill His promises. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child despite their old age. This child, who we know would be John the Baptist, would go before Jesus and help prepare the hearts of the people so they would be ready to worship the one true God. John would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the day of his birth. He would be a great sign for the Lord going before Him and turning the hearts of the people towards God.

Gabriel’s message was hard for Zechariah to believe. Instead of trusting what the angel said, he questioned it—struggling to have faith in God’s plan. As a result, Gabriel told him he would be unable to speak until the child was born. It’s a powerful reminder that God can always be trusted, even when His plan doesn’t make sense to us.

These scriptures remind us, especially during Advent, of God’s faithfulness in preparing a way for His people to worship Him as the one true God. He had not forgotten. Instead, He was making a way for them to be in relationship with Him again, through hope in His Savior. Advent invites us to remember that we can trust God completely—He always knows what we need, and His timing is always perfect.

In today’s Scripture reading, we learn that the Holy Spirit is like a powerful lantern. In John 16, Jesus was with His disciples at the Last Supper giving one of His final teachings. The disciples didn’t fully understand what was about to happen in the coming days, but Jesus focused on what would come after He returned to the Father (vv.7–11). He told them the Holy Spirit was coming—a helper who is part of Him, who would live in them and bring wisdom, guidance, and comfort. In Isaiah 32:14–18, we see that the Holy Spirit brings justice, peace, trust, and rest. And in Joel 2:28–29, God promised to pour out His Spirit on us, giving us wisdom and fulfilling prophecies.

Jesus knew He wouldn’t be with us on earth forever, but He also knew what we would need. We need a counselor, an advocate, and a mediator between us and a holy God. In Romans 8:12–17, we read that if we live according to the Holy Spirit, then we are adopted sons and daughters of God and therefore are heirs with Jesus Christ. Because of the Holy Spirit, we get to experience a life with Christ here on earth and eternally.

These scriptures show us that Jesus left so He could send us the Holy Spirit for our benefit (John 16:7). These chapters remind us that God gave us the Holy Spirit because He deeply cares and knows we can’t do life alone. When we trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in us, guiding us through every part of life. Just like a lantern lights the way on a dark camping trip, the Holy Spirit lights our path, giving us comfort, wisdom, discernment, and joy in a world that feels heavy and dark. We can find encouragement through these Scripture readings, remembering that we are not alone. He is always with us. Though we will face trials and tribulation, we can hold on to hope, knowing Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

We all know someone who has wronged us, don’t we? Perhaps for reasons we will never understand. Forgiveness isn’t easy, especially when those who are close to us hurt us. But God never stops working behind the scenes.

In Genesis 43–45, we witness one of the Bible’s most moving stories of forgiveness and restoration. Joseph, betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to power in Egypt. But God had a plan to use Joseph, and when famine drove his brothers to seek help in Egypt, they unknowingly stood before him. Despite their past cruelty to Joseph, he extended forgiveness and compassion, eventually revealing to them who he was with tears of joy. This powerful act not only reunited a broken family, but it transformed their hearts.

Joel 2:13 reminds us to “tear your heart, not just your clothes, and return to the LORD your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster.” God calls us to sincere repentance, encouraging us to return to Him with genuine hearts, knowing He is merciful, full of love, and ready to forgive.

God offers a promise to those who persevere with faith in Him. “Blessed is the one who endures trials because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). We have assurance that our endurance through trials is seen and rewarded by God.

These verses remind us that we can come to God and ask forgiveness, like Joseph forgiving his brothers, leading to healing and reconciliation. True repentance, coming from the heart, points us to God’s endless love and deliverance. When we needed a Savior, God extended His mercy and grace. Let us embrace forgiveness and trust in God’s plan to bless and redeem us.

In our Scripture reading today, we witness Samson losing sight of God’s plan for his life and his role in God’s redemptive plan for Israel. He became consumed with his own desires and personal revenge. Instead of seeking God’s guidance and wisdom, Samson took matters into his own hands, leading to much bigger consequences (Judges 15:3–8). The battles between the Philistines and Samson were personal, tragic, and devastating. Samson was no longer pursuing what God wanted.

The Israelites also tried to control the situation out of fear. They relied on their own strength and understanding. Instead of looking to God for guidance and direction, they threatened to hand over Samson, their own God-appointed judge, to the Philistines in hopes of avoiding any more battles (vv.11–12). The Israelites had forgotten who their God was and what He had done for them in the past.

God, however, does not forget His people. He continued to offer both grace and mercy to Samson and the Israelites. God was faithful and provided strength to Samson so that he could defeat the Philistines, again, even though he was tied up (vv.14–17). God was faithful to provide Samson water when he was thirsty (vv.18–19). Despite the decisions made by both Samson and the Israelites, God chose to redeem and bless the nation of Israel by allowing Samson to continue to lead His people for another 20 years (v.20). Samson was still a part of God’s plan, no matter how imperfect he was.

This chapter teaches us the dangers of pride and self-reliance. Samson lost sight of God’s purpose. The Israelites tried to control their situation out of fear rather than seek Godly wisdom. However, even in the midst of these misguided actions, we see God’s unfailing faithfulness. Despite Samson’s flaws, God used these circumstances to accomplish His divine plan. Despite the Israelites’ fear, God gave them grace. He can be trusted to work through any situation, no matter how imperfect we are or how challenging our circumstances. Samson’s story is a reminder to surrender our own plans, seek God’s wisdom, and place our trust in Him.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” —Matthew 1:29 

Can you imagine hearing those praises echoing from the crowds of people all over the city? What an extraordinary sight it would be to witness! People gathered along the streets, waving and shouting. Coats and palm branches being tossed on the road (Matthew 21:8). There must have been so much joy and reverence felt at that moment! I can only guess what some of the people must have thought who lived in Jerusalem. However, the Israelites knew what was happening. This was Jesus, the Son of God, who spent the last three years teaching, healing, and serving people throughout the countryside and was now making a grand entrance into the big city of Jerusalem on a humble donkey. Their Messiah and King had finally come. This was a moment the Israelites had been waiting to see for generations! 

Here Jesus publicly claimed that He was the king of Israel. He also knew His time on Earth was coming to an end. At the time, the Israelites didn’t realize that this event would begin the week leading to Christ’s death on the cross. Some thought His entry into Jerusalem as king of Israel meant He would overthrow the strict Roman government that ruled their land. Yet Jesus had arrived for a very different reason. 

Jesus was coming to fulfill God’s will. He knew this was going to be a difficult week. Still, the days that followed His Triumphal Entry were filled with ministry. He spent time in the temple teaching and healing people (vv.12–14,23–46). He spent time in fellowship at people’s homes (vv.6–13). And He spent time preaching the love of God. In His final days, He could have chosen many other things to do. Instead, He decided to continue serving God and loving people.

Jesus’s Triumphal Entry meant the good news of eternal salvation was near. When we consider how He willingly came to Jerusalem, knowing what would happen next, we can see God has a plan and a purpose for us. When we notice how Jesus spent His time after He arrived in Jerusalem, we can see that His desire to love and serve people was important to Him regardless of the trials He would eventually face. For us, these are reminders that God has chosen to be with us. He has made a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him. No longer are we separated from a Holy God. We can choose to trust and follow Jesus because He cares for us.

In a different way, today’s Scripture reading gives us a look into God’s plan for hope and healing for His people. In Leviticus 13, we continue reading about the laws and instructions regarding uncleanness. These laws reminded the Israelites God also desired to be in the presence of His people, even with their imperfections. He made a way for the Israelites to be ritually purified through ceremonial sacrifices, making a plan for redemption toward restored relationship with His people.

I recognize my own need for God too. Sometimes when I depend more on myself than God, I lose sight of His care for me. If I’m being honest, my self-sufficiency can spiral quickly into worry or anxiety when life is out of my control. But then I am reminded that no matter what happens, I can go to God when I need Him most.

In Luke, we read about a man who needed God too. This man had leprosy but knew that if he approached Jesus, he could be made clean (Luke 5:12–14). Jesus reached out and healed him. Not only did Jesus show compassion for this man, but He gave physical comfort by touching him. Notice, also, how He instructed the man to tell no one and go straight to the priests? Jesus knew the ceremonial sacrifices required for the cleansing of leprosy, as we read in Leviticus, would give evidence that this man had been healed. But Jesus also knew that those sacrifices pointed to God’s ultimate plan for salvation. 

When life is filled with uncertainty, we don’t have to do it alone. We, too, can approach God. We have a God who has made a way for us to be in His presence forever because of what Jesus Christ did for us. We can come to Him to find hope, comfort, and healing.