I remember the night before Christmas, trying to stay awake just to hear footsteps in the hallway. I miss the butterflies before a new school year or even the simple thrill of a friend coming over to play. I lived each day in joyful expectation—hearts full and eyes wide open.

But these days? That anticipation has been replaced with a lot of anxious waiting. I’ve become a lot more familiar with sleepless nights hoping for answers, the frustration of wanting change but not seeing it yet. The heaviness of wondering when, or if, God will move.

Maybe you know the feeling too? It’s the quiet ache of waiting, the weight of wondering and the whispered question: God…how long?

David prayed those same words in Psalm 13. “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). It sounds dramatic—until you’ve lived it. Until you’ve pleaded for clarity, reached for peace, and still felt like heaven was quiet.

David knew what it was to wrestle with anxious thoughts in the dark, to carry burdens he couldn’t fix and feel pressed in by fear and still choose trust.

But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
—Psalm 13:5

David went through a lot in his life. But in his struggle, he remembered who God was: faithful, generous, always working even when the path felt hidden (v.6).

This is what Lent invites us into. It’s not only about remembering and celebrating our salvation, the best gift we could ever receive. It’s also about the practice of honest surrender, admitting our need, and anticipating our Savior who makes all things right again. Lent gently asks us to acknowledge the places where we’ve depended on ourselves, our control, our comfort, our plans—and return to the God who withholds nothing good from His children.

Psalm 13 gives us the opportunity to pause and ask, What am I trusting instead of His faithful love? What am I reaching for to quiet my anxious thoughts? Where am I fighting battles in my strength instead of His? Does my heart still rejoice in the good news of God’s deliverance?

As we remember the cross and look toward the empty tomb, we breathe again this truth: He is faithful. He is near. And because He is faithful, deliverance is coming.

The thing about Paul was he had countless people in his life tell him not to go to Jerusalem before he went. It was other believers—a prophet, disciples, and his friends, all warning him not to do this thing that they feared would lead to his death.

And yet, Paul went. He told them that the issue was not what the people in Jerusalem would do to him. The important thing was what God wanted to do through his obedience (Acts 21:12–13).

Paul said, “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v.13). He was committed to bringing the hope of Jesus to the Gentiles. When Paul went into hostile territory with the hope of the gospel, it reminds me of what we’re all called to do in the first place.

If we consider ourselves to be Christians and followers of Jesus, we’ve been called to go into all the world and preach the gospel. That doesn’t mean just going where we’re comfortable or where we’re well received. It’s a guarantee that we will face suffering and persecution because of our faith. If Jesus is our example, if we truly want to follow in His footsteps, then we are blessed when we’re persecuted and treated badly because of the boldness of our faith.

People may make false claims about us. There may be whispers or words of hate because of what we believe and whose we are. But our reward in heaven is greater than anything we can imagine here on earth.

Sometimes I need the reminder that this world is not our home. It’s not our final destination. We are headed for glory. And in the meantime, our job is not to be comfortable, happy, or loved by everyone. Our job is to share the hope of Christ. In some places, this will make us outcasts. Some people may look down on us or discredit us because of what we believe. That’s okay. We’re blessed.

God, help us to be more like Paul today. We pray for opportunities to give an answer for the hope that we have in You. Give us your strength and the boldness to live out our faith today, regardless of what the consequences might be.

But there is only so much in life that we can actually plan and control. A planner can’t show you an unexpected phone conversation with an old friend. Or tell you the week your kids will be sick and home from school. A planner can’t show us the opportunities God will bring our way before they happen. But God often does amazing things through those unexpected detours.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were on their way to prayer when they encountered a detour of their own (Acts 16:16). The spirit inside the fortune-telling girl knew the truth about God’s power, and she followed them for days saying the same thing over and over. Eventually, Paul cast the spirit out of her (v.18). Her masters’ response? They were furious to lose their livelihood and took Paul and Silas to the chief magistrates, who threw them in prison (v.23). Now, Paul and Silas could have chosen to be angry and frustrated. They could feel bad for themselves or stress about the fact that their plans were thrown off track. They could keep to themselves and be rude to the other prisoners. But that’s not what they did.

Instead, they used where God placed them as an opportunity.

In a frustrating situation, they praised God. Paul and Silas prayed. They recounted what they know about who God is. At midnight, they worshipped. The best part about this whole thing? “The prisoners were listening to them” (v.25).

Paul and Silas’s direct response to their situation was faith. And because of how they chose to respond, they ended up leading an entire family to the Lord (vv.32–34). A midnight deliverance probably isn’t what anyone expected. But the unexpected is often where God shows up and does the miraculous.

Maybe you’re like me—you don’t like disruptions, distractions, or things that mess up your plans. But I’m learning that sometimes, God uses our daylight disruptions to bring midnight deliverance. That means our response matters, even in the inconvenient moments of life. Our perseverance and faith in our hopeless moments are actually a way we can bring glory to God.

In the dark spots of our life situations, in the disruptions to our best plans, we have a choice to either praise or complain. Will we be found praising God?

In Acts, we see how the followers of Jesus endured persecution and hatred from the world, just as Jesus said. In chapter 12, Herod imprisoned Peter, intending to kill him, simply because he saw it pleased the Jewish people (Acts 12:3). Yet despite Herod’s evil intentions, God’s plans prevailed.

But the word of God spread and multiplied.
—Acts 12:24

Herod’s earthly power and influence were nothing compared to the powerful prayers of God’s people (v.5). We see this when, despite being kept under heavy watch, Peter was suddenly rescued by an angel.

Rhoda, a servant, was so amazed to hear Peter’s voice at the gate of the house where the church was gathering that she could barely even think of doing the next thing! So she ran into the house, where everyone else told her she was out of her mind. But she knew what she heard. Meanwhile, everyone else had to see to believe (v.16).

In this story we see different responses to the work of God. Rhoda, a lowly servant, gave witness to a miracle. Herod, a royal king, was consumed with his reputation and power and struck dead for not giving glory to God. He wanted all the glory for himself and was willing to do whatever it took to get it.

Maybe the Lord wants to remind us through this passage that glory and honor look different in the kingdom. Here on earth, those who work hard and know the right people often get an honored place and position. In the kingdom of God, position and power do not equal glory. I don’t know about you, but that’s a reminder I need again and again and again.

Lord, make us willing vessels today, not for our good, but for Your glory. Help us to focus more on what You’re doing than receiving places of honor. Remind us that You have not called us to be impressive; You’ve called us to be available as witnesses to Your work. May Your Word and Your truth flourish and multiply through us. Amen.

Have you ever been in a season of life where you were waiting on God? Have you spent days, months, or even years praying and waiting for something to change? Maybe you are waking up each day believing the Lord will keep His promise, even when it feels like nothing is happening. If that has been you, you’re in good company.

Most of us don’t usually associate waiting with being joyful. We associate that discomfort of the in-between with things like waiting for your turn at the DMV or going through security at the airport.

Waiting in itself isn’t pleasant; in fact, it’s usually uncomfortable. But that time of being in the “not quite yet” stage gives us an opportunity—a chance to cultivate a mindset of gratitude for the thing we are waiting for. Then, when the promise comes to fruition, it makes the revelation that much sweeter.

The greatest promise that we’ve ever received is found right here in Luke 2:

… a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.
—Luke 2:32

The stories of Simeon and Anna in this chapter are so moving because they live in the exact opposite way of how so many of us have learned to live.

Simeon had been watching and waiting his entire life for Israel’s restoration. He was led by the Holy Spirit, holding tightly to God’s promise that he would see the Messiah before he died (Luke 2:25–26).

Instead of falling into unbelief or being distracted by the things of this world, Simeon stayed in tune with God’s voice. Then came this glorious day when Scripture says he was moved by the Spirit to go to the temple and see Jesus (v.27).

Anna was an older widow, and the Bible says that she never left the temple. Her entire life was spent worshipping, fasting, and praying (vv.36–37). When Jesus came, she confirmed to everyone who was waiting for redemption that this child was their answered prayer (v.38).

Can you imagine all that they must have felt in these moments? The confirmation of all that God had said revealed through these two people must have been overwhelming.

These moments in the temple were holy and anointed—the types of encounters that only God could have orchestrated.

These days, we are so quick to want gratification right now. We wrestle with God for not being on our timing or doing things in the way we feel like He should. But oh, the way He reveals Himself, oh, the promises that come to fruition when we wait!

Written by Abby Flynn

It’s a common question I often get from our youngest whenever we sit down to do a family movie night. So I had to laugh on this particular night when her older brother, exasperated, responded to her, “Yes! Every good movie has a bad guy.”

But to be honest, I love to picture a life without bad guys, where good always wins and evil doesn’t exist. Don’t you?

I’ve often wondered, if it were me instead of Eve in that garden, would I have made the same choice? Would I have looked outside of God to give me what I felt He was holding back, opening the door for sin to enter the world?

But I know deep down in my heart that the answer is yes, I probably would.

In the garden, we see Satan deceive by working to reframe and discredit what God had said (Genesis 3:4–5). He tried to make it seem like God was keeping His creation from living fully…but nothing could be further from the truth.

Eve was convinced by the empty words of Satan’s promise. Like many of us, she became convinced that God was holding out in some way when He had already given everything they would ever need (vv.6–7)!

Adam and Eve’s choice in this moment led to darkness and sin (vv.7–9). And while God’s love for them didn’t change, there were direct consequences for the choice they had made.

“I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
—Genesis 3:15

The serpent and humankind were cursed. The garden with all its gifts and the constant presence of God—they had to leave it behind. Sin entered the picture, and our need for a Savior was born. From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, bringing death into the world, God was already forming a plan of salvation. This choice would separate us from God. But death would not be the end of our story because of Jesus (Romans 5:12–14)!

During Advent, it’s easy to talk about the baby in the manger and retell the story of the angels, shepherds, and the wise men who followed the star. But the story of our Messiah, the promise of the One who would wipe away our sin, began all the way back in that garden.

That one act of sin, and every act of sin that followed, needed one righteous act to justify us all. As we wait patiently to celebrate the coming of our Savior, we remember that despite our sins and mistakes, God’s grace still prevails in the end. Thank you, Jesus!

Lately, the game of choice is one created by my eight-year-old, called The Dark Game. The Dark Game consists of the whole family going into a room in the house, closing the blinds or curtains, unplugging the nightlights, and closing the door. The object of the game? Simply walk around in the dark for as long as possible without running into each other.

As you might imagine, chaos ensues. And usually, around the three- to five-minute mark, someone gets hurt. Yet we continue to play because…fun! Right?

I’m guessing most of us probably feel like we’ve played The Dark Game at some point in our own lives. I know I have. We walk around in what feels like the dark, trying so hard to figure out where we should go and what we should do without any real direction. Maybe some of us even feel like our world right now is just one big experience of The Dark Game—directionless, dark, and void of light or purpose.

Sometimes I forget the simple answer to this problem: turning on the Light.

When we read John 8 today, we see a woman being scorned and accused for what she has done in the dark. The accusers? Religious people who are happy to make the dark deeds of others public but not their own. However, Jesus said something different.

“I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
—John 8:12

Isn’t it awesome and freeing to know that because of the light of our Savior, we don’t have to hide anymore? We don’t have to stumble around in the darkness, trying desperately to avoid mistakes and keep our pasts or true selves hidden. Instead, we’re welcomed as sons and daughters and given the chance to walk daily with the Light of life despite our imperfections.

I love how Isaiah refers to our God as an “everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:19). It’s a reminder that His battery never runs out or needs to be recharged. It means our sin and shame no longer have to keep us in the darkness. We can lay them all before the feet of Jesus.

And this everlasting light means that we won’t find ourselves alone in darkness without a helper to lead us along the way.

Reading about Moses’s experience walking with God in Exodus, I can’t help but wonder if, at some points in his journey, he felt the same. 

After running away from his crimes in Egypt, God grabbed Moses’s attention and called him back to free His people in the most unexpected way—a flaming bush! (Exodus 3:2–3) But once Moses went, it took ten different miracles for Pharaoh to release them. Then, instead of taking the short, easy way to the promised land, Moses and the newly established people of God wandered in the desert for forty long years.

There were times of waiting, making mistakes, and seeking God for guidance. But the Lord gave Moses a promise that He would lead them, and Moses trusted God to keep it. 

He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” 
—Exodus 3:12

Now I certainly wouldn’t compare moving across state lines with a few cranky kids to leading God’s people out of slavery and into the Promise Land. But I do think that I sense a little bit of what Moses may have felt—that desperate need that he had for God’s presence, for His wisdom, and for Him to show His face in the midst of less-than-ideal situations. 

For Moses and the Israelites, at first that guidance looked like a cloud and a fire in the sky (Exodus 13:22), and then later an angel prepared the way for God’s people (Exodus 33:2). And when Moses cried out to the Lord for wisdom and direction, God promised, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (v.14). 

I can only imagine that there was some major imposter syndrome and overwhelm that came along with the big task that God had called Moses to. But in revealing His presence to Moses, God reminded Moses that His presence and wisdom were all they needed to keep going.

The fullness of God’s presence is so incredible, so awe-inspiring, that our minds can’t even fully comprehend or understand it. But we can trust it. So in the middle of big moves, big mistakes, and big decisions, we have an even bigger God—the God of Moses, who is ever present to give us His wisdom and guide our path.

There’s not much that gets my seven-year-old more excited than the word “iPad.” Sure, there are a few other things that hype him up, like Superman ice cream and an hour at Chuck E. Cheese. But the chance to play one of his favorite games on our family tablet definitely ranks high on his list. The only problem? iPads, and essentially every other electronic device, have to be charged regularly. And I’m notoriously bad about making this happen. 

So when the beloved iPad comes out, it pretty much always needs to be charged. And seven-year-old boys are notoriously bad at waiting.

There have been times when I’ve watched the battery hit 4 percent, only to have my kid anxiously beg to unplug it and start playing. But that 4 percent is about enough power to get the thing turned on and maybe see the opening screen of a game. Then it shuts down. And the dreaded “Connect to Power” screen comes on.

It kind of makes me wonder how often you and I walk around with a “Connect to Power” warning stamped on our minds and hearts. Reading this prophecy from Isaiah 27, we get a great picture of what our relationship with God was created to look like—a vineyard that is being watered and cared for by its owner.

“I am the LORD, who watches over it to water it regularly. So that no one disturbs it, I watch over it night and day.”
—Isaiah 27:3

But how often do we get impatient with this process? How often do we try to do things in our own way, disconnected from our source of purpose and peace? Isaiah’s prophecy declared that God’s people would blossom and fill the world with their fruit, as long as they stayed connected to the vine (v.6).

I don’t know a lot about gardening, but I know there is a season to plant and a season to reap. As we grow in our walk with God, there is a process to planting and harvesting. And while the pruning in the middle isn’t always fun, it is necessary. Like my son, I can be so tempted by the thrill of immediate gratification. I think I know best what I need, and so often I’ve looked for that outside of God. But the Bible tells us the way of the world will come to ruin, and this is no place to put our hope and trust (vv.10–11). If we want to live a life that glorifies our Father, the best thing we can do is stay on the vine because the richest fruit comes from our lives when we stay close to Christ (John 15:4).

May we not be so distracted today by the promises of this world or the confusion of our hearts that we forget to abide in the One who is the source of true life. 

Lord, may you be glorified through us today. Amen.

Written by Abby Flynn

Every time I got an answer I didn’t like, I shook that Magic 8 Ball again, and it gave me profound answers such as “Outlook not so good” and “Reply hazy, try again.” It never actually gave me the answers I was looking for, but I kept asking anyway, as if somehow that little toy would give me the assurance I wanted.

These days, most of us don’t rely on a Magic 8 Ball for wisdom or the answers to our greatest questions. But we do tend to look to our friends, endless Google searches, and social media deep dives as if, somehow, the answers to the problems of our lives will be found “out there.” 

In the same way, when Pharaoh had his dreams in Genesis 41, he consulted all the magicians and wise men of the day, but they had no answers for him (Genesis 41:8). Yet a royal cupbearer who just happened to be imprisoned at the same time as Joseph remembered him in that moment.

I love that when Joseph was cleaned up and brought before Pharaoh to interpret the dreams, he didn’t try to portray himself as an expert. He didn’t come in with confidence in himself because he knew where his help would come from. He said, “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (v.16). Joseph was quick to point out that through Pharaoh’s dream, God revealed what He was going to do through Egypt. God Himself is the ultimate source of wisdom because He is the originator of the dream and plan (v.28).

Pharaoh recognized God’s Spirit in Joseph, which is why Pharaoh chose Joseph to become a leader in Egypt (Genesis 41:37–38). What a wild turn of events!

When we look at Joseph’s life, there are so many details that had to happen just so for him to end up here at that moment. The chief cupbearer and Joseph were both used by God in this unexpected situation to save countless lives. God provided the opportunity that would change Joseph’s destiny, and it was also God who brought him face-to-face with his brothers again (Genesis 42:5–7).

Way back then, and still today, the wisdom of this world will never give you and me the answers we’re looking for. But we can find comfort in knowing that, just like in Joseph’s life, the God of the universe has written a story that all fits together. He has been forming and working it into place, one puzzle piece at a time. And all the answers and wisdom that we need will come from the faithful One who wrote our story.