Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

When we lived in Guinea, West Africa, we witnessed the beauty of hospitality. There’s even a proverb that states: “An unexpected visitor is like an unexpected rain.” . We lived through two seasons each year: six months of rainy season, and six months of dry season. We always loved the mango rainsthe rare, unexpected downpours that came out of nowhere during dry season. Children could be seen runni...

A storm is swirling around you, the winds howling. The rain falls hard from the sky, stinging you as it hits. Terrified, you cry out for help. Suddenly, something drapes over you. You are pulled close. You are covered in the shadow of the wings of God. Under the wings of your Savior, you find rEsther . Whether you’re going through actual physical storms in your lifetaking shelter because of a torn...

I’m great at trusting God until I have to. Trusting God is easy when things are going my way, but when I face a challenge or when life isn’t lining up the way it’s supposed to, I start trying to take matters into my own hands. I find myself trying to take controlmaking plans a, b, and ceffectively putting myself in God’s place and saying, I can do it better than You can. . Control can become an id...

On October 5, 1703, in East Windsor, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards was bornthe son of Timothy Edwards, a pastor, and Esther Edwards, his wife. Young Jonathan soon found himself surrounded by ten sisters, whobecause of their average height of six feetcame to be identified by the townsfolk as Timothy’s sixty feet of daughters. . Jonathan was a gifted child and progressed easily through his father’s...

Once there was a King whose wisdom and favor toward his subjects was renowned. From the highest mountain peak to the smallest village in the valley, the King’s care for His people and His justice in every area was praised. Day after day, the King’s people would approach His throne. The King had proven to be there in times of need, so they continued to ask for His help: . Oh Generous Ruler, my fami...

My grandmother had invited me to join her for a special event: the trip to the airport to pick up her brother, my uncle Barton. I felt grown up accompanying Nanny to the airport, so I decided to wear my favorite outfit with my new navy-blue loafers for the occasion. But Uncle Barton’s flight was delayed several times that day. As we waited, Nanny and I walked all around the small lobby area over a...

Have you ever been in the kind of situation where you were just screaming out to God, painfully aware that you needed Him with you? Have you ever been hurt or scared, and you needed to feel His presence to keep going? . Not too long ago, I was working in the kitchen when my finger slipped, and I was in a mess. I was panicking, worrying about how bad the damage was and whether or not I would have t...

She is leaving, and I feel so lost I didn’t want it to be this way, but it is Where are you, God? I am hurting, but you’re not healing I am falling, but you aren’t saving me With the psalmist, I cry out How long, LORD? At night, I toss and turn in my bed I open your Book, but I find no comfort Then I see the words, God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. A...

It was my turn to do laundry. At my house, wet laundry often gets hung out on a backyard clothesline to dry in the sunshine and breeze. Sometimes, though, we use our clothes dryer. But its timer broke years ago, so we have to set a separate timer when we use the dryer. . One afternoon, I was using the dryer and a load of laundry seemed slow to finish drying. I restarted it and reset my timer. When...

“Search me, God, and know my heart. When my heart doesn’t know itself. When my thoughts and my feelings are so jumbled and confused that I can’t see the truth through the fog. Every day, O Father, search me and know my heart. . Test me and know my anxious thoughts. When previously calm waters are ruffled by wind. When storms blow in and threaten to draw my focus from my Lord. When I’m restless and...

Kyle hesitated as he came to the doors of the library before opening them and slipping inside. Book dust wafted in the air, illuminated by golden shafts of light that poured in from the tall windows. The rotunda of bookshelves surrounded a wooden desk, where an old woman sat in a wooden chair. . Kyle bit his lip self-consciously as the woman smiled at him. Come here, child, she said in a grandmoth...

Hannah took a swig from the can. It wasn’t like anyone cared what she did anymore. Her parents were caught up in dealing with her little sister’s illness; they wouldn’t notice if she came home drunk. . What are you doing? . Hannah startled at the sound of a voice. She spun in a circle but didn’t see anyone near her. Who are you? Where are you? . Hannah, what are you doing with your life? Stop. . A...

“If God is loving, why does He deal with sin so harshly?” It’s a great question. Before we go on, let’s remember that God is always the same, always keeps His promises, and is always good, even when we don’t understand (Romans 11:33-35). . Judgement for sin may not seem nice, but it actually shows God’s love. Sin is going against God’s good design for life, and going against God’s plan ultimately...

Three items: one dress, one skirt, one jumpsuit. These were the pieces I wanted to sell at a consignment shop. If they sold, the store owner would earn a profit, and I would also walk away with some cash. . I located a consignment store and arranged to sell my items there. Then I called the store once a week to check if they had sold. Each time, I learned they hadn’t. After a few weeks, nobody ans...

Join Natalie and producer Dylan (who dat? find out) for an update on George’s next few months, plus a look behind the scenes on their experiences creating the Unlocked audio devotional. And Dylan’s looking for feedback on the music that goes under the story narration: lame? awesome? indifferent? Email podcast@unlocked.org to him know.

One element in storytelling that I enjoy is called a redemption arc. It’s where we get to see a character who was evil, hurtful, or just made a lot of mistakes …turned to good and brought into community. This theme in stories has strong ties to Christianity and to God’s own story of redemption. . In the Bible, Jesus is often called the Redeemer. But how does Jesus redeem us? Ever since humans firs...

God’s plan is good. We don’t have to worry when it seems like things aren’t going well. We can be patient because we can know that God is still good, and He is still on the throne. . Remember people like Paul and Peter, who were put in prison for their faith in Jesus. Even when they were locked up and put in chains, they didn’t lose hope. They kept praising God. More than once, He got them out of...

Who helped you understand the love of Jesus? For me, it was a woman I’ll call Amelia, a youth group leader I had at church. She provided conversation, encouragement, water, food, and sometimes a place to sleep if someone’s own home wasn’t a safe place. To be honest, I remember her practical care more clearly than any Bible lesson she ever taught, and her faithful care and listening ear helped me g...

With a sickening crunch, a piece of my tooth snapped at the back of my mouth. Shocked, I momentarily paused, anxious about how broken it would be. Carefully taking out the broken piece of the tooth, I realized it was a tiny fragment. . “I can live with it until my next dentist appointment,” I foolishly thought. “I’m booked in for a check-up in a couple of months anyway.” . How wrong was I? Within...

Sometimes I feel like I am not enough. I feel like I am not trying hard enough or doing big enough things with my life. I feel bad for not being as successful as others. You may have days like that too. You might have days when you mess up and you feel like you’re not good enough. You might have days when you fail to get into the college you wanted to attend, or you don’t land the job you were exc...

When did you become God’s? When did God first notice you and pay attention to you? The psalms talk about that happening before we were even born. Before we made our appearance in the world, we were already seen by God. We were already claimed by God. We already had God looking out for us. . When we were babies, relying on adults for everything, God saw us. When we were young and we didn’t fully un...

The Aramean army surrounded Samaria. No one could get out or go in. People were starving since no one could get past the Aramean army. Those outside the gateslepers who were unclean since leprosy was a fatal skin diseasewere also starving. . Four lepers sat outside the gate. Trying to figure out a way to survive, they weighed their options. No reason to go back inside. No food in there. But if the...

It’s God’s desire that every one of us is saved. God is loving and does not desire to see anyone perish (2 Peter 3:8-10). Jesus came for all people, irrespective of race, tribe, or culture. Salvation is meant for anyone who will come to Jesus. Anyone who confesses their sins and puts their trust in Jesus to save them from sin and death shall receive forgiveness (Romans 10:9). . In Matthew 18:10-14...

I believe in You And then I don’t I trust in You Then I get scared I waver and doubt I mess up and hide I don’t cling to You like I should I rest in peace And then I wake scared I cry to You Then I turn away I stumble and fall I don’t live like I know I should Take imperfect me Keep me close to You Emily Acker . Even when we give up on God, He never gives up on us (Luke 19:10; 2 Timothy 2:13). Whe...

Ayesha, you are under arrest for violating the curfew, the words echo inside. Tomorrow you are sentenced to the Ocean of Mistakes. “God, please save me,” I pray. I’ve been pleading all night in my prison cell. “I know I’ve failed. Please forgive me.” . Sunrise peeps through the window. CLANG. The door opens. My jailers clamp chains around my hands. The rule book is clipped to my clothes. Silence....