Faithfulness in the Fire

Renewed to Rise, Called to Encourage April 23, 2026 André K. Dugger “but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”” Isaiah 40:31 (CSB) You don’t see the wind; but you see what it does. An eagle doesn’t soar because of its own strength alone. It rises because it learns to trust the invisible currents beneath its wings. The wind lifts, carries, and sustains it to heights it could never reach by effort alone. In the same way, God’s encouragement often works quietly; unseen, but undeniably powerful. There are moments in your life when your strength runs dry. You try to push forward, but the weight is too heavy, the distance too far, and your energy too low. Yet God does not ask you to rely on yourself. He invites you to trust Him. When you place your hope in Him, He renews what you cannot restore. He becomes the strength beneath you; the steady, faithful “wind” that lifts your weary soul. God’s encouragement comes through His Word, His presence, and His promises. He reminds you that you are not forgotten, not abandoned, and not alone. Even when you cannot feel Him, He is working; lifting, strengthening, sustaining. But this truth doesn’t stop with you. Just as God lifts you, He calls you to lift others. There are people around you who are exhausted, discouraged, and close to giving up. They may not see the “wind” either; but God can use your words, your kindness, your presence, and your faith to become a source of encouragement in their lives. A timely word, a simple act of care, or a reminder of God’s promises can help someone rise when they feel like falling. You may never fully see the impact of your encouragement, just like you never see the wind; but heaven does. So, trust God to carry you. Rest in His strength when yours is gone. And then, as He lifts you, allow Him to use you to lift others. Because when God’s people become the wind beneath each other’s wings, lives don’t just endure; they soar. Reflection Question: Where in your life do you need to stop striving in your own strength and fully trust God to lift you; and who is one person you can intentionally encourage today so they can feel His strength through you? Prayer: Heavenly Father,  Thank You for being my strength when I am weak and for lifting me up when I feel weary and overwhelmed. Help me to trust You more; to rely not on my own effort, but on Your power and presence in my life. Remind me that even when I cannot see You working, You are the One sustaining me and carrying me forward. Lord, place someone on my heart today who needs encouragement. Use my words, my actions, and my attitude to reflect Your love and truth. Help me to be a source of strength and hope, just as You have been for me. Teach me to lift others up, pointing them back to You; the true source of renewal and life. Thank You for never letting me walk alone. I trust You to carry me and to use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Longing For God's Salvation April 13, 2026 André K. Dugger “I long for your salvation; I put my hope in your word. My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, ‘When will you comfort me?’” Psalm 119:81-82 (CSB) The psalmist captures what many of God’s children experience, the tension between longing and waiting. He aches for God’s salvation, sets his hope firmly in the Word, yet feels the weariness of waiting as his eyes search for God’s promise to be fulfilled. This is a prayer of faith mixed with honest struggle. You may know the promises of God in Scripture and cling to them, yet sometimes the fulfillment feels delayed. Your heart cries out, “When will You comfort me, Lord?” That question is not an act of rebellion but of dependence. It shows that your soul recognizes God alone as the source of true comfort. Waiting on God does not mean inactivity. The psalmist did not abandon hope while waiting, he anchored himself in God’s Word. God’s promises are unshakable, even when your circumstances are uncertain. The delay is not denial; it is an invitation to deeper trust and intimacy with God. In Christ, you find the ultimate fulfillment of this prayer. Jesus is your salvation, your living hope, and your comfort. When your soul grows weary, you can rest in Him who said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, CSB) . Your eyes may grow tired looking for answers, but your faith is strengthened as you keep looking to Jesus, who never fails. God’s comfort may not come in the way or timing you expect, but it will come. His salvation is sure, His promises are true, and His Word will never fail. Reflection Question: In what ways has God’s Word sustained you during seasons of longing, and what practical steps can you take to anchor your hope more deeply in God’s Word? Prayer: Father, I long for Your salvation and I put my hope in Your Word. Even when my eyes grow weary from waiting, help me to trust that You are faithful to fulfill what You have promised. Remind me that my true comfort is found in Christ, who is my salvation and rest. Strengthen my faith to endure and teach me to wait with hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.