Scripture:

My soul is exhausted awaiting Your rescue, yet I keep hoping in Your word. My eyes are strained as I look for what You promised, saying, “When will You come to comfort me?” Even though I have shriveled up like a wineskin left in the smoke, I still remember what You require. Psalm 119:81-83 (VOICE)

The Gist:

We often fall into the trap of believing strong faith means always feeling confident and happy, while weak faith brings on sadness, confusion, and exhaustion.

Faith doesn't mean that we never break down or get exhausted; it means never breaking away from God.

Reframe complaining to lament (complaint turns us away from God, and lament turns us toward God).

Examples: (X - instead of, O - Try)

X - Why am I struggling to trust?

O- Am I still bringing my struggle to God? (If the answer is yes, faith is still alive.)

X - Why can't I believe more or have stronger faith?

O - What am I honestly feeling right now? Can I bring that to God?

X - Why hasn't God answered my prayer or resolved this yet?

O - What is helping me endure/get through this day?

X - How do I fix my faith?

O - What is God inviting me to release/turn over to Him?

One great overall question we can ask ourselves to anchor us in times of questioning is: Am I still here with God?

God is always with us, so the question is, "Are we still with Him?" If the answer is yes, even faintly, then faith is still there. As Jesus says, I tell you this: if you had even a faint spark of faith, even faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and because of your faith, the mountain would move. If you had just a sliver of faith, you would find nothing impossible. (Matthew 17:20)

Faith isn't measured by how little we struggle, but how and with whom we struggle.

Digging Deeper:

If I’m exhausted, can I let God be with me as I am rather than as I wish I were?

What kind of struggle am I in right now—resisting, wrestling, waiting, or grieving?

If I allowed myself to lament, what would I say honestly?

What am I trying to resolve that God may be asking me to endure with Him?

What small signs of faith are still present in me, even if they feel insignificant?

Scripture:

Those people in the wilderness heard God’s good news, just as we have heard it, but the message they heard didn’t do them any good since it wasn’t combined with faith. Hebrews 4:1-2 (Voice)

The Gist:

There are many of God's promises that we know intellectually, but resist or have difficulty accepting emotionally.

"I am with you." - Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20

"You are forgiven" - 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1

"I will provide for you" - Matthew 6:31-33, Philippians 4:19

"My grace is sufficient." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

"God works out all things for good" - Romans 8:28

"You can rest" - Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4

"You are deeply loved" - Romans 8:38-39, Zephaniah 3:17

"Do not fear" - Isaiah 43:1-2, John 14:27

The wilderness is what happens when God's promises are heard, but not trusted. Rest is what happens when faith finally catches up and agrees with God. The core wilderness problem the Israelites faced in the wilderness wasn't rebellion or ignorance - it was an unbelief they expressed as mistrust. They knew God's power, but doubted His heart!

Digging Deeper:

Which of these promises is difficult for you to accept emotionally? Take time to look up the related scriptures and sit with God, asking Him to give you wisdom and insight.

Ask, where is there fear or control blocking faith from mixing with truth?

Consider, am I only hearing God's Word, or am I trusting it?

Scripture

Today we explore Genesis 28:10-22, that includes a vision of a ladder/stairway connecting Heaven to Earth and a literary ladder as well. Showing us eleven steps that occur during Jacob's interaction with God.

But we settle on Step Ten, verses 18-19:

So early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head, set it up as a pillar, and then poured oil on top of it to commemorate his experience with God. 19 He named that place Bethel, which means “house of God.” Before that the name of the city had been called Luz.

The Gist

Bethel is the Bible's first example of God transforming an ordinary location into a sacred/holy place. We see it continue in the Old Testament: Exodus 3 (burning bush), Exodus 25-40 (tabernacle).

Then in the New Testament, Jesus arrives on the scene and the shift of holy/sacred places shifts from places and things to people.

1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19 - believers become the temple, as God's spirit dwells in us.

1 Timothy 3:15 - the "church" happens when people gather together in God's name. The church isn't holy, but the gathering of "community" becomes sacred because of God's people.

God meets us in unexpected places, transforms common/ordinary things into holy ground, and our everyday lives become sacred and holy places when we take the time to slow down and realize God is with us.

Digging Deeper

Are you in a difficult place right now, where you don't expect to find God?

Is it difficult to trust & believe that your life can become a dwelling place of God?

"Wherever God reveals Himself, Bethel (House of God) happens." How does it feel to read that?

Scripture:

That’s why, as long as that promise of entering God’s rest remains open to us, we should be careful that none of us seem to fall short ourselves. 2 Those people in the wilderness heard God’s good news, just as we have heard it, but the message they heard didn’t do them any good since it wasn’t combined with faith. Hebrews 4:1-2 (Voice)

The Gist:

Melissa takes us through the last question of our year-end reflection: What did you learn about yourself this year? We see how her year was one where she lived out God's Word and faith. As Hebrews 4:2 warns us: truth without faith stays external and doesn't penetrate the heart. It's known, but not lived out. Melissa shares how she has been living it out.

Digging Deeper:

What did you learn about yourself this year?

How will you approach this new year as you enter with this new knowledge about yourself?

Scripture

Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,
a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift.
And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great.
The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders.
His name? His name we’ll know in many ways—
He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing,
Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (The Voice)

The Gist

Melissa takes us through several questions that help us reflect on the past year, settle into the lessons, laugh a little, and leave space for tears and gratitude.

Digging Deeper

Pick three words to describe your year.

What was most challenging?

Who was God/ How did God show up for you this year?

What did you learn about God this year?

What did you learn about yourself this year?

Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-5

Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

The Gist:

Wisdom comes in two ways: it’s both a God-given gift and the result of diligent searching.

(v.1) Begins with a willing heart—open to God’s voice & instruction. “To store up” or “to collect” means more than just hearing the truth. It means making it part of ourselves.

(v.2) Tune your ears to wisdom & set your heart on understanding.
Active listening leans into things. It’s the difference between hearing a sermon or reading Scripture and posturing your heart & applying it to our lives.

(v.3) searching for it [wisdom] is like panning for gold
The hunt for wisdom is active, but it isn't just intellectual; it's spiritual.

(v.4) Like an adventurer on a treasure hunt—having a desire and a passionate pursuit to seek God.

(v.5) “Then Fear-of-God will be yours, you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.” The reward or end-goal isn’t an answer or even wisdom itself.
The end-goal is God Himself—a relationship with Him.

Digging Deeper:

What does wisdom-seeking look like in real life?

What is one specific area this week where you will seek wisdom as if it were treasure?

If wisdom is like a treasure hunt, what tools/resources do you need to pursue it better (mentor, Bible, prayer, accountability, quiet time)?

Resources:

biblegateway.com

Sinner and the Saint blog and free resources

The Bible Recap

Scripture: John 14:6–7
Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from Me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him. You’ve even seen Him!”

The Gist:

❤️ 1 Peter 5:7: “Give all your worries to God, for He cares about you.” Don’t assume God doesn’t care about all your worries, big & small, and the above love, care, & protection of scripture is evidence (to prove) that God won’t help you.

❤️ Don't assume God won't help you or doesn't want to help you with your problems Judges 6:13

❤️ Luke 8:35–36 (healed demon-possessed man) & Luke 19:1–10 (story of Zaccheus). Don’t assume people can’t change or that God’s power can’t change anyone.

❤️ Don’t assume that only you can do a certain job Exodus 18:14, 21–22 — when Moses was trying to do it all alone, his father-in-law encouraged him to appoint leaders to help him carry the load.

❤️ Don’t assume you have all the answers — we don’t even understand all the questions! Only God knows everything. Job 38:2–4

❤️ Don’t assume your problems can’t be solved. God knows the answers. We are often so ahead that we question/problem-think Matthew 14:17-19

❤️ Don’t assume the worst in others — you might miss out on what they have to offer you. 1 Chronicles 19:2–3

❤️ Don’t assume immediately that someone else is wrong — you may not have all the facts & they might!
Joshua 22:11–16, 21–27

❤️ Don’t assume you know all the ways God can respond to your need. Acts 16:27–30

Digging Deeper:

What other assumptions have taken up residence in your heart and mind that might need to be countered with God's Word?

Which of my current worries feels "impossible" to me? Why?

Where do I limit God by assuming how He "should" work?

Oh, thank God—he’s so good!
His love never runs out.
All of you set free by God, tell the world!
Tell how he freed you from oppression,
Then rounded you up from all over the place,
from the four winds, from the seven seas. Psalm 107:1-3

Wandering: God promises to provide wisdom, direction, and clarity

Prisoner: God promises to break the chains of bad habits, addictions, and lies, bringing us dignity and freedom.

Sick: God promises to heal us heart, mind, and soul with His love and Word.

Storm-Tossed: God promises to calm the storms and ease the chaos with His power, strength and might.