READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; 14:25-31

I don’t want to doubt, But sometimes the questions, They’re stronger than I want them to be. I don’t want to ignore, The many works, the many ways, You’ve proven yourself already. I want to be strong, But sometimes it’s all too heavy, I feel like I’m carrying a great load on my own. I don’t want to doubt, But sometimes I feel like Peter on the water, And everything I face is more than I can handle. God, take my doubt, Turn it into faith, Let me believe that you will act. God, take my doubt, Even when I struggle, when life is hard, Let me see you. God, take my doubt, When I’m held by you, strengthened by you, I know that I’ll be okay. • Emily Acker

• Like Jesus reached out to save Peter when he was sinking beneath the waves, Jesus reaches out for us (Matthew 14:31). He came to rescue us from sin and death by dying for us and rising again. Can you think of a time you felt overwhelmed, and Jesus helped you? What was that like?

• Throughout our lives, we will all have doubts related to our faith. Thankfully, whether we’re doubting because we’re going through something difficult or we simply have questions, God invites us to open ourselves up to Him and tell Him all about what we’re thinking and feeling. It can be so freeing to be honest with Him. He is never surprised or dismayed, and His love for us remains strong and sure. Consider taking some time to talk to Him now.

Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 63; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10-12; 1 PETER 2

Do you long to deepen your relationship with God? Does your soul hunger and thirst for Him as David described in Psalm 63? I don’t know about you, but since I trusted Jesus to be my Savior before age five, I’ve known I need to go deeper with God and continually mature in my faith.

Although I’ve been a follower of Christ for over thirty years, I still desire to grow in my faith, study the Word accurately, and allow the Holy Spirit to move His knowledge from my head to my heart. Sometimes, I’m still surprised by the things I don’t yet know, or the times I realize I haven’t had an accurate view of something in Scripture.

Growing up in church, I often heard, “The Bible is God’s love letter to us,” “The Bible is God’s instruction book for our lives,” etc. Recently, I was astounded to learn that I’ve been thinking about things a bit backward: first and foremost, the Bible is a book about God Himself. It dawned on me that we live in such a me-centered culture that we’ve even made the Bible about us instead of about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our three-in-one God.

Beyond this, the Bible is God’s story—with the themes of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration running throughout it. God created the world. Then Adam and Eve sinned, thus the Fall. But through Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection from the grave we can have redemption. And one day when Jesus returns, all will be restored. However, these four themes are not only in Genesis, the Gospels, and Revelation. They’re also woven through all the books and stories in the Bible—we just need to train our eyes to look for them.

Upon learning these things, I decided to read my Bible cover to cover in a new way. Instead of my typical prayer, “God, what do you have to say to me today?” I pray, “God, show me who You are.” I thought I had grasped the depth of God’s heart, understood His love and justice, etc., but I realized I had only scratched the surface. As I read, underlining each name of God and His character traits, He has opened even deeper wells to show me who He is. • Savannah Coleman

• Can you think of a time you realized you had misunderstood something in the Bible? How did God help you understand it better? None of us will ever “arrive,” no matter how much knowledge we obtain about God or how well we utilize that knowledge. There will always be opportunities to dive deeper. So let’s suit up and get our flippers on!

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 10:14; JOHN 1:12; ROMANS 8:14-23; HEBREWS 4:14-16; JAMES 1:5

What do marshmallows and missing dads have to do with each other? In one study in the 1970s, researchers asked a group of preschoolers if they wanted one marshmallow right then or two marshmallows a few minutes later. Some kids snatched one marshmallow right away, and others waited so they could have two. As they grew up, the kids who waited for two marshmallows generally made better life choices than those who ate one right away. And researchers found a pattern: children who ate their marshmallows right away—and later made poorer decisions in life—very often had a more unstable home life, and many did not have a dad at home.

If you don’t have a dad at home, you may be thinking, “I make wise decisions all the time, thank you very much.” I know. I get it. That study irritates me too, because I grew up without a dad, and I’d like to think of myself as wise. But the scary truth is, as an adult, I might make wiser, stronger choices if I’d had a dad at home when I was a kid.

But the good news is, God is faithful, and He wants to be our Father. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can have a restored relationship with God, and that means we have full access to our heavenly Father’s love and wisdom.

In the Bible, lots of people didn’t have an earthly father, such as Esther and Joash. A cousin raised Esther, and God chose her to become queen of a pagan nation and save her people from slaughter. An aunt raised Joash, and God raised him to power as the youngest king of Judah ever, even enabling Joash to throw off the yoke of a tyrant. While Esther and Joash may have lacked an earthly father’s guidance, God worked through them in situations that required His extraordinary wisdom. You can read their stories in the book of Esther and in 2 Chronicles 22–24.

While having a father on earth can be a tremendous blessing, having a heavenly Father is an even better one. Through Jesus, we can enjoy the love and guidance of a Father whose wisdom is available to all who ask...even to those who prefer their marshmallows now. • Holland Webb

• Why does everyone—whether they have an earthly father or not—need Jesus in order to make truly wise decisions? (Proverbs 2:6; Romans 3:10-24)

• Even though earthly fathers are imperfect, every believer in Jesus will always have a perfect heavenly Father. Does it comfort you to think of God as your Father? Why or why not?

A father to the fatherless…is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; JOHN 16:33; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

Fall is a season of change. You may notice the leaves changing from crisp green to brilliant red to crunchy brown. You might observe café menu boards switching from fruit smoothies to pumpkin spice lattes. But the biggest mark of change is often the start of the school year.

Every first day of school, I remember walking into the building with a strong grip on my backpack straps and my heart pounding like a banging gong. I didn’t want to feel nervous, but there were so many things to worry about. What if I didn’t have the same lunch hour as my friends and I ended up alone? What if my teachers weren’t understanding and my grades suffered? What if I had to go out of my comfort zone with presentations or group projects?

The Bible tells us over and over again not to worry. And honestly, as someone who has struggled with anxiety, that can be difficult to hear. Doesn’t God know how many things there are to worry about? And change, which inevitably means facing unknowns, is the definition of anxiety-inducing.

When I find myself spiraling into anxiety, I have learned to take deep breaths and remember Jesus. He’s with me, and He knows what I’m going through. He faced more than I’ll ever have to face, and while He often knew what was ahead, that didn’t make it any easier for Him. Jesus still had to experience the betrayal of friends, times of loneliness, and ultimately death on a cross. But then He rose again and made everything right.

You may already know you have a notoriously strict teacher or zero classes with friends. Come to Jesus with your burdensome worries and rest in His gift of peace. Even though you will experience challenges this year, Jesus will never leave you to go through them alone. • Hannah Chung

• What kinds of changes are you anticipating in the near future? As we experience change, it can help to remember that one thing will always stay the same: Jesus and His love for us.

• How are you feeling about the start of a new school year? Whether you are excited, anxious, overwhelmed, or all of the above, consider sharing your feelings with Jesus. Spending time with Him is the best way to prepare for a new season of life.

• When we’re facing changes or unknowns, how could it give us confidence to remember that Jesus already overcame death to offer us eternal life with Him, that He is more powerful than any changes we will face, and that He is with us no matter what?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 23:32-34; EPHESIANS 4:26; PHILIPPIANS 1:6

Anger flowed through me as I pinned my friend against a tree, her feet dangling two inches above the ground. My older brother, a football player, could barely pull me off Cathy. I don’t remember what I was angry about, but I do remember how anger controlled me.

I read the Bible and prayed daily, and I loved Jesus, but anger was a part of me as well. I’m not talking about righteous anger, the kind Jesus demonstrated when He drove the money changers away from the temple (John 2:14-17). No, I mean the kind of anger described in James 1:20: “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

Two years after I pinned Cathy against that tree, God started pursuing me about my anger. Finally I asked myself, “Why are you so angry?” I truly didn’t know. Later, God made it clear to me that my anger came from harboring unforgiveness in my heart. As I lay face-down before God, tears streaming down my face, I turned the whole sordid mess over to my Lord.

That wasn’t the end of my struggle with anger, but it was the beginning of the end. I would give my hurt over to the Lord, and then I would take it back. I did this again and again. But, the quicker I would give it back to the Lord, the easier it became to leave it all at His feet. As He slowly taught me to let go of my unforgiveness, I felt anger lose its grip on me.

If anyone has the right to harbor unforgiveness, it’s our heavenly Father. After all, we were responsible for nailing His perfect Son to a cross. Yet God extends mercy and grace to us without measure. In fact, it was through Jesus’s death and resurrection that God made the way for our sins to be forgiven. So, as Christians, we have no right to cling to unforgiveness. Instead we can come to Jesus with all our anger and trust Him to do His work in us. • Bonnie Haveman

• Can you think of a time you felt overwhelmed by anger? What was that like?

• Anger is not a sin in itself, but sometimes we give in to temptation more easily when we’re angry (Ephesians 4:26). If you struggle to control your anger, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about it, such as a pastor, parent, counselor, or youth leader?

• Can you think of a time you were angry and didn’t know why? Consider asking God to show you what is (or was) making you angry. You can bring Him any hurts, confess any sins that come to mind, rest in His sure forgiveness, and ask Him to guide you in how to move forward (1 John 1:9).

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

READ: ECCLESIASTES 7:10; JOHN 10:10; ROMANS 8:28-39; EPHESIANS 2:7-10

It was my junior year of high school, and I was miserable. The I-don’t-want-to-be-here leave-me-alone kind of miserable. I was supposed to be back at school with my friends in Kenya, where my parents were missionaries. Then the difficult decision was made not to return. I was devastated. So, I shut down. Like a robot, I would get up and go to school every day. At night, I would pour out my heart in letters to my friends in Africa where life was going on without me.

One day at school I was in the girls’ bathroom having a good cry when my classmate Sheryl walked in. Noticing my puffy eyes, she asked if I was okay, and I blurted out everything. Sheryl listened like I was the most important person in the world and what I had to say mattered.

Sheryl and her family had also lived in Africa but had to leave because of unsafe conditions. Looking me in the eyes, she spoke truth over me: Africa was in the past for both of us. She encouraged me to live in the right here and now. At first, I didn’t want to hear it. But then the truth sank in. Without even realizing it, my tattered soul had been giving in to the enemy, Satan, who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came so that we would have life to the full! And deep down in my heart, I knew that to be true.

After that, I began to let my guard down and made some great friends. My junior and senior years were full of volleyball games, Thursday night Bible studies, play auditions, opportunities to sing, and so much more. I don’t think I would have ever even tried if Sheryl hadn’t nudged me to let go of the past and live life fully, without holding back. • Kelly Hope Parke

• Have you been through a major life change recently? Even seemingly minor changes, like moving from one grade to the next, can be challenging. And letting go of the way things used to be can be painful and difficult. The good news is, Jesus is with you through the whole process, offering His strength and comfort. He won’t let you go through this change alone. He is with you through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Consider spending some time in prayer, asking Jesus to help you grieve what’s behind you and embrace what’s in front of you, thanking Him for the good things that were and the good things that are yet to come.

[Jesus said,] “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 1:26-27; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7; 5:17

My first day in Psychology 101, the instructor said, “There is no such thing as normal.” That really took me by surprise, but I was glad to hear it because I had never considered myself normal. I saw myself as a high strung, mixed-up teenager who grew into a high-strung, mixed-up adult. Go figure.

But the truth is, God created me to be the person I am. He made each of us uniquely, and that’s a good thing. I’m not saying God wants us to wallow in our individual struggles and sin patterns—He doesn’t want me running around haphazardly, snapping at people, and wading through a river of worries and doubts. Instead, it’s like we’re diamonds in the rough, and God wants to shape us. Even though sin twists the talents and personalities God has given us, He still loves us, and He sees us as infinitely valuable. That’s why Jesus came to save and restore us through His death and resurrection. When we put our trust in Jesus, we become new creations, and His Spirit begins to transform every part of our personalities.

Obsessive planning and compulsive hard work can be transformed into a God-honoring and solid work ethic, adding to any project or team. An active imagination that’s prone to worry can be guided by God to come up with awesome ideas to creatively minister to others and uplift them. And even though being impulsive can lead us into trouble, impulsivity can be remade into the courage needed to try something new in our walk with Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul writes, “God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” I’ve always loved that verse because I don’t think God can find a more foolish person than me. Yet He works through imperfect people—people who are devoted to Him yet mess up every day—to do great things in His kingdom.

My psychology teacher was right: there is no such thing as normal. I suppose life would be boring if there were. God created each of us uniquely in His image, and He calls us to serve one another through our differences. And even though we’ll all struggle with sin until Jesus returns, we can have hope knowing the Holy Spirit is always working in us. • Sharon Rene

• How could it be helpful to remember there is no such thing as a “normal” human being?

• What is one thing you like about the way God made you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

READ: GENESIS 1:26-27; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20; 1 PETER 2:9

As I brushed my teeth, I examined the reflection of my nametag in the bathroom mirror. By now, the words were so familiar I could even read them backwards: “CHILD OF GOD.” I smiled as my other names echoed through my head: “Image-bearer.” “Chosen People.” “Ambassador.” “Temple of the Holy Spirit.” They each flashed onto my nametag briefly as I spat out my toothpaste before gathering my backpack and walking outside.

Today will be different, I told myself. Today, I will be kind. Today, I won’t sin. Today, I will remember that I am a Child of God. I kept this promise really well…at first. I made it all the way to the school bus. Then Mason called my shoes “ratty” and went on and on about how my parents couldn’t buy me new Jordans because they were poor.

I cringed as new nametags appeared elsewhere on my jacket, identifying me as “Ratty” and “Poor.” Burning with anger, I spat back, “At least my family cares about me! Your parents just buy you stuff to make you shut up!” A nametag with “Unloved” appeared on his sleeve as his fist collided with my nose. By the time the fight ended, we each had a few bruises, a week’s worth of detention, and several more unflattering nametags.

After school, I slumped onto my bed, exhausted. Why, Lord? Why can’t I control myself? Why am I such an awful sinner? I sighed as “Sinner” arrived on my chest. I just need to be better. I just need to try harder. I just need… Silence filled my head.

“You need Me,” Jesus’s voice answered.

One by one, the nametags I had accumulated throughout the day disappeared. With each one that left, a weight lifted off of my heart. Finally, nothing was left but my one, true nametag: “CHILD OF GOD.” • Taylor Eising

• Can you think of a time you felt like the characters in this allegorical story? According to today’s verses, who does Jesus say you are? What do you think it means to find our identity in Him? (If you want to dig deeper, read Ephesians 2.)

• When we sin, it’s easy to get frustrated with ourselves and resolve to try harder. But the truth is, no matter how hard we try, we’ll struggle with sin until Jesus returns. Thankfully, God loves us with an unending love. He calls us to bring our sin to Him, confess it, rest in His forgiveness, and let Him remind us of who we are in Jesus. Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about any sins that come to mind, and any nametags you’ve picked up that aren’t your true identity.

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name. John 1:12 (CSB)