One of the greatest challenges in life is learning to deal with other people. Whether it is a co-worker who continually makes mistakes, a family member who tests our patience, or a stranger whose actions seem inconsiderate, frustration can quickly take root in our hearts. The world often tells us to respond with anger, sarcasm, or distance. Yet as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard.

Scripture reminds us in Colossians 3:13:

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Those words are powerful because they place our focus not on the shortcomings of others, but on the grace we ourselves have received. Every one of us has needed patience from God. Every one of us has made mistakes, failed, and fallen short. Yet God continues to show us mercy day after day.

When we become frustrated with others, it is often because we expect them to meet our standards, our timeline, or our understanding. A godly perspective shifts our focus. Instead of asking, “Why can’t they do better?” we begin asking, “How can I show Christ through my response?” Patience is not approving of wrong behavior, nor is it ignoring problems. Rather, it is choosing to respond with grace, wisdom, and love rather than allowing irritation to control our actions.

Paul also writes in Ephesians 4:2:

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Notice that patience is closely tied to humility. Humility reminds us that we do not have all the answers and that God is still working on us just as He is working on others. The person who frustrates you today may be walking through struggles you cannot see. They may need encouragement far more than criticism.

This week, when frustration begins to rise, pause and remember the patience God has shown you. Pray for the person who is testing your patience. Ask God to help you see them through His eyes. In doing so, you may discover that your greatest opportunity to reflect Christ is not in how you respond when everything is going well, but in how you respond when someone makes it difficult.

As believers, we are called to be people of grace. The more we recognize God’s patience toward us, the more willing we become to extend that same patience to others. Through humble hearts and Spirit-led responses, we can demonstrate the love of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.

In a world that often feels uncertain, fast-changing, and at times overwhelming, it can be easy to focus on what could go wrong rather than what God is still doing. Yet as believers, our optimism is not rooted in circumstances, politics, economies, or human plans, but in the unchanging character of God. Scripture reminds us that our Heavenly Father is faithful, sovereign, and always working for the good of those who love Him. Even when we cannot see the full picture, we can trust the One who already stands at the end of the story.

God has never asked us to place our hope in perfect conditions; He has asked us to place our trust in His perfect promises. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). That promise does not mean life will always be easy, but it does mean that difficulty is never the final word. Seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and challenge are often where God does some of His greatest work, building our faith, strengthening our character, and preparing blessings we may not yet understand.

Optimism through faith is not denial of hardship; it is confidence that hardship does not defeat God’s purpose. Every sunrise is a reminder that God continues to provide new mercies. Every unanswered question is an invitation to deeper trust. Every closed door may simply be God redirecting us toward something greater than we imagined.

So this week, choose hope. Choose faith over fear. Choose to believe that the God who has carried you this far will continue to guide every step ahead. The future is bright, not because we know exactly what tomorrow holds, but because we know who holds tomorrow.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

“I won’t believe it until I see it.”  You’ve probably spoken those very words at some time or other.  Maybe you’re one of those who must be shown something to believe it, like the folks from Missouri, the “Show Me State.”  I have visited there many times during my lifetime and lived there one summer when I was in college, but that motto never stuck on me.  If I trust you, I can believe what you say without physical proof.

Wife and I were visiting our coastal kids recently.  Part of their entertainment for us was in making a visit to the Stonehenge of the South, “Bama Henge.”  I’ve never seen the true Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, but I believe it’s real.  Now I’ve seen the replica in Alabama.  I didn’t have to see it to believe it, because I believed the stories I’ve heard about it.  But seeing it in person was a treat.

Have you ever seen Jesus?  Were you there when they crucified Him?  Technically, yes, every one of us was there, as He gave His blood for each of us.  Did I have to see it to believe it?  No.  Because I trust Him, I trust His Word, and I trust those who have told me about Him all my life.

To truly see Jesus in action in my life is a real treat, an added bonus.  I don’t think that I believe He’s there simply because I see Him.  I believe I see Him because He’s there.

One day, I will see Him face to face.  Until then, I will see His face in the face of others.  You want to see Jesus?  Look around you.  Look at those who belong to Him.  Look at His Church.  Look at His creation.  And when someone who doesn’t know Him asks you to “show them,” you’ll be able to do so, because you believe He’s there!

See Him for yourself this week!  Then tell somebody else about what you’ve seen!

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

Have you ever found yourself questioning what God is doing in your life? In seasons where stress, hardship, or unexpected challenges arise through no fault of your own, it is natural to wonder why you have been placed in that moment. At times, it can feel as though the weight of the world rests squarely on your shoulders, as if you are meant to carry burdens far beyond your strength. But that weight is not from Him. As we are reminded in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Lord does not call you to be overwhelmed; He calls you to trust. He cares deeply for all of His creation, from the birds of the air to every creature on the ground, and how much more does He care for you. What feels heavy is often what we are trying to carry on our own, rather than placing it fully in His hands. When we surrender our burdens, we begin to see that He is working in ways we cannot yet understand.

Each of us is part of His greater tapestry, woven together with purpose and intention. There are seasons when that purpose leads us through discomfort, uncertainty, or even pain. Yet these moments are just that, seasons. They are not permanent, and they are never without meaning. Growth often comes quietly through trials, shaping our faith and strengthening our spirit in ways that ease cannot.

Take heart in knowing that peace will follow. God is faithful to carry you through every valley and into restoration. So remain steadfast, keep your faith rooted, and allow Him to lift what you were never meant to bear alone. No matter the circumstance, trust in Him fully, for He will not let you down.

By Ryan Kelly –

This week I found myself revisiting an old song that I had not listened to in quite some time, God Is in Control by Twila Paris. The moment the lyrics started, I was reminded how powerful the message is. Sometimes songs we have known for years suddenly speak to us in a new way depending on the season we are in. This week, that song felt less like music and more like a reminder God intended for me to hear.

Life has a way of filling our days with uncertainty, responsibility, and decisions that feel bigger than we are. In seasons where the path forward seems unclear, it is easy to fall into the habit of believing that everything depends on our own ability to manage it all. But listening to those lyrics again reminded me of a truth that is both simple and profound: God never relinquishes His authority over our circumstances. Even when we feel overwhelmed or unsure, He has not stepped away from the story He is writing.

Right now, I believe I am in a season where God is gently reminding me to let go of the illusion of control. Not in a way that removes responsibility, but in a way that restores perspective. The burdens we carry were never meant to rest entirely on our shoulders. Faith means trusting that even when the road ahead feels uncertain, the One who sees the end from the beginning is still guiding every step.

The message of that song echoes something scripture reminds us again and again: God’s sovereignty does not waver based on our circumstances. When things feel chaotic, He is still steady. When we feel unsure, He is still certain. When we feel like we are holding everything together, He quietly reminds us that He has been doing that all along.

This week, that reminder has brought a sense of peace that only comes from surrendering control back to the One who truly holds it. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply trust that God is already working in ways we cannot yet see.

And if this season is teaching me anything, it is this:

God is still in control. Always has been. Always will be.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

This painting is done as a large mural on a wall just to the side of the main walking path on the riverwalk in downtown Oklahoma City.  As we walked a few streets over for supper one night, we paused to watch it for a moment.  One would not normally “watch” a painting.  However, this painting was done to accentuate the existing water draining along the canal.  The water is meant to look as if it is flowing directly from the jars in the hands of those women.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the living water.  We read the story of how He met the woman at the well and offered her the Living Water.  We understand that water means life.  Without water, we would surely die.  Doesn’t it make sense that without Jesus, we surely die?  We must come to Him for the Living Water.

One interesting thing about that water is that it is offered to us freely.  It continuously flows.  It is being poured out for us.  It is always available.  Free for the consumption.  — If only we stop and drink.

You may feel as if your week, or even life in general, has drained you dry.  Even as a Christian we have those days.  But the good news (The Good News) is that He is ready to quench our thirst if only we pause to receive a drink.

Water.  Life-giving water.  Flowing freely for all who come to it.

Why are you wasting your time walking around dry?  And just as importantly, why aren’t you offering a drink of that Water to anyone else?

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

As we step into a new year, we are reminded that each day is a gift and an invitation from God to begin again with hope, purpose, and trust. The turning of the calendar does not merely mark the passage of time; it offers us a sacred opportunity to realign our lives with what matters most. Rather than focusing solely on resolutions that fade, we are called to fix our eyes on Christ, trusting that God is already at work in this new season and preparing growth we cannot yet see.

A positive outlook for the year ahead is rooted not in our own strength, but in the faithfulness of the Lord. Scripture assures us that God’s mercies are new every morning, and with each sunrise comes fresh grace to walk more closely with Him. When we choose to seek God daily through prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience, we invite His peace to shape our perspective and His wisdom to guide our decisions. Even in uncertainty, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that God orders the steps of those who trust in Him.

As we dedicate ourselves to growing closer to the Lord, our hearts begin to change. The more time we spend in His presence, the more our desires are aligned with His will. This alignment does not happen overnight. It is the result of daily surrender and faithful commitment. When our primary goal becomes knowing God more deeply, He gently reshapes our priorities, strengthens our faith, and refines our character to reflect His love.

Let this new year be marked by a simple yet powerful commitment to draw nearer to God each day. As we do, we will find that He draws nearer to us, guiding our hearts, renewing our minds, and leading us into a life shaped by His purposes. With hope in Christ and trust in His plan, we can step confidently into the year ahead, assured that walking closely with the Lord is the surest path to lasting joy and peace.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
James 4:8

By Brad Campbell – Just a thought to help start your week.

The old year of 2025 is fading into the past while the new year of 2026 is just becoming clear on the horizon.  I’ve always thought it was very interesting that as much as we think of one year disappearing and another one being a brand new start, there is not a lot of difference between the two.  We arrive on January 1 each year to find it to be very much like the day before, December 31 of the past year.  A different year, yes, but only seconds apart.

I do like the thought that a new year can bring opportunities for us to do something different and perhaps more importantly to be something different.  That thought itself seems to bring some hope in that I don’t have to give up.  I really can be different – in a good way – in the coming year.

For many people, our family included, the new year begins without several family members who began last year with us.  There are holes that cannot be filled, places that cannot be taken, people that cannot be replaced.  We hesitate to go forward because we are spending an awful lot of time looking in the rearview mirror.  I took a picture of this little sign this past summer in a place I no longer remember.  The quote, attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, says, “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”

Simply put, I know the past to have been difficult, lonely, sorrowful, and full of mourning.  However, I also know the past to have been glorious, bright, inviting, full of adventures, and very much a learning experience.  All of those things can prepare me for the future of this next year.  There will be difficult days, and there will be wonderful days.  There will be hard times, and there will be great times.  There will be losses, but thank God, there is always the glorious possibility of new gains and gifts from Above.

Take time to reflect upon the past – upon 2025 specifically.  For what things and in what ways are you better prepared for 2026 now?  God is always good.  Every day is a good day.  As God leads you from one year into the next, and even from one month, week, and day, and moment into the next, reflect on His goodness and grace and thank Him in advance for all that He has in store for you in the coming year!

Just a thought.