God Is Not Finished Writing

God rewrites our broken chapters with hands that know how to mend hearts. The parts of our stories that feel too heavy to revisit. The moments we thought would be our undoing. He enters into those places not with judgment, but with mercy. Not with condemnation, but with comfort. God does not shy away from our mess. He steps into it with love and begins the work of making all things new.

Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” He does not simply patch us up. He binds us. He sits with us in the pain. He doesn’t ignore the sorrow or rush us past the ache. He honors it. He acknowledges it. And then He begins to gently restore what was lost.
Some chapters are too painful for us to even speak of. The betrayal. The silence. The prayers that felt unanswered. The hope that slowly faded. But even in that silence, God was writing. Even when you could not see it, His pen never stopped moving. Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” The wilderness is not the end. The wasteland is not the last word. God makes a way even there.
When we look back at what we have walked through, it can feel like a different life. A version of ourselves we no longer recognize. But that version of us matters deeply to God. He remembers every cry. Every unanswered text. Every night we laid awake wondering if we were alone. Psalm 56:8 tells us, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” None of it is forgotten.
We serve a God who does not discard our pain. He redeems it. The very places where we feel the most fragile are often the places He chooses to reveal His strength. Second Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness.” Your weakness is not a disqualification. It is an invitation for His power to be made visible.
There are moments when we feel like the story is over. When doors close. When people leave. When dreams die. But endings in God’s hands are often just disguised beginnings. He has a way of turning graves into gardens. John 11 shows us this when Jesus raises Lazarus. What looked like the end was only the setup for resurrection. What looks final to us is never final to Him.
You may not see the full picture yet. You may still be in the middle of the sentence. But God is not finished writing. He is not just the God of beginnings. He is the God of redemption. He takes what we thought was beyond repair and brings new life. He takes the chapters we tried to skip and uses them to minister to others.
Romans 8:28 promises us this: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” All things. Not just the pretty parts. Not just the victories. But the losses. The confusion. The heartbreak. All of it can be worked into something good.
This does not mean everything will feel good. It does not mean we will always understand. But it does mean we are never abandoned. God is not afraid of our brokenness. He came for it. Jesus came for the sick. For the sinners. For the ones who knew they could not fix themselves. That is the beauty of grace. It meets us where we are, but it never leaves us there.
When we surrender our stories to God, He begins to do what only He can. He rewrites not by ignoring the pain, but by healing it. He doesn’t erase the past. He transforms it. He turns scars into signs of survival. Wounds into places where His love shines through. What the enemy meant for harm, God uses for good.
Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Your story is not just about you. It is a vessel for others to see the power of God at work. There is purpose in your pain. There is hope rising from your hurt.
Let Him have the pen. Let Him write the next chapter. Even if you do not know how the story will unfold. Even if all you have right now is the next small step. Trust the Author. Trust the One who knows the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:10 says, “I make known the end from the beginning. From ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”
You are not too far gone. Your story is not too messy. Your heart is not too shattered. He is not overwhelmed by what you carry. He is not disappointed by your doubts. He is not distant from your grief. He is Emmanuel. God with us. Right here. Right now.
So breathe. Let go of the lie that says it is too late. Let go of the shame that says you should be further along by now. Rest in the truth that God is patient. He is not rushing your healing. He is walking with you in it. Every tear. Every prayer. Every step.
Your story may look different than you imagined. The road may be harder. But the beauty that comes from surrender is unmatched. When He rewrites, He restores. When He restores, He renews. And when He renews, you will stand not just as someone who survived, but as someone who reflects His glory.
Let Him finish what He started. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” He is not done. The pen is still moving. - Ellie Mont

Music: "Graves Into Gardens"

Quote: Oswald Chambers

He Is At Your Right Hand

I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
- Psalm 16:8 (NKJV)

What does it mean to set the Lord always before you? It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do. In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one's chief adviser and supporter. When you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life as Counselor and Defender.

Every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength. When people insult you and mistreat you, you should seek direction from your Counselor regarding the right response. When you face a crisis, you should receive strength from the One at your right hand. When you experience need, you should consult your Counselor before you react. When you face a fearful situation, you should take courage from the Advocate at your right hand. Everything you do is in the context of your relationship to Christ.

What an incredible act of God's grace that Christ should stand beside you to guide you and counsel you and defend you! How could you ever become dismayed over your situation with Christ at your right hand? What confidence this should give you!

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Meme: Oldest Computer...

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"At times you feel so weak and tired that you just don’t know if you have the energy to keep going. You feel like the flame of a candle that is flickering and about to burn out. Perhaps you think about coming to Me, but you are afraid I will demand something else of you. And you are just so tired. Or perhaps you worry that I will see your weakness as a lack of faith. So you avoid Me. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to be weak. I understand how difficult things have been. I don’t want to judge you. I just want to wrap you up in My everlasting arms and let you rest."

"A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth." - Isaiah 42:3 (NKJV) - "Jesus Calling for Kids" by Sarah Young

Psalm 23:1-3

Music: "Yet To Come"

Prayer: The Spirit Of Fear...

Bitterness

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God
and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Hebrews 12:15

Bitterness has a tenacious way of taking root deep within the soul and resisting all efforts to weed it out. Bitterness occurs for many reasons. It might come from deep hurts you received as a child, hurts you cannot forget. Time, rather than diminishing the hurt, only seems to sharpen the pain. Bitterness can result from the hurtful words of a friend or coworker. Often the person who hurt you is unaware of the extent of your bitterness. You find yourself rehearsing the offense over and over again, each time driving the root of bitterness deeper within your soul. Bitterness can derive from a sense of being unjustly treated.

Bitterness is easy to justify. You can get so used to a bitter heart that you are even comfortable with it, but it will destroy you. Only God is fully aware of its destructive potential. There is nothing so deeply imbedded in your heart that God's grace cannot reach down and remove it. No area in your life is so painful that God's grace cannot bring total healing. No offense committed against you is so heinous that God's love cannot enable you to forgive.

When you allow bitterness to grow in your life, you reject the grace of God that can free you. If you are honest before God, you will admit the bitterness and allow God to forgive you. Bitterness enslaves you, but God is prepared to remove your bitterness and replace it with His peace and joy.

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Meme: Trust The Process...

Quote: Pastor Steven Furtick

Sermon: "The Contentment Commandments"

1. Thou shalt rejoice 
2. Thou shalt not resent 
3. Thou shalt appreciate all seasons
4. Thou shalt keep a secret stash
5. Thou shalt not confuse the supply with the source
6. Thou shalt not downplay disappointment
7. Thou shalt recognize 
8. Thou shalt release 
9. Thou shalt receive
10. Thou shalt remain

Meme: It's all God's Business...

I Repeat: Rejoice!

Scripture:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. - Philippians 4:4
 
Reflect:
Where do you try to find joy in your life? Where does Paul say joy can always be found?
 
There are so many things to enjoy in this life. God has blessed us to be sure! But have you ever noticed how some of our very favorite things let us down? For example, I really enjoy watching Husker football. But if I looked solely to Husker wins for the source of my joy, I’d be depressed right about now. I also really enjoy a nice steak dinner. But all it takes is for the chef to overcook it and I’m disappointed. I enjoy my family more than any other earthly thing but sometimes my wife and I get in disagreements or my kids don’t obey. I can’t count on other people, even my family, to be a constant source of joy.
 
But in today’s verse, Paul repeats one the most important themes of his letter to Philippians. He reminds the Philippians to rejoice! But not in just anything. He reminds them to rejoice in the Lord. Not just when things are going well for them either. He says to rejoice in the Lord always. It was so important for him to get his point across that he even repeated it again!
 
Paul knew that in order for the Philippians to stand firm in their faith, they needed to have their joy rooted in the right place. Otherwise, once they faced trials and tribulations, they would fall away. And they would face trials. Paul knew this firsthand. And yet, Paul remained full of joy. This joy wasn’t a superficial happiness. He wasn’t slapping on a fake smile throughout his imprisonment. This was a deep abiding joy that enabled him to endure even the worst suffering because his joy was in the Lord and his hope was in the promises He had made.
 
In Romans 12:12, Paul said: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” How could he say this? “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). He had set his eyes on Jesus Christ and compared to Him and His glory, the troubles of this world seemed small in comparison.
 
All of the good things on earth are still just that - earthly things. They are temporary and imperfect. If you are counting on your health, wealth, family, friends, possessions, career, etc. to be the source of your joy, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and heartache. But if your joy is rooted in the Lord and the future hope of His promises, you will remain steadfast. So rejoice! I repeat: rejoice! But not in the things of this earth. Rejoice only and always in Him.
 
Pray:
Lord, You alone are my constant source of joy. I know that everything else I enjoy will eventually let me down. But if my hope is in You and Your promises, I will always have a reason to rejoice. Amen.

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")

Prayer: Rejoice At All Times!

 

Choose To Rejoice

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:25
[Acts 16:25-34]

Your joy as a Christian should not depend on your circumstances. Joy comes from God, and therefore it cannot be affected by what is outside of you. Don't be fooled into letting the actions of others determine your joy. True joy comes from knowing that God Himself lives within you and has fellowship with you, regardless of your environment. Real joy lies in the knowledge that holy God has completely forgiven you of every sin, and even now, He has a home prepared in heaven where you can spend eternity with Him (John 14:3). The circumstances of your life cannot change these truths!

Paul and Silas faced some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. They were falsely accused, arrested, and imprisoned. They were beaten and shackled in the darkest, coldest section of the prison. But they refused to allow their horrific situation to dampen their joy! They did not blame God for allowing these things to happen to them. Instead, they praised Him for His goodness! In the darkness of the night, they prayed and they sang. God brought a miracle that released them from their chains, but perhaps the greater miracle was that His Holy Spirit could so fill them that even in their painful imprisonment they could overflow with joy!

Do not allow difficult events to cancel the joy of knowing you are a child of God. Choose to allow God's Spirit to fill you with His unquenchable joy, and your life will be a miracle to those who watch you face the trials that come.

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

2 Corinthians 3:17

 

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"You tend to feel guilty about pushing back the boundaries of your life to make space for time alone with Me. The world is waiting to squeeze you into its mold and to crowd out time devoted to Me. The ways of the world have also warped your conscience, which punishes you for doing the very thing that pleases Me most: seeking My Face. Listen to Me above the clamor of voices trying to distract you. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, for He and I work in perfect harmony."

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." - Romans 8:15-16

- "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young

God's Way Is Always Better

Sometimes God takes you on a journey you did not ask for. A path you never expected. A route that feels like a detour but is actually the way. You may find yourself confused or frustrated because it does not look like what you had hoped. You might be praying for something specific while God is allowing something very different. But here is the truth. What you want is not always what you need.

God sees what you cannot. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows where each road leads and what you will become along the way. He knows what will stretch your faith and make you whole. So when He takes you on a different road than you imagined, it is not to punish you. It is to love you. To grow you. To protect you from something you cannot see or to prepare you for something greater than you can picture.
Sometimes the delay is the mercy. Sometimes the closed door is the answer. Sometimes the long way around is the only way to get to where your soul can breathe. You think you want certain things. A relationship. A job. A breakthrough. And you may get them. But not before He strengthens your heart to carry them well. Not before He teaches you to trust Him more than the outcome.
This is the goodness of God. That He would lead you where you did not want to go to give you what you truly need. That He would walk with you when you are confused. That He would sit with you in the waiting. That He would not give in to your impatience but instead grow your endurance.
Do not be discouraged by the detours. They are often the disguised path to your greatest healing. God is not trying to keep something good from you. He is building something good within you. The journey you did not choose may be the very one that brings you to everything you longed for. Trust Him. His way is not always easy. But it is always better. - Ellie Mont
[Experience healing and renewal with her Devotional: "Break 'n Bloom"; a daily journey of faith to anchor and strengthen your walk with God.]