Eli looked like a great parent. He led the nation, had influence, and looked spiritual, but he failed where it mattered most: at home. His sons disrespected God, and Eli did nothing. He cared more about their comfort than their character.

God isn’t impressed by our parenting image. He wants our hearts, and our kids’ hearts too.

Eli’s story warns us that: Good parenting manages behavior. Godly parenting shapes hearts. Good parenting aims for appearances. Godly parenting aims for faithfulness. Good parenting takes kids to church. Godly parenting brings Jesus home. Good parenting goes alone. Godly parenting walks in grace and community. Parents, success isn’t raising kids who behave, it’s raising kids who believe. You can win in public and still fail at home if your kids don’t know and love Jesus.

The good news? Where Eli failed, God remains faithful. It’s not too late to start leading your family toward Him.

Call to Action Ask yourself today: – Am I raising kids who act right, or kids who walk with God? – Have I brought Jesus into my home, not just my Sundays? – Will I parent from my strength, or from God’s grace?

Parenting isn’t about producing perfect kids, it’s about faithfully sowing seeds and trusting God. Even the only perfect Parent, God Himself, watched His children rebel. Adam and Eve had the best home, the best environment, and the clearest truth, yet they chose sin. Israel had God’s love and provision, yet turned to idols. Your kids also have free will. You cannot insulate them from sin, you cannot make them obey truth, and you cannot give them enough to make them grateful. What you can do is plant God’s Word in their lives, model faithfulness, and love them even when they rebel. The outcome belongs to God. Parenting is not about control, it’s about trust.

Action:

• Stop carrying guilt for your child’s choices.

• Stay faithful to sow truth, even if you see no immediate fruit.

• Love your kids, especially the ones who break your heart.

• Trust God with the outcome.

Psalm 111 is all about celebrating God. Like fans cheering when their team wins, we should cheer for God because He never fails, never breaks a promise, and always shows up. Celebration isn’t about how we feel, it’s a choice. The psalm gives us five steps: choose to celebrate, remember what God has done, see who He really is, trust His promises, and keep praising Him every day. If we see God clearly, we won’t be able to stop praising Him. The challenge: don’t just watch others worship, join in and make praise your way of life.

Jesus shows us that the wilderness is the space between identity and ministry. At His baptism, God declared who He was: “My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately after, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness where He faced testing and temptation. The wilderness revealed truth, demanded self-denial, and exposed Him to Satan’s attacks. Jesus was tested to prove His character and tempted to abandon His mission - through questions of His identity, God’s love, and His purpose. Yet He stood firm. The same is true for us: if God is preparing us for something, there will be a battle for our lives. The enemy wants to derail us before we ever step into God’s calling. But we are not alone, God sends strength and reinforcement. The wilderness shapes us into people who not only know what we believe but live it.

The Core Truth If you choose Jesus, you will face the wilderness. And it’s there, between calling and ministry, that God prepares you to live out your purpose.

Life can swing quickly from the mountaintop to the wilderness. Elijah knew this in 1 Kings 19: after bold victories, he crashed into fear, exhaustion, and despair. God used that wilderness moment to teach him, and us, four truths: (1) you can be right with God and still face hardship (2) rest and nourishment matter for spiritual clarity (3) God speaks in whispers, so quiet the noise (4) feeling alone doesn’t mean you are alone.

If burnout has broken you down, God is ready to build you back up. Rest in Him. Listen for His voice. Lean on community. Step forward in His strength.

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. Hagar didn’t choose her story, she was given away, used, abused, and cast out. Twice she found herself in the wilderness with no idea where she was going. But both times, God showed up. He called her by name, reminded her that He hears, and gave her hope for a future. Hagar’s life teaches us two things: life isn’t fair, but God still sees. We don’t always get to choose the wilderness, but we do get to choose our attitude. We can fight, complain, or give up—or we can trust that God’s plan is better than ours. The wilderness may be the place where God changes what we’ve resisted for years. So if you’re in a season you never wanted, stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “Where is God leading me?” He sees you. He hears you. The question is: will you follow Him, even when it hurts?

The wilderness is never wasted. It feels lonely, scary, and hopeless, but in the Bible it is where God shows up. The wilderness is a place of testing, revelation, and preparation. Moses, David, Elijah, even Jesus, all had wilderness seasons. It is where failure turns into second chances, where God heals old wounds, gives rest, and brings clarity. The wilderness is not forever, it is a season. The question is not, “Why am I here?” but, “What does God want me to bring out of this wilderness?” If you will let Him, God will use this season to transform you and prepare you for what’s next.

Challenge: Don’t waste your wilderness. Stop running. Listen for God’s voice. Let Him use this season to heal, reset, and prepare you for your greater purpose.

Today we welcome guest pastor Jeremy Stalnecker from the Mighty Oaks Foundation. Life with Christ is a race. You are not running alone. Others have gone before you, the church runs beside you, and some need you to encourage them along the way. To finish well, you must stay focused, lay aside sin and distractions, run the race God set before you (not someone else’s), and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus when it gets dark. The greatest battle is in your mind, so choose daily not to quit. Run so that when you stand before God, you can rest in exhausted peace, knowing you gave Him everything.