In the midst of her insecurities, her distracted heart, and her sleepy eyes, He came with truth, redemption, and purpose.

There was a time in my life when studying the Bible felt like foreign territory and a massive, unattainable goal. My schedule seemed to be “jam-packed” and I was unwilling to forfeit a little bit of extra sleep to read the Word. At this point, I hadn’t really tasted and seen with my own eyes how good God is and how Scripture would change my life and become the bread and water to my existence. This time was in middle school – those awkward years where everyone is trying to figure out who they are and exploring their identity. Middle school was a strange time for me, like it is for most people. I was teetering between living a sold out life for Christ and falling headfirst into the ways of the world. Praise God He pulled me back when I was about to jump in, and He captivated me with Jesus. These clumsy years were actually used by God to be the foundation He used to begin to show me that time with Him wasn’t a waste, it was a necessity to living fully.

We’ve have loved studying Flourish the past six weeks with you. We’re recapping week Six on Kindness and Goodness, and praying that we would believe He is our true Good. Here’s a look at week Seven: Faithfulness and Gentleness. We pray that our faithful God will draw near to you and gently encourage your heart this week.

When the reality of the storm threatened the disciples’ little kingdom, they forgot the strength of God who was with them on the boat. They let fear rule their hearts and doubted the love of their friend, Lord, teacher and master. They doubted His goodness because the reality of the situation seemed too much to handle. But Christ was always there – just as He was – and that was enough.

We’ve so enjoyed studying Flourish the past three weeks. We’re recapping our week Three on Joy, and asking the Lord to reveal His grace to us so that we can walk forward, rejoicing always. Here’s a look at week four: Peace. We pray that the peace of God that passes all understanding would guard your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus.