Mel Walker
It is a natural human inclination to think that living through trials and negative circumstances would not be an occasion for joy. Choosing to respond to life’s difficult situations with inner content...
Bethany Verrett
At every turn it seems there is a sudden problem, or bad habits creep in, and it feels like our walks are set back. Sometimes a tragedy strikes so great our faith shakes. Though they may feel the sa...
Alyssa Roat
For more than 200 years, congregations have been singing these familiar words: How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! “How Firm a Fou...
Blair Parke
We understand God can do the impossible, but could this be the one situation where He can’t? Before giving this idea any time to marinade, the answer is no. There is not one situation that catches God...
Struggle in the Christian life is inevitable, lifelong and ultimately beneficial. We encounter God’s grace through our trials in ways that would not happen if the trials had not come in the first plac...
Frank Santora
There are so many traditions at Christmas time, from picking out a fresh tree, hanging lights and decorations, baking cookies and drinking hot chocolate, to Christmas movie marathons and going to gran...
Micah Maddox
How can we count joy like James speaks of even in trials and temptation? Is it really even possible? The Bible gives us a good idea of the answer, and I want to share some of the verses and reasons we...
Lia Martin
Choosing joy means believing what Jesus promises in John 16 – that his work to reconcile us to God will make our joy “complete.” Joy is continually filling up on faith, not just feeling happy in good ...
Pamela Palmer
If you're married, you likely have experienced the greatest joys that two becoming one affords, but you may also know all too well the desperate situations that threaten to tear your marriage ap...
Lisa Loraine Baker
Have you ever been “crying tired?” Crying tired is deep weariness and is not from physical exhaustion; instead, it comes when a person experiences mental and/or spiritual fatigue. Sleeping it off is n...
Kristine Brown
My situation looked bleak from every direction. I wanted to trust God’s plan. I really did. So why was I struggling to believe God could help me in the midst of what seemed impossible? Sometimes, God ...
Micah Maddox
Life happens. It’s hard when unexpected trials march into your world without warning. These are the times when it’s hardest to really cling to the truth that we know. It’s a strugg...
Jennifer Heeren
The story of Job in the Bible shows a man who suffered but never turned away from God. Job didn’t understand everything, and he got frustrated, but he still showed patience by keeping his face poised ...
Dawn Wilson
Christians sometimes have naïve assumptions about temptation. Some think it will be obvious, but temptations are subtle and nuanced. Satan delights in taking us by surprise. ...
Kristi Walker
Martin Luther wrote this hymn as a declaration of his faith! Having faced trials, excommunication, sickness, depression, spiritual warfare, and death, he knew that God, his Mighty Fortress, would be h...
Emma Danzey
As we prepare for another year of celebration with Thanksgiving, we are going to look at gratitude lived out in Scripture. God gave us His Word so that we could learn from it and be changed by it and ...
Want more joy in your day? Cultivate it! Joy springs from viewing the day's events from eternity's perspective. ...
Mark Altrogge
Being a disciple of Jesus is hard. He said we must daily take up our cross and die to ourselves. He calls us to serve, love, and look to the interest of others. Following Jesus yields immeasurable joy...
Heather Adams
In God’s view, gaining self-control is part of our progression toward Christ-likeness. In fact, the Apostle Paul included it in a list of basic qualities that believers should cultivate. “But the frui...