READ: GENESIS 50:15-20; ROMANS 15:23-24; EPHESIANS 1:1-2; 6:19-20

Life as he knew it was over. His most precious possession was out of reach. Impossible to retrieve. He lay on the floor, nose touching the ground, limbs outspread in utter dejection. He was eighteen months old, and his red ball had rolled behind the sofa.

She was eighteen years old, and the college she wanted to go to had accepted her. But her estranged father wouldn’t pay for a private school. Her hard-working mother couldn’t. She sat on the sofa, tears running down her cheeks.

He was old. Near the end of his life. He had always wanted to go to Spain. Plant new churches. Tell the good news to people who had not yet heard. Yet here he was under house arrest in Rome. How could he accomplish his dreams when his movements were so limited? Paul picked up a pen. “To God’s holy people in Ephesus…” Perhaps a few people would read the letter he wrote.

No matter your age, life can have its disappointments. If Paul had been free to do more traveling, he might have touched hundreds of lives. Because he couldn’t travel, he wrote letters, often with help from others. Letters to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, and Philemon. Instead of words that might be heard by hundreds in the first century A.D., he wrote words that would be read by millions or even billions over many centuries. Words that would change hearts and minds. Even today. Even in parts of the world unknown in Paul’s time.

God, in His infinite wisdom, doesn’t always give us what we ask for. Has God said “no” to some of your requests? Maybe you didn’t make the team. Or get a part in the play. Or get accepted into the school you really wanted to attend. God always listens to our prayers. But sometimes He has a better plan. Be open to His leading. • Carol Raj

• Can you think of a time when you didn’t get something you wanted, but later you were grateful for how things turned out? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this.

• As Christians, we trust God with our eternal salvation, believing that Jesus’s death and resurrection has made the way for us to be forgiven and be with God forever. Yet, sometimes it feels so hard to trust Him with our desires. Remember, Jesus cares about our longings. He holds us and weeps with us in our pain. And when He returns, our every desire will be fulfilled. How could these truths help us draw near to Jesus in times of disappointment or suffering?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 23; 1 JOHN 1:1-5

Chester turned his face to the sun one last time before climbing into the truck. Though the sun hung low in the sky like always, not providing much warmth, Chester knew he would miss it almost as much as he would miss his family. He was leaving all light and warmth behind to work in the shadowside mines for three months. It paid well, and his family needed the money.

As the truck ventured into the plains of the planet’s dark hemisphere, Chester craned his neck to see the last wisps of the sun’s glow fading behind them. Then he turned around and stared into the darkness ahead. There were no roads here, no people except for those carted out to work in the mines. Because Athebos was a tidally locked planet, which meant one side always faced the sun and the other was perpetually in darkness, cities were built on the perimeter of the two halves in what was called the twilight belt.

Athebos was a mineral-rich world, and nearly all its interplanetary exports came from mining. Brightside mining operations were deep underground, safe from the sun’s intense heat and radiation, but solar panels on the surface kept the mining tunnels warm and well lit. Mining on the opposite side of the planet, however, was an entirely different experience. Far from the sun’s rays, the battery-powered shadowside tunnels were always dark and cold. When the day’s work was done, you could go up to the surface, but there was no warmth or light there either—only a solid blanket of stars in the eternal darkness of night.

As the truck drove deeper into the darkness, Chester suddenly felt panic seize his heart. Thoughts whirled through his mind. What if something happens to my family? What if working out here still isn’t enough to provide for them? What if I never see the sun again? Chester closed his eyes and took deep breaths. One of his favorite psalms came to mind, and he repeated one of the verses over and over in his head. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. He opened his eyes and looked outside. The darkness was thick and unmoving as molasses, but a sense of peace began to loosen the grip of panic in his chest. He was going shadowside, but he wasn’t alone. Jesus, the One who defeated death itself, was here with him in the darkness. • Courtney Lasater

• Have you faced a “valley of the shadow of death” in your own life? What was it? How did you make it through?

• Jesus faced the valley of the shadow of death quite literally when He willingly left the glory of heaven, took on human flesh, and died on the cross for our sins. When He rose from the dead, He defeated sin and death so that we could enjoy the light of His presence for all eternity (1 John 1:1-5). If you know Him as your Savior, you can rest in His promise to be with you through every dark valley. Nothing can ever separate you from His love (Romans 8:35-39). If you want to know more about what it means to know Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page.

• Have you ever felt Jesus’s presence in the dark valleys of your life? What was that like? If you’ve never felt Jesus’s presence with you, you can ask God for this anytime; He delights in answering these prayers.

• Spending time in the Word is one of the primary ways we can spend time with Jesus. If you want to dig deeper, you can read more about how Jesus is the Light in Matthew 4:16; John 1:1-5; 8:12; 12:46; Acts 26:9-18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; James 1:17.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no

READ: EXODUS 34:5-6; MALACHI 3:6; MATTHEW 7:24-29; 14:22-33

The world is constantly changing. There are always new technologies being developed and new ways of doing things. Each generation puts different emphases on different issues. It can be easy to feel like our parents and grandparents don’t understand what we’re facing today because certain things about life are just different. Yet, no matter which generation you’re from, growing up is a process everyone has to go through, including Jesus. He knows what it’s like to be a teenager in a changing world filled with lots of different opinions, and He knows what it’s like to be misunderstood (Luke 2:41-52).

Even though everything around us feels like it’s changing faster than we can keep up with, one thing remains the same. God. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. His love, His trustworthy character, and His commitment to rescuing His people and restoring His creation can never be shaken. Having Jesus be the constant in our lives helps us find our bearing. It helps us to know where to look when everything else is uncertain.

We never have to worry about God changing and becoming something different. We don’t have to worry that He’s not going to understand us. We don’t have to be afraid that He’s going to want something different from us. We know He’s going to be the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. • Tynea Lewis

• How do you tend to handle change? Are you someone who enjoys change, or not so much?

• What is one thing you’ve seen change in the last five years, either in the world or in your own life? Do you think people view this change differently depending on which generation they’re from? How might God be bringing good out of this change? (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28-29)

• How could knowing that God doesn’t change, and yet He perfectly understands everything going on in our world and in our lives, bring us comfort through all the changes we experience? Consider taking some time to talk to God about the changes around you and about what you think and feel about them.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 139; MATTHEW 11:28-30; JOHN 3:17; 16:7-14

I work in the office of our local fire department, and unfortunately sometimes part of the fire department’s job is locating the bodies of people who have drowned. This is a valuable service that can help bring some peace to the victim’s family. However, it can be difficult to locate people under water—especially in more harsh weather conditions. So, our fire department recently purchased a new tool to help them do this. Previously, the fire fighters had to walk through the water in a line, spread out every few feet to thoroughly search an area. But now, from what I understand, they have an underwater drone that will do most of the searching for them. All they have to do is use it.

In a similar way, sometimes we have things that are hidden in us. Sins. Struggles. Frustrations. We might just look across the waters of our hearts and assume there’s nothing there. Or we might be in the water, wading aimlessly. Or we might be ruffling the waves, stirring up the silt and creating a difficult waterway. Or we might even be tying cement blocks to some of our struggles, hoping they’ll just sink, disappear.

But there’s no need. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have His Holy Spirit to help us with the hidden things of our hearts (John 16:7-14). So, we can pray Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” If we ask the Lord to search us and help us process the things that may be hidden even from ourselves, He is more than willing to bring us into His rest. He is willing to get in the water with us, not just convicting us and leaving us to wallow in how wretched we feel, but encouraging us, and leading us through (John 3:17). • Natty Maelle

• Have you ever asked the Lord to search you, like David did in Psalm 139? What was that like?

• What stops you from asking the Lord to search you? The fear of being fully known can hold us back from being open with God, but He already knows everything about us, and He loves us completely.

• Consider taking some time to ask God to search you, and then pause and listen. He may bring to mind a sin He wants you to confess, a hurt He wants to touch, or a lie He wants to free you from. He may invite you to make a change in your life. His correction always comes with hope. As you listen to God, who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern His voice? Remember, God never contradicts His Word, the Bible.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24 (CSB)

READ: ISAIAH 53:1-12; MATTHEW 26:27-28; 27:35-54; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19, 21

Early I come to behold Your face,
Seeking still Your glorious grace,
Christ who died…holy…divine,
Love crucified.

Blessed be the Lord my God,
Blessed be, O, blessed be,
Blessed be the Lord!

In shame the sun did turn away,
As darkness in the silence reigned,
God in flesh afflicted then,
Cursed for all our sin.

Holy is the Lord my God,
Holy is, O, holy is,
Holy is the Lord!

Hail the light of breaking dawn,
Christ the King, the Risen One!
Wounded God who intercedes,
‘Tis Thy blood we plead.

Blessed be the Lord my God,
Blessed be, O, blessed be,
Blessed be the Lord!

As He bore in His body the curse for our sin, who can imagine the deep agony Jesus felt—hanging in the darkness those final hours? The cost of our sin to God is truly unfathomable, yet His love for us is greater still, for He gave Himself up to save us (John 3:16; Ephesians 5:25-27). As we reflect on both the glory and the sorrow of the cross, let’s pray for the courage to turn toward God when we feel forsaken, knowing that on the cross Jesus hung in that silent, empty space for us—so we never have to.

Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can be certain that through any silence—or any suffering—we are not alone. God is present, and He is also at work, in every joy and every pain, to draw us into Himself (Romans 8:28-29). The cross stands as stark proof that God will walk through death, darkness, and despair to bring us near (Psalm 23:4). May our praises never cease for Christ our Sin-Bearer—for “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). • G. Kam Congleton

• Consider taking a moment to picture Jesus on the cross. It is good and right to turn to Him in praise, and also in lament, honestly crying out to Him about anything that is troubling you. He is worthy to receive it all.

When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Galatians 3:13 (NLT)

READ: ROMANS 2:9-16; 3:21-31; TITUS 3:3-8

It was a sweltering Sunday. We were a few days into the mission trip, and I decided this must be the usual climate in Costa Rica. The small church was filled with people. There was no air conditioning. We were on the third hymn when my vision began blurring. All I could think was, I need water. The last thing I remember before losing consciousness was gripping the back of the pew. Soon I felt my dad’s strong arms. He carried me from the stuffy sanctuary into the small church office.

A few years after this experience, someone shared with me that he viewed God as a disappointed father, a father who would point his finger and judge you. Yes, Scripture says that God will judge all of our hearts (Romans 2:16). Yet, I reminded that person, the same God who is a righteous judge loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so we could be forgiven. God saves us “because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). Though it is in God’s character to judge our hearts justly, it is also in His character to pursue us with love (Luke 15:1-32; 19:10).

That morning in Costa Rica reminds me of God’s grace. I had not heeded what my dad wisely advised me: to stay hydrated. So, I suffered from dehydration. However, my dad picked me up when I was too weak to walk and carried me to safety. This is what God does for us too.

Yes, God always wants us to listen to Him and bring all our thoughts, words, and actions in line with His good ways. Yet the same God knows we fall short, and, through Jesus, He saves us from sin and death and offers us a life free from shame and condemnation (Psalm 34:5; Romans 8:1). A life lived in the fullness of God’s grace and love. He is our Advocate, Savior, and Father—He cannot be divided. He is all of His attributes at the same time and in complete fullness. Because He is the same merciful God. • Daevis McMurphy

• When do you struggle to see God as a good Father? Why do you think this might be? Consider taking some time to tell God how you feel. You can bring Him all your questions, doubts, anger, fear, sorrow, and disappointment. And you can ask Him to show you His true character as a good Father, Savior, and Advocate, all in one. He will be faithful to do this.

• We can be sure God is a good Father because He mercifully sent Jesus. Do you know someone who is struggling to see God as a good Father? Consider taking some time to pray for them.

But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:4-5 (NLT)

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27; 1 PETER 4:10-11

When was the last time you hurt one of your fingers? It happens often— it’s so easy to accidently cut, bruise, break, or burn our fingers, and then we have to figure out how to do everyday things like eat or write or drive with a hurting or bandaged finger while we wait for it to heal. We don’t tend to think about our fingers much…until we can’t use them. Then we see how much we really need them. They’re way more important than we ever knew!

And God says that’s exactly how it is with the believers who make up His church. All the people who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior are referred to as “the church,” or “the body of Christ,” and every single member is important—just like every part of our physical bodies is important. Each person has a job to do for the body to function properly.

If we exclude members of the body of Christ because we think they have nothing to offer, it’s like we’re operating with a broken finger. But, if we stress that each person has a part to play in the church, more people will see how valuable and welcome they are.

In the same way, if we believe that we have nothing to offer the church, then we are limiting what the church can do. Do you think you’re not really needed or maybe even able to serve Jesus? If so, you’re wrong. Things you can do may seem small to you, but each part of the body of Christ is needed. Because, if you know Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. God has equipped and empowered you to serve, and you are a valuable part of His body. • A. W. Smith

• Can you think of a time someone showed you Jesus’s love? What was that like?

• Throughout our lives, we may be able to build up the body of Christ in different ways. In this season of your life, what can you do to serve and show people Christ’s love? What are some of your natural abilities and spiritual gifts? If you’re not sure, who is a trusted Christian you know who could pray with you and help you discern how God has equipped you?

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 1:1-15; 8:12-18; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6

Vacation time for my family when I was a kid usually involved tents and sleeping bags. We enjoyed the outdoors, and camping helped us stay close to nature—while also saving on hotel costs. As a little kid, I took notice of signs where we camped warning us of bears in the area. Although my parents reassured me that we’d be safe inside our tent, I asked to hold a flashlight when I bedded down for the night. Even though I realized a flashlight would offer little defense against a black bear, I found comfort in knowing I could flick on that light whenever I felt afraid in the dark.

I still go camping, but I no longer grasp a flashlight as I fall asleep. Sometimes real life seems far scarier than a night at a wooded campsite, though, and now I need a different kind of light to fortify me during life’s uncertainties and unknowns.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” In His holiness and love, Jesus dispelled the darkness of confusion and sin so that we might know God. He did this by laying down His life for us. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose from the grave to make the way for us to have a relationship with Him, Jesus shines His light into our hearts, so we never have to walk in darkness. In times of worry or questioning, Jesus gives Himself as the Light that pierces through the gloom of our fears. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Have you ever felt like you’re wandering around in the darkness without a light? How can we look to Jesus to quiet our hearts in unsettling seasons?

• You may not have all the answers you want as you face uncertainty, and that’s okay. God is not afraid of our questions. You can bring your questions and confusion to Him anytime in prayer. And you can draw near to Him by reading His Word, the Bible. When you feel lost, who are some trusted Christians you can talk to, such as parents, pastors, youth leaders, or counselors?

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)