Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

As we end our time together, I want to share a powerful picture God showed me when I was walking through one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I’m not really a “see some sort of vision” kind of girl. So at first, I thought it was just my imagination wandering off for a minute. But then I felt an impression on my heart that this really was from God. What I saw inside my mind was a beautiful...

Yesterday we talked about trusting God in the midst of both sorrow and celebration. But I think we can all admit that it’s hard not to feel suspicious of God when our circumstances don’t seem to line up with His promises. And it’s difficult not to doubt the light of His truth when everything around us looks dark. That’s why I want us to look at Psalm 57 – a passage penned by David in the midst of...

There’s no part of me that wants sorrow to be a part of my story. There isn’t any plan God could present where I would willingly agree to heartbreak and pain. But the longer I walk with the Lord, the more I see what a tragedy that would be. Picking and choosing what gets to be part of my story would keep me from the ultimate good God has in mind. James 1:2–4 reminds us; “Consider it pure joy, my b...

I don’t doubt God is real and that God is good. But I often pray, “God, give me relief from my unbelief.” I pray this when what He allows into my life does not feel good or seem good to me. When we assume we know what a good God would do, and He doesn’t do it? That’s the complicated place where doubts are formed and we can be tempted to distance ourselves from God. I’m reminded of Peter—a man who...

Part of what makes healing so hard is the deep ache left behind after the trauma. Loss envelops us with a grief that comes in unpredictable waves. It’s hard to know if you’re getting better when a string of good days suddenly gives way to an unexpected emotional crash. It’s in those moments where I find myself whispering… Am I going to feel like this forever? Is it always going to hurt this much?...

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shallow is be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6 KJV Most of us have experienced passing moments of fear and anxiety that overcome us with dread. But for many, this frightening physical response is a way of life. Anxiety dis...

Be not silent, O God of my praise! —Psalm 109:1 ESV Diehard sports fans are passionate when they celebrate their favorite team. They put on the jersey and paint their faces. They clap and cheer with all their might. If their team is playing well, there’s no holding back. But the cheering stops, and the stadium becomes silent when the score is not in their favor. 2 Samuel 6:14-23 tells the story of...

For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them. —Deuteronomy 4:31 ESV Do you ever wonder if you’ve blown it too many times or wandered too far from God for Him to forgive you? Maybe you loved Jesus a lot when you were little, but you’ve been doing things your own way for so long, you can’t imagine Him tak...

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14 ESV There are many religious traditions in the world today, each with a different view of deity and their own path to enlightenment. People spend their lives trying to reach their “god” with no assurance they ever will. But we do not need to strain and s...

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. —Psalm 57:2 ESV Purpose. It’s a powerful word. We’re all searching for answers to life’s big questions. Why am I here? Where am I going? What’s it all about? Is there someone somewhere who can help me figure it all out? When Samuel the prophet showed up and announced to a young shepherd boy named David that God had chosen him to b...

For every good night’s sleep, another tomorrow will come with its own set of challenges. Just like your alarm clock or phone alarm, stress will sound its alarms in your life every day. You can plan ahead, however, and order your life so you are not suffering a constant train wreck of chaos and stress. You can choose to filter stressors so you are not swimming in their aftermath. People who swim in...

If there is any space at all under our beds, we usually stuff junk under there, out of sight, out of mind. It may or may not be precious to us. I want to keep the junk under my bed, but my husband wants to throw it away. Did you know that most of us stuff more than actual objects under our “beds,” so to speak? Most of us are trying to sleep on top of our emotional junk, too, but it never works! Le...

Sometimes you can create the perfect refuge in your bedroom, will yourself to bed and master all your monsters, yet you still can’t get to sleep. The reason is that sometimes the chaos that keeps you awake once you crawl into bed continues, either outside your window or inside your head. You see things on the news, or you read things on social media that create a political or cultural theatre far...

Remember the Disney Pixar movie Monsters, Inc., which introduced a hidden world of monsters that generated energy by scaring human children, even though the movie was a comedy? Kids were toxic to these monsters’ plans for world bedtime domination. As adults, we have overcome our fear of monsters in our closets. Or have we? Indeed, entities are hiding just out of sight—not in your closet, but in th...

From Give It To God And Go To Bed by Laura Harris Smith on YouVersion Matthew 6:25-32 ESV “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Fathe...

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. – John 19:39 ESV Nicodemus didn’t come with a testimony. He didn’t arrive with a miracle story or a bold proclamation. He just came. And for a while, it looked like he faded into the background. We don’t hear from him after his quiet conversation with Jesus—until...

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” – John 3:21 ESV Nicodemus came to Jesus in the shadows. But shadows don’t stay shadows when you’ve been with the Light. We meet him first in John 3—coming quietly, seeking truth under cover of night. Then again in John 7—cautiously speaking up for Jesus among religious lea...

From Faith In The Dark on YouVersion O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. – Psalm 5:3 ESV Nicodemus opened his mouth and said one word: “Rabbi.” It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t a sermon. It wasn’t even a clear confession of faith. But it was something. That one word held more than syllables—it held longing. It said: “I see something in You.” “...

From Faith In The Dark on YouVersion a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. -Isaiah 42:3 ESV Nicodemus didn’t just come at night—he came with reverence. He called Jesus, Rabbi. He acknowledged the miracles. He even said, “God must be with You.” His heart was drawn in, but his actions were cautious. Though he was curi...

From Faith In The Dark on YouVersion Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus...

God’s not dead and he’s not done! Your life may look or feel like an unfinished painting—a huge mess with pieces missing. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 ESV God wants you to know that although you may not be able to see it, He is still at work. He’s still doing a creative and brilliant wo...

You may have heard it before: life is hard; God is good. This statement is far more than a cliché: it’s a strong and solid theological truth. Some incredibly smart people have wrestled with such questions as, “if God is good, then why does this happen? Why is injustice allowed, and why can life be so hard?” Those really smart people concluded that life is hard AND God is good. One doesn’t cancel o...

For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. – Psalm 5:12 ESV Seeking God’s goodness daily helps us to expect good things to show up in our lives. God’s goodness isn’t hiding, and his favor doesn’t make limited appearances . . . we just have to have eyes that seek to find. We’re not always keenly aware of God’s favor, which is why the Apostle Paul prayed for his...

God’s favor flows as naturally into our lives as a father’s favor flows into the lives of his children. (And He is the greatest picture of a father you could ever dream of or imagine.) God loves you. He considers you his kid, and that makes you a generational recipient of his blessing. and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthian...

From Believing God Is Good No Matter What by Kevin Gerald on YouVersion Some people assume God is angry most of the time and that his favor only lasts a moment, but the Bible tells us it’s just the opposite! You are always the apple of His eye even when you feel like spoiled fruit. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes wi...