Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

The sun beat down on my back. Was I going the right way? Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes. I had known the journey was going to be hard, but I didn’t expect it to beconfusing. As I trudged down the path, I squinted to see what lay ahead. Was that? No. Not again. A moan escaped my throat as my feet came to a crossroads. Another choice. I dropped my pack to the ground. This would take all...

Have you ever been at school, with nothing to eat, and felt so hungry? Have you been on a diet or had to fast for a doctor’s appointment? It isn’t fun when we can’t satisfy our physical cravings, and it’s even worse when we can’t meet our basic needs. On a deeper level, we all want to feel satisfied and whole. We want to feel complete. And it can be frustrating when life does not satisfy us at all...

Psalm 19:1 says, The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. God made the vast heavens with the glorious light of the sun and the calming reflection of the moon. And to top it off, He sprinkled the sky with innumerable twinkling stars that bring us delight at night. He created countless planets and galaxies beyond our solar system, and here on Earth, He created plan...

“I hope this isn’t a prank,” Jacob thought, waiting in the park by the daisies, just like the unusual parchment in his hand instructed. “It would be typical of me to fall for it.” Glancing around, he expected someone to jump out and shout, Gotcha! But there wasn’t anyone about. Wanting to turn back home, he took a deep breath before calling, I’m here. No one replied. Without warning, the sky turne...

Anna shifted her legs. Sitting in the crowded marketplace was hot, but she had come with many other people wanting to hear from this man named Jesus, who some said was the Messiah. Dust blew across her lap as a man stood up. Anna almost gasped, recognizing an expert of the law. She listened intently as he and Jesus spoke. Who is my neighbor? the expert asked. Jesus described a man attacked by robb...

Hebrews 12 encourages us to run the race that God has set before us, which is possible when we keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith (verse 2). Not only did Jesus start the race and finish the race, but He ran it faithfullyfor us. He didn’t take His eyes off the end result, the prize. He was able to face anything that came His way, even enduring an excruciating...

If you were at the starting line, about to run a big race that you had spent months training for, would you wrap weights around your ankles? Would you tie them around your waist? Would you wear a backpack full of weights? Would you carry them in your hands? Of course not! Why? Because running a race is hard enough, and if you want to win, then you want to be as light as possible so that you can mo...

Ever feel like you can’t do anything right? I groaned to my friend. I had just dropped by Susanne’s house to chat. Earlier that day, I had gone shopping for a birthday present for my sister. I chose a full-length mirror to hang on her bedroom doorthe perfect gift for my fashion-conscious little sister. A slim wooden frame surrounded the mirror, giving it a decorative quality. But after purchasing...

When God created the world, He gave Adam and Eve the task of caring for the earth. God gave them confidence, strength, and the ability to make decisions. And they had lots of decisions to makestarting with naming all the birds, livestock, and wild animals. I had enough trouble choosing names for my childhood pets. I can’t imagine picking names for every animal. But when Adam and Eve ate the forbid...

Our broken world is full of unfairness. You might have a sibling who your parents have always treated as their favorite child. No matter how much you try to impress your parents and get them to see what you can do, their eyes are always on that sibling. This can leave you feeling frustrated or even heartbroken. Maybe you have someone who was always a friend to you until someone new started at your...

Every morning the people of the village would gather for the reading of the scrolls. They were called the doom scrolls because they always contained bad news. Though no one much liked the morning routine, they couldn’t bear to stay away. They’d watch silently as the village reader carefully unrolled a scroll and read what was written insidenews of a distant war or a deadly illness sweeping across...

It is not always easy to talk to others about Jesus. Yet all around us, there are people who need to hear about Jesus, and sometimes, they even invite us to share the gospel with them. How can we have the courage to do so? Two of Jesus’s followers, Peter and John, found themselves in this kind of situation. After Jesus ascended, they met a man in the temple who could not walk and was asking for mo...

I was hungry. Lost. Out of options. So, I decided to go, go and try. I knew I didn’t deserve his help. I was not sure I even had the courage to ask. I knew I could not look him in the eyes. I practiced what I would say to him on the long, hungry walk. I would tell him I was unworthy unworthy to be called his child. Then I would ask to be his servant. At least if I was his servant, I would have foo...

I have a family member who is going through health stuff right now that has completely changed the way she lives. Before this flare up, she was able to do all the things most of us take for granted, such as going for a run or spending a whole day at the zoo. Right now, she struggles to do the little things, like putting on a pair of socks or lifting something off the floor. It hurts me to watch he...

I see her struggle and it hurts I believe it hurts you too, Jesus Help her understand that you know Help her see that you are in control Let her hold on a little longer Let her become a little stronger I see her push through another day My heart breaks to watch her, so I pray I have no real control You are the One ultimately in control I want the best for her You want the best for her Help her see...

Our world throws around the word “love” a lot. We love chocolate; we love sports; we love our friends. But what does love even mean? God’s Word, the Bible, helps us understand what love is. True love comes from God because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul paints a vivid picture of love: it is patient, kind, humble, generous, forgiving, and never gives up. God shows His perfe...

There are times when we are in the midst of a really heavy and difficult situation, and something happens that causes us to laugh. We could be mourning someone we lost, but a memory of them brings us joy or is funny to us. God knows what it takes to get us through tough times, and He is always there to give us the help we need. When we have anxiety, God is there to console us and give us joy. When...

The outrage on the judge’s face multiplied, and he spit his next words. The penalty for her sin is death. You cannot waltz in here and demand that justice not be served. The man beside me took a long breath, and in a sad voice said, I know. My heart sank, and I covered my face in my sin-stained hands. That’s why I will take her place. “What?” I thought. What? The judge echoed my own thoughts. Exec...

The jury was silent. The judge’s face turned red with anger. I’ll ask you again. Who do you think you are, bursting into this courtroom? The man who had just run in from outside was still looking at me as the judge spoke, but his attention slowly shifted back to the judge. What is this woman’s offense? he asked. The judge barked a laugh that held no humor, only cruelty. What is her offense? Just l...

I crossed my arms over my stomach self-consciously, trying to hide the tattoos that condemned me. I’m not sure why I bothered. Everyone in the courtroom had seen all they needed to. Every citizen bore the sin mark, but some were more visible than others. And my tattoos were a grim stain that covered my hands and arms, even crawling up the sides of my neck. I’d had the mark my entire life. I’d neve...

It’s not often that I eat out, but this one time in February was especially memorable. I was in the drive-thru of a burger joint with my mom. Want anything? she asked. I said no, but when I smelled my mom’s perfect burger, I changed my mind. Thankfully, she was patient and turned around. But the restaurant got my order wrong; they gave me extra buns. I shrugged my shoulders and was prepared to div...

A friend changing schools. A sibling getting married. A family member moving to another time zone. It’s hard when people we care about leave the rhythms of our everyday lives. Even if we’re happy for them, even if we know the change will be good for them, it can still leave us feeling like part of our lives is missing. Yet God’s love and goodness remain. So how does God meet us in these times? And...

God is capable of miracles. He can do anything. When we start to worry about what is going on in our lives, our country, or the world, it helps to remember that nothing is impossible for God. No matter how dark and hopeless things may seem, God can turn them around. Just look at the miracles He has done before. When Moses and the Israelites needed to cross the Red Sea, God made a path right down t...

Do you sometimes feel insignificant? Perhaps someone made a remark that hurt you deeply. Criticisms regarding your intelligence, background, appearance, or beliefs can be distressing. Or you might live in a household where praise is sparce, and it seems like nothing you do is good enough. We all have different circumstances, yet low self-esteem can attack any of us unexpectedly, leaving us feeling...

My fingers shook. The rough rock walls around me didn’t afford many hand holds. My feet pressed against the sides to keep me from falling down this cold, dark shaft. My knees were scraped, my hands bloody. I lifted my head again to look at the scrap of light far above me. No one was coming. My arms started shaking, my feet were slipping. All I could think was, “Help.” “Let go.” Did I hear the word...