Refreshed

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25

I have a friend who truly embodies this verse. They are generous with their work, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. No matter how much they give, they always seem to have more—more energy, more joy, more to offer.

In my own life, I’ve noticed something similar. During the toughest seasons, when I’m feeling weary or overwhelmed, the simple act of listening to someone else or encouraging a friend often ends up refreshing my own soul. Have you ever experienced that?

This proverb reveals a truth that isn’t always easy to grasp. At first glance, it may seem like a generous person should always receive material abundance or immediate blessings in return. But God’s promise goes deeper than that.

The principle in this verse reminds us that God is our ultimate provider. Yes, prosperity can mean material abundance, but it also refers to something far more significant—spiritual and emotional well-being. God meets our needs in every area of life. When we give—whether it’s our time, energy, or resources—we’re not relying on our own strength but on the limitless resources of Christ.

So, whatever you’re facing in this season, don’t underestimate how refreshing it can be to bless someone else. Generosity has a way of lifting not just others but also our own hearts.

Is there someone you know who needs encouragement today? A friend who could use a kind word, a helping hand, or just someone to listen? Before you doubt your ability to give, pause and ask God if He’s calling you to step in. Then trust Him to provide the strength, resources, and courage you need.

When you refresh others, God has a beautiful way of refreshing your soul too.

Calming the storm

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. —Mark 4:39

On the wall in my office at church, I have a framed painting titled “Jesus Calms the Storm.” I walk past it daily. I sit at my desk, and there it is, right at eye level, dominating the wall with its depiction of that moment when Jesus speaks peace into chaos. Today, as I looked at the picture, I felt a deep sense of gratitude.

This scene, taken from Mark 4, shows Jesus and His disciples caught in a sudden, violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples are panicked, waves are crashing over the boat, and they fear they’re about to drown. But what is Jesus doing? He’s sleeping through it all. Imagine the scene: while the disciples scramble in terror, wondering if they will survive, Jesus rests. They wake Him, crying out, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). And with perfect calm, He asks, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Then He stands and speaks: “Quiet! Be still!” Immediately, the wind dies down, and a profound calm replaces the storm, as if it had never been there.

How often do we feel like those disciples, tossed around by the storms of our lives, wondering if Jesus is even paying attention? It's easy to question, “Jesus, don’t you care?” But even in those turbulent moments, Jesus is there. He never left the boat, and He never leaves us. In fact, He was resting because He knew that God was in control, knew their journey’s end, and knew the storm was only a passing moment.

As I look at that painting today, I’m reminded: Jesus sees you, even when you feel unseen. You may be in a storm, but He is with you, and He is not leaving. If Jesus can rest in the middle of the storm, you can rest too—because He is in the boat. He’s in control, and He will not let you go.

So, let this truth encourage you: Whatever you face, you are not alone. When life feels chaotic, look to the One who calms the storm with a word. Remember, He’s in the boat with you, and if He is at peace, you can find peace too.

"Daily"

Psalm 68:19: “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

I love this verse!  It reminds us that God, our Savior, carries our burdens not just on Sundays when we gather to worship, but daily—every single day. God is continually at work in the smallest and the heaviest of our burdens.

Reflecting on this, I’m reminded of countless times in my life where I was weighed down by personal pain or by the heartache of others. In those times, though I didn’t always feel God’s presence or consciously question, “Where are You, God?”, I can now look back and see how God was lifting those burdens. Sometimes it felt almost miraculous, and other times, solutions unfolded gradually, as if things simply “worked themselves out.”

Years of walking this journey with God have taught me that even in the darkness, when I feel most alone, God is there, carrying what I can’t manage.

Have you ever felt like that? Where the burdens you feel are just pressing down on you? I hope you will know that God is already working on them. God’s fighting on our behalf, planning outcomes that are beyond what we could think, ask or imagine. God, the Creator of everything, our glorious Savior who conquered death, is more than able to handle anything we’re facing. We just need to be faithful and patient.

So today, whatever is weighing on your heart, remember that God is with you, bearing it. There is no burden too heavy for our Lord.

Today, may your hearts be filled with faith and hope, knowing that God will see you through.