Dose of Devotion

Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful. Hazraat Inayat Khan – 1882 – 1927 – Professor

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Standing Strong Through the Storm

LIVING FOR JESUS

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. John12:32-33

Manuel was an effective evangelist among the mountain Quechua people in Peru. He felt called by the Lord to take Bibles and share the gospel with the anti-government guerilla soldiers who camped in hiding in the mountains. For the many illiterates he took the New Testament on cassette. It was a bold and risky ministry.

One day some Shining Path guerrillas with their big AK-47 guns intercepted him on the trail and ordered him to stop going to the mountains; stop handing out Bibles, cassettes and other Christian materials; and stop preaching about Jesus. They threatened his life if he did not desist.

Some months later Manuel did not return home when expected. A search party discovered his dead body at the side of the trail. It was more than just a cadaver. His feet, hands and tongue had been cut off. And with a knife they had carved on his torso a message in Spanish, “We told you to stop!” The chopped body parts completed the message, “stop visiting the villages; stop distributing Bibles; stop preaching about Jesus!”

There was a memorial service for Manuel attended by many believers. Hundreds of people came from the mountains to honor his memory. Our Open Doors co-worker reported that there were more people standing outside the rural church than sitting inside the crowded sanctuary.

An evangelist preached the memorial service message and challenged young people to come forward and take Manuel’s place. Ten young people made the commitment and knelt at the front altar.

An elder standing at the side asked in a loud voice, “But young people. What if the same thing happens to you as happened to Manuel?”

One of the youths at the front cried out, “If we die, a hundred will spring up and take our place!”

Living for Jesus is actually harder than dying for Jesus. It means I must die to myself every day!

RESPONSE: Since Jesus gave His life for me, what more can I give Him than my own life. And until that day of physical death, I will die to myself daily.

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus, for giving Your life blood for me. I give You my life in service today and every day until You call me to be with You in Your heavenly home.

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An Encouraging Word from Max Lucado

God’s Waiting Room

Take a moment and look around you. Do you realize where we sit? This planet is God’s waiting room.

The young couple in the corner? Waiting to get pregnant. The fellow with the briefcase? He has resumes all over the country, waiting on work. The elderly woman with the cane? A widow. Been waiting a year for one tearless day. Waiting. Waiting on God to give, help, heal. Waiting on God to come. We indwell the land betwixt prayer offered and prayer answered. The land of waiting.

Are you in God’s waiting room? If so, here is what you need to know: while you wait, God works.

“My Father is always at his work,” Jesus said (John 5:17 NIV). God never twiddles his thumbs. He never stops. He takes no vacations. He rested on the seventh day of creation but got back to work on the eighth and hasn’t stopped since. Just because you are idle, don’t assume God is. “Be still, and know that I am God” reads the sign on God’s waiting room wall. You can be glad because God is good. You can be still because he is active. You can rest because he is busy.

Remember God’s word through Moses to the Israelites? “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD … The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Ex. 14:13–14). The Israelites saw the Red Sea ahead of them and heard the Egyptian soldiers thundering after them. Death on both sides. Stand still? Are you kidding? But what the former slaves couldn’t see was the hand of God at the bottom of the water, creating a path, and his breath from heaven, separating the waters. God was working for them.

God worked for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The angel told her that she would become pregnant. The announcement stirred a torrent of questions in her heart. How would she become pregnant? What would people think? What would Joseph say? Yet God was working for her. He sent a message to Joseph, her fiance. God prompted Caesar to declare a census. God led the family to Bethlehem. “God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him” (Rom. 8:28 CEV).

To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, worry, fret, make demands, or take control. Nor is waiting inactivity. Waiting is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief. To wait is to “rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; … not fret” (Ps. 37:7).

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Staying Power

By DaySpring 

Staying Power

Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. JOHN 13:1 NIV 

The elderly man gently eased his wife of forty years out of bed and onto the chair beside the vanity. Instinctively, he began brushing her long gray hair and talking over her shoulder, telling her about the upcoming day’s events. He knew she wouldn’t remember the details; many days she didn’t even remember who he was. Alzheimer’s had stolen her memory but not her husband’s devotion. Day in and day out, he ensured that she stayed safe and comfortable, though she couldn’t comprehend the level of commitment her care required. He would walk her through her last days until she went home to heaven, no matter the personal cost. 

In a day and age where our culture quickly cancels whoever and whatever stops working for them, we seldom see the kind of commitment that keeps on going, especially in the face of difficulty. Worldly love ebbs and flows with the tides of emotion that drive it, leaving people longing for something that will last. 

Jesus shows us what real love looks like. Not only did He go to His death determined to free us from our sins, but He also rose again to the ultimate place of power where He persistently prays to the Father on our behalf. Best of all, He promises to never leave our side. Like the woman with Alzheimer’s, we’re quick to forget His goodness and are apt to wander away from Him. But by the power of His indwelling Spirit, He keeps us close, guarding our hearts and minds until we reach heaven to be with Him forever. 

God’s love doesn’t come and go like the version of love we often see in the tumultuous relationships around us. God’s love stays and affords us the stability we need to learn, grow, and love even the unlovely around us with a persistence that won’t quit. 

Today, are you feeling fatigued from that family member, neighbor, or coworker who takes more than they give or seems incapable of being kind? Ask God, the source of true love, who never gives up on you, to give you extra grace. Pray for the people who are challenging to love. And ask God to supernaturally love them by the Holy Spirit’s power. 

Lord, You have certainly loved me through all my messes, and You’ve never quit on me. Thank You for Your rich mercy. Please empower me to love like You, committed to the people You place in my path, until You call us home. In Jesus’s name. 

This is an excerpt from True Sweetness: Growing in the Fruits of the Spirit – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.     

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10 Fascinating Facts Christians Should Know about the Upcoming Solar Eclipse

10 Fascinating Facts Christians Should Know about the Upcoming Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse is set to occur on April 8, 2024, and it will affect much of North America. As we prepare for the big event, several people are unsure what to expect. Being informed and ready will help you to enjoy an experience that only happens once every several years!

What Is an Eclipse?

A solar eclipse is a natural event when the Moon passes at just the right time between the Earth and the Sun in alignment to cast a shadow on a portion of the Earth’s surface. The Moon can block part or all of the visible face of the Sun, causing darkness all around. Eclipses do not occur very often, but when they do, they cause some to experience anxiety since it is so out of the norm. Rest assured that it is an entirely natural event of the Heavens above!

Photo credit: Jongsun Lee/Unsplash

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1. Not Everyone Will Be in the Eclipse Area

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The entire Earth will not be impacted in the shadow time for this particular eclipse. According to NASA, “the path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.”

Areas near these states may also experience some effects. The eclipse will not last long, just a few minutes in total.

Photo credit: © Unsplash/Averie Woodard

2. What Is the Name of Someone Who Chases Eclipses?

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For some, chasing the impacted line of the eclipse is not just an experience but a sport. According to the American Astronomical Society, eclipse chasers, or umbraphiles, are individuals who will do almost anything and travel almost anywhere to see totality. These thrill seekers will set out to “chase” the line of the eclipse in as many areas as possible on April 8.

Photo credit: © Pexels/Joy Marino

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3. The Next One Is in 2044

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Fifteen total solar eclipses have been recorded in the U.S. in the last 150 years, but the next one will not occur until 2044. The last eclipse on record was in 2017. If you are in the line of impact, it is certainly something not to miss!

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ChainarongPrasertthai

4. You Will Need Special Eye Protection

4. You Will Need Special Eye Protection

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If you plan to go outside for the event, you will still need protective eyeglasses. Although it appears that you would be without issue since the Sun is covered, your retina could be damaged by looking directly into the eclipse. Glasses can be obtained online or in many big box stores. Specialty eye providers like Warby Parker and even libraries will have glasses or hand-held solar views that meet the ISO 1231202 standard for eye protection. Be sure to get them before they run out!

Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Radu Florin

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5. Animals May Be Disturbed

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Although it is unlikely, some sensitive pets may be impacted in their typical behaviors due to the eclipse. Erica Cartmill, professor of anthropology, animal behavior, and cognitive science at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, shared that they may adopt nighttime habits or anxiety due to the appearance of night being present for a few minutes in the middle of the day. The best way to help them feel safe and sound is to go about their activities as usual and not stir them or rouse them to be afraid!

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Eva Blanco

James Webb Telescope images,

6. Mental Effects

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According to NASA, “There is no evidence that eclipses have any physical effect on humans. However, eclipses have always been capable of producing profound psychological effects. For millennia, virtually every known civilization has interpreted solar eclipses as portents of doom. These have stimulated responses that run the gamut from human sacrifices to feelings of awe and bewilderment. Although there are no direct physical effects involving known forces, the consequences of the induced human psychological states have indeed led to physical effects.” 

Eclipses can cause hysteria, confusion, and chaos, but only if we choose to let it have such power. This is a natural event, and it is important for us to remember God is in control! Instead of worrying that this is the end of the world, let us instead thank Him that we are alive in such a historic event! It can be unsettling when something shifts in the natural world, but the eclipse is not a call to fall prey to fear!

Photo credit: ©James Webb Telescope/NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute/Public Domain

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7. What Is the Most Famous Eclipse?

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Believe it or not, an eclipse had an impact on causing a war! 

According to NASA, “King Henry I of England, the son of William the Conqueror, died in 1133 AD. This event coincided with a total solar eclipse that lasted over four minutes on August 2. Historian William of Malmesbury recounts this ‘hideous darkness agitated the hearts of men.’ After King Henry’s death, a struggle for the throne threw the kingdom into chaos and civil war.” Many scholars have connected that eclipse with the issues for the throne of England at the time. Let us learn from history and not repeat the mistake!

Photo credit: Unsplash/Abed Ismail

earth from outer space, cs lewis space trilogy

8. Newton’s Laws Help Figure Out When to Expect Eclipses

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Much work goes into predicting the next eclipse and Sir Isaac Newton, a Christian, offered a role in just how they calculate it! Astronomers first must work out the mathematics, geometry, and the mechanics of how the Earth and Moon orbit the Sun under the influences of the gravitational fields. From Newton’s laws of motion, they mathematically work out the motions of the three bodies in three-dimensional space, considering the fact that these bodies have finite size and are not perfect spheres. From meticulously observation, they then feed into these complex equations the current positions and speeds of the Earth and Moon, and then program the computer to configure these equations forward or backward in time to construct ephemerides of the relative positions of the Moon and Sun as seen from the vantage point of the Earth. Current eclipse forecasts are accurate to less than a minute in time over a span of hundreds of years.

Photo credit: © Getty Images/titoOnz

man standing on green meadow cliff looking out at stars, Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever

9. God Made Eclipses!

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It is important for us to remember that this is a natural event, one that God planned Himself!

Genesis 1:14-19 reveals, “He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the Earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.” God called this all good, and we must take Him at His Word that it is indeed good. What a gift and benefit to experience such a miraculous experience and to be told beforehand!

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/PhotobyObbchao

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10. Things to Remember Before April 8th

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As we approach April 8, you will more than likely hear many opinions that the eclipse will cause chaos, but remember, God is bigger than the eclipse. We have the choice to believe the hysterics of fear, or to grab hold to the truth that we are covered by God above. This is a rare occurrence to marvel in for our Creator’s hand made the Earth, the Moon, the Sun, and He made us too! Let us rejoice in the gift to stand in wonder of His splendor and design.

Related5 Important Things Christians Should Understand about Solar Eclipses

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/cemagraphics

Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on “The 700 Club Interactive” and Christine Caine’s “Propel Women,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging ladies to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, will be available everywhere on May 1, 2024. It is set to be featured in Jesus Calling and on The 700 Club on May 28, 2024. @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com 

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God Knows How Much – Greg Laurie Devotion

God Knows How Much

Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. (Romans 8:34 NLT)

Imagine, for a moment, that you’re Simon Peter. You’re spending time with Jesus and enjoying every moment. But then He suddenly turns to you and says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32 NLT).

Jesus knew the cross lay ahead of Him. He was getting ready to break that news to the disciples, and they didn’t have a clue. They didn’t know what was happening. Thus, Jesus needed to brace them for the future. He needed to tell them that Judas Iscariot would betray Him. And He needed to warn them about their own spiritual vulnerability.

Here’s a more literal translation of what Jesus said to Peter: “Satan has been asking excessively that you be taken out of the care and protection of God.”

There are times in our lives when we might say things like “The devil really tempted me!” But the fact is that it’s highly unlikely the devil himself has ever tempted us. Rather, it probably was one of his demons who was doing the tempting.

In Simon Peter’s case, however, Satan himself had set his sights on him. This serves as a reminder that when temptation comes into the life of a child of God, the devil must first ask permission. He can do nothing in our lives that God has not allowed, and God never will give us more than we can handle.

The Bible says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).

God won’t give you too much. He knows your breaking point. He knows how much you can handle. And you might be able to handle a lot more than you think you can. Sometimes, it may seem as though you’re overwhelmed with temptation. But God isn’t going to give you more than you can take.

Satan first had to go through Jesus to get to Simon Peter. And Jesus assured His disciple, “But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon.” Maybe the devil was looking for the weak link in the chain, thinking that if he could bring down one disciple, he could take the others with him.

Not only did Jesus pray for Peter, but He’s praying for us as well. Romans 8:34 assures us, “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us” (NLT).

He is pulling for you right now. Just as Jesus stood up for Simon, He is standing up for you.

Copyright © 2024 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
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In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of Marvel at the Moon by Levi Lusko

In this fantastic 90-day devotional, author and pastor Levi Lusko uses illuminating stories, biblical teaching, and eye-opening surprises about outer space to show kids that they’re never alone because God is always with them. A copy of this beautifully illustrated book will be mailed to you when you make a gift of support to Harvest Ministries this month.

Click here to find out more!

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A Prayer When Storms Roll In – Your Daily Prayer

A Prayer When Storms Roll In 
By Heidi Vegh

“The Lord is God, and HE has given us light (illuminating us with His grace, freedom, and joy).” – Psalm 118:27

I often hear the word “rollercoaster” when people talk about the state of their lives. In Bible study this week, we discussed how our lives are full of ups and downs, hills and valleys. One day, things might be going super well, and your lifeboat is drifting softly; then something happens, and boom, things are jolted, expectations are crushed, and we are left feeling anxious, afraid, or depressed. We remember the good times fondly and wonder how we can return to the good feelings or the calm circumstances. This is challenging. 

In John 16:33, we hear the beautiful words of Jesus: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

We can’t expect everything to always be good, but what does Jesus tell us about living abundantly when the storms roll in, and things seem out of control? Let’s back up and discover what “things” Jesus refers to. Earlier in John 15 and 16, Jesus explains the time He will be taken to the Father. A time when He will leave us with our helper, advocate, comforter, counselor, and strength, the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that we live in a fallen world where storms will come, but we are not alone. We don’t need to muster up the strength or energy to go through a difficult season in our own power. We have a place to go with our suffering. We can hold out our pain, disappointments, and sorrows to God and know that He cares deeply about every detail of our storms. 

“Casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 

Next time you navigate a storm, sit with the Lord with open hands (literally). Palms up and heart quiet. Allow His peace to penetrate your heart and give you the strength you need, the wisdom you need, and the peace you need to continue walking the complex paths of life. This doesn’t mean that our trials will disappear, but it does mean that God will help us through them.

The more time we spend with the Lord, on good days and bad, our hearts become strengthened with the truth of who God is so that when the storms come, we are tethered to an anchor of strength that gives us the ability to withstand the winds. The power of the wind may sting; it may hit us in the head with flying objects, but we will be anchored, secure, and safe in the arms of Jesus. When we cling to God and His promises, we can rest assured that He can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. (Romans 8:28)

Let’s pray:

Lord, we come to you with open hands and open hearts. We lay our struggles, disappointments, discouragements, fears, and losses at your feet. They are heavy to carry, and we give them to you. We trust that you are a good father who loves us exceedingly more than we could ever imagine. Your love for us is vast, high, wide, and deep (Ephesians 3:18-19).

We trust that your character is good; we know you have good plans for us and can bring good out of any challenging circumstance. Today specifically, I lift up ______________. Take this burden. Release me from its grip and teach my heart to trust you fully. I long to trust you with my actions, to trust you with the outcome, and to trust you in the pain and confusion that it is causing.

I need your peace today, Jesus. I need to feel your presence and take a deep breath of relief, knowing you will care for me. I understand that things may continue to be difficult, but I trust that you will give me the supernatural strength to endure as long as I stay connected to you. Surround my heart with knowledge and truth and reveal things that need to be dragged into the light, even if it is something that I need to face or change about myself. I am willing to fully commit to obeying and relying on you only to get me through this storm. I long to have people in my life who can speak the truth about my situation and give me humility. Help me do what I can to make things better.

Thank you, Jesus, for being my rock, my redeemer, and the only thing I need to endure storms. Praise you, Lord, for your good and perfect heart. Fill me with your overflowing peace today, just as you filled Paul with your peace as He sat in prison ( Phil 4:11-3). I know I can do everything through you, who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Amen.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/whiteson

Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more.

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Embracing Loss to Discover Life

Today’s inspiration comes from:

Treasures in the Dark

by Katherine Wolf

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. — John 16:33 NLT

Have you ever given up anything for Lent? I’ve always really liked the idea of sharing in a season of repentance and reflection with the global Christian community. I mean, in theory. Despite my good intentions, I almost never remember Lent is happening until we’re already three or four days in. 

At that point, I’m deep into the leftover king cake, and I’ve already spent several hours watching TV and scrolling mindlessly on my phone. So sugar, television, and social media fasts have to be struck from the list, right? Then I scramble to find some treat or habit I haven’t indulged in since Lent began. I usually squeak by with something slightly less concrete, like gossiping or complaining. (It still counts! You know you’ve done it too.)

During a recent Lenten season, a friend posted online about her fascinating decision to give up her “illusion of immortality.” Intense, I know. She explained that if Lent prepares us to observe the role of death in Christ’s story, it should also prepare us to confront the role of death in our own stories. So for forty days she set aside time to actively acknowledge and reflect on her eventual death and the deaths of all the people she loves. (Needless to say, she’s a riot at parties!)

As I followed her online revelations, I had a revelation of my own. By very different means and without consent, I had given up my illusion of immortality too. At twenty-six years old, I’d seen and touched and tasted death when I suffered a catastrophic stroke without warning. 

To me, death was no longer an abstraction. It was an actual experience, and now I had to decide what to do with that. 

I’m most tempted to dig my heels into denial. To deflect with empty optimism. To numb out to the pain (hence the king cake and the TV and the scrolling). I want to do whatever the opposite of a Lenten death reflection is.

At the end of my friend’s forty-day practice, she shared how she’d come to understand that death is not something to be denied, avoided, or even begrudgingly accepted. Death makes the expanse of a lifetime finite and therefore precious. Death is like the gilded frame that gives definition to our living days. It’s the built-in counterbalance that throws all beauty and goodness and aliveness into greater relief. 

  • Death is not to be ignored.

I think all this is true of literal, end-of-life death. But it’s also true of all our losses. What is loss if not a type of death, after all? The death of a dream or a relationship or an ability. Before my online friend could see death for what it really was, she had to be brave enough to get on eye level with it, spend time with it, and call it by its name. The same, I think, can be said for our losses.

To take its full form, resurrection requires both life and loss

If you’ve spent more than twenty-four hours on earth, you’ve probably figured out that this place can be just a little dark. And sometimes, pitch-black. If you are of the Christian tradition like I am, then you know our shared faith doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the dark stuff. In fact, the first few sentences of the Bible tell us that God carved the world out of a formless, empty void. Ages and ages later, Jesus reiterated the same idea without mincing any words: 

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. — John 16:33

Hey, you can’t say He didn’t warn us!

The very raw material of reality is darkness. So why are we taken by total surprise when suffering and sorrow find us, and why are we so prone to want to wish it away? 

Ignoring loss, denying grief, numbing out to pain, or strong-arming our souls into premature closure are all such tempting tactics. But these routes are less than useful. And maybe even harmful in the long run. 

  • Before we can heal, we have to grieve what’s been lost. 

We have to look at our empty hands and feel the heavy absence of the thing we loved. Naming our hurts is the beginning of seeing the goodness of our lives with clearer eyes. What is grief, after all, if not leftover love? To mourn a loss is to recognize a good gift you had.

  • To take its full form, resurrection requires both life and loss. 

I learned that from Jesus Himself, who died a very real death to prove that a second-chance life is available to us, be it symbolic or literal. When I don’t name the deaths and the losses and the hurts, I rob myself of the full experience of the new life that follows. If death is inevitable, it might as well be useful.

Jesus’ second-chance life set into motion a staggered but certain rhythm of resurrection, echoing through reality: disappointment then delight, hard then good, wounding then healing, loss then gain, death then new life.

But before I can begin to experience resurrection, I have to grieve what’s been lost. If it’s true for me, could it be true for you too?

God, when the night is darkest, when the pain feels overwhelming, when loss and grief crouch at our doorstep — the light of Your presence orients us. You hold us close, lift our heads, comfort us, and speak into our hungry souls the promise of life with You and the hope of our heavenly home. Thank you, God. Amen.

Adapted with permission from Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf, copyright Katherine Wolf.


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Your Turn

Have you grieved what has been lost? Maybe it feels like as a Christian, that isn’t ok. But, it is. We’re going to suffer and have deep troubles here on earth because it was broken by our sin. Jesus knows that we’ll face dark nights of the soul and He will be here for us through it all. Let’s lean on the One who loves us unto death. ~ Devotionals Daily 

Words of Encouragement

God, I don’t want to remain wounded by my past. Help me acknowledge it with strength and move forward with peace. Amen.

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