My Friday began bright and early, well, early anyway. There wasn’t anything bright about the sky yet! But the moon was huge, like an illusion where it was touching the trees, bright and glow beautiful for sure.
I have a 7 AM MRI appointment about 35–40 minutes from home, so I gave myself plenty of time. At 6:15 AM, while driving through Lake Mary, my front wheels had just reached a standard railroad crossing when the red lights started flashing and the train warning sounded.
Let me tell you ….that scared the daylights out of me, and daylight hadn’t even arrived yet!
If I wasn’t fully awake before that moment, I certainly was afterward. My heart got a little exercise I had absolutely no intention of putting on today’s schedule.
Everything looks different in the dark, especially when you’re driving through an unfamiliar area. Once I arrived safely at my appointment, I took a moment to pray.
“Thank You, Lord, for getting me here safely.”
and can you please do something about the little insects called no-see-ums it seems to like to fly in the dark and attack me on the way to the car no matter where I am located lol a.k.a. biting midges Florida….
Then I really thought about what I was thankful for: those flashing red lights, that startling warning, and the safety systems doing exactly what they were meant to do. They certainly got my attention. I wasn’t trying to cross on a red flashing light, but it’s like when somebody is playing a game show and you suddenly win in the lights go off and on exciting exhilarating and scary all at the same time..
Sometimes gratitude comes easily. Other times, it arrives at 6:15 in the morning with flashing lights and a very loud announcement!
This morning reminded me how much I have to thank God for, even before the sun comes up. A safe arrival. Another day. A moment to catch my breath and recognize His goodness in the middle of an ordinary and briefly startling, Friday morning.
So today, I’m choosing gratitude. I’m thankful I made it safely across, thankful for the people who help keep our roads and crossings safe, and thankful that God welcomes a prayer whether it’s beautifully worded or simply, “Oh, Lord, thank You!”
And yes, I’m also very thankful it’s Friday.
May your day hold more peace than surprises, may your weekend be beautiful, and may you find a reason to thank God somewhere along the way.
A Survivor’s Story of Faith, Domestic Violence, and Finding the Courage to Leave
October Is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this is a subject that will forever be close to my heart.
Why? Because I am a survivor.
I was a battered wife in my first marriage. I know what it feels like to live in fear, to walk on eggshells, to wonder what kind of mood your husband will be in when he walks through the door. I know what it feels like to pray for the abuse to stop, to hope that this time he really means it when he says he’s sorry, and to believe that somehow tomorrow might be different.
And I know what it feels like to finally find the courage, faith, and opportunity to get out.
This is why I will never stop speaking up for women who are living through domestic violence.
Because somewhere today, a woman is smiling at work, laughing with her coworkers, taking care of her children, and pretending everything is fine.
But underneath her clothes, she may be covered in bruises. She probably is dreading her workday being over because she knows he she will have to go back to the abuse verbally physically sexually financially mentally.
And nobody knows what she lives with.
Stop Asking Women Why They Stay. Start Asking Men Why They Abuse.
One thing that absolutely breaks my heart and makes me angry is hearing people ask a battered woman:
“Why don’t you just leave?”
“Why do you stay with him?”
“Why do you put up with it?”
Let me ask you something.
Why aren’t we asking the abuser why he hits her?
Why does he slap her?
Why does he punch her?
Why does he call her worthless, stupid, ugly, fat, too skinny, or tell her that nobody else would ever want her?
Why does he feel entitled to control her every move?
Why does he think that being her husband or boyfriend gives him the right to terrorize her?
Why is it that she goes and gets a restraining order gets it enforced the police arrest him and the courts let them free all within a day. Only making him more pissed off to come and get her again..
Why is it that she has to be the one to keep moving from city to city town to town when she does attempt to leave and yet he finds her and stocks her threatens to come and steal his children or kill her in front of her children and this is allowed, but God forbid a person goes to jail for beating up a total stranger or kicking a dog not that I’m saying that any of those are right, but what makes domestic violence less of a crime than any other form of assault?
Why are we so quick to question the woman who is suffering instead of holding the man who is hurting her accountable?
I am tired of watching society put the responsibility on the victim.
Unless you have lived in an abusive relationship, you cannot fully understand what it is like.
Sometimes a woman cannot simply pack a suitcase and walk out the door.
Maybe she has children.
Maybe she has no money because her husband controls every penny.
Maybe she has no car, no family nearby, or nowhere safe to go.
Maybe he has threatened to kill her if she leaves.
Maybe he has threatened to take her children away.
Maybe she is being tracked through her phone, an AirTag hidden in her car, or some other device.
Maybe she is so emotionally beaten down that she no longer believes she can survive without him.
And maybe, just maybe, she is quietly making a plan to save her own life.
She may be saving money a few dollars at a time.
She may be gathering important documents.
She may be waiting for a safe opportunity to leave.
She may be trying to figure out how to protect her children.
So please, before you judge a woman for staying, remember that you have no idea what she may be going through behind closed doors.
No woman wants to be beaten. No woman wants to be humiliated. No woman wants to live in fear.
And no woman deserves it.
Domestic Violence Does Not Discriminate — It Has No Boundaries
There is something else I want people to understand about domestic violence.
Abuse does not care about your race, your religion, your bank account, your education, your social standing, or who your husband is.
You can be a preacher’s wife.
You can be a police officer’s wife.
You can be a firefighter’s wife.
You can be a doctor’s wife.
You can be a lawyer’s wife, a politician’s wife, a businessman’s wife, or the wife of a man everybody in town thinks is wonderful.
And you can still be getting beaten behind closed doors.
You can live in a million-dollar mansion or a one-bedroom apartment.
You can drive a Mercedes or take the bus.
You can wear designer clothes or shop at a thrift store.
Domestic violence does not discriminate between the rich and the poor.
You can be Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, or any other race or ethnicity. And as I like to say, you could practically be a Martian. Abuse does not care!
You can be Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or belong to any other faith.
You can attend church every Sunday, sit in the front pew, sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, or be married to the very man standing behind the pulpit preaching about God’s love.
And still go home to a man who terrorizes you.
Let that sink in.
A man’s profession, position in the community, religious title, or reputation does not automatically make him a good husband.
Some abusive men are respected members of their communities. They may be charming, generous, successful, and admired by everyone around them.
But the woman living inside their home may know an entirely different man.
That is one reason women are sometimes afraid to speak up.
Who is going to believe the preacher’s wife when she says her husband beats her?
Who is going to believe the police officer’s wife when her husband is respected by the very people she might need to call for help?
Who is going to believe the doctor’s wife when everyone assumes she has a perfect life because she lives in a beautiful home and has financial security?
People look at these women and think, “What could she possibly have to complain about?”
You have no idea.
Money does not stop a fist.
A beautiful home does not guarantee a peaceful home.
A wedding ring does not guarantee love.
And sitting in church on Sunday does not excuse what a man does to his wife on Monday.
Domestic violence happens in cities, small towns, rural communities, and countries all around the world.
It happens to educated women and women who never finished school.
It happens to young women, middle-aged women, and elderly women.
It happens to women who work outside the home and women who stay home raising their children.
There is no economic standard, no racial boundary, no religious exemption, and no profession that makes a family immune to domestic violence.
And I want to make something else perfectly clear.
Just because a woman has money does not mean she has freedom.
Her husband may control every bank account, every credit card, and every dollar she spends.
Just because a woman is married to a powerful or respected man does not mean she has someone she can safely turn to.
Sometimes the very position her husband holds makes her even more afraid to tell the truth.
So please stop assuming you know what abuse looks like.
It does not have one face.
It does not have one skin color.
It does not belong to one religion or one income bracket.
And it certainly does not happen only to women who are poor or uneducated.
Domestic violence can happen to any woman, anywhere in the world.
As a Christian, I believe we are called to protect those who are suffering, not protect an abuser’s reputation because of his title, profession, or standing in the community.
Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us:
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (KJV)
We need to speak up for women who are afraid to speak for themselves.
We need to believe survivors.
We need to hold abusers accountable, regardless of who they are or what they do for a living.
And we need to stop pretending domestic violence is somebody else’s problem.
Because domestic violence has no boundaries, and neither should our compassion, our advocacy, or our determination to end violence against women once and for all.
God Never Commanded a Woman to Be a Punching Bag
This is where my Christian faith becomes such an important part of my story.
During my first marriage, I prayed constantly.
I prayed that my husband would stop hitting me.
I prayed that he would change.
I prayed that God would somehow fix our marriage.
I went to church looking for answers, looking for hope, and looking for someone to tell me what I was supposed to do.
And do you know what some churches told me?
“You need to stay with your husband.”
They emphasized marriage, commitment, and staying together.
But what about my life?
What about my safety?
What about my daughter?
What about the fact that I was being physically and emotionally destroyed?
I carried those words with me, believing that perhaps being a good Christian wife meant enduring the abuse.
Until one day, I finally found a church that told me something I desperately needed to hear.
“God never said you needed to be beaten. It is time for you to make a plan to get out.”
Those words helped change my life.
Because God did not create women to be punching bags.
He did not create marriage so that one person could dominate, humiliate, threaten, or terrorize another.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:25:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (KJV)
Love your wives.
Not beat your wives.
Not threaten your wives.
Not control your wives.
Not destroy your wives emotionally until they feel worthless.
And Colossians 3:19 tells us:
“Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” (KJV)
There is nothing Christlike about a man who uses his fists, his words, his money, or his power to terrorize the woman he claims to love.
Abuse is not love. Control is not protection. Fear is not respect. And submission does not mean accepting violence.
A marriage covenant is not a license to abuse.
And I believe with all my heart that God does not expect a woman to sacrifice her life to prove she is a faithful Christian wife.
There Were Days I Prayed for Death
This is not easy for me to share, but I believe that telling the truth may help another woman.
There were days during my first marriage when the beatings became so unbearable that I prayed for death.
I wanted the pain to stop.
I wanted the fear to stop.
I wanted the nightmare to end.
But then I would think about my daughter.
And sometimes, in my desperation, I prayed that he would die instead of me.
Not because I wanted to be a hateful person, but because I was terrified of leaving my daughter behind with a man who used violence whenever he didn’t get his way.
I was a mother trying to survive.
I was a woman living in fear.
And I was desperate for a way out.
Looking back today, I thank God that I escaped when I did.
Because I truly believe that if I had stayed in that marriage, I would not be alive today.
That is how serious domestic violence can become.
This is not just about a bad argument.
This is not just about a husband having a temper.
This is not just about a couple going through a difficult season.
Domestic violence can be a matter of life and death.
The Cycle of Abuse: Why Women Keep Hoping He Will Change
People who have never experienced domestic violence often do not understand the cycle that keeps so many women trapped.
In many abusive relationships, there is a repeating pattern.
First comes the tension.
You can feel something building. Maybe he is getting angry more often. Maybe he is criticizing everything you do. You start watching every word you say, trying not to upset him.
You walk on eggshells.
Then comes the abuse.
It might be screaming, name-calling, threats, shoving, slapping, punching, or something even worse.
Then comes the apology, sometimes called the honeymoon phase.
He cries.
He says he’s sorry.
He promises it will never happen again.
He tells you how much he loves you.
Maybe he buys flowers or gifts.
Maybe he promises to go to church, get counseling, or become a better man.
And because you love him, and because you desperately want your family to stay together, you believe him.
Then comes the calm.
For a while, things seem normal.
You begin to relax.
You think perhaps your prayers have finally been answered.
Until the tension starts building again.
And the cycle repeats.
Not every abusive relationship follows this exact pattern. Some abusers never apologize, and some use control and intimidation without physical violence.
But I know firsthand how powerful the hope of change can be.
Sometimes the abuse begins with something a woman tries to convince herself is minor.
A cruel comment.
A controlling demand.
A shove.
A slap.
But let me tell you something from experience.
The first slap is already abuse. You do not have to wait for a worse beating to take it seriously.
Abuse can escalate, and the danger can become greater over time.
An apology means very little when the same behavior continues.
Real change requires accountability, sustained effort, and an end to abusive behavior. Promises alone are not enough.
Please do not gamble your life on the hope that someday he might become the man he keeps promising to be.
Parents, We Must Teach Our Daughters AND Our Sons
Moms and dads, I want to speak directly to you.
Please teach your daughters how to recognize the warning signs of an abusive relationship.
Teach them that jealousy is not proof of love.
Teach them that a boyfriend demanding to know where they are every minute of the day is not necessarily being protective.
Teach them that someone checking their phone, tracking their location, isolating them from friends, or telling them what they can wear is displaying controlling behavior.
Teach them that a man who constantly insults them, embarrasses them, or makes them feel small is not treating them with love.
Teach them that they never have to earn respect by tolerating mistreatment.
But parents, we cannot stop with our daughters.
We must teach our sons not to become abusers.
Teach your sons that women are not property.
Teach them that being a man does not mean being in control of another human being.
Teach them that anger does not give them permission to hurt someone.
Teach them to respect boundaries.
Teach them to treat their girlfriends with dignity, kindness, and respect long before they ever become husbands.
Teach them that marriage is a partnership, not a dictatorship.
Genesis 1:27 reminds us that both male and female were created in the image of God.
That means a woman’s dignity and worth are not less than a man’s.
A godly man does not need to intimidate a woman to feel powerful.
A godly man understands that love and respect go hand in hand.
And our children need to see that example in the home.
You Never Know What the Woman Sitting Next to You Is Going Through
I want you to think about the women you encounter every day.
The woman sitting beside you at church.
The cashier at the grocery store.
Your coworker.
Your neighbor.
The mother standing beside you at your child’s school.
She may be laughing.
She may be beautifully dressed.
She may seem like she has everything together.
But you do not know what happened in her home the night before.
You do not know whether she has bruised ribs.
You do not know whether her back is covered in black-and-blue marks.
You do not know whether she cried herself to sleep.
Abusers often hurt women in places where the bruises can be hidden.
And sometimes they do not care who sees the injuries.
A woman may be punched in the mouth, slapped across the face, or publicly humiliated.
Then she may be expected to get up the next morning and pretend everything is normal.
So instead of judging her, be her friend.
Listen to her.
Believe her.
Do not shame her.
Do not tell her she is stupid for staying.
Do not pressure her to leave before she has a way to do so safely.
Ask how you can help.
Sometimes having one person who believes you can make all the difference in the world.
Galatians 6:2 says:
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (KJV)
That is what Christians should be doing.
Not judging.
Not blaming.
Not looking the other way.
But helping carry the burdens of people who are suffering.
Churches Need to Be Safe Places for Abused Women
I want to say something to pastors, church leaders, and fellow Christians.
Please be careful what you tell a woman who comes to you and says her husband is abusing her.
Do not simply tell her to pray harder.
Do not automatically tell her to be more submissive.
Do not make her feel that protecting herself and her children means she is disappointing God.
Prayer is powerful. I believe that with all my heart.
But a woman can pray while also making a plan to get somewhere safe.
Faith and action can go together.
Proverbs 22:3 tells us:
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (KJV)
Recognizing danger and taking steps toward safety is not a failure of faith.
Churches should be places where abused women can find compassion, practical help, and protection.
I am grateful that I eventually found a church that recognized the seriousness of what I was experiencing.
A church that did not tell me to keep enduring the beatings.
A church that helped me understand that I needed to make a plan to leave.
Those words gave me hope when I desperately needed it.
God Showed Me That Good Men Still Exist
My story did not end with my first marriage.
And for that, I am incredibly grateful.
After escaping that abusive relationship, I eventually dated a man who treated me with kindness and respect.
Our relationship did not last, but I will always appreciate what that experience showed me.
There were good men in the world.
Men who could disagree without becoming violent.
Men who could treat a woman with respect.
Men who did not need to control or intimidate someone to feel secure.
And then, later in life, I met my second husband.
What an amazing blessing he has been.
I am so grateful that God put him in my path.
He has shown me what it means to be loved and respected in a marriage.
What it means to feel safe.
What it means to have a husband who treats you as a partner rather than someone he needs to control.
I share this because I want women to know that abuse does not have to define the rest of their lives.
There can be peace after fear.
There can be joy after pain.
There can be healing after trauma.
And whether or not another relationship is ever part of your future, you deserve a life where you are safe, respected, and free from abuse.
Domestic Violence Awareness Should Not End on October 31
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but domestic violence does not take a break during the other eleven months of the year.
Please remember the women and children living in shelters.
Remember the women who escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Remember the mothers who are trying to rebuild their lives while protecting their children.
If you can, donate to a local domestic violence shelter in your county.
Give money.
Give clothing or household necessities that the shelter has requested.
Give your time.
Ask what they need most.
And please remember these shelters throughout the entire year, not just during the holidays.
Holidays, major celebrations, and sporting events can be especially stressful or dangerous in some abusive homes. What should be a joyful occasion may become another time of fear for a woman living with violence.
Whether it is Christmas, New Year’s, summer holidays, or Super Bowl Sunday, remember that not every family is celebrating behind closed doors.
Some are simply trying to survive.
To the Woman Who Is Being Abused Right Now
If you are reading this and you are living with an abusive husband or boyfriend, I want to speak directly to you.
You are not worthless.
You are not ugly.
You are not stupid.
You are not unlovable.
You are not the terrible things he has called you.
You are a woman created in the image of God.
You have value.
You have dignity.
And you deserve to live without fear.
Please understand that you cannot love someone enough to make him stop abusing you.
You cannot be quiet enough, pretty enough, thin enough, obedient enough, or perfect enough to prevent another person’s decision to use violence.
His abuse is his responsibility.
Not yours.
And if you are not able to leave today, that does not make you weak.
I understand.
I have been there.
Sometimes you need time.
Sometimes you need money.
Sometimes you need help.
Sometimes you need a carefully thought-out safety plan.
Please reach out to a trusted person or a domestic violence advocate who can help you make that plan safely. Leaving can be a particularly dangerous time, especially when an abuser has threatened violence or is monitoring your movements.
If your phone or car is being tracked, seek advice about communicating safely before making changes that might alert him.
Do not announce your plans to an abusive partner if doing so could put you in danger.
You do not need to have everything figured out before asking for help.
And please remember that you do not have to wait until he hurts you again to deserve safety.
My Final Message: Please Stop Judging and Start Helping
I have lived through the terror of domestic violence.
I have prayed through beatings.
I have feared for my life.
I have worried about what would happen to my daughter.
I have listened to people tell me to stay.
And I have experienced the freedom of finally getting out.
That is why I will never stop advocating for battered women.
That is why I will never be silent when someone blames a woman for staying with an abusive man.
And that is why I want every woman reading this to understand one simple truth.
God never wanted you to be beaten.
He never commanded a husband to terrorize his wife.
He never said that marriage required a woman to endure violence.
And He never said that being a good Christian meant allowing someone to destroy you.
Psalm 34:18 says:
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (KJV)
To the woman who is suffering, I pray you find safety, support, and the opportunity to begin a new chapter.
To the woman who has escaped, I pray you continue to heal.
To the woman who is quietly planning her way out, I pray that trustworthy people and safe resources come alongside you.
And to everyone else, I ask you to stop saying, “Why doesn’t she just leave?”
Instead, ask:
“Why is he abusing her, and what can I do to help her be safe?”
Because the next woman you judge may be fighting for her life.
And the kindness you show her today may help her find a way to survive tomorrow.
I know.
Because I was once that woman.
And by the grace of God, I am still here to tell my story.
If You or Someone You Love Needs Help
In the United States, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline:
Trained advocates can help with safety planning, finding local resources, and exploring options. If your internet or phone use is being monitored, try to contact them from a safer device.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 when it is safe to do so.
Domestic violence is never the victim’s fault. You deserve safety. You deserve respect. And you deserve to live.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please share this message. You never know whose life it might touch.
Here is a link to all domestic violence shelters within the United States
Have you ever watched a baby stare intently at an empty corner of a room, smiling as though someone is smiling back?
Or heard a small child speak about Jesus with such certainty and simplicity that it makes you wonder what they understand or perhaps what they see, that we adults have forgotten how to notice?
There is something beautiful about the faith of a child.
Children have not yet learned to analyze everything. They haven’t built all the walls that adulthood can bring. They haven’t suffered disappointments, stress, strain, so they are seeing everything with new eyes, trusting eyes. They don’t always need an explanation before they believe. Their hearts can be open to wonder, trust, and the possibility that there is more around us than what our physical eyes can see.
And perhaps there is a lesson for us there.
They See With Different Eyes
The Bible tells us that the spiritual world is real even though we cannot ordinarily see it with our physical eyes.
In 2 Kings 6, Elisha’s servant was terrified because an enemy army surrounded them. Elisha knew, however, that they were not alone.
He prayed:
“Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” — 2 Kings 6:17
Then God opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw what had been there all along the mountain filled with horses and chariots of fire.
The reality didn’t suddenly appear. His eyes were simply opened to it.
That passage makes me think about children.
We should be careful about claiming with certainty what a baby or young child is seeing when they gaze, smile, point, or talk about Jesus. But their openness can remind us of something Scripture clearly teaches: there is more to God’s reality than what our natural eyes perceive.
Jesus Welcomed the Little Children
Jesus had a special tenderness toward children.
When people brought little children to Him and the disciples tried to send them away, Jesus said:
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” — Mark 10:14
Then He said something even more challenging:
“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” — Mark 10:15
Jesus wasn’t telling us to become childish.
He was showing us something about childlike faith.
A little child reaches for the hand of someone they trust without first demanding to know every detail of the journey.
That’s the kind of trust God desires from us.
Maybe We Have Learned to Look Too Hard
As adults, we want evidence.
We want answers.
We want to understand how, when, and why.
And when we cannot understand something, we sometimes struggle to believe it.
Children can be different.
They can accept mystery without needing to solve it.
Maybe that is part of what we’ve lost.
We become so dependent upon what we can see with our physical eyes that we forget Paul’s words:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7
Faith doesn’t mean ignoring truth or abandoning wisdom. It means trusting God even when we cannot see the entire picture.
Sometimes our physical eyes can actually distract us from seeing spiritually.
We look at the impossible circumstances.
We look at the diagnosis.
We look at the empty bank account.
We look at the broken relationship.
We look at everything that tells us God couldn’t possibly be working.
Meanwhile, faith whispers:
Look again.
We Need That Blind Faith
Maybe what we need is a little more of that childlike, “blind” faith—not blindness to truth, but trust before sight.
Faith that says:
Jesus, I cannot see You, but I know You are here.
I don’t understand what You’re doing, but I trust You.
I cannot see the road ahead, but I will take Your hand.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
There it is again:
Things not seen.
I created this image using AI
The Christian life has never been about believing only what our eyes can prove.
It is about learning to see with the heart.
Lord, Open Our Eyes
Maybe instead of dismissing the wonder of children, we should allow it to challenge us.
When a little child talks freely about Jesus, perhaps we should listen.
When their prayers are simple and confident, perhaps we should learn from them.
When they believe Jesus loves them without requiring a theological explanation of every detail, perhaps we should remember what it felt like simply to trust.
Children don’t have all the answers.
Neither do we.
But Jesus never said we needed all the answers before coming to Him.
He asked us to believe.
Perhaps our prayer should be the same prayer Elisha prayed so long ago:
“Lord, open our eyes.”
Open our eyes to Your presence.
Open our eyes to Your goodness.
Open our eyes to what You’ve been doing while we’ve been worrying.
Open our eyes to the miracles we’ve stopped noticing.
Open our eyes to the spiritual reality beyond what we can touch and see.
And give us hearts like little children again—hearts willing to trust You before we understand everything.
Because maybe the faith that seems blind to this world is the very faith through which our eyes finally begin to open.
A Prayer
Jesus, give me the heart of a child.
Remove the doubt, fear, and distractions that keep me from recognizing Your presence. Teach me to trust You when I cannot see You and to believe when I don’t understand.
Lord, open the eyes of my heart.
Help me walk by faith and not merely by what my natural eyes can see. Give me that simple, beautiful, childlike trust that reaches for Your hand and knows You are near.
And when I become too busy, too skeptical, or too distracted to notice You, remind me to become still again.
There are many people we may call friends throughout our lives. Some walk with us for years, while others are present only for a season. Some know parts of our story, and a precious few know us deeply.
But there is one Friend unlike any other: Jesus.
Jesus does not simply offer us help from a distance. He invites us into a relationship with Him. He knows our hearts, understands our struggles, sees our failures, and still calls us His own.
In John 15:15, Jesus tells His disciples:
“I have called you friends.”
What an extraordinary thought. The Savior of the world—the One who has all authority and power—chooses to call His followers friends.
A Friend Who Knows Us Completely
Human friendships have limits. Even the people closest to us cannot fully know everything happening inside our hearts.
Jesus does.
He knows the prayers we struggle to put into words. He knows the disappointments we hide behind a smile. He knows our fears, questions, hopes, weaknesses, and dreams.
And His knowledge of us does not cause Him to turn away.
Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows when we sit down and when we rise, understands our thoughts, and is acquainted with all our ways. There is tremendous comfort in realizing that we never have to pretend with Jesus.
We can come to Him exactly as we are.
A Friend Who Stays
Some of life’s hardest moments reveal how much we need a faithful friend.
There are seasons when people may not understand what we’re going through. There are moments of loneliness, grief, uncertainty, or change when we desperately need someone who will simply remain.
Jesus remains.
He promised:
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5
His presence is not dependent on our circumstances. When life is joyful, He is there. When everything feels uncertain, He is there. When our faith feels strong, He is there. Even when we struggle, He is still there.
Jesus is not a fair-weather friend.
He is faithful.
A Friend We Can Talk to About Everything
One of the beautiful things about friendship is conversation. Good friends don’t only speak when something is wrong. They share ordinary moments, celebrations, questions, worries, and hopes.
Our relationship with Jesus can be the same.
Prayer doesn’t have to consist of perfectly chosen words. We can simply talk with Him.
We can tell Him, “Lord, I’m afraid.”
We can say, “Jesus, I don’t know what to do.”
We can whisper, “Thank You for this beautiful day.”
We can admit, “I’m struggling to trust You right now.”
Jesus welcomes honest hearts.
Philippians 4:6 encourages us to bring everything to God in prayer. Everything means there is no concern too small and no burden too large to bring before Him.
A Friend Who Tells Us the Truth
A true friend doesn’t simply tell us what we want to hear. A true friend loves us enough to tell us what we need to hear.
Jesus does that too.
His friendship is comforting, but it is also transforming.
He corrects us when our hearts wander. He challenges selfishness, pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, and sin. He calls us toward holiness, obedience, mercy, and love.
But His correction is never separated from His love.
Jesus loves us where we are, yet He loves us too much to leave us unchanged.
The closer we walk with Him, the more He shapes our hearts to become like His.
A Friend Who Gave Everything
The greatest evidence of Jesus’ friendship is the cross.
Jesus said:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
Then He did exactly that.
Jesus didn’t merely speak about love. He demonstrated it.
At the cross, He willingly gave His life for sinners. He carried our sin and shame so that we could receive forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life.
That is a friendship unlike anything this world can offer.
When we wonder whether Jesus truly loves us, we can look toward the cross.
The answer has already been given.
Yes.
When You Feel Alone, Remember Your Friend
Maybe today you feel surrounded by people.
Or maybe today feels painfully lonely.
Perhaps you’re walking through something that no one else seems to understand.
Remember this:
You can talk to Jesus.
When you’re afraid, talk to Him.
When you’re confused, talk to Him.
When you’ve failed, run to Him rather than away from Him.
When something wonderful happens, celebrate with Him.
When your heart is hurting and you don’t know what to say, simply sit in His presence.
Jesus is Savior and Lord, but Scripture also gives us this wonderfully personal truth:
In Jesus, we have a Friend.
A Friend who knows us.
A Friend who listens.
A Friend who corrects us.
A Friend who forgives.
A Friend who stays.
A Friend who loved us enough to give His life for us.
And whatever season of life we find ourselves walking through, we never have to walk through it without Him.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being more than a Savior we know about. Thank You for inviting us to know You personally. Thank You for staying near when we are lonely, listening when we pray, forgiving us when we fail, and loving us more deeply than we can understand.
Help us to walk with You each day—not only coming to You when life is difficult, but sharing every part of our lives with You. Teach us to trust Your heart, listen to Your voice, and become more like You.
Thank You, Jesus, for the precious Friend we have in You.
Part 3 of 4: Israel, the Church, and God’s Unfolding Kingdom
One of the most debated questions in Bible prophecy is this:
What is God’s plan for Israel, and where does the Church fit into that plan?
To answer that question, we must remember something important:
God never breaks His promises.
Israel’s Rejection Was Not God’s Defeat
When Jesus came to Israel, many believed in Him, but the nation as a whole rejected Him as their Messiah.
Did that mean God’s promises to Israel were canceled?
The Apostle Paul answers with a resounding:
“Certainly not!” (Romans 11:1)
God had not abandoned His people.
Instead, something remarkable happened.
The Gospel began spreading to the Gentiles, and the Church was born.
What Is the Church?
The Church is not simply a building or denomination.
It is the body of Christ, made up of every believer Jew and Gentile alike who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul describes believers as being “one new man” in Christ (Ephesians 2:15), united by grace rather than nationality.
The Church shares in the spiritual blessings of God’s promises through Christ.
But Scripture never says the Church replaces Israel.
Instead, God is accomplishing His purposes through both according to His perfect plan.
Has God Finished with Israel?
Romans chapters 9–11 provide one of the clearest answers in Scripture.
Paul writes:
“Has God rejected His people? By no means!”
He goes on to explain that Israel has experienced a temporary hardening until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Then God’s redemptive work with Israel will continue according to His covenant promises.
The same God who promised Abraham a nation…
The same God who promised David an everlasting throne…
Is the same God who always keeps His Word.
His faithfulness never changes.
Looking Toward the Kingdom
Today we live in the age of God’s grace as the Gospel continues to spread throughout the world.
But this is not the end of the story.
The Bible points forward to a future restoration, the return of Christ, the defeat of evil, and the establishment of His righteous Kingdom.
God’s plan has never been divided.
It has always been moving toward one glorious destination:
The return of the King.
Coming Next…
In our final message, we will explore what the Bible says about Christ’s return, His Kingdom, the new heavens and new earth, and why every believer can live with confidence and hope today.
The promise of a coming King became even clearer through another covenant this time with a shepherd who became Israel’s greatest king.
A King After God’s Heart
David was far from perfect, yet God chose him for a remarkable purpose.
In 2 Samuel 7, God made a covenant unlike any before it. He promised David that one of his descendants would sit on his throne forever.
Not for one generation.
Not for one dynasty.
Forever.
This wasn’t merely about Solomon or the kings of Judah. It pointed to Someone far greater.
The prophets understood this promise. They looked beyond their own day to a future King who would reign with perfect justice, righteousness, and peace.
The Prophets Kept the Hope Alive
As Israel drifted from God, the kingdom divided, and eventually both Israel and Judah were taken into exile.
It seemed as though God’s promises had failed.
But the prophets declared otherwise.
Isaiah foretold:
“For unto us a Child is born…and the government shall be upon His shoulder…Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David…” (Isaiah 9:6–7)
Jeremiah promised a Righteous Branch from David’s line.
Ezekiel spoke of one Shepherd who would rule God’s people forever.
Micah even identified the Messiah’s birthplace Bethlehem hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
Generation after generation, God reminded His people:
The King is still coming.
Jesus Fulfills the Promise
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he echoed God’s covenant with David:
“The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David…and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32–33)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
He came from the family line of David.
He fulfilled prophecy after prophecy that no ordinary man could accomplish.
Yet many expected a political ruler who would overthrow Rome.
Instead, Jesus came first to conquer something far greater than earthly empires , sin and death.
His first coming fulfilled the promises of the suffering Messiah.
His second coming will fulfill the promises of the reigning King.
Looking Ahead
Jesus came exactly as the prophets foretold.
But many of God’s Kingdom promises are still awaiting their complete fulfillment.
What happened when Israel rejected her Messiah?
Where does the Church fit into God’s unfolding plan?
Those questions lead us into Part Three, where we will explore the relationship between Israel, the Church, and God’s unfolding Kingdom plan.
Part 1 of 4: The Story Begins : God’s Promise of a Kingdom
The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories. It is one grand narrative one divine plan that stretches from Genesis to Revelation. Every page points to one central truth: God is restoring His Kingdom through His chosen King, Jesus Christ.
To understand the future, we must first understand the beginning.
In the Beginning
When God created the heavens and the earth, everything was perfect. Humanity was created in His image to live in fellowship with Him and to rule over creation as His representatives (Genesis 1:26–28). Eden was more than a beautiful garden it was the first picture of God’s Kingdom on earth.
But everything changed.
Adam and Eve chose rebellion over obedience, and sin entered the world. Death, suffering, and separation from God followed. At first glance, it appeared that God’s Kingdom plan had failed.
It hadn’t.
Even in humanity’s darkest moment, God made an incredible promise.
In Genesis 3:15, often called the first prophecy of the Messiah, God declared that one day the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. Satan would wound Him, but ultimately the promised Deliverer would defeat evil forever.
From that moment on, the Bible becomes the story of finding that promised King.
God’s Covenant with Abraham
Generations later, God called an ordinary man named Abraham and made extraordinary promises.
God promised Abraham three things:
A great nation.
A specific land.
That through his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
This covenant was unconditional. God Himself guaranteed it.
Through Abraham came Isaac.
Through Isaac came Jacob.
Through Jacob came the twelve tribes of Israel.
Israel was chosen not because they were greater than other nations—but because God intended to use them to bring His redemption to the entire world.
The promised King would come through Abraham’s family.
Why Israel Matters
Throughout Scripture, Israel is not an accident of history.
It is central to God’s unfolding plan.
Through Israel came:
The Law.
The Prophets.
The Temple.
The covenants.
And ultimately…the Messiah.
Paul reminds us in Romans 9 that to Israel belonged the covenants, the promises, the worship, and that from them came Christ according to the flesh.
God’s promises to Israel reveal His faithfulness. If He breaks His promises to Israel, how could we trust His promises to us?
Looking Ahead
The Old Testament is not merely history.
It is anticipation.
Every prophet, every sacrifice, every covenant points toward one coming King who will establish God’s Kingdom forever.
In Part Two, we will discover God’s covenant with David, why the Messiah had to come from David’s royal line, and how Jesus fulfills promises made nearly one thousand years before His birth.
Because this story has always been about one King…
There is a reason the Bible remains the most read and best-selling book in human history. It isn’t a dusty relic of it’s a living, breathing story that connects your life straight to the heart of God. Join us as we trace His unbreakable promises…
Scripture tells one unfolding story: the arrival of a King and the establishment of His Kingdom. In this study, we will trace God’s covenant promises from Abraham to Jesus’ return, exploring where Israel and the Church fit into the future. Dive into prophecy and uncover the ultimate truth driving all of history—the King is coming back.
