Samuel was just a boy. He was serving in the temple under Eli, the priest, when he heard God’s call. Let’s explore how Samuel responded to God's voice and how we can listen attentively to God's call in our lives.

Hannah was heartbroken and without children. She prayed a heartfelt prayer of surrender to God, expressing her longing for a child and her willingness to dedicate him to God's service. Let’s consider the great power of surrendering our lives and future to God and His faithfulness to hear and answer our heartfelt petitions.

Joshua is about to serve and be courageous for all of Israel. But Joshua’s service is a secondary matter. The primary focus is that God will serve and be near to Joshua giving Joshua everything he needs. And, through Joshua, God will serve all of Israel giving them His assuring Word. We, like Joshua, need to be reminded that we can only be truly courageous when we let go and let God weave His way in and out of our lives.

What we dream for our relationships is often not how they turn out. When a relationship falls apart, what gives us the best chance at making things better? Jesus answers, “A tender heart.” Hurt creates hard hearts. But Jesus invites us to choose tenderness rather than hardness.

Children are a joy, but they can also be a challenge. Through the prophet Hosea, God speaks of His struggles with the children of Israel. His struggles can give us guidance and hope in our struggles.

Depression can hit when we least expect it. We are not the first generation to struggle with depression. In Psalm 88, the Psalmist offers a candid window into his own struggle with depression and his desperate cries to God.

Loss brings grief. This is true for Christians and non-Christians alike. The difference is that Christians grieve with hope. Grief is real, but hope is greater than grief.

Sickness can quickly detour our lives. We can no longer do the things we want to do, and we no longer have the energy to help the people we want to help. And like Naaman, we can become bitter. How do we tend to our bodies and souls during sickness?

A LinkedIn study from 2022 says that 85% of people are unhappy at work. Work can feel like a frustrating necessity rather than a fulfilling job. How do we find joy in what we do? We must learn to understand that our jobs are also callings from God.

When Jesus dies, it is not just him who feels forsaken by God. His disciples feel forsaken by God, too. But on Easter, Jesus’ cry of forsakenness melts aways in the reality of his resurrection.