Pass It On: From Coffee Lines to Kingdom Calls
You’ve probably heard stories about someone pulling up to a drive-thru, only to find their coffee already paid for. The cashier says, “The person ahead of you paid it forward.” Then that person does the same for the next car, and a chain reaction begins. Nobody gets rich, but everybody gets reminded: generosity is contagious.
Key Verse:
Matthew 10:8 (AMP) – “Freely you have received; freely give.”
Introduction
You’ve probably heard stories about someone pulling up to a drive-thru, only to find their coffee already paid for. The cashier says, “The person ahead of you paid it forward.” Then that person does the same for the next car, and a chain reaction begins. Nobody gets rich, but everybody gets reminded: generosity is contagious.
The Pay It Forward movement is a simple idea — when someone blesses you, you bless someone else. It doesn’t stop with you; it keeps going. It’s powerful, not because of the money, but because of the message: You’ve been given something—now give something too.
The Connection to the Gospel
That’s exactly what Sharing the Good News is all about.
When Jesus saves us, forgives us, and fills us with His Spirit, it’s not meant to end with us. Salvation is the ultimate gift that calls for a response: to pass it on. The first disciples didn’t hoard the hope they found; they spread it everywhere they went.
Romans 10:14-15 (AMP) says,
“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent?”
Just like one act of kindness can spark a chain of generosity, one act of obedience—sharing Jesus—can start a chain of eternal life.
Real Talk
When you tell someone about Jesus, invite them to youth group, or pray for a classmate, you’re doing more than being nice—you’re forwarding the grace you’ve already received. It’s not about pressure or performance; it’s about passing on the gift.
The world needs more than paid-for coffee; it needs paid-for souls. And Jesus already covered that cost in full.
Reflection Questions
When was the last time someone did something kind for you unexpectedly? How did it make you feel?
How can you “pay it forward” spiritually this week?
Who in your life needs to hear the Good News that you’ve already received?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for freely giving me grace, forgiveness, and eternal life through Jesus. Help me not to keep it to myself but to share it with others in word and action. Show me someone this week I can “pay it forward” to—not with money, but with mercy. Amen.
When Heroes Hurt: God’s Hope for Heavy Hearts
The Bible doesn’t always use the word “depression.”
But if you listen closely to the cries of the heroes in Scripture, you’ll hear the same language we use today—words like “alone,” “afraid,” “hopeless,” “done,” “tired,” “crushed.”
Introduction:
The Bible doesn’t always use the word “depression.”
But if you listen closely to the cries of the heroes in Scripture, you’ll hear the same language we use today, words like “alone,” “afraid,” “hopeless,” “done,” “tired,” “crushed.”
God never ignored those cries. Instead, He met His people right where they were, sometimes with rest, sometimes with a whisper, sometimes with a reminder of purpose.
Let’s look at 9 heroes who battled heavy emotions and how God brought healing, hope, and help to each one.
1. Elijah – “I’m Done.” (1 Kings 19:1–18)
Background Story:
Elijah had just won a huge victory over the false prophets of Baal. Fire fell from heaven, proving God’s power. But right after that mountaintop moment, Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him.
The Problem:
Elijah ran into the wilderness, sat under a tree, and said, “It is enough; now, Lord, take my life.” (v. 4)
He was exhausted, afraid, and felt utterly alone.
God’s Solution:
God didn’t rebuke him. He sent an angel to give him food and rest. Then He spoke—not in a storm or fire—but in a gentle whisper.
God’s lesson: Sometimes you don’t need to “push through”—you just need to rest and listen again.
2. Moses – “I Can’t Do This Anymore.” (Numbers 11:10–17)
Background Story:
Moses led millions of Israelites through the wilderness. They constantly complained about food, leadership, and direction.
The Problem:
Overwhelmed and weary, Moses cried, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The burden is too heavy!” He even asked God to take his life.
God’s Solution:
God didn’t remove the mission—but He gave Moses help. He chose 70 elders to share the load.
God’s lesson: When life feels too heavy, God provides people to help carry it.
3. David – “My Soul Is Downcast.” (Psalm 42:5; Psalm 51)
Background Story:
David was a man after God’s heart but faced betrayal, guilt, and failure—especially after his sin with Bathsheba.
The Problem:
In multiple Psalms, David wrote things like, “My tears have been my food day and night” and “Why are you cast down, O my soul?”
God’s Solution:
David found healing through honest confession and worship. He poured out his heart, repented, and found peace again.
God’s lesson: Healing begins when we bring our emotions to God, not hide them from Him.
4. Job – “I Wish I Was Never Born.” (Job 3)
Background Story:
Job was faithful and wealthy—but lost everything: his family, health, and home.
The Problem:
He said, “May the day of my birth perish.” He sat in ashes, confused and heartbroken.
God’s Solution:
God didn’t explain everything—but He reminded Job who He was. Through the storm, Job saw God’s power and love more clearly than ever.
God’s lesson: Even when we don’t understand the “why,” we can still trust the “Who.”
5. Jonah – “I Don’t Want to Live.” (Jonah 4)
Background Story:
After Nineveh repented, Jonah grew bitter that God showed mercy to them.
The Problem:
In anger, Jonah said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” He sat outside the city, sulking under the heat.
God’s Solution:
God grew a plant to shade him—then let it die—to show Jonah how much more He cared for people than plants.
God’s lesson: Bitterness will burn you up. Compassion brings freedom.
6. Jeremiah – “Why Was I Even Born?” (Jeremiah 20:14–18)
Background Story:
Jeremiah obeyed God faithfully but faced rejection, imprisonment, and constant mockery.
The Problem:
He said, “Cursed be the day I was born!” He felt completely abandoned in his calling.
God’s Solution:
Even in his pain, God’s Word burned like fire in Jeremiah’s heart—he couldn’t quit speaking truth.
God’s lesson: God’s purpose still burns, even when your spirit feels broken.
7. Naomi – “The Lord Has Made My Life Bitter.” (Ruth 1:20)
Background Story:
Naomi lost her husband and two sons. She returned home grieving and hopeless.
The Problem:
She said, “Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant); call me Mara (bitter).”
God’s Solution:
Through Ruth’s love and loyalty, God restored Naomi’s hope and gave her a grandson—Obed, the ancestor of Jesus.
God’s lesson: God writes redemption stories from the ashes of our grief.
8. Paul – “We Despaired of Life Itself.” (2 Corinthians 1:8–10)
Background Story:
Paul faced persecution, shipwrecks, and beatings. He was physically and emotionally exhausted.
The Problem:
He admitted, “We were burdened beyond our strength.”
God’s Solution:
Paul realized that his weakness taught him to rely on God’s power.
God’s lesson: When we reach our end, that’s where God begins.
9. Jesus – “My Soul Is Overwhelmed.” (Matthew 26:36–46)
Background Story:
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced the weight of the cross and the sin of the world.
The Problem:
He told His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”
God’s Solution:
Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Though the cross was painful, it became the door to salvation.
God’s lesson: Suffering never has the last word—resurrection does.
Closing Challenge:
Even the strongest faith heroes had moments of weakness. Depression, sadness, or exhaustion don’t mean you’ve failed God—they mean you’re human.
But every single time, God met them in the middle of it.
And He’ll meet you, too—through His Word, His people, His Spirit, and His promises.
Psalm 34:18 (AMP): “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
See, Hear, and Support the Gift
Today’s reflection hit me while searching the house for an extra Bible for one of my daughters.
Instead, I found a different book I thought she might like — something that reminded me how many stories, tools, and dreams hide on our shelves.
Today’s reflection hit me while searching the house for an extra Bible for one of my daughters.
Instead, I found a different book I thought she might like — something that reminded me how many stories, tools, and dreams hide on our shelves. My wife and I have books everywhere, replaced by “more important” things like my action figures.
It made me pause: When our kids look back, what will they remember about how we supported their dreams?
When I was young, I loved to draw. I wanted to study Architectural Engineering, but the school that accepted me was “too close to home.” I settled for another college, another degree — one I’ve never used. Life went on, but a quiet “what if” followed me.
Parents, are we hearing, seeing, and discerning the gifts God placed in our children — or are we steering them toward something safer? Maybe you’re exhausted from the trial and error, or frustrated by the cost. But every attempt, even the failed ones, helps them discover who they are. And if we believe God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider, then He’s able to fund their purpose too.
Buy the book.
Show up at the recital, the practice, the spelling bee.
Die to yourself so your child can live abundantly.
Give them the chance to look back without regret — to thank God for your sacrifice instead of wishing you’d believed in them more.
And for the sports parents — be careful not to relive your own dream through theirs. I think about that commercial where a boy kept getting crushed on the hockey rink. After the game, he told his dad, “I don’t want to play hockey. I want to dance.” Next scene, he’s smiling, dancing with his friends. That kid will grow up without regret. Will yours?
After college, I tried again. I enrolled in architecture school but dropped out after one semester — tired, burned out, chasing bills. My window had closed.
Let’s not close the window on our kids.
Takeaway: Every gift deserves room to breathe — trust God to make it plain.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10
What gift do you see in your child right now that you’re praying over?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
When God Says Go
Scripture: Genesis 12:1 (NIV) — “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’”
Scripture: Genesis 12:1 (NIV) — “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’”
Background: Leaving Everything for a Promise
Before Abram became Abraham—the father of faith—he was living in a place called Ur of the Chaldeans. It was a wealthy city filled with idols and false gods. His father, Terah, actually made and sold idols for a living. That means Abram grew up surrounded by people who worshiped statues instead of the living God.
Then one day, God broke through the noise and spoke to Abram: “Go.”
Leave your home.
Leave your family’s traditions.
Leave everything familiar.
God didn’t even tell him exactly where to go—just that He would show Abram along the way. All Abram had to do was trust.
And he did. He packed up his entire life, left the idols behind, and started walking toward a promise he couldn’t yet see. That single act of obedience changed history. Through that “yes,” God built a nation, fulfilled a covenant, and brought the world one step closer to Jesus.
Application: Leaving Your Idols Behind
Most of us don’t have wooden statues in our houses today—but we still have idols. Anything that takes God’s place in your heart can become one:
Popularity
Relationships
Phones and social media
Money and material stuff
Even fear or comfort
Abram had to leave the idols his father made. Teens today have to leave the idols the culture makes. The Holy Spirit might be telling you, “Go—step away from what’s distracting you. Go—trust Me with something new. Go—leave behind what’s holding you back.”
When God says Go, it’s not because He’s trying to take something from you. It’s because He wants to give something better to you—purpose, peace, and a life that actually matters.
Faith starts moving before the map is drawn.
Why “Going” Still Matters
Going might look different for everyone:
Starting a Bible club when no one else will.
Sitting with someone who’s always alone.
Leaving a toxic friendship that’s pulling you away from God.
Saying “yes” to serving in your church, even if it’s uncomfortable.
The hardest part of obedience is the first step—but that’s where God meets you. Abram didn’t have a GPS, but he had a promise. And so do you.
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to “go” when You call me. Help me recognize the idols in my life and walk away from anything that keeps me from You. I don’t need to see the whole plan—just help me take the next faithful step. Lead me like You led Abram, and let my life bring You glory wherever You take me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Barriers to Spiritual Growth: Cleaning out the Clutter - Make Room for God to Move
We all want to grow spiritually; to bear fruit, to stand strong, to be steady in faith. But let’s be real, sometimes growth gets blocked.
We all want to grow spiritually; to bear fruit, to stand strong, to be steady in faith. But let’s be real, sometimes growth gets blocked. Not because God has stopped working, but because we’ve built walls that keep His Spirit from moving freely within us.
Let’s tear those walls down together.
Here are six common barriers to spiritual growth that God has been showing me through His Word, ministry, motherhood, marriage, and the everyday grind of life.
Possessions
When our hands are full of stuff, there’s no room left to hold on to God.
We chase things that sparkle but can’t satisfy. What we own starts owning us. And suddenly, we’re measuring blessings by quantity instead of quality.
But Scripture reminds us —
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy… but store up treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19–20)
True contentment is freedom. When you loosen your grip on what fades, your hands are open for what lasts.
Ignoring Sin
Let’s be honest — ignoring sin takes on many faces.
Not asking for help when we need it.
Not leading by example because of laziness.
Not shining with joy because of pity.
All of these are pride — and pride blocks the presence of God.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
We need to ruthlessly “get rid of all evil behavior.” (1 Peter 2:1, Matthew 5:29–30)
Because what we excuse today becomes what enslaves us tomorrow. Confession clears the heart for growth.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Not Reading (and Living) God’s Word
I share with the women and youth all the time: You can’t be armored up if you’re not in your Word — and not applying it.
Reading is one thing. Living it out is another. God’s Word isn’t a checklist — it’s our lifeline.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
If you want to grow, you’ve got to feed your faith, not your feelings. His Word doesn’t just inform — it transforms.
Power
Control comes in many ways.
When we feel like we’ve lost control, we try to control what’s closest to us — people, plans, outcomes. But that only creates trauma and unhealthy circumstances.
The need to control is the enemy of surrender. Spiritual maturity is learning to trust the One who truly is in control.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Release the grip and watch peace return.
Relationships
We become who we walk with.
I’ve seen this in my young adult life, singleness, motherhood, marriage, and ministry. The flesh will drive us to indulge in unhealthy relationships because we’ve forgotten or ignored who we are in Christ.
We so desperately want to belong, to be noticed, to be loved, to be favored — that we allow relationships that are no good for us. This can happen in friendships, dating, or marriage, and unfortunately even in discipleship.
Instead of allowing God to lead or being still long enough to hear His warnings we choose to ignore and partake.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
God is first. If we remind ourselves of that daily, we must also hand over the reins daily.
I personally almost destroyed my life by choosing to make my own way in many types of relationships or “situationships,” and in the process, I lost my entire identity. I was searching for something that was with me all along — the presence and love of God.
“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26)
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Wrong relationships can slowly drain your spirit dry. Even good ones can distract if they pull you from God’s voice. Surround yourself with people who sharpen you, not shadow you.
Choose companions who lift your faith, not your flesh.
And still, pray for those who are detouring you from God.
Sometimes people don’t even realize they’re doing it — gossiping, complaining, revengefulness — all of it is of the world and flesh.
If you don’t remove those influences from your spirit, they’ll drag you into a place you were never meant to dwell.
“Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
“Walk with the wise and become wise.” (Proverbs 13:20)
Busyness
There’s a difference between busyness and a full schedule.
Busyness drains. A full schedule can still be sacred — if it’s surrendered.
Understanding when and where to take a Sabbath is vital to restoration. God is a God of order, not chaos.
Answering the call of the Lord is obedience, but listening when He says, “Rest, my child,” is just as crucial.
Relinquishing the call back to Him and allowing Him to guide your steps keeps busyness at bay and provides the surrender He is looking for.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
It’s His mission to begin with — not ours.
Devotional Reflection “Make Room for God to Move”
Take a deep breath.
Now ask yourself — what’s cluttering your spirit right now?
Maybe it’s something small, like overcommitting or under-resting.
Maybe it’s something big, like pride, fear, or a relationship that keeps you spinning instead of standing.
Whatever it is, God already knows. And He’s not shaming you — He’s inviting you.
He wants the space that’s been filled with noise.
He wants to sit in the quiet corners you’ve kept hidden.
He wants to water the dry soil you’ve been ignoring.
Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you say,
“Lord, this ground is Yours. Plant what You will. Pull what You must.”
Every barrier you surrender becomes a seed for something greater — deeper peace, renewed joy, stronger faith, and steady obedience.
So today, let this be your posture:
No more pretending. No more performing.
Just honest, surrendered, Spirit-led growth.
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)
Prayer
Father, You see every barrier that stands between us and You, every prideful thought, every distraction, every fear we’ve let build walls around our hearts. Today we choose to tear them down.
Forgive us for ignoring sin, for chasing control, for holding tight to what should’ve been surrendered long ago.
Forgive us for calling busyness obedience when sometimes You’ve just asked us to be still.
Help us to seek You first in every possession, every relationship, every decision.
Give us wisdom to prune what hinders growth and courage to nurture what honors You.
Let Your Word be our anchor, Your Spirit our guide, and Your love our fuel.
Make us disciples who grow deeply and shine brightly.
In Jesus’ name,Amen
Challenge for the Week:
Take one barrier that stood out to you — and work with God to replace it with truth.
If it’s busyness, practice Sabbath.
If it’s pride, ask for help.
If it’s relationships, evaluate who’s feeding your faith.
If it’s power, practice surrender.
If it’s possessions, give something away.
If it’s sin, confess it and let grace rebuild your strength.
Let this be the week you make room for God to move.