"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I don’t expect perfection in this pursuit; it’s not about that at all. It is the effort itself that pleases Me - when you keep on seeking Me even though it’s so difficult. Actually, the intensity of this challenging search blesses you. As you strive to find Me in your moments, your focus is on Me. While you trudge toward Me through countless distractions, your awareness of Me increases. Even if you don’t feel close to Me, you find yourself communicating with Me. So there is a sense in which your efforts to find Me are self-fulfilling: I am richly present in your striving. As a result, you feel more alive - more awake and real - when you are actively pursuing Me."
- "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young
Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32
Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
An Unexpected Bloom
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (NKJV)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (NKJV)
There’s a small orchid plant sitting snug in its base by our kitchen sink. My husband keeps pointing out the slow progress it’s made over these winter weeks. What started as five green buds tightly shut has transformed slowly, opening into a beautiful arrangement of white flowers with delicate pink centers.
I’ve watched this growth while struggling with crippling anxiety, battling against my mind as I grip tight to the Truth of God’s Word. These petals blossoming in the bleak winter remind me that like these little buds, I, too, am coming into something good.
When it comes to healing, it is often slow, even imperceptible. Yet we can watch and wait and notice the small changes.
In my healing journey, I’ve noticed a few things:
1. Healing takes time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 says: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; …”
Like the orchid coming into bloom, God often accomplishes His work on an organic, day-by-day timeline. Many times, we don’t even notice the changes until we observe that something is different - we have a little more energy, our thoughts seem a bit clearer, or we’re able to get more good work done without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Healing is not linear.
Psalm 147:3 tells us God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”. He will bring healing one way or another, but it is not always a continual upward trajectory. Decline and ascent, doubt and belief, worry and wisdom - duality weaves within the waiting, the living. If you feel down one day, this doesn’t erase the progress you’ve made.
3. Healing happens in ways we may not be expecting.
Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us our ways and God’s ways are not the same. Look at where God has brought you, look at His presence and hand in your life, and lean into it. Healing is happening, though the way it looks may surprise you.
Whatever your journey, here’s the core of it: Healing points to the Healer. Ultimately this is where our hearts land if we search for Him in the suffering and seek to dig to its root. God is our anchor, our sunlight, our reminder of what - or who - matters.
No matter what healing looks like, God is in the middle of it all.
Father, I am tired of this healing journey. Sometimes it feels like I’m not making any progress. Remind me that You are the Healer who brings growth and recovery in unexpected ways and that this is a process, not a one-time event. I’m trusting You for my healing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
- Sarah Freymuth
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"
Jesus Wants You To Know...
"Your friendship with Me is changing you from the inside out. I am shaping you into the person I want you to be. Don’t fight the changes, or try to speed them up. Let Me set the pace as I create a better you. Hold My hand and walk with Me - step by step."
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7
Philippians 4:6–7 reminds us that when we pray instead of panic, God’s peace doesn’t just calm our thoughts… it guards our hearts.
"Anchored in Peace Devotional" was written for the moments when anxiety feels loud and trust feels hard - offering gentle scripture, mindful practices, and space to breathe again. You don’t have to carry it alone. Let peace anchor you.
Provided by "Mindful Christianity"