1) Waiting. Seasons of waiting can be some of the most challenging periods of life to walk through. When you are a child, it seems Christmas will never come. When you are single and long to be married, you may find yourself acutely aware of the happily paired couples around you. When you are childless and long to be a mother, the season of waiting can feel excruciating and isolating. Each new season of life brings its own “waiting” for something to change. The blind man waited years to be healed with no guarantee of healing, but Jesus brought the fullness of redemption in an unexpected way. What are you longing and praying for? Are you contentedly waiting for God’s timing in your season of waiting? In what area of your life have you waited on the Lord and seen His faithfulness? Write these down and journal your observations as you pause and pray! Waiting on the Lord transforms our heart attitudes; when we witness His faithfulness towards us, we can respond in worship and point others to His goodness. Who is one person you could share with this week of God’s faithfulness to you? Pray now for an opportunity to do this!

2) Tamar felt the sting of faithless men on all sides in her life. A step-brother who took everything from her, a father who failed to protect her or bring justice to her situation, and a brother who took vengeance into his own hands. No one truly made things right for Tamar. Doubtless, we’ve all experienced times when others, who should have protected, or loved, us failed. Praise the Lord that when men fail us, when we reach our rock-bottom, and our shame is more than we can bear, He is our Mighty Refuge! We know Yahweh’s faithfulness, unlike mankind’s, is everlasting. Reflect on God’s faithfulness to you in your past times of need, write these out as a short prayer of thanks to Him for His unending grace. Bravely verbalize the wounds of your heart where others haven’t loved you well either out loud or on paper. Then spend some time in prayer, turning these over to the Lord, asking for healing, and reminding yourself of God’s unfathomable love for you! Our hope is in Christ alone, even when everything around us seems hopeless.

3) Mephibosheth lost almost everything he had in one day. His whole world came crashing down as a small boy, yet years later, when he could have continued living obscurely as an outcast, he was brought near by the compassion of King David. The great mercy Mephibosheth received is not unlike the great mercy we have received from God. While once we were enemies of God, He has made a way for us to be right with Him again. Knowing you have received great mercy through Jesus if you have trusted Him with your heart, are you walking in the life and wholeness that comes with it, or are you walking in the bitterness and hate of judgment? Are you rejoicing in the grace you have been given, or clinging to what you feel you have lost? How has God’s great mercy made you whole? Take some time to consider ways you can reflect the mercy you have been shown by Jesus to others in your life. Write them down! Put them in your phone or somewhere else you will be reminded to take action!