Holding our Breath

The other day I was having coffee with a good friend and mentor, and she told me that lately she feels like she is constantly absorbing more: people’s struggles, their asks, and the steady stream of things to do. She’s realised that what she seeks is to begin to release more —her creative expression, her spiritual gifts, her joy and Godly passion—all things of which I know she has an abundance. Yet I also know what it’s like to be so burdened with a continuous inflow of responsibilities that you have no time to tap into your true, inner calling.

This is especially true of Christian women. We all want to be the Proverbs 31 woman, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come…she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31: 25,27). However, too often we make the mistake of living out this verse by being constantly busy. Yet there is a difference between being busy, and being productive, especially when it comes to God’s kingdom.

Out of Breath

As we spoke, I immediately recalled something I learnt from a woman who coached me in my running four years ago. When I used to run uphill stretches, I would generally find myself gasping for air and panting, thinking I just needed more oxygen. This is a common body response because when carbon dioxide levels rise, it triggers the urge to breathe faster so we can clear it out and bring in more oxygen. However, what I learnt was that I needed to go against the instinct to breathe faster and instead force the carbon dioxide out through long and steady exhales. As soon as you do this, you will find that your heartbeat will slow down and your breathing will regulate, allowing you to inhale more oxygen in a steady rhythm.

Sometimes in life, I find myself out of breath. When this happens, I know the answer is more of God, but because I’m trudging through a swamp of busyness, I end up trying to squeeze Him in — I read a bite size devotion sitting in my inbox, I try to attend another church meeting, or I listen to worship music while cooking or driving— but it’s hardly replenishing me in the fullness of His presence.

Breathing out: making room for the new

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” Luke 5:37 – 38 NIV

While Jesus was referring to His new covenant replacing the strict religious ways of the Pharisees, we can also interpret this passage for our current, daily lives. We need to renew our spirits by pushing out the old. Like using new wine skins to pour in new wine, the key is pushing the old air out, so that the fullness of God’s “oxygen” can be absorbed. Yet, what is the carbon dioxide in our lives — the things we need to release to make space for new breath?

We discussed this in a women’s group I attend, and I’d like to list just a few examples of what was shared:

• Old thoughts: One of the ladies expressed how she has always believed she’s not creative, but as my friend pointed out, we are all made in His image as creative beings, which can include the little things in life — not just artwork in galleries or written books. Her “carbon dioxide” is the incorrect belief that she is not creative, but with God’s new “oxygen”, she is discovering how she is already creative and can be even more so.
• Wasted time: For many of us in the room, we confessed to being perpetual scrollers on social media. At the end of the day, exhausted and seeking mild entertainment safe in our shells, we lie down and disappear into the social media time warp, where “just five” minutes morphs into two hours, which often means going to bed too late. As one wise woman among us shared, the real discipline isn’t in waking up early to meet with God — it’s in going to bed on time.
• Prideful Habits: I realised that one reason why my to-do pile keeps growing and blocking the things I should do, is not asking for help, even from my own husband. I’ll instead battle forward alone trying to juggle everything and then end up feeling resentful. Because let’s be honest — I’m not the long-suffering servant quietly carrying the world on her shoulders; I’m more like a trumpet of showy huffs and puffs. This is because my reason for “doing everything”, has more to do with pride than it does joyful selflessness.
• Hurt: One of the younger ladies who attended spoke of purging negative thoughts. As Christians we are rightly taught to take captive negative thoughts, and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say.” All very true. But sometimes we take this to extremes when we are not even honest with ourselves let alone God, and so past hurts and bitterness fester within us. Sometimes it’s necessary to ‘purge’ of negative feelings by expressing it through journaling or through counsel with a trusted friend.

Breathing in: the replenishing infilling

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NIV

Jesus models what we need to be doing to experience true relationship with him and the Father. In merely reading this scripture, the longing of my soul is roused by its promise of peace and replenishment. Time with our father needs to be an extended pause. We need a deep inhale of His truth, filling us with the peace of His presence, quietening the hustle of our minds so that we can feel and hear the heart He has for us. Ignited by His spirit, we are more connected to His purpose and we can take on tasks guided by His wisdom and calling on our lives.

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God… to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” Exodus 31:3–5 NIV

When we breathe in the oxygen of God, not only are we more attuned to His deep love and purpose for us, but He awakens cells within our spiritual body, stirring them into motion, to collide and unite and become vessels for creative thoughts. As we established earlier, we are creative in everything, not only in music, artwork and books. In daily chores we are creative as we create order in our personal admin and household. We are creative in our conversations, as we create new ideas together. We are creative in our thoughts, as we envision a better way for things to be. In all these things the oxygen He provides is our inspiration for the daily creations as well as the larger creative projects, because His essence is creator and we were made in His image: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NIV).

The Calm Exhale

Once we have cleared our lungs of the excess ‘carbon dioxide’ and drawn a deeper breath of God’s ‘oxygen’, we can exhale with greater calm and ease the things He is wanting us to release into the world. We release creativity to build. We release encouragement to our neighbours. We release joy and testimony to the quiet onlookers on the side. We release ourselves in the way that God is wanting us to be released. We release His light.

Where do we start?

I ask this question without holding an answer. We all walk very different lives and therefore we all have different ways of finding our breathing rhythm. For me, my starting point was to envision what breathing rhythm looks like in my life, and from there, I started listing the things — the excess ‘carbon dioxide’ —that needs to be exhaled from my life in order for me to inhale more of God’s ‘oxygen’.

What is your starting point?

Angela Chiaberta

I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.

The post The Oxygen of God appeared first on Cup of Faith.

We’ve all been there. The job you thought was yours slips away. The marriage you prayed for falls apart. The dream you nurtured quietly in your heart never seems to take shape. Disappointment is such a universal experience that you almost wonder why it still catches us off guard.

And yet, when it hits, it cuts deep. It leaves us wondering, Where is God in this? Why didn’t He come through the way I hoped?

If you’ve ever whispered those words through tears, take heart: you’re not alone. Scripture is filled with people who knew disappointment intimately. But it’s also filled with the faithfulness of God meeting His children in their lowest moments. Today, let’s walk through how we can bring our disappointments to Him, and how we can find the strength to rise again.

1. Disappointment Is Part of the Faith Journey

Sometimes, when life doesn’t go as planned, we’re quick to blame ourselves. We wonder, Did I miss God’s will? Did I pray wrong? Am I not good enough? I found myself asking these very questions after my divorce.
But disappointment is not foreign to God’s people.

David longed to build a temple for God, but God said no. Moses led faithfully for decades, only to be barred from entering the Promised Land. Paul begged for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, and God responded not with deliverance, but with grace. Even Jesus faced disappointment – His closest friends fell asleep while He prayed in Gethsemane, and the crowds who once adored Him later cried out for His crucifixion.

Their stories remind us: disappointment doesn’t mean we are out of God’s favour. It simply means we are human, living in a broken world, walking a road where even the most faithful saints have stumbled.

2. Be Honest With God

One of the most healing steps we can take is to name our disappointment before God. Too often we plaster on a smile, convincing ourselves that “good Christians” shouldn’t feel let down. But denial isn’t faith; it’s avoidance.

The psalmists show us a better way. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1 ESV. Or this cry: “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3 ESV).
God isn’t threatened by our honesty. In fact, He invites it. When we pour out our disappointment to Him – our confusion, our grief, even our anger – we open the door for His comfort to enter.

Maybe today you need to write your own psalm. Tell God exactly what you hoped for, how it hurts to let it go, and where you feel lost. That kind of raw honesty is not weakness; it’s worship.

3. Remember Who He Is

Here’s the tricky thing about disappointment: it doesn’t just bruise our hearts; it clouds our view of God. The enemy whispers, He’s not really good. He doesn’t care. You can’t trust Him with your future.

But disappointment must drive us deeper into God’s character, not away from it. When feelings scream otherwise, we anchor ourselves in truth:

•  God is faithful. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” Lamentations 3:22 ESV
• God is wise. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” Isaiah 55:9 ESV
• God is good. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble” Nahum 1:7 ESV

We may not see the full picture, but we can trust the One who does.

4. Let God Reframe the Story

Sometimes what feels like the end is really God’s redirection. Joseph knew what it was to be disappointed: betrayed, imprisoned, forgotten. And yet, years later, he could look his brothers in the eye and say, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20 ESV).

Could it be that your disappointment is not wasted either? That delay may be preparation. That closed door may be protection. That broken dream may be the soil for something even better to grow.

It doesn’t make the pain disappear, but it shifts our perspective from despair to expectation.

5. Lift Your Eyes to Eternal Hope

At its core, disappointment reminds us that this world will never fully satisfy. If every prayer was answered exactly as we wanted, if every dream came true, we might forget that we are pilgrims passing through.

Hebrews 11 speaks of those who “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (v. 13 NIV). Their unmet expectations kept their eyes fixed on a better country – a heavenly one.

Your hope is not tied to this moment, this job, this relationship, or this dream. Your hope is tied to Jesus – the One who bore ultimate disappointment on the cross so you could inherit eternal joy.

6. Picking Yourself Up: Practical Steps

So, what do you do when disappointment lingers like a heavy shadow? Here are some simple, biblical practices:

1.  Pray honestly. Pour out your heart to God (see Psalm 62:8).
2. Cling to Scripture. Let His Word anchor you when emotions shift (see Psalm 119:105).
3. Lean on community. Don’t walk alone; allow others to carry your burdens (see Galatians 6:2).
4. Choose worship. Praise doesn’t erase the pain, but it lifts your eyes to God’s power (see Acts 16:25).
5. Look for redemption. Ask God how He might use even this disappointment for His glory (see Romans 8:28).

Rising after disappointment doesn’t mean pretending you’re fine. It means holding God’s hand as He leads you step by step toward healing and hope.

An Invitation to Hope

Friend, if you’re reading this through the lens of fresh disappointment, I want you to know this: you are not forgotten. God has not overlooked you. He has not abandoned your story.

Take a moment today to write down your disappointment. Name it clearly. Then, beside it, write one unshakable truth about God’s character. Let that truth become the banner over your pain. Because while disappointment may have the loudest voice right now, God has the final word.

A Prayer for the Disappointed Heart

Lord, I bring my disappointment before You today. You know the places where my heart feels heavy, where dreams have slipped away, where prayers seem unanswered. I confess that sometimes I struggle to trust You in the waiting. But today, I choose to believe You are still good, still faithful, still writing my story. Wrap me in Your comfort. Teach me to rest in Your presence. Heal what is broken, and use even this disappointment to draw me closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Encouragement

Disappointment doesn’t get the last say. Jesus does. And in Him, your story is still unfolding with purpose, hope, and glory. One day, every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4). Until then, let disappointment lead you closer to the only One who never fails.

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post When Disappointment Strikes: Finding Hope in God’s Word appeared first on Cup of Faith.

If you’ve never read Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer, you need to! This book is a must for anyone who wants to better understand and overcome the battles of life. If it were possible, I’d give the book a ten-star rating.

Joyce understands that most, if not all, of the battles we face in life begin in our minds. She provides scriptures, illustrations, and personal insight on dealing with these battles Biblically. Her personal application of the disciplines she teaches in Battlefield of the Mind gives it an authentic flavor that is a rare find.

What I learned from Battlefield of the Mind

It wasn’t difficult for me to pinpoint weaknesses in my thought life. Joyce’s insights into the scriptures she shared in the book were rich and revealing! I made a list of the scriptures in the chapters that spoke to my situation and began meditating on them during my morning devotions. I found this exercise helpful. Through it, I learned that the Bible is more than just a story to read; it is filled with truth that can change my life if I let it.

I was challenged to change my negative thought patterns and instead focus on God’s promises for my life. This proved difficult because I’ve spent many years stuck in negative thought patterns. However, over time, I have found it better to live with a positive God attitude than with the negative one I was accustomed to.

God’s blessings, I learned, aren’t based on my merit but on what God knows I’m ready to receive. I learned this from her description of the Israelites’ 40-year journey through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. This journey should have taken less than two weeks. Their wandering was caused by their disobedience, not by God’s punishment. This encourages me to take less time trying to figure things out on my own and to trust in God’s plan and guidance. Think less, trust more!

In her down-to-earth manner, Joyce says that “stinkin’ thoughts produce stinkin’ actions.” This is so true! The more I rehearse negative thoughts, the more prone I am to act negatively. It’s a battle to capture those thoughts when they arise, understand they’re lies, and set them aside.

What I took away from Battlefield of the Mind

1. The mind is the main battlefield, not our outer circumstances.
2. The victory is not won all at once; it takes time and discipline.
3. There will be a battle in my mind every day.
4. I must choose to take my negative thoughts captive.
5. I must be aware of my thought life and what I’m thinking about.
6. I can have the mind of Christ if I choose it.
7. To live the life God intends for me to live, I must choose to have God’s mindset.

Who should read Battlefield of the Mind?

I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with negative thoughts. It should be on the bookshelf for reference when dealing with them. I especially recommend it for those who struggle with anxiety, depression, and a poor self-image—this includes most, if not all, of us! I have read “Battlefield of the Mind“ many times. Each time I read it, I am reminded that God’s thoughts for me are much better than my own.

The truths in Battlefield of the Mind are vital for living above the “stinkin’ thinkin’” we are so prone to. I know my life has changed in the years since I read it – and it will continue to change as I keep applying God’s Word daily.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

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There’s a kind of inner split that few Christians talk about openly, but many of us feel at some point in our walk with God. I’ve come to call it the great schism. It’s that deep, often painful disconnect between what we know is true about God – because the Bible tells us so – and what our current reality is screaming back at us.

You know the tension. You’ve probably felt it too.

We say with conviction that God is good. We proclaim that He is our provider. Our healer. Faithful. Present. Yet there are seasons in life when those truths feel painfully hollow. Not because they aren’t true, but because they don’t seem to be true for us – right now.

I lived in that space for quite a while.

When the Mind Knows but the Heart Breaks

A few years ago, I was walking through the quiet, aching valley of infertility. Month after month of hope followed by heartbreak. I prayed. I fasted. I believed. I declared. I did all the “right” things. But the silence from heaven grew louder, more deafening, more disorienting. My theology said God is good. My heart whispered, “But is He good to me?”

That’s the kind of question that feels scandalous to admit out loud in Christian circles. But it’s the one that kept me up at night. I knew the verses. I could quote James 1:17 in my sleep: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” I believed in the goodness of God like I believed in gravity. But in the middle of my pain, those truths started to feel distant, even cruel. What kind of good God withholds something so good?

That’s when I realised I was in a spiritual tug-of-war between what I believed and what I experienced.

The Tension is Biblical

If you’re there right now, I want you to know that you’re not alone and you’re not faithless. In fact, you’re standing in a long tradition of believers who have wrestled with the same kind of dissonance.

Think of Job. A man who lived blamelessly, who honoured God in every way, yet lost everything – his children, his wealth, even his health. His friends were convinced his suffering was because of hidden sin. But Job knew differently. He just didn’t understand why a good God would allow so much pain. At one point, Job said, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15 ESV). That’s faith in the face of profound confusion.

Or take David. In the Psalms, he pours out his frustration, saying things like “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 ESV). These aren’t neat, Sunday-school prayers. They’re raw cries from a man wrestling with the seeming gap between God’s character and God’s actions.

Even Jesus, in His humanity, cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 ESV). If the Son of God could feel abandoned, could feel the tension between truth and experience, then surely our doubts don’t disqualify us.

Faith Is Not Denial

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that faith means always having the right answers or always feeling hopeful. But biblical faith isn’t about denial; it’s about holding onto God even when everything in us wants to let go.

It’s choosing to say, “God, I don’t understand what You’re doing. I don’t like how this feels. But I still believe You are who You say You are.”

That’s not weak faith. That’s deep faith.

It’s faith that has been tested in the fire of disappointment and has chosen, again and again, to trust, even with a limp, even with tears, even with clenched fists.

So How Do We Reconcile the Gap?

This is the question I wrestled with the most. How do we reconcile what we know about God with what we experience when the two seem worlds apart?

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but here’s what I’ve learned – and what I’m still learning:

1. Acknowledge the Gap Honestly

Pretending everything’s fine doesn’t help. God isn’t threatened by our honesty. In fact, He invites it. The Psalms are full of brutal transparency, and yet God called David “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). Lament is a biblical language. It makes space for grief and faith to coexist.

2. Anchor Yourself in the Bigger Story

When we focus only on our present pain, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But Scripture reminds us that we’re part of an eternal story – a story where suffering isn’t meaningless and where God *will* make all things new.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Notice it doesn’t say all things are good. Infertility is not good. Suffering is not good. But somehow, mysteriously, God works through it all to bring about a greater good we may not fully see on this side of eternity.

3. Let Your Questions Lead You Closer

For a while, I feared that questioning God would create distance. But I found that my most honest questions became a bridge to deeper intimacy with Him. When I stopped pretending and started praying prayers like, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24), I found a God who didn’t rebuke me but instead met me with tenderness.

He doesn’t always give us explanations. But He always gives us Himself.

4. Remember That Jesus Entered Our Pain

One of the most comforting truths for me has been this: Jesus knows. He’s not a distant deity watching us suffer from afar. He entered into our broken world. He wept. He grieved. He felt abandoned. He suffered.

Hebrews 4:15 says we have a High Priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses.” Jesus is not only our Saviour – He is our companion in suffering.

5. Choose to Worship Anyway

This one was the hardest for me. Worship felt hypocritical when I was full of doubt. I remember walking out of a service once during worship because I simply couldn’t do it. But slowly, I learned that worship isn’t just a response to good news – it’s a declaration of trust. It’s saying, “God, even in the dark, I choose to believe You’re still worthy.”

There’s a kind of worship that only comes from the valley. A song that only rises from broken places. And I believe that kind of worship is precious to God.

Walking With a Limp

I didn’t get the answer I prayed for in the way I expected. My story didn’t unfold the way I hoped. But I can say now, years later, that something beautiful happened in the brokenness.

My faith grew deeper. Not neater but deeper.

I still believe God is good. But now, that belief isn’t rooted in what He gives or doesn’t give. It’s rooted in *who He is*. And that’s a shift that suffering often brings.

The great schism between what we know and what we experience may never close entirely this side of heaven. It hasn’t for me. But God is not asking us to resolve the tension. He’s inviting us to trust Him within it.

Even when the prayers go unanswered. Even when the healing doesn’t come. Even when the silence lingers.
God is still good. And somehow, in ways we can’t always see, He is working all things together – not just to fix our story, but to redeem it.

Friend, you don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to tie a bow on your pain or resolve all your doubts to stay in God’s presence.

He welcomes you as you are. Confused. Tired. Hopeful. Hurting. Faithful. Doubting.

And He walks with you in the in-between.

The great schism doesn’t mean your faith is broken. It means your faith is being forged.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your story. Have you ever walked through a season where God’s goodness felt out of reach? How did you navigate the tension between what you know and what you experienced?

Let’s create a space where honesty and faith can coexist.

Because they can.

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post The Great Schism: When What We Believe About God Doesn’t Match What We Experience appeared first on Cup of Faith.

The Testimonies We Don’t Always Tell

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV
We love stories that end in joy.
The kind where the waiting is rewarded, the prayer is answered, and the promise is fulfilled.
We celebrate the woman who finally had the baby, the man who finally got the job, and the couple who finally got married. And we should.
But what about the stories that don’t end that way?
What about the woman who never became a mother… and still found purpose?
What about the person whose long-awaited “yes” never came, yet they chose to stay faithful?
This is a reflection on both.
A story about hope fulfilled, and hope surrendered.
And how, in both, God is still good.

When the Movie Feels Like a Mirror: Watching “Broken Hallelujah”

A few weeks ago, I watched a Nigerian film called Broken Hallelujah. I’m a Nollywood girl through and through, so when I saw a new faith film from my favourite actresses, I had to tune in.
The story follows a woman who was barren for close to a decade. A faithful woman of God. A woman who loved the church, served alongside her husband in ministry, and built a beautiful life, except for the one thing her heart ached for: a child.
Year after year, she believed.
Year after year, nothing happened.
The movie beautifully portrayed the pain, the broken faith, the marital strain, and the quiet heartbreak of waiting on God for something so good, so deeply longed for. And then, God answered. Not just with one child, but triplets.
The ending was powerful. It was what we often call a “happy ending.”
And it was deeply moving.
But what happened the next day in class is what truly shifted something in me.

When the Prophecies Don’t Come True

In my Christian counselling class, my lecturer shared her personal testimony. Her story echoed the movie, but with a very different ending.
She, too, was barren for many years. She had received countless prophetic words about motherhood. One in particular stood out: a word that she would conceive a baby girl before the year ended.
So she planned. She believed. She took pregnancy tests month after month.
But by the end of the year… nothing.
And to make matters worse, she had gone up for prayer with three other women. All of them fell pregnant shortly after. Except her.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 NIV
Her hope became heavy. She grew bitter. Angry. She stopped going to church, stopped praying, and stopped serving.
And yet, God was still pursuing her.

The Divine Question That Demands a Response

As she processed the disappointment with the Lord, something unexpected happened. God asked her a question:
“Would you be willing to surrender this one thing you desire most, so you can become who I’ve truly called you to be?”
She couldn’t answer immediately.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 NIV
To let go of something so precious—something so longed for—is no small ask. But eventually… she said yes, just like the disciples.
She let go—not of the desire completely—but of the expectation. She placed it on the altar. Not as a bargaining chip, but as a sacrifice of trust.
And in that surrender, God revealed her real assignment.

Called to Mother Nations

God had called her not just to mother one child, but to mother many. Through her work as a Christian counsellor, she began healing marriages, guiding women, leading hurting people to Jesus, and helping the broken find freedom.
“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child… because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54:1 NIV
She is now a spiritual mother to many. Her “yes” to God’s will bore fruit far beyond anything she could have imagined.
Her story reminded me that we serve a God who gives purpose, even when He doesn’t give us what we asked for.

Two Stories. One God. No Less Faithful.

So here I was, reflecting on these two stories
One ends with triplets.
One ends with a purpose beyond expectation.
And both are valid.
Both are beautiful.
Both are testimonies of a God who writes different endings for different people, but is never less faithful in any of them.
Do I Love God More Than the Thing I’m Praying For?
This reflection confronted me.
How many times have I measured God’s goodness based on what I received from Him?
How often do I come to Him with a prayer list, but not with the humility to ask:
“Lord, what do You want for my life?”
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV
We love this verse. But “delight” doesn’t mean manipulating God into saying yes. It means coming so close to Him that His desires become our own.
That’s a harder kind of faith.
But it’s the one that sustains.

The Testimonies We Need to Hear More Of

I love the stories of “God did it!”
But we also need to hear:
“God didn’t do it the way I thought, but I trust Him anyway.”
These are the testimonies that anchor people. That disciple heart. That reminds us faith is not about outcomes, it’s about obedience.
Even if He does not… Daniel 3:18 NIV
This kind of faith isn’t built on the fire being quenched.
It’s built on the God who walks with us in it.

What If His “No” Is an Invitation Into Something Greater?

We must ask ourselves:
Are we surrendered enough to live out God’s story, even if it doesn’t look like our dream?
Because sometimes, the greatest act of faith isn’t waiting for the door to open.
It’s choosing to be content with where He’s placed you now.

Watch the Film + Reflect For Yourself
🎥 Watch Broken Hallelujah here: [https://youtu.be/modAD9y-9Tw?si=-VrcWl21_n78risE]
📖 Reflect on these questions:
What is one desire I’ve been struggling to surrender to God?

Have I asked Him what His desire is for my life?

Am I willing to follow, even if the path looks different from what I hoped?

Whether God gives us what we’re waiting for or calls us into something different, He is still good. Still faithful. Still enough.
Let’s build a faith that loves Him more than the things we’re asking Him for.
A faith that says, “Even if not… You are still worthy.”

Chola Tshilanga

Hi, I’m Chola Tshilanga! A passionate content creator and digital expert using her gift of writing to help others live a more intentional life in God while fulfilling their purpose, using God’s word as a compass.

The post Broken Hallelujah: When God’s “No” Is Still His Goodness appeared first on Cup of Faith.

About two weeks ago after church, I was struck in the head by a soccer ball. I was chasing my two-year-old daughter who had ecstatically run into the middle of the quad where two boys were kicking a ball to one another (she suffers from a misconception that wherever a ball is present, she is the Ronaldo everyone has been waiting for). It was perfect-bad timing, and the midair ball was intercepted… by my head! If I had any soccer skills, I could have passed it off as an intentional header, but, alas, I am no professional.

While I experienced a slight shock from the blow, I was seemingly fine and carried her back into the safety of the church building where I continued to watch her as she gleefully ran around the chairs and bystanders. About ten minutes later, I found myself crying uncontrollably.

The most prominent emotion I felt by my sudden breakdown was embarrassment and vulnerability as surprised congregants gathered around me, but I was also dumbfounded as to where all this was coming from. After much reflection over the following days, I realised that, though nothing major was happening in my life, a lot was happening. Often when there is so much going on we go into autopilot mode, holding ourselves together until a small little trigger — in my case a soccer ball — pushes the last of our buttons, and we implode.

Taking inventory

Things get busy, and sometimes there is no way of escaping it, but it’s about how we take care of ourselves and what we are allowing to surround those busy circumstances that determines how well we cope. My sudden emotional display on that Sunday indicated that something was remiss in how well I was managing my busyness. So, with journal and pen in hand, I spent time on my own to reflect.

I first started with listing everything that had been taking up my time, but the more I wrote, the more I realised that there were a lot of worries and stress caused by negative thoughts about my personal failings. It was not my circumstances exhausting me, it was the pressure I was putting on myself through negative thinking that had exhausted me.

Sorting through the mess

Like unpacking a cupboard into which I had shoved unsightly items, I was confronted with many thoughts: being an inadequate mother, an incompetent manager of our home, an imposter at work, in general a feeling of being an incapable child in an adult’s body. But worst of all, a consistent guilt that I was failing as a Christian because of all my worldly coping mechanisms and not having enough faith.

I realised that I was trapped in a cycle of negative beliefs that left me powerless to change, while perpetuating the problems with my own repeated mistakes. With all this laid out in front of me, the thing I found myself saying to God was, “Lord, I’m a mess.” To which I felt Him answer, “But you’re my mess.”

At these words, I felt God show me a wonderful analogy which came in the form of when my daughter had a friend over for a playdate and they emptied her toy box in the middle of the living room. This pile gradually expanded across the whole living area as they happily explored the various items and ran off playing with them. Once the playdate was over, I settled on the floor and started to pack the toys away, which then became an exercise in creating more order out of the toy box. I restacked and regrouped parts so that they could be played with as a complete toy and not with missing pieces, but most importantly, I sorted the actual toys that had been gifted to her and belonged in the toy box from the random objects that had somehow found their way in: clothes pegs, spoons and clothes we had been searching for being chief among them.
I believe this is what God does with us when a trigger brings our mess to the surface, He sorts through it with us.

Finding rest

It was the biggest relief to know that God is not repulsed by my mess, because I’m a work in progress and He is sorting through it. Unless we allow Jesus to unpack our hidden, stuffed-to -the-brim cupboards, it cannot be sorted out. And He doesn’t expect us to sort it out on our own, nor does He rush us. The same way I settled down on the floor and in a relaxed manner started going through all the items while Jo re-discovered some treasured toys, Jesus comes alongside us and gently sorts through all our items, allowing us to rediscover treasured gifts from Him, and removing the random objects that don’t belong in our box.

With the above analogy in mind, I’d like to reimagine one of my favourite scriptures, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV) as, ‘Come to me all you who have burdened yourselves with guilt and negative thoughts, and I will give you rest.’

To avoid the mess forming in the first place, we should be taking captive every thought exactly as Paul instructs us to do in 2 Corinthians 10:5, but often busyness is the culprit that prevents us from doing this. Which is why it is important to ensure we take care of ourselves by setting aside however much time we can, even if just for ten minutes, to pause, breathe, reflect, cast our minds to Jesus and allow the redemptive work of the cross to wash over us and calm our troubled hearts. Because thanks to the cross, whatever our mess, in Jesus, we can find rest.

Question for the reader: What are some of the negative thoughts that are creating a ‘mess’ for you? Write them down and ask Jesus to come alongside you to sort through it and bring you healing.

Angela Chiaberta

I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.

The post Finding Rest in the Mess appeared first on Cup of Faith.

by Zeeva Usman

Life is a journey full of ups and downs, but it’s often in the lowest moments—when we feel as though we’re walking through a valley—that we discover our true strength. The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who found their purpose and power not on mountaintops, but in the valleys of hardship, loss, and trial.

As Christians, we can be assured that these valleys, though painful, are not without meaning. They are the places where God’s transformative power is often most evident.

Understanding the Valley

In scripture, the valley is a place of testing. It represents times of difficulty, challenge, and sometimes, overwhelming despair. The valley of the shadow of death from Psalm 23 is perhaps the most well-known symbol of such a trial. David writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, ESV). David’s words remind us that while the valley is dark and threatening, it is also a place where God’s presence is most felt.

We may not always choose to enter the valley, but we are often led there for a purpose greater than we can see at the moment. In the valley, distractions are stripped away, and we are forced to rely on God in ways we might not have before. It is here, in this place of vulnerability, that our spiritual eyes are opened.

Strength in Weakness

When we think of strength, we often picture someone who is physically or emotionally resilient, someone who can stand tall no matter what comes their way. But the Bible teaches a different kind of strength, one that is found in our weakness. The apostle Paul experienced this paradox when he pleaded with God to remove a thorn in his flesh, a persistent struggle that caused him great discomfort. God’s response? “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

Paul learned that true strength doesn’t come from our ability to endure hardship on our own. Instead, it comes from surrendering to God and allowing His power to work through us. The valley, though it may seem like a place of weakness, is where we discover that God’s strength is more than enough to carry us through.

Seeing Through the Eyes of Faith

When we walk through difficult seasons, our natural tendency is to focus on what we can see—the problems, the pain, the confusion. But as Christians, we are called to look beyond the visible and to see with eyes of faith. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV)

Faith is like a new set of eyes that allows us to see God’s hand at work, even during our struggles. It gives us the perspective to recognize that the valley is not the end of the story. Instead, it is a chapter in the larger narrative of redemption that God is writing in our lives. While the valley may feel like a place of loss, it is often where God is preparing us for something greater.

The Valley as a Place of Growth

One of the most profound truths about the valley is that it is a place of growth. Just as valleys in nature are rich with nutrients and water, so too are our spiritual valleys rich with growth opportunities. It is in these moments of trial that we learn perseverance, patience, and trust in God’s timing.

James 1:2-4 tells us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV). The valleys of life are not random or purposeless; they are part of God’s process of refining and strengthening us.

Finding Strength in Community

In the valley, it’s easy to feel alone. The struggles we face can seem overwhelming, and we may be tempted to isolate ourselves from others. But one of the ways God strengthens us in the valley is through the support of the Christian community. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls, one can help the other up.” (NIV)

We were never meant to walk through the valleys of life alone. God has placed people around us to encourage, uplift, and remind us of His promises. In moments when our strength feels depleted, we can lean on the prayers and support of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Emerging from the Valley Stronger

Though the valley may feel like a place of defeat, it is actually where victory begins. It is in the valley that our character is forged, our faith is deepened, and our dependence on God is strengthened. When we emerge from the valley, we do so not as the same person who entered it, but as someone who has been transformed by God’s grace.

The valley is a crucible of sorts—a place where impurities are burned away, leaving behind a heart that is purer and more aligned with God’s will. The strength we find in the valley is not our own; it is the strength that comes from knowing that God is with us, that His power is made perfect in our weakness, and that He will never leave or forsake us.

Conclusion: Strength for the Journey

I found my strength in the valley—not because I could endure on my own, but because God met me there. The valleys of life are inevitable, but they are also necessary. They remind us of our need for God and His sustaining power. Through the eyes of faith, we can see that these valleys are not dead ends, but places of preparation and growth.

As we walk through the valleys, let us remember the words of Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (NIV). Our help, our strength, and our victory are found in the One who walks with us through every valley and leads us into the light of His presence.

__________

Zeeva Usman is a songwriter, and a worship leader at her local church. She is dedicated to learning all musical instruments to play to praise Jesus for His priceless sacrifice on the cross. When she is not working she plays with her two dogs, Palm and Oreo.

Guest Author

From time to time, Cup of Faith receives guest posts from people who would prefer to contribute to the blog once-off. These authors may choose to stay anonymous or may have their name featured in the post itself.

The post In the Valley, I Found My Strength appeared first on Cup of Faith.

by Marthe Badibanga

Life can be overwhelming, even for those of us who try to keep everything together. At some point, we all face moments when the weight of our responsibilities, emotions, or circumstances becomes too much to carry on our own. Whether it’s the daily grind that wears us down or significant life events like the breakdown of a marriage or a serious illness, it can feel like there’s no end in sight. During these times, finding refreshment feels impossible. Yet, as believers, we have a constant source of rest and peace in Jesus Christ, our Shepherd.

Jesus, Our Rest in the Storm

When Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,” (ESV) He’s telling us something deeply profound. He is the One who protects us, guides us, and nurtures us—often in ways we don’t even recognize until we’re out of the storm. Unlike any worldly source of comfort or temporary escape, Jesus knows exactly what our hearts need, and He offers lasting refreshment that goes beyond just physical rest.

This truth became more real to me than ever during one of the most difficult seasons of my life: a combination of divorce and a serious illness, which left me unable to keep my employment. For years, I had prided myself on being able to handle anything life threw at me. But when my marriage unravelled quite dramatically and I was diagnosed with a debilitating illness at the same time, I felt crushed. The emotional pain of a failing relationship, coupled with the physical toll of the illness, left me feeling like I was drowning in chaos.

The Shepherd Leads Us to Still Waters

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and loved passages in the Bible, and for good reason. It speaks to the way Jesus, our Shepherd, leads us through the darkest valleys and brings us to places of peace and refreshment. Psalm 23:1-2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” (ESV)

This picture of the Shepherd leading us to green pastures and still waters isn’t just poetic imagery—it’s a promise. During that difficult season, I felt anything but rested. It seemed like my mind was constantly racing, my heart was heavy with grief, and my body was weary from the strain of illness. But Jesus kept reminding me to come to Him for rest. He would gently pull me back to His Word, where I found verses like Ps 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (ESV). Or Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (ESV)

Even when I couldn’t see a way out of the storm, I knew that I was in the hands of the Good Shepherd. Jesus didn’t promise to take away the pain instantly or cure the illness overnight, but He did promise to walk with me through it. And in those moments when I was intentional about spending time in prayer and in His Word, I experienced a kind of peace that surpassed all understanding (Philippians 4:7). He was the still waters in my storm.

Finding Peace in Chaos

Going through a divorce is like watching the foundation of your life crumble. Everything you thought was stable and permanent suddenly feels fragile and uncertain. When you add an illness into the mix, it’s easy to feel like you’re trapped in an inescapable storm. During those long nights when the pain—both emotional and physical—kept me awake, I found myself crying out to God in desperation. It was hard to believe that peace was possible, but in those darkest moments, I began to see Jesus as my Shepherd in a new way.

Instead of trying to control the uncontrollable, I began to learn how to surrender. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)

This verse took on new meaning as I realized that Jesus wasn’t asking me to pretend I was okay or to push through in my own strength. He was inviting me to let Him carry the burden with me, to rest in His care, and to find refreshment in His presence. It didn’t happen all at once, but slowly, as I gave my pain, my fears, and my uncertainties over to Him, I started to feel lighter.

There were still tough days—moments when the divorce felt too painful to bear and the illness too draining to fight—but I began to lean on Jesus in those times instead of trying to power through on my own. The more I trusted Him as my Shepherd, the more I experienced His peace. I came to understand that real refreshment isn’t about escaping our circumstances, but about finding rest in the middle of them, knowing we are safe in His care.

Finding Daily Refreshment in Jesus

The refreshment that Jesus offers isn’t a one-time fix. Just like sheep need constant care from their shepherd, we need to continually come back to Jesus for daily renewal. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of life and forget to rest in His presence, but Jesus is always inviting us to come to Him.

One way I’ve learned to do this is by ending my day with quiet time in God’s Word and in prayer. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, I simply sit in silence, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart. Other times, I pour out my worries and fears to God and ask for His peace. Every time, I’m reminded of Jesus’ promise in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (ESV)

Even in the midst of life’s storms, we can find true refreshment in Jesus. He doesn’t promise a life without hardship, but He does promise to walk with us, guide us, and bring us to places of peace. When we trust Him as our Shepherd, we find rest for our souls that the world cannot offer. As we navigate these tumultuous waters together—leaning on Scripture and each other—let us remember that we are never alone. Our Shepherd walks beside us every step of the way, leading us toward still waters where our souls can be restored.

The Shepherd’s Refreshment Is Always Available

If you’re feeling weary today—whether from the daily stresses of life or from a more significant storm like I faced—know that Jesus, your Shepherd, is ready to lead you to still waters. His invitation stands: Come to Him, find rest in His presence, and let Him refresh your soul. When we place our burdens in His hands, we discover that He is more than enough to carry us through, bringing us peace even in the most chaotic seasons of life.

_________

I have a love for writing, dedicated to sharing inspiring words to uplift others and I have a drive to make a difference. I long to see fellow Christians become all that God wants them to be. – Marthe Badibanga

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post Finding Refreshment in Our Shepherd, Jesus Christ appeared first on Cup of Faith.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

There are any number of thoughts that run through my head in a day that induce a feeling of anxiety. For some, anxiety is not only an emotion brought about by a specific thought or circumstance, but rather an internal state of being they struggle with over a time, if not throughout their lives. Whatever the intensity, I’m sure we can all agree that anxiety is all-consuming and can prickle our experience of daily life like we are constantly touching a static surface.

This is not what God wants for us, because when we are anxious, we are not living in faith and therefore we are not walking in the freedom and joy that Jesus has offered to us. We are also not able to thrive for His kingdom when we live in anxiety. But it’s difficult to simply – stop being anxious, as some more pragmatic Christians may think, and I personally believe that those who do suffer from anxiety as a more permanent condition should certainly seek professional therapy to help them cope.

But how do the rest of us cope with the daily anxieties induced by our circumstances such as the future of our country, our finances, job situations or health? How do we obey the word which in several passages tells us not to be anxious. How do we cast our anxiety on God?

DO what is in your control

“… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

For me, this is one of my favourite teachings from Jesus because it has a practical application for each day. As a working Mom and co-homeowner, I have a long to-do list with personal admin generally being the items that stay on the list the longest. Any help I can get to organise my life better is therefore eagerly welcomed, including organising my worries so that there is less clutter in my head! But I believe the main reason Jesus pointed us to today’s troubles and not tomorrow’s, is because we can only do something about them today.

Most of us know the famous Serenity Prayer attributed to the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, that goes, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

This together with the wonderful teaching from Jesus in Matthew has translated in my life as a day-by-day faith; what can I do today that may impact tomorrow positively? What is within my control, and what is not within my control? When there is something that I’m hoping for, or something I’m worried will happened, I make sure that I do everything that is within my power, so that I know for certain that the outcome is the will of God, and not my own misjudgement or oversight. As an example, if I have an important deliverable for work, I make sure I do what I can do to make it the best it can be within Godly parameters, so that I don’t have to worry about whether it’s well received. If it’s badly received despite my best efforts, then that is the will of God. We know that God is for us, so even when we don’t have a good outcome, we know that the ultimate outcome will be for our good because it brings us closer to God’s plan for that particular point in our lives.

Therefore, our only concern for today, should be to tackle any of the day’s troubles or to-do’s in a way that is pleasing to God, which is essentially, to do our best. If we do this, then there is no reason to be anxious, because God is always for us and our ultimate purpose, regardless of present outcomes.

MEDITATE on why not to be anxious

This brings me on to my next point, for God’s good plans and purpose for our lives is something that we are told and know in our heads, but often fail to know in our hearts, and our failure to know it in our hearts is what contributes towards feelings of anxiety.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

The best way for something like the above verse to take root so that our hearts can know it as well as our heads, is to meditate on it. One of my fellow Cup of Faith volunteer bloggers Ursula Houser wrote a wonderful post on reading scripture I encourage you to read it here.

When meditating on scripture, we look at a single verse and bring it into focus by memorising it, reflecting on it, visualising it, all within a quiet, peaceful place where you won’t be disturbed. This can be done in conjunction with guided Christian meditation audio, soothing music, breathing exercises and any other tools you find work for you.

The above verse points us to several aspects that if they were rooted in our hearts as permanent knowledge, we would never have to feel anxious again. We are told that God is always present, which means that in every trouble we face, we are not alone and we have the highest, most fearsome ally fighting on our side for our ultimate good and vindication. We are told that He is our God, which indicates a personal relationship and a vested interest in us and our well-being. He will strengthen us which means we don’t have to do it on our own, for He can move what He wills to move in order to bring us success as long as we are on His will. He will uphold us with His righteous hand, which means we don’t have to worry about falling or failing, for He holds us and will redeem us.

Lastly, PRAY

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV Philippians 4:6-7).

One thing that never ceases to amaze me, is how much God cares about me, in even the little things in my life. I have prayed about some of the smallest, most trivial worries, but worries that were causing me immense anxiety nevertheless, and even in these, God came through for me. Don’t get me wrong, this is within reason. God will not give us a shortcut; we will always need to do our part. As an example, when I have a presentation for which I have worked very hard, when I ask God to grant me favour with the people in the room, it has always gone well. There may come a day when He does not answer this prayer favourably despite me having done my part, but I know that in that case it will be for a reason that is for my ultimate good, and therefore I can still find joy in the disappointments and anticipate where God is going to lead me instead.

The above is an example of a smaller, daily worry. But what about the big worries? The cancer diagnosis, the eviction notice, the divorce proceedings, the call from the hospital…
I know it sounds trite to say that the same applies to these as my presentations, because I know they are not the same thing. However, for every situation regardless of magnitude, the fundamental truth that God works all things for His purpose and our good is true. We need to exercise our faith. He wants us to exercise our faith, and that is why prayer and asking for His favour and His hand is in important. But sometimes, His answer will not be the one that we want. When this happens, we need to have an eternal lens and meditate on His love for us and our ultimate destination, which is with Him, away from all worries and troubles.

If you are struggling with anxiety, I encourage you to seek counselling either at your church or from a paid professional. Here is a link to various practitioners globally: Psychology Today

Father God, please help me to remember that you are always with me, that you are my God, that you strengthen me and that you uphold me. Thank you that in you I do not need to be anxious for anything. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Angela Chiaberta

I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.

The post How to Cast Your Anxiety on God appeared first on Cup of Faith.

I have several Max Lucado books as I find his conversational writing style to be simple to follow, and mostly because he has the gift of the Holy Spirit and his writing manages to break through my walls. When I am down – and in the wilderness – I find that I need books and encouragement that is approachable, honest and raw which are all elements that Pastor Lucado brings to each and every one of his books. I recently received two of his books from our partners Struik Christian Media that I feel are great additions to any book shelf.

Jesus: The God Who Knows Your Name

I have recently been thinking a lot about the idea that we glorify the people in the bible far too much – bear with me on this thought – but sometimes I wonder how little impact I have had on this world, and can’t help but fear that I will leave this earth having accomplished very little. Yes, I realise that not everyone shares these thoughts, and I understand that sometimes, these thoughts are a result of my own depression and anxiety, but the one, true way, that I have overcome these feelings of doubts is by humanising the people we read about in the Bible. If we look at each person – hero and non-heroes – we quickly begin to see that they are so much like you and me, that they were living their lives, facing debt, infertility, depression. They were going through the motions of life just as we do – and now, hundreds of years later, we still speak of them and hold their stories as slithers of hope – what if we are the next person to be written about? What if we were the generation that believed so boldly, that they wrote stories about us?

That being said, the idea that Jesus walked among us still feels too far for me to fully comprehend. Perhaps this is not the discussion we typically hear from Christians, but I can’t help but feel that while I believe in Jesus Christ, there’s still this barrier in my understanding of how can someone so amazing, so selfless, love a person like me? And I think that’s what Pastor Lucado has been able to achieve in his writing. His book is so insightful and encouraging – it gives an in-depth understanding of grace, and what it means to be known and loved by Jesus, the Redeemer while explaining what it must have been like to walk among Jesus.

The God of the universe knows your name. He has walked your streets. Jesus. Perhaps you’ve heard about him, studied him, or prayed to him. But do you know him? This is the question Max poses to the reader.

Divided into six sections (Immanuel, Friend, Teacher, Miracle Worker, Lamb of God, Returning King) each containing multiple chapters, this book not only describes the person of Jesus but also eloquently dives into the heart of Jesus towards the reader.

By exploring Jesus’ life death and resurrection as well as specific details like how he interacted with his friends and his enemies, what he did with time alone, how he acted at a party, this compilation from Max Lucado, now with original never-before-read content from Max, gives readers the chance to become more familiar with the man at the center of the greatest story ever told.

By learning more about the person Jesus was and is, the reader will understand more clearly the person they were created to be. Max writes “Don’t settle for a cursory glance or a superficial understanding. Look long into the heart of Christ and you’ll see it. Grace and life. Forgiveness of sin. The defeat of death. This is the hope he gives. This is the hope we need.”

Get your copy of this book from all leading book stores including CUM Books.

You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God’s Presence and Power 

Just like his other books, this one is written with sincerity and understanding, making it impactful with the relatability that it offers. I loved reading through this book, especially when I was looking for hope and encouragement. I love the ease in which Pastor Lucado shares stories; some that are his own, and then, of course, others that he has gathered over the years. I think that’s what makes his books that much better – we find a little bit of ourselves reflected in those pages. This read makes another great gift for a special friend or family member and shows us how to apply scripture to our daily lives. As I said before, he breaks down all barriers and makes scripture easy to relate to, providing a much deeper understanding and illustrating how we can apply God’s promises to our lives, by finding hope in our trials, darkness, and despair.

You Are Never Alone is available in a six-part study that ties in with videos, making it great for group studies.

In You Are Never Alone, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado will show you that you’re stronger than you think because God is nearer than you know. You’ll be comforted by the living, loving, miracle-working God who doesn’t think twice about stepping into the thorny thickets of your world to lift you out.

When life feels depleted, does God care?
When I hear him say “No”, does he have a response?
I’m facing an onslaught of challenges, will he help?
When life grows dark and stormy, does he notice?
I’m facing the fear of death, will he help me?

The answer in the life-giving miracles in the Gospel of John is a resounding yes. Do you know them? Do you believe in a Jesus who has, not only power, but a passionate love for the weak and wounded of the world? Do you think he cares enough about you to find you in the lonely waiting rooms, rehab centers and convalescent homes of life?

Get your copy of this book from all leading book stores including CUM Books.

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

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