Proverbs 27:17
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Why It Matters
Why It Matters
Whether you’re experiencing major life stressors or daily worries, God is with you today, inviting you to come to him as your Rock. God cares about your worries, no matter how small, and desires to hold them for you. Consider this an invitation to hold out your arms—and your burdens—to him.
Dealing With Daily Stress
Dealing With Daily Stress
Written by Hannah Shoue
I woke up one morning the week of my wedding to find a post-it note stuck to my bathroom mirror at my parents’ house. The note contained excerpts from Psalm 68:19-20 and Psalm 61:2, and there was no mistaking the curling, print-and-cursive writing style unique to my mom’s handwriting.
The timing of God and the imagery are what stands out to me in these two verses. When does God bear our burdens? Daily. Who is God? He is a rock; safe, secure, and unchanging. When I picture the verse from Psalm 61, I imagine Jesus leading me, tenderly, by the hand, to a rock on top of a mountain, where my burdens begin to feel small and I am astonished that the One who is higher than I, the God of the universe, bends down to hear my cries and carry each burden as though it were his own.
Just as these two verses provided encouragement and comfort to me during the stressful days before my wedding, I’ve continued to be encouraged by them in the months since. The post-it note, folded and slightly crumpled, remains one of my bible bookmarks. As other life stressors have emerged, such as demanding work schedules, car purchases, and an unexpected move, I try to remember the presence of a Rock higher than I and the power of a God who saves.
Facing My Past Honestly
Facing My Past Honestly
I have a scar in the middle of my forehead. It came from an unfortunate run-in with the corner of a wall as a child. While the story is embarrassing, it’s true, and I have the scar to prove it!
I have learned that I cannot walk into healing without first being honest about my past.
For much of my life, I tried to manage my image more than I managed my heart. I wanted people to see my strengths, my calling, my leadership—but I often hid the wounds and the sinful patterns that shaped me in private. Over time, I realized that what remains unacknowledged will continue to control me.
When I look at Scripture, I see a consistent invitation from God:
bring the truth into the light.
David’s life confronts me deeply here. He didn’t start with repentance—he started with concealment. But God, in His mercy, sent someone to speak truth into his life. That moment of confrontation became the doorway to freedom.
I have had moments where I had to stop pretending and finally say, “I have sinned against the Lord.” That confession is not weakness—it is alignment with truth. Healing begins when I stop defending my brokenness and start surrendering it. Listen to David in that moment of vulnerability.
“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.’” (2 Samuel 12:13, NIV)
This verse reminds me that confession is not the end—it is the beginning of restoration.
God does not shame me when I come clean; He responds with grace. But I must be willing to call sin what it is, without minimizing it or rationalizing it.
Today I am choosing honesty over hiding. I choose truth over image. I choose to bring my past into the light of God’s presence, trusting that His mercy is greater than my failure. I hope that you will join me in that decision as well.
Let’s pray together!
Father, give me the courage to be fully honest with You about my past. Remove every excuse, every mask, and every form of self-deception. Help me to call sin what it is and to receive Your grace without hesitation. Thank You for Your mercy that meets me in truth and restores me with love. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Never forget my friend—
You are a miracle!
Grant Fishbook
Healing is Possible
Healing is Possible
Imagine a sick person who won’t tell anyone about their symptoms. Without help, getting through their illness would be challenging. Whether they need help from a doctor or just someone checking to see how they’re doing—it’s much easier to heal with the help of others.
Similarly, when we don’t tell anyone about the challenges we’re facing, it can be hard to work through them. Sometimes we do things we know are wrong, but we don’t tell anyone about it because it feels easier to hide. This is because we’re all affected by sin—our wrongdoing and brokenness that separate us from God.
It can be hard to share our wrongdoings with others, but when we keep our sin to ourselves, we’re like the sick person who won’t ask for help—we suffer in isolation rather than allowing others to help us heal.
James 5:16 tells us to share our wrongdoings with other believers so that we can heal together and pray for one another. When we share our past mistakes with someone, we are released from isolation. And when we pray together, we give God the opportunity to heal our hearts.
God is our healer—He saved us from the eternal consequences of sin through His Son Jesus. And because of Jesus, we have access to a relationship with God, and we can bring our requests to Him and trust that He will hear us.
This doesn’t mean God will always answer our prayers in the way we think they should be answered. Instead, when we share our brokenness with Him, He invites us on a journey that will help us grow closer to Him.
If you’re struggling with something today, take some time to share it with a trusted believer. Allow them to pray with you and ask God to guide you as you heal.
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