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Devotions, Teen Devotions

👧👦 Teen Devotional — Day 210

Rooted & Raised

The Peace Jesus Gives

📖 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
—John 14:27 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. Their circumstances were about to become anything but peaceful. Jesus had told them He was leaving, one of them would betray Him, and Peter would deny Him. Yet in the middle of everything that was about to happen, Jesus promised them peace.

That context helps us understand what kind of peace Jesus gives. His peace does not depend upon everything around you becoming calm. If it did, the disciples could not have possessed it in the face of what was coming. Christ gives a peace that remains because its foundation is Him.

As a teenager, it can be easy to think peace will come when something changes—when a difficult situation ends, when you know what your future holds, when a relationship improves, or when the pressure finally disappears. Those things may bring relief, but relief and the peace Christ gives are not necessarily the same thing.

Jesus said, “not as the world gives do I give to you.” The world can offer temporary distractions, comfortable circumstances, entertainment, approval, or reassurance. Those things can disappear quickly. Christ gives something the world cannot produce because His peace is grounded in your relationship with Him.

Just before this promise, Jesus told His disciples that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, who would teach them and remind them of His words (John 14:26). Their peace would therefore be connected to remembering what Christ had said and trusting Him when circumstances seemed to contradict what they knew to be true.

That matters when fear enters your own thoughts. Jesus does not tell you that frightening circumstances are imaginary. He tells you, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” You can bring what troubles you before Him and then deliberately return your thoughts to what He has said. He remains Lord. His Word remains true. His promises have not changed.

This does not mean a believer will never feel afraid, worried, or unsettled. The disciples certainly experienced those emotions. The question is whether fear will govern you or whether you will continue trusting Christ in the midst of it.

Sometimes following Him will actually take you into situations where obedience costs something. The first Christians learned this firsthand. Their peace did not come because Rome suddenly became friendly toward them or because following Jesus became easy. They could remain faithful because their hope rested in a risen Lord whom circumstances could not overthrow.

Knowing Christ means discovering that peace is not ultimately found in controlling tomorrow. It is found in belonging to the One who already holds tomorrow.

The peace Jesus gives does not require a peaceful world. It requires trusting the Prince of Peace.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving a peace the world cannot give. When circumstances are uncertain, and my heart becomes troubled, bring Your words back to my mind. Help me trust what You have said instead of allowing fear to govern me. Teach me to rest in who You are and to follow You faithfully whatever circumstances I face. Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

👧🧒 Children’s Devotional — Day 210

Rooted & Raised

Jesus Gives Me Peace

📖 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
—John 14:27 (NKJV)

Sometimes life can feel scary. Maybe you are worried about school, afraid of the dark, nervous about making new friends, or concerned because someone in your family is sick. Everyone feels afraid sometimes. Even Jesus’ disciples were worried when He told them He would soon leave them.

Jesus knew their hearts were troubled, so He gave them a wonderful promise. He told them that He would give them His peace. This peace is different from anything the world can offer. The world says peace comes when everything is going well. Jesus says His peace can remain in our hearts even when life is difficult because He is always with us.

When we remember that Jesus is in control, we do not have to let fear take over our hearts. We can pray, trust Him, and know that He cares about everything we face. His peace reminds us that no problem is bigger than He is.

Every time you begin to worry, take a moment to talk to Jesus. Tell Him exactly how you feel. Then remember His promise that He will never leave those who belong to Him. As you trust Him, He fills your heart with His peace.

Knowing Jesus means learning to rest in Him, even when life feels uncertain.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me Your peace. When I feel afraid or worried, help me remember that You are always with me. Teach me to trust You each day and to rest in Your loving care. Thank You for loving me and watching over me. Amen.

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Women’s Devotional — Day 210

Rooted & Raised

Peace When Life Is Not Peaceful

📖 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
—John 14:27 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke these words as His disciples approached one of the most unsettling nights of their lives. He had told them He was going away. Betrayal, denial, His arrest, and the cross were near. Their circumstances were not about to become easier. Yet it was precisely then that Jesus told them, “My peace I give to you.”

That setting tells us something important about the Peace of Christ. His peace is not the absence of trouble. It is not the feeling that comes when every problem has finally been resolved, every relationship repaired, every bill paid, every question answered, and every uncertainty removed. If peace required those things, the disciples could not have received it that night.

As women, we can quietly begin attaching peace to outcomes. I will have peace when this situation is settled. When I know what comes next. When this person changes. When the burden becomes lighter. When God finally answers this prayer the way I have hoped. Without realizing it, we can postpone peace until circumstances give us permission to have it.

But Jesus says something entirely different: “My peace I give to you.” The source of this peace is Christ Himself.

Just before this promise, Jesus told His disciples that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, who would teach them and bring His words to their remembrance (John 14:26). Then He spoke of peace. Their stability would not come from knowing every detail of what was about to happen. They would need to remember what Christ had told them and trust Him when events became frightening and confusing.

We need the same thing.

When circumstances become uncertain, our minds can race ahead. We imagine outcomes, rehearse conversations, anticipate problems, and attempt to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Yet Jesus does not give us control over everything ahead. He gives us Himself, His Word, and the assurance that what He has spoken remains true.

His command, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” does not mean that we will never experience fear or emotional distress. The disciples themselves would soon experience both. Rather, Christ calls us not to surrender the governing place of our hearts to fear. Fear may knock at the door, but it does not have to become our master.

Sometimes peace therefore looks less like an emotion and more like quiet obedience. We pray even though we do not yet have an answer. We obey what Scripture clearly says while waiting for what God has not revealed. We refuse to manipulate circumstances to obtain the outcome we want. We continue doing what is before us today while entrusting tomorrow to Him.

The believers who followed Christ in the generations after the apostles discovered this same reality. They lived in a world they could not control. Some faced rejection from their communities, uncertainty about their livelihoods, and eventually hostility because they belonged to Christ. They did not possess peace because the Roman world accommodated their faith. Their confidence rested in the risen Christ. The circumstances surrounding them could change dramatically; the Lord to whom they belonged had not changed.

That is still where our peace rests.

There may be situations in your life today that remain unresolved. You may not know what God will do with them. Scripture does not promise that every circumstance will unfold according to our preferences. But Christ has given something far more secure than favorable circumstances: His Peace to those who belong to Him.

Knowing Christ means learning that I do not need to know everything that is coming to trust the One who does.

His peace does not tell me that nothing difficult will happen. His peace reminds me that whatever happens, Christ remains Lord.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the peace that only You can give. When my heart becomes troubled, and my thoughts run ahead into circumstances I cannot control, bring me back to Your Word. Help me obey what You have revealed and entrust to You what You have not. Keep fear from governing my heart, and teach me to rest in Your faithfulness even when life around me is uncertain. Amen.

Devotions, Family Devotionals

🏡 Family Devotional — Day 210

Rooted & Raised

His Peace in Our Home

📖 “Peace I leave with you, the Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
—John 14:27 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples shortly before His arrest and crucifixion. They were about to experience circumstances they did not understand and could not control. Yet Jesus did not promise that everything around them would become peaceful. He promised something greater: His Peace.

Families also experience circumstances they cannot control. Plans change. Someone may be worried about school or work. Money may become tight. A family member may be facing a difficult decision. Sometimes everyone in the home can feel the same uncertainty.

In those moments, it is tempting to think, “We will have Peace once this problem is solved.” But Jesus teaches us that His Peace does not have to wait until circumstances improve. Our family can trust Him while we wait for answers.

That does not mean pretending everything is fine. A family following Christ should be able to speak honestly about concerns, pray about them together, and help carry one another’s burdens. Peace does not require us to deny what is happening. It allows us to face what is happening while remembering who Christ is.

Just before Jesus promised His disciples Peace, He told them that the Holy Spirit would bring His words to their remembrance (John 14:26). That gives families a wonderful pattern. When fear begins filling the home, we can return together to what God has said. Instead of allowing worry to control our conversations, we can remind one another of His truth.

Parents can model this without pretending they have every answer. Sometimes one of the most powerful things a child can hear is, “I don’t know what will happen yet, but I know we can trust the Lord.” Children can also remind adults of God’s promises. Following Christ together means every member of the family is learning to look toward Him.

The earliest Christian families understood this in a very practical way. Their homes existed within a world that did not always understand their allegiance to Christ. They could not control the culture surrounding them, but they could determine whom their household would trust. Their security was not ultimately found in having predictable circumstances but in belonging to the risen Lord.

Our homes need that same foundation.

There may still be difficult conversations. There may still be tears, questions, disagreements, and uncertain days. Christ never promised His followers a trouble-free household. But a family can learn to bring those things before Him rather than allowing fear to rule the home.

Knowing Christ as a family means discovering together that Peace is not found in controlling everything around us. It is found in trusting the One who remains Lord over all.

A peaceful home is not necessarily a home without problems. It is a home learning to trust Christ in the middle of them.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Peace. When our family faces circumstances we do not understand or cannot control, keep fear from ruling our home. Help us speak honestly, pray together, remember Your Word, and encourage one another to trust You. Teach us to rest in Your faithfulness and follow You together whatever tomorrow brings. Amen.

Devotions, Teen Devotions

👧👦 Teen Devotional — Day 209

Rooted & Raised

Forgiving as You Have Been Forgiven

📖 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
—Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Forgiveness is one of the clearest reflections of the grace believers themselves have received from God. Paul connects forgiveness toward others directly to the forgiveness given through Christ. Because God has shown mercy to believers, they are called to extend mercy to others.

As a teenager, forgiveness can feel difficult when hurt, betrayal, rejection, or unfair treatment occurs. Human nature often wants to hold onto anger, replay offenses, or seek revenge. Yet bitterness harms the heart and keeps wounds open rather than allowing healing to begin.

Biblical forgiveness does not mean pretending sin or hurt never happened. It also does not necessarily remove consequences or instantly restore broken trust. Forgiveness means releasing personal vengeance and entrusting justice to God rather than allowing bitterness to rule the heart.

Paul also connects forgiveness with kindness and tenderness of heart. A hardened heart resists grace, while a tender heart remembers how much mercy it has personally received from Christ. The more you understand God’s forgiveness toward you, the more your heart is shaped to forgive others.

Through the Holy Spirit, Christ gives strength to forgive even when emotions remain painful. Forgiveness is often a process of surrendering hurt repeatedly to God and refusing to nurture bitterness or hatred.

Jesus Himself demonstrated perfect forgiveness, even while suffering unjustly. His example reveals that forgiveness is not rooted in whether someone deserves mercy, but in the grace God freely gives.

There will be moments when forgiveness feels costly or emotionally difficult. In those moments, remembering the depth of Christ’s forgiveness helps reshape perspective. Believers forgive not because hurt is small, but because God’s mercy is greater.

Knowing Christ transforms forgiveness from forced obligation into grace flowing from a heart changed by His mercy.

A heart that understands God’s forgiveness becomes more willing to extend forgiveness to others.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me forgive others with the same grace You have shown to me. When hurt or anger begins to grow in my heart, teach me to surrender those feelings to You rather than hold on to bitterness. Strengthen me through Your Spirit to walk in kindness, mercy, and forgiveness each day. Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

🧒 Children’s Devotional — Day 209

Rooted & Raised

Jesus Helps Me Forgive Others

📖 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
—Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Sometimes people may hurt your feelings, say something unkind, or do something wrong. When that happens, it can feel hard to forgive.

But Jesus teaches you to forgive others because He has forgiven you. Forgiveness means choosing not to hold on to anger or to try to hurt someone back.

Forgiving does not mean pretending wrong things never happened. It means giving your hurt to God and choosing love instead of bitterness.

Jesus helps your heart heal and gives you strength to forgive with kindness and grace.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me forgive others when they hurt me. Teach me to let go of anger and choose kindness and love instead. Thank You for forgiving me and helping my heart grow more like Yours. Amen.

Devotions, Family Devotionals

🏡 Family Devotional — Day 209

Rooted & Raised

Forgiving One Another in Love

📖 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
—Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Every family experiences moments when forgiveness is needed. Hurt feelings, misunderstandings, impatience, or wrong choices can create conflict within the home. God’s Word teaches families to respond with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness rather than holding on to anger or bitterness.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending hurt never happened. It means choosing to release resentment and to show grace, just as God has shown grace through Christ. Families grow stronger when forgiveness is practiced quickly and sincerely.

Being “tenderhearted” means caring about one another’s feelings and responding with compassion rather than harshness. A gentle and forgiving spirit helps bring healing and peace back into relationships.

Parents can model forgiveness by apologizing when they are wrong and showing mercy and patience toward others. Children learn the importance of forgiveness by seeing grace practiced daily within the home.

Holding onto bitterness can damage relationships and create distance between family members. But forgiveness helps restore peace, trust, and unity. It reminds the family that God’s mercy is greater than human failures.

Knowing Christ as a family means learning to forgive one another as He has forgiven you. As grace and mercy grow within the home, relationships become stronger, and the family reflects the love of Christ more clearly.

Prayer:
Jesus, help our family forgive one another with kindness and grace. Teach us to let go of bitterness and respond with tender hearts and loving attitudes. Let Your mercy shape our home so that we may walk together in peace, unity, and love each day. Amen.

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Women’s Devotional — Day 209

Rooted & Raised

A Heart Willing to Forgive

📖 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
—Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Paul connects forgiveness directly to the mercy believers have received through Christ. Forgiveness is not rooted in whether others deserve it, but in the reality that God has graciously forgiven those who trust in Him. The gospel itself is a message of undeserved mercy.

As a woman navigating relationships, disappointments, and personal wounds, I find that forgiveness can sometimes feel deeply difficult. Hurtful words, betrayal, rejection, misunderstandings, or repeated offenses may leave lasting pain. Human nature often wants to protect itself through bitterness, resentment, or emotional distance.

Yet Scripture calls believers toward a different response. Forgiveness does not mean pretending sin or hurt never occurred. Nor does it always remove consequences or immediately restore trust. Rather, forgiveness means surrendering personal vengeance and refusing to allow bitterness to rule the heart.

Paul also speaks of being “tenderhearted.” A tender heart remains softened by the grace of God rather than hardened by pain. The more deeply you understand Christ’s forgiveness toward you, the more your heart becomes capable of extending grace toward others.

Through the Holy Spirit, Christ gives strength to forgive even when emotions remain difficult. Forgiveness is often a process of continually placing hurt in God’s hands and trusting Him with justice, rather than carrying resentment.

Jesus Himself demonstrated perfect forgiveness while enduring suffering and rejection. His example reveals that forgiveness is not dependent on the worthiness of others but on the mercy and grace of God.

There will be moments when forgiveness feels costly or emotionally painful. In those moments, remembering the depth of God’s mercy toward you helps bring perspective and strength. Bitterness keeps wounds open, but forgiveness allows the heart to rest in God’s care and justice.

Knowing Christ transforms forgiveness from burdensome obligation into grace flowing from a heart changed by His mercy.

A heart softened by God’s forgiveness becomes willing to extend forgiveness to others.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me forgive others with the same grace and mercy You have shown to me. When hurt or bitterness begins to grow within my heart, teach me to surrender those wounds to You. Strengthen me through Your Spirit to walk in kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness each day. Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

🧒 Children’s Devotional — Day 208

Rooted & Raised

Jesus Helps Me Serve Others

📖 “Through love serve one another.”
—Galatians 5:13b (NKJV)

Serving others means helping with a loving and willing heart. Jesus wants you to care for people and look for ways to help them.

You can serve others in simple ways—helping at home, sharing, encouraging someone, cleaning up, or praying for a friend. Small acts of kindness can show God’s love in big ways.

Jesus is the greatest example of serving others. He cared for people, helped them, and showed love wherever He went.

When you serve others with love, you follow the example of Jesus and bring joy to those around you.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me serve others with a loving heart. Teach me to notice when someone needs help and to care for people the way You do. Let my actions show Your love every day. Amen.

Devotions, Teen Devotions

👧👦 Teen Devotional — Day 208

Rooted & Raised

Serving Others Through Love

📖 “Through love serve one another.”
—Galatians 5:13b (NKJV)

Paul’s instruction reveals that Christian freedom is not meant to lead to selfishness, but to loving service. In Christ, believers are freed from slavery to sin, yet that freedom is expressed through willingly serving others rather than living only for themselves.

As a teenager, the world often encourages self-focus—prioritizing personal comfort, recognition, success, or attention above the needs of others. Yet Jesus consistently demonstrated a different way of living. He used His life not to be served, but to serve.

Serving others through love means willingly caring for people in ways that reflect Christ’s character. Service is not limited to large acts or public recognition. Often it appears in ordinary faithfulness—helping without being asked, encouraging someone who is struggling, listening patiently, or giving your time and effort for the good of others.

Biblical service flows from love rather than obligation. Actions done merely for appearance or praise miss the heart of true service. Christlike service is motivated by genuine care and humility, reflecting the love believers have received from Him.

Through the Holy Spirit, Christ develops a servant-hearted attitude within you. He helps shift your focus away from selfish ambition and toward compassion, humility, and care for others. Service becomes an expression of spiritual maturity and love.

Jesus Himself gave the perfect example of servanthood. Though He is Lord, He humbled Himself, cared for others, washed Hisdisciples’’ feet, and ultimately gave His life on the cross. True greatness in God’s kingdom is found not in self-exaltation, but in humble service.

There will be moments when serving others feels inconvenient, unnoticed, or sacrificial. In those moments, remembering Christ’s example helps keep your heart centered on love rather than recognition.

Knowing Christ transforms service from reluctant duty into joyful obedience shaped by love.

A heart transformed by Christ willingly serves others through love and humility.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me serve others with humility and love. Teach me to care more about reflecting Your heart than seeking recognition for myself. Strengthen me through Your Spirit to willingly help, encourage, and care for others in ways that honor You each day. Amen.