Faith When Hope Seems Gone

AMY TURNER

In Mark 5:35–36, we read how messengers told Jairus that his daughter had died and suggested there was no reason to trouble Jesus any further. On the way to Jairus’s home, Jesus had been delayed by a woman seeking healing. This interruption might have seemed to cost the girl her life. Yet Jesus turned to the grieving father and said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

This moment shows that God’s mercy is not limited. His care for one person does not take away from another. Even when it appears too late, God is still able to work. In John 11:40, Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Faith in Him means trusting that delays and difficulties do not limit His power.

Faith is not about ignoring reality but about trusting God’s ability beyond it.

And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

The Certain Hope of Christ’s Return

AMY TURNER

The Bible teaches that Jesus will return one day, and this event will be very different from when He first came to earth. In Revelation 19:11, it describes a powerful image of Jesus riding a white horse, called “faithful and true,” coming to judge fairly and wage war against evil.

The first time Jesus came, He arrived in humility, choosing a life of suffering to pay the price for humanity’s sins. As foretold in Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.” His mission then was to offer salvation and open the way for people to be part of God’s kingdom.

However, when Jesus comes again, it will be with authority and majesty. This time, He will defeat all evil and complete the work He began. His second coming will mark the fulfilment of God’s plan, bringing the kingdom of God into its fullness.

and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11

God as the Shepherd We All Need

AMY TURNER

The opening words of Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” remind us that every person needs care. While some may claim they can manage alone, life shows that at different times we all rely on others. Parents, friends, doctors, teachers, and many others help meet our needs in different ways. These people are important, yet they can still make mistakes or fall short.

God is different. He never fails to provide what His people require. He gives guidance, protection, and correction. His care is not only for this life but also for eternity. Just as sheep depend on their shepherd, people depend on God to lead them. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11, NASB)

When we trust God as our shepherd, we find the care and direction no one else can fully give.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

How Angels Care for Believers

JEFF TURNER

Some people have heard the idea that each believer is assigned a personal guardian angel. This thought often comes from Matthew 18:10, where Jesus speaks of “their angels” watching over “these little ones.” But is that what the passage really teaches?

Looking closer, Matthew 18 is not about young children in a physical sense. Instead, it speaks of believers. It talks about those who have entered God’s kingdom with childlike faith. Jesus often called His followers “little ones” to show how they depend on their Father.

The verse in question points out that the angels of these believers are always near to God, seeing His face. It does not say each person has a unique angel. Rather, it shows that angels are involved in caring for all believers. It’s a group idea, not a personal one.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

The Power of Hallelujah

AMY TURNER

Revelation 19:1 tells us a loud voice from a great crowd in heaven shouted, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” This word, hallelujah, is used throughout the Bible to celebrate God’s remarkable actions. It appears when people witness something meaningful and powerful that God has done.

In Psalm 106, hallelujah is spoken as a response to God’s strength in freeing the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Each time it’s used, it marks a moment when God’s care and might have brought relief and victory to His people.

The final time hallelujah appears in Scripture is in Revelation. It comes after Jesus rescues His people from the grip of the Antichrist. This moment leads heaven to cry out in joy, praising God’s power to save and protect.

When you lift your voice in praise, do you include a hallelujah?

Everything that has breath shall praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6