Garden Heart
March 27, 2020 • Kylie Barnett • Genesis 1:26–31, John 15:1–5, Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:17
A warm wind blows through the trees And stirs the face of the water. Wandering about the garden free— Echoes of songs and laughter. . A soul, a smile, A song to be sung; The start of a fire, His work had begun. . He bent on His knees And sat in the dirt; Tugged on the weeds And toiled in the earth. . All of this work Because He had treasured. Though His job was not finished, In this place He found pleasure. . This work was perfection And beauty precise. All love, no rejection; Tears formed in His eyes. . Its glory so bright, He loved so He bought; Completed and worthy, This garden, her heart. • Kylie Barnett . • Where does our value come from? What kind of value did God create us with (Genesis 1:27, 31; Psalm 139:13-16)? . • We are sinners who need to be rescued by Jesus (Romans 3:23; 6:23). When we put our trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, we become new creations: sin is no longer our identity (2 Corinthians 5:17). How is this newness both instantaneous and a process (Philippians 1:6)? . • As Christians, if our hearts are gardens bought by the blood of Jesus and tended by the Holy Spirit, what does that say about our sin? Is any weed too big for the Gardener to pull up? . Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)
Being a Light
March 20, 2020 • Natalie Gilkinson • Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13, Matthew 5:14–16, Proverbs 22:2
Bullying. It’s painful to experience. But here’s the thing: I don’t know bullying’s pain because I’ve been bullied. I know its pain because I have been the bully. . I’ve made fun of people. I’ve gossiped about people I didn’t like. I’ve secretly judged the so-called “losers.” But, because I was a Christian, I thought I was different from bullies. I wasn’t one of those people, right? But I was one of those people. I was a bully. . It took a long week—full of conviction, tears, and prayer—for Jesus to help me see that reality, changing my life and outlook. I realized I wasn’t just hurting the people I was mocking, teasing, gossiping about, and hating. I was hurting Jesus, the One who died for my sins, including bullying. I was not acting like I belonged to Him. I was taking God’s creations, made after His own image, and raising myself above them. Like I was better than them. . But I’m not. I’m a sinner, and I need Jesus’ grace—just like everyone else. Bullying is a sin because it forgets that every person was created in God’s image. Basically, making fun of other people is hating on God and His good creation. . As I sought to turn away from the sin of bullying, Jesus was with me—working in me to make me more like Himself. I apologized to the people I hurt. God was humbling me so I saw myself not as better than others but as equal to them in God’s eyes. I started to see people as wonderful, interesting creations of God Himself, even becoming friends with people who were still being hated on by others. . No matter how badly we’ve messed up, Jesus can restore us and use us to become a light to others who are struggling. He redeems us from our brokenness and gives us the opportunity to share His love and truth with others. • Natalie Gilkinson . • Why is it important that (1) God created all people in His image (Genesis 1:27) and (2) we are all sinners in need of Jesus (Romans 3:11-12, 23; 6:23)? How do these truths affect the way we see those around us? . • If you are a bully, are being bullied, or are seeing bullying happen, who is a trusted adult you can talk with about it? . • If you have questions about sin and how it affects all of us, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2 (NIV)
A Bad Plan
March 13, 2020 • Mike Hurley • Genesis 3:8–9, 1 John 1:9—2:2
"Well, that was a bad decision.” . “I can’t believe we did that.” . “So, now what? You know He’ll find out.” . “Hmmm. I have an idea. See all those bushes and trees over there? Let’s hide.” . “Good plan.” . In the story of Adam and Eve, we witness one of the worst strategies ever created. After eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve felt ashamed and guilty, a common response to wrongdoing. Then, they decided to hide from God. . True story. These two humans were trying to hide from the all-knowing Creator of the universe. Gently and clearly, God drew them out from their hiding places, clothed them, and barred them from the Garden of Eden. It was a humbling moment for Adam and Eve. . As much as we want to mock them, it’s our natural response to hide when we do wrong. It’s embarrassing to admit the truth of our sin. We would rather hide until it all blows over. God has other plans, and He has gone to great lengths to make it possible for us to receive mercy and grace. . How far? The Father sent His very own Son as a payment for our sins. While we have committed sin in the darkness and hidden afterward, Jesus died during the middle of the day, in front of witnesses, so all could see His sacrifice. . Our sin is not the end of the story. We’re not meant to live in the dark shadows of shame. We all sin, every day, but Christ’s death paid the price for our sin, allowing us to live unashamed in the light. • Mike Hurley . • How was God merciful in His response to Adam and Eve’s sin? . • What should our response be when we sin? Why are we free to go to Jesus when we sin (Hebrews 4:14-16)? . My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2 (CSB)
Worth
February 28, 2020 • Bethany Acker • John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4–7, 1 John 4:10, Genesis 1:26–27
I shouldn’t have even brought this into the fitting room, Mandy thought. . Dresses like these don’t look pretty on girls like me. . But her friends hadn’t understood her hesitation. They were trying on prom dresses and thought she should do the same. . Tears stung in Mandy’s eyes as she took a glance in the mirror. She hated her size and shape. She wished she looked like her friends. . “Come out and show us,” her friends called. . Mandy swallowed. “It doesn’t fit right. I must have grabbed the wrong size.” . “What size do you need? I’ll go get it.” . “No!” Mandy tugged on the zipper at the back of the dress. “I’m done for today.” . When Mandy stepped out of the fitting room in her T-shirt and leggings, the other girls were all wearing the dresses they had found. They looked perfectly petite and happy. . Mandy slouched onto a chair in the corner of the room, wishing she could be like them. . Maybe your story isn’t exactly like Mandy’s, but it’s close. Maybe you feel ugly. Maybe you think that you are too fat or too thin or that you don’t belong with your friends. Maybe you even feel unworthy of God’s love because of how you look. . But the inherent worth you have and the love God has for you are not based on your appearance or what others think of you. . God created you in His image, and He loves you so much. You are precious to Him. So precious that He came to die and rise again to free you from sin and the pain and death it causes. If you haven’t already, put your trust in Him today, knowing your worth is found not in what people think—but in and through the love of your Creator and Savior. • Bethany Acker . • Jesus died and rose again, and He will one day make all things new, including raising His people from the dead when He returns. Christ died and rose to restore and redeem every part of you. How does knowing these truths help you see how much He values and loves you? . • If you are struggling to see your worth, who is someone you can talk with about it? . This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NLT)
Burnout
February 23, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra • Matthew 11:28—12:8, Genesis 2:2–3, Exodus 20:8–11
Life’s busy—we all know that. Between school, friends, and extracurriculars, by the end of the day, we’re burned out. And then we have to start homework. . God knows our lives are busy. That’s why He created Sabbath. God invented all kinds of rhythms in nature. Night and day, the different seasons, and the tides of the ocean all show patterns in creation. The cycle of work and rest is another one of those patterns. . In the beginning, God showed us how to schedule rest into our hectic lives. In Genesis 2, it says God not only rested on the seventh day of creation but also “blessed the seventh day and made it holy” (Genesis 2:3). God even takes it one step further: rest gets its own commandment in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). . Jesus did not save us so we could work until we burn out. Instead, He died and rose again to save us so that we could live joy-filled lives in the rhythm of God’s grace—because of what *He* did. We are made to live in a rhythm of rest and work, acknowledging that, as created humans, we are dependent on God the Creator and Jesus our Savior. . So, how do we practice Sabbath? The simple answer: plan ahead. It sounds difficult to think a whole week ahead, but it makes finding time to sabbath much easier. . Next, find something that is restful to you. That might mean taking a nap or going for a hike, but it should be rooted in restfulness. . Finally, seek God in your rest. The Sabbath is a great day to recenter yourself on Jesus, trusting in Him enough to take a break. This is why Christians typically gather together on their Sabbath day—to remember together that Jesus is the One who gives them rest. • Naomi Zylstra . • What things do you find restful? What would a Sabbath look like for you? . • Different Christian churches get together on different days of the week, and your Sabbath day might fall on a different day than the day you go to church. Read Colossians 2:13-17. Why are we free in Christ to rest and gather on different days? . Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
God Sees
February 19, 2020 • Jennifer A. Sun • Genesis 16
Ever since I learned to walk, I have had a tendency to look everywhere—except where I am going. And this has caused a lot of bumping into things and other mishaps. . It’s no wonder that as I was growing up my dad would always tell me to walk in front of him so he could see me. When I was little, there was a time when I insisted I could manage and went behind him. You guessed it—as soon as he was five steps ahead, he heard a loud bang and a little girl sobbing. . As we get older, we might outgrow our accident-prone nature, but we still yearn for Someone who sees us, especially when things become challenging. In today’s Bible passage, while Hagar was running away from Sarai, who mistreated her, she didn’t expect Someone saw her misery. Yet the Lord sent an angel to assure Hagar that God saw what she was going through. . More than seeing her struggles, He even promised to increase her descendants. He saw her suffering and promised to one day bring good through her difficult situation. In response, she called God *El Roi*—which means “the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). . As Christians, when we are faced with challenges, it’s easy for us to forget we have a God who sees us. God knows what we are going through. Jesus knows what we need and when we need it. He is with us, and He is working all situations for good (Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:28). When you struggle, will you look to the God who sees you? • Jennifer A. Sun . • What struggles do you need God to see you through today? . • Read 1 Peter 5:7 and Hebrews 4:14-16. When we’re struggling, why can we call out to the God who sees us? . • Read Romans 8:18-25, 28-29 and Revelation 21:1-5. Because of Jesus, will pain and struggle last forever? . She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13 (NIV)
Image of God
February 1, 2020 • Taylor Eising • Genesis 1:26–27, Romans 8:28–29, 2 Corinthians 3:17—4:6, 1 Corinthians 15:49
What does it mean to be made in the image of God? We talk about it all the time, but why does it even matter? It matters because being made in the image of God defines three things about us: who we are, what we exist to do, and the value we have. . As image-bearers of God, we as humans are His representatives here on earth. He created us with some of the same qualities He has: creativity, love, intelligence, a sense of justice, wisdom, kindness, and mercy—just to name a few. Whenever people express these qualities, whether they are Christians or not, they are doing it because they were made in the image of God. And when we see that happen, we can praise God for it! . Being made in God’s image gives us immeasurable value—not because of who we are, but because of who God is. Our Creator is perfect and holy and good, and He created us in His likeness. We can’t look like Him perfectly because sin has broken our image-bearing ability, but each human life still points to the One who made that life. . Because we are made in God’s image, our job is to do His will here on earth. That means several things, but it all boils down to loving God, loving each other, and caring for creation (Genesis 1:28; Matthew 22:37-40). But how do we do that in our broken state? . If your faith is in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living in you, conforming you to the image of Christ. Jesus is the One who made it possible for broken-by-sin image-bearers to resemble their Creator once more—through faith in what He did and continues to do (1 Corinthians 15). • Taylor Eising . • Does knowing what it means to be made in God’s image affect the way you view others? The way you view yourself? . • If you are a Christian, God is constantly transforming you more and more into the image of Christ. As you look back at your life, how do you see God transforming you? . • When your friends are struggling with their identities or self-worth, what are some ways you can encourage them about who they are in Jesus? . And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus]. 1 Corinthians 15:49 (CSB)
I Promise!
January 16, 2020 • Susan Grant • Hebrews 11:11, Numbers 23:19, Genesis 18:10–15, Genesis 21:1–3
Have you ever trusted a friend and then found out they were not trustworthy? Maybe you confided in them, spilling your guts about something personal. And, even though your friend promised to keep it to themselves, they didn’t. . When someone has broken the trust of another, it’s a serious problem that can damage and even destroy relationships. Some people never get over the hurt broken trust has caused them. . Another unfortunate consequence of broken trust is that we tend to view our relationship with God like we view our relationship with friends and family who have mistreated us. People have broken our trust; therefore, we think, Maybe God is the same way. . In Genesis 18, God promised Abraham and his wife, Sarah, that they would become parents, but Sarah didn’t believe Him. After all, Sarah was ninety, and Abraham was one hundred. Surely God meant well; perhaps Sarah thought God was like some of her friends, who just wanted to say the right thing but ultimately weren’t reliable. . But, in verse 14, God makes it clear He keeps His promises: “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” . A year later, guess who had a son? . It’s important to learn to separate how people sometimes act from how God always acts. We live in a broken world, and we as humans are broken and sinful. But, no matter what betrayal we have faced from others, we can know God is trustworthy and faithful. • Susan Grant . • Why is trust so important in relationships? . • All the promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). How is God’s promise to create life from Sarah’s dead womb reminiscent of His promise to raise His people from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)? . God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 (NIV)
Taking the Next Step
January 5, 2020 • Carolyn Bennett Fraiser • Romans 8:28, Matthew 28:20, Genesis 12:1–8
"But I don’t want to go.” . For months, I begged Mom. I didn’t want to leave our home to move to a new state, hundreds of miles away. I didn’t want to say goodbye to friends and neighbors I had known forever. I didn’t want to start all over again, especially in the middle of the school year. . “Why can’t I stay here?” . But I knew why. Cancer. . We had lived in Florida my whole life, but my dad had to take a new job in North Carolina to help pay for mom’s treatment. And they would not leave me behind. I just wished we didn’t have to move so far away. . Change was scary. Making new friends had always been hard for me. Would they like me? Would I do well in school? What if I didn’t like it? . God told Abraham to leave his home in Haran and take his family to Canaan... hundreds of miles away on the other side of the Arabian Desert. So he gathered his family and everything they owned and walked across a hot, dusty land to their new home. When they arrived, he pitched a tent and built an altar to tell God, “Thank You.” . But I often wonder: Was Abraham afraid to go? Did he ever ask God if he could stay? What gave Abraham hope during this time of transition? The answer? Abraham looked ahead at what God had promised him—to make a great nation in this new place. . In the same way, I can trust God is using even really hard situations for good. He is working, and His promises and kingdom aren’t shaken. He has promised to one day make all things new, and I can take the next step knowing He’ll be with me through it all. • Carolyn Bennett Fraiser . • What changes are you facing now? What is keeping you from taking the next step? . • How can Jesus’ promise to be with you affect the way you see the situation you’re facing? . And remember, I [Jesus] am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (CSB)
The Talk
December 11, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Matthew 19:4–6, Ephesians 5:25–33, Hebrews 13:4–5, Genesis 1:31
Christians are notoriously bad at talking about sex. We gloss over it, give incomplete information, and usually end the conversation with, “Sex is bad. Don’t do it.” So, on behalf of Christians everywhere, I want to apologize. Sometimes we struggle with awkward subjects. We make the mistake of believing that sex has nothing to do with the gospel. But God’s Word says otherwise. . The Bible is overwhelmingly clear: creation is good, and that means sex is good when it is used as it was created, in its God-given context of marriage (Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:23-25). God created us male and female, and He did that on purpose. Males in their male-ness and females in their female-ness—brought together in the one-man-one-woman-one-lifetime covenant of marriage before God— reflect His image in a unique way that, according to Scripture, points to God’s relationship with us, His church. . You see, sex is a reminder of a covenant that has already been made. It physically acts out the fact that, in marriage, spouses have given their whole selves over to that other person, just like Jesus has given His whole Self over to us. Sex is an act of loving completely, faithfully, and freely, mirroring the way Jesus loves us completely, faithfully, and freely. Sex says, “I give everything I am to you. I will never leave or abandon you. I have made a covenant with you, and I will never break that covenant.” Has Jesus ever said things like that? . Here’s the hard part for you, as people who, I assume, are not yet married: we cannot act out a covenant that we have not made (and that covenant must be made publicly, before God and the church). If we do, we are lying with our bodies. Sex is a good gift from God, and when we misuse this good gift, it is a sin just like any other sin. But, my friends, there is abounding grace in Jesus. Rest in the One who loves you more than anyone, including a future spouse (if that’s what He has planned for you), ever could. • Taylor Eising . • How does the fact that we bear God’s image affect sexuality (lust, pornography, etc.)? . • Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about questions you have about sex? . God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 (CSB)
In Defense of Video Games
December 5, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Genesis 1:26–31, Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31
I grew up around gamers. I remember spending hours of my childhood curled up on the couch watching my older brothers, Tony and AJ, play "Legend of Zelda." I admired their skill and problem-solving abilities, and I often wished I could play as well as they did. . Being created in God’s image gives us several good desires that can be used for God-glorifying purposes, and two of those desires are the desire to create and the desire to solve problems. As strange as it may sound, we can use video games to hone and train those good desires. . We are created to create because we are created in the Creator’s image (say that five times fast). This gift allows us to make incredible works of art using all kinds of different mediums. Since the beginning of time, we have been painting, sculpting, writing, singing, and directing plays. And now that artistic expression can be found in developing video games. Playing certain video games taps into our God-given creativity and helps us explore it more fully. . Video games also help us problem-solve, often with other people. Many games present the player with some difficult situation that they must resolve using strategic planning skills. These strategic planning skills—including resource management, cooperation, and persistence—are vital to the kingdom of God. In fact, God is glorified anytime we use those skills, so long as we aren’t using them for something sinful. . This is great news! Even though our world is broken by sin, Christ died so that, in Him, we could be free to serve and glorify Him in our daily endeavors. As the Creator, God loves beautiful art, and He loves a problem well-solved. He is overjoyed when we use the skills He has given to us. . So, as Christians, we have to think carefully about any art form we create or consume, including video games. Follow the rules in your household about video games and thank God for the skills and abilities He has given you. • Taylor Eising . • Who are some people in your life you can talk to about which video games are helpful, and which are not? . • What are some ways you can apply the skills you use in video games to real life? . So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)
Does God Care about My Body?
December 3, 2019 • Alissa Griffin • Genesis 1:26–27, Genesis 3:7–10, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
"I’m fat." "My skin is broken out." "My nose is too big." "I’m ugly." . Thoughts like these have haunted me most of my life, particularly during my teenage years. I often wondered what was wrong with me. "Why couldn’t I look different?" Sometimes just looking in a mirror made me want to cry. . My weight bothered me most, so I tried anything to reduce it. I refused my body nourishment, exercised too much, adopted specific and irrational eating rituals, and spiraled into binge-eating. All of this was an attempt to quiet the sadness inside. I thought if I could control my weight tightly enough, I would be happy. . What I couldn’t see back then was that I was believing a lie. I hated my body for how it looked and thought it was worthless. I didn’t think God cared or had anything to say about it. It took me many years and much wise Christian counsel to realize that nothing could be further from the truth. . God created all of us in His image, the crown jewels of His originally good creation. It was only after humanity’s fall into sin that we began misusing our bodies and considering them shameful. But even in our broken state, Jesus came to die on our behalf and make us right with God again, no matter what we look like (Romans 5:6-8). . Now, God doesn’t make His home in a physical building anymore: He lives in us. That’s right, He chose to make the body that I hated and mistreated for so long into His temple. Scripture tells us that we are not our own, we were bought at a very high price: the blood of Jesus. Therefore, we are called to glorify Him with our bodies. . So, if you are ever tempted to view your body as I did, please remember that you are worth much more than you think. The staggering reality is that we, bodies included, are immeasurably valuable because God created us, loves us, died for us, and lives in us. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing. • Alissa Griffin . • What does it mean to bear the image of God? What does this say about how valuable our bodies are to God? . • What does it mean to glorify God with our bodies? . Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB)
Into the Unknown
December 2, 2019 • Linda Washington • Genesis 12:1–9, Psalm 13:5
I grunted as I gazed at the viewport. Black space. Tiny white dots in the distance. Nothing new here. I side-eyed Dad. This was his fault. He acted like he knew where we were going. . Dad, a seasoned commander, looked up from the blinking lights of the console. “Still not speaking to me, Tai?” . I fingered one of my braids. He’d named me Tai—Swahili for eagle. I was born to fly, he always said. Born to explore the unknown. . Though I wanted to continue giving him the silent treatment, I caved. “I’m concentrating. You gave me the helm after all.” It was what I’d aced in flight class. “How do you expect me to calculate the entry if I don’t know where to go?” . Dad laughed like I’d said something hilarious. “I gave you the vector to the jump point. We’ll make planetfall then. Just follow the coordinates.” . He acted like this was no big deal. But we were in the middle of Nowhere Space. I wasn’t sure our tiny ship could make it to the planet he claimed was in Tau Quadrant. I’d left all my friends behind in Gamma Quadrant. All because Dad claimed God wanted us to find a planet that might have water—a precious commodity back home. Now there was no chance of me applying to Advanced Flight School when I turned eighteen! . I broke the silence again. “There are too many unknown variables. What if we overshoot wherever we’re going?” . “Do you trust me?” . I took in a breath. I knew what he meant. Did I trust him to know what was best for us? I slowly let out my held breath. He’d always been there for me. He’d never let me down before. . “Jump point ahead,” I said. It was now or never. “Throttle up.” . The ship shook as it made the jump. Seconds later, there it was in front of us: a small, blue planet. That meant water. Maybe this would be a good place after all. • Linda Washington . • Today’s story echoes the true story from today’s Bible passage. Abram heard from God: “Go... to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). That required trust: a belief that God was good and loving and that He would provide. Because of Jesus, why can we trust God no matter what (Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:12-13)? . I trust in your unfailing love. Psalm 13:5 (NLT)
Get Some Rest
November 5, 2019 • Alexis Wohler • Matthew 11:28, Genesis 2:2, 1 Kings 19:1–8
"There will be a test over the material later this week,” Ashley heard the professor say as her class ended. "Will I even have time to study for that test?" she wondered. . She was taking college classes while in high school and working part-time to pay for them. Just as she felt the stress close in on her, her friend Ryan caught up with her in the hallway. “Ashley, wait up. I’ll walk you to your next class,” he offered. . Ashley tried not to show how stressed she was, but Ryan figured it out. “You’re working all week. You don’t think you’ll have time to study for this test, do you?” . When Ashley nodded, Ryan asked, “How about we get coffee after school and quiz each other on the material?” . “Count me in,” said Ashley. . Later that afternoon, Ryan quizzed Ashley at the coffee shop. But her eyes kept closing. . “History records dictate that... Ashley is asleep from exhaustion,” Ryan said, laughing lightly as he touched her arm to wake her up. . “Huh... What? Did I seriously fall asleep? Sorry about that.” . Ryan finally asked her what was wrong. Ashley admitted she was having trouble keeping up with the demands of classes and said she had no one to lean on. . “You’ve got me, Ash. I’m always here for you. If you really need rest, go to sleep early tonight. God can give you rest too, like it says in Matthew 11:28.” . As Ashley studied later that night, Ryan’s kind words and the verse he had mentioned kept coming back to her: “Come to me, all of you who are weary... and I will give you rest.” . She let the words sink in, praying, "Lord, if I’m going to pass this test, I need rest. Please fill me with Your peace." As she finished praying, she felt calmer. She closed her books and finally got some sleep. • Alexis Wohler . • Sometimes it feels like everything in the world depends on us. How does it bring you peace knowing that your life depends on Jesus, not you? . • God created us to need rest, which is why He gave us the Sabbath. What are some ways you can practice intentional rest in your own life? . • Who can you talk to when you feel overwhelmed and exhausted? . Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)