On Second Thought “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 James wrote to believers who were not experiencing mild inconvenience. They were scattered, pressured, opposed, and uncertain about what the future might hold.Continue reading “When Faith Must Outlast the Storm”
Category Archives: Experiencing God
WHEN KINDNESS COSTS MORE THAN APPEARANCES
DID YOU KNOW Kindness is often praised because of how it looks from the outside, but Scripture presses us to ask what is happening inside the heart. In 2 Samuel 9, David searches for someone from the house of Saul so that he may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake. That decision was not politically convenient.Continue reading “WHEN KINDNESS COSTS MORE THAN APPEARANCES”
WHEN THE STORM BECOMES LARGER THAN THE SAVIOR
On Second Thought “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30 Faith often looks strongest before the wind changes. We step forward believing God has spoken, trusting that He will sustain us, and feeling certain that obedience is the right course.Continue reading “WHEN THE STORM BECOMES LARGER THAN THE SAVIOR”
When Serving Others Becomes Worship
DID YOU KNOW The Christian life was never intended to be lived as a private spiritual experience disconnected from other people. God calls us into relationship with Him, but He also places us within a community where our faith is tested, strengthened, and expressed. It is often easier to imagine that we are patient, generous,Continue reading “When Serving Others Becomes Worship”
Faith That Moves Before the Morning Comes
On Second Thought “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” —Hebrews 11:1 Faith is one of the most familiar words in the Christian vocabulary, yet it is also one of the easiest to misunderstand. When life becomes emotionally exhausting, someone may say, “Just have faith.” The adviceContinue reading “Faith That Moves Before the Morning Comes”
When Truth Hurts but Grace Still Holds
DID YOU KNOW Did you know that sincere obedience does not guarantee a painless path? David’s desire in 2 Samuel 7 appears noble and spiritually mature. He looks around at his own palace and then considers the ark of God resting within a tent. His heart tells him that God deserves something greater, something permanent,Continue reading “When Truth Hurts but Grace Still Holds”
When Fear Changes the Shape of What We See
On Second Thought “Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’” Matthew 14:27 There are moments when fear does more than make us uneasy. It changes the way we interpret what is happening around us. The disciples experienced that on the Sea of Galilee. The windContinue reading “When Fear Changes the Shape of What We See”
When Blessing Breaks the Cycle of Revenge
DID YOU KNOW The contrast between 2 Samuel 3:1–4:12 and 1 Peter 3:8–22 gives us an important lesson about how Scripture forms our character. Some passages show us what faithfulness looks like through clear commands and godly examples. Other passages teach by exposing the destruction that follows when human beings surrender to anger, pride, ambition,Continue reading “When Blessing Breaks the Cycle of Revenge”
The Call That Finds Us Hiding
On Second Thought “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” —Exodus 3:11 There is something arresting about the people God chooses to speak for Him. They are rarely standing at the front of a line,Continue reading “The Call That Finds Us Hiding”
WHEN GRIEF TESTS THE HEART
DID YOU KNOW Grief is one of the most human experiences we ever face, yet it is also one of the moments when our spiritual footing can become uncertain. Loss can leave us tired, angry, confused, numb, or unusually sensitive. In 2 Samuel 1, David receives news of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, and his reactionContinue reading “WHEN GRIEF TESTS THE HEART”