Brave Mothers of the Bible

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Barbara Harper

It’s daunting to try to raise little humans. There’s no instruction manual. What works for one doesn’t always work for another.

We worry about their health, the possibility of getting hurt physically or mentally, whether they’ll make friends, the influence of bad friends, their character formation, their spiritual formation, their future spouses, their future work, our failures, and so much more.

We can draw inspiration from a few mothers in the Bible.

Eve is the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). We’re not told much about her everyday family life. How dismaying it must have been to navigate a world affected by sin, so different from the garden where she first came to life. How confusing to raise children with no other examples before her. How crushing when one son murdered the other.

When Eve’s first son was born, she said, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” Then after Cain murdered Abel, and Seth was born, she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him” (Genesis 4:2, 25).

These two statements show me that she trusted God, depended on His help, and saw her children as gifts from Him. Eve knew God’s grace in forgiving her after she had miserably failed.

Some think that she might be referring to God’s promise of a coming redeemer at the birth of her first son. If so, she demonstrated faith that God would fulfill His word, even though the timing would be far different than what she thought.

Jochebed lived when the children of Israel were enslaved by Egypt. The Israelites had become so numerous that Pharaoh decreed all male babies should be thrown into the Nile River. Can you imagine being in that situation?

Somehow Jochebed managed to hide her pregnancy and newborn until he was three months old. The Bible says she saw he was a “fine child”–some translations say “beautiful” or “goodly.” The NLT says “a special baby.” Some commentators believe this means she saw something unique about Moses. Others think she was just a normal mother who was enamored by her beautiful new baby boy.

When Jochebed could hide her baby no longer, she technically obeyed Pharaoh: she put the baby in the Nile. But first she made a basket and waterproofed it before putting the baby in.

I’d always thought she did this at random, and Pharaoh’s daughter “just happened”–by the providence of God–to come along at the right time and take the baby home for her own. But one source I read said that Egyptian royalty would have had indoor bathing facilities. So Pharaoh’s daughter being in the Nile might not have been for the sake of hygiene, but rather a ritual bath. And Jochebed may have known she would be there.

Whichever way it happened, it took faith for Moses’ mother to send her baby off in a basket in the Nile River. What if it overturned? What if a crocodile found it first? What if the waterproofing didn’t hold?

God answered beyond Jochebed’s dreams. Not only was Moses safe, but the daughter of Pharaoh herself rescued him. And Jochebed herself got to nurse Moses, which meant in those days that she would have had him for another two to three years, at least. Little did she know how God would use her son in the future.

When people ask, “How can we raise children in such a world as we have today,” I think of Moses. God can keep our children safe in any kind of world. And He just might use them to help turn it around.

Hannah was infertile, which is a cause for grief to anyone desperately wanting a child. But in the culture of this time, having children was thought to be a sign of God’s favor. So not having children, and experiencing torment from her husband’s other wife, grieved Hannah.

Hannah’s husband didn’t seem to understand. “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8).

So Hannah went to the temple and poured her heart out to the Lord. She prayed so fervently, Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk and rebuked her.

Hannah promised God that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to God. And when God gave her Samuel, she kept her vow and gave him to the Lord.

Sometimes those closest to us, and those who are supposed to help us, only cause more pain. But, like Hannah, we can pour our hearts out to the God who sees and understands.

Hannah also teaches us that our children are gifts of God and belong to Him.

Mary‘s motherhood was unique in many ways. An angel announced that she would conceive and bear the Son of God, the long-promised Messiah, while she was a virgin. She knew who He was, but she didn’t know how everything would work. She might not have understood that the cross was coming, though Simeon forewarned her that “a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:22-35).

But she had to learn early on that Jesus must be “about His father’s business.” She must have delighted in His miracles, teaching, and followers. But she was likely confused when the religious crowd turned against Him.

God sometimes calls our children to hard things, for His glory and the good of others. We may not understand His leading, but we can trust Him.

An unnamed Syrophoenician woman asked Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). Jesus’ initial negative answer to her is puzzling. Mark’s account says Jesus was in Gentile territory and didn’t want anyone to know, and one source says that’s why He seemed to put her off. Another source said the gospel was first shared with the Jews, and later came to the Gentiles. Though that’s true, Jesus healed other Gentiles. Many sources say He was testing her faith. But one said He was showcasing her faith. I think that might be the most accurate. Matthew’s account says the disciples wanted Jesus to send her away because she was crying after them. Maybe He wanted to show them that this woman they didn’t have time for, this woman they wanted to get rid of, had great faith despite many obstacles.

Though this woman was a Gentile, she addressed Jesus as the Son of David. The ESV Study Bible notes on Matthew’s account say that she evidently knew that through Abraham, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). She was humble before Jesus, yet persistent.

What can we learn from these mothers?

Jesus provides grace for past sin and failures when we repent of them and believe in Him.
He is more than able to take care of our children.
We can pour out our hearts to Him.
He understands our deepest needs when no one else does.
He may call our children to difficult things, but His grace will be sufficient for them and for us.
Our circumstances may not always make sense. But we can cling to His Word in faith and hope.

Are you inspired by these or other Biblical mothers? Please feel free to share in the comments.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

Are We Doing It for Him?

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Barbara Harper

The people wanted to know if they should keep fasting.

The children of Israel had been in exile in Babylon for seventy years. They had begun fasting in the fifth month of the year to commemorate the destruction of their temple.

But God had miraculously moved kings and events to send them back to their land. They started rebuilding the temple, but got distracted. Haggai and Zechariah encouraged them to put first things first and get the temple built.

So a group of men came to Zechariah to ask about those fasts. They were back in the land now and working on the temple. Did they need to keep fasting?

God replied with a question of His own: “Was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?” (Zechariah 7:5-6).

As I understand, from what I have read, this was not a fast that was proclaimed by the law. It was something the Israelites started doing on their own. Had they started it for the wrong reasons? Were they feeling sorry for themselves and their plight rather than truly grieving over the sin that had caused them to be given over to their enemies?

Maybe, like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, they fasted and prayed for show. Jesus warned, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1-21).

Or perhaps they did start fasting for good and right reasons. But over seventy years, it’s easy to fall into routines and forget why and for whom we are doing them.

The following verses indicate that their ancestors had not obeyed the Lord He had told them:

‘Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.’ But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. (Zechariah 7:9-12).

All the religious rituals in the world will not make up for disobedience, hard-heartedness, and mistreatment of others.

The ESV Study Bible notes on this passage say, “If the people had learned the lesson that the destruction of the temple was intended to teach, and had truly repented and turned from their sins, then they could stop fasting. The temple was being rebuilt. But if they have simply been fasting for themselves all along, then their fasting was a waste of time (p. 1759).

It’s easy for us to fall into the same practices, isn’t it? Maybe we start spiritual routines like Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and giving, with right hearts that want to grow closer to the Lord, glorify Him, and be used of Him. But in the day-to-day routines, we forget why we’re doing these things and for whom. They just become rituals without meaning.

Or we only do these things because we don’t want to appear unspiritual by not doing them.

Or we think that if we do these things, we’re okay with God, and it doesn’t matter what we do with the rest of our lives.

In Revelation 2, the Lord sent a message to the church at Ephesus. They had been doing well, patiently enduring, weeding out false prophets, and bearing up for His sake. But, He said, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent” (Revelation 2:4-5). They were doing the right things, but they had forgotten their first love.

May we renew our love for Him by remembering His love for us, His character, His greatness, and all He has done for undeserving people like us. May we renew our focus to, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

Broken Pieces

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Barbara Harper

In a recent Laudable Linkage post, I shared an unfamiliar quote from Elisabeth Elliot: “If your life is broken, it may be because pieces will feed a multitude.“

I don’t remember where I saw the quote, and whoever shared it didn’t list the book or program it came from. But I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

Elisabeth is alluding to what we call the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-14). As you recall, people streamed to hear Jesus preach. He had compassion on the multitude and asked Philip where they could buy food for the crowd. John tells us Jesus “said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.” Philip responded that two hundred denarii ( a denarii being a day’s wage then) wouldn’t be enough to give everyone even a little. Andrew said a boy had a lunch of “five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

What happened then?

Preparation in faith. Jesus had the disciples seat the people just as if they were going to have a feast.

Gratefulness. Jesus thanked His Father for what they had.

Blessing. The account of this miracle in the other gospels say Jesus blessed the food.

Brokenness. The other three gospels also say Jesus broke the bread before passing it out.

Distribution. Jesus gave the food to the disciples to hand out to the people.

Sufficiency. “They all ate and were satisfied” (Luke 9:17).

Abundance. Not only did everyone eat their fill, but there were enough leftovers to fill twelve baskets of broken pieces–enough to feed many more.

We hear a lot of lament these days when people feel they are “not enough.” I always want to say, “Of course we’re not enough!” Paul writes, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

But Paul goes on to say, “Our sufficiency is from God.”

When we give what we have to Jesus–whether it’s money, time, counsel, a listening ear, a word in due season, or whatever–and He blesses and breaks it, it can feed many.

We don’t have to wait for perfection. We’ll never reach it in this life.

We don’t have to bemoan what little we have. He can work with it.

We don’t have to compare ourselves to those who have more (time, money, talents, skills, etc.). Jesus commended a widow who gave two small coins because that was all she had.

We don’t even have to wait until we “have it all together”–God can use our incomplete and broken pieces.

And often those broken pieces nourish others, who then minister from their broken pieces, multiplying God’s grace far beyond what we can see.

Paul said he came to the Corinthians “in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). In his next letter to them, Paul wrote. “He said to me ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

We don’t have to be sufficient. God is. And He can bless and use our weaknesses and broken pieces to minister grace to others.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

What I’ve Learned About Ministry

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Barbara Harper

I didn’t attend church regularly until I was about sixteen. When I started participating in various church ministries in the next several years, I didn’t realize I had some mistaken expectations about how church ministry should go.

By “ministry,” I don’t mean just “full-time” ministry: pastor, missionary, evangelist, etc. Many are called to those positions. But every Christian is called to minister to others in some way. God has gifted each of us with spiritual gifts and talents to use in serving Him and each other.

Though I’m mainly talking about ministries within the church, there are also plenty of ways we can minister to one another outside of official church groups.

Here are some things I’ve learned in nearly fifty years of ministry in and out of church.

Try different things. As a young person, I had no idea what my gifts and abilities were. I was asked to work in the nursery and participate in children’s ministries, eventually teaching Sunday School and children’s church. I learned to do those things–but I dreaded them. Then one year, our Awana secretary asked me to be her assistant–keeping score in games, tallying points for team events, ordering supplies, getting the awards ready for the close of each night. I felt like I’d come home, like I had finally found my niche. Later I tried other ares of ministry within the ladies’ group and helping missionaries. As we pray and try different things, we’ll get a sense of where our gifts are. Feedback from others will help confirm where they see God working in your life.

Some things will go wrong. I used to think anything done for the Lord should go smoothly. I was mystified when it didn’t. Sometimes the devil actively attacks. However, often our troubles stem from living in a fallen world. Equipment will break down, weather won’t cooperate, etc.

We won’t always agree. I used to think that any group of people who loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him would be able to work together in perfect harmony. Experience shows otherwise, but I should have noticed that even people in the Bible didn’t always agree on what or how things should be done. Sometimes differences occur because we’re all sinners. Other times, our different backgrounds and experiences will form our views. It’s good to hear each other out. Sometimes different ideas will shine a light on an area we hadn’t thought about. We shouldn’t be overprotective about our proposals and methods, but hear each other out. Even when we need to stand firm about how something needs to be done, we can be gracious towards others’ opinions.

People will let you down. Once I was to meet another lady at church to put up a bulletin board together. I had a nursing baby at home who wanted to be fed every two to three hours and who would not take a bottle. But I felt I could get back home in time if my coworker and I got as much done ahead of time as possible–all the letters cut out, etc. When we arrived at the church, she did not have all of her pieces ready. I was so frustrated.

When we work with others, we’ll see they have feet of clay–and they’ll see the same about us. Someone will forget their turn in the nursery, not show up when needed, not complete the job they agreed to do. None of us is perfect. We’re all sinners. That’s one reason all those verses about forgiving one another and forbearing with one another are there in the Bible. We might need to have a discussion with them. We shouldn’t hold grudges or gossip about each other’s failures, but rather forgive and do our best to smooth things over.

People will surprise you. One time I asked someone who looked to me like she had plenty of time to help with a committee, but she said no. Then another lady that I would not have asked because she was so busy volunteered. We don’t know everything going on in another’s life, so we shouldn’t make assumptions about whether they are able to help. We need to pray before seeking coworkers and trust God to lead us to the right people.

Then there are dear people who just happen to be around and pitch in when needed–cleaning up after an event, going for needed supplies, stepping in the nursery when someone is home sick or has forgotten their turn, sharing a word of encouragement , etc.

I won’t always feel joyful in ministry. There are times we feel defeated, discouraged, overwhelmed, and wish we hadn’t agreed to help. There are even times I’ve locked myself in the bathroom, crying, before an event where I had a big responsibility. It helped me to realize that I feel that way in other areas of life as well. A lack of joy may indicate a heart problem, or it may mean it’s time for a change. But usually it just means we’re human. We remind ourselves we’re doing what we’re doing as unto the Lord. And I’ve often found that the joy does not often come before a task, but sometimes during and usually after it’s over.

I shouldn’t say no unless I pray about it. This was drilled into us by the head of our ladies group in the church my husband and I were in when we first married. I was asked to be on the committee that did monthly bulletin boards featuring a missionary each month. Bulletin boards had been the bane of my existence in college, where students had to do bulletin boards for various classes. But as I prayed, I didn’t feel I should say no. The next year, I was asked to head that committee for the following year. I didn’t look forward to it. But all that I had learned in school and on the committee the previous year finally came together, and God gave me some wonderful ideas for boards.

There are times to say no. In my early Christian life, I thought I should do anything anyone asked me to do. I quickly got overwhelmed. After we pray about it, we should feel no guilt saying no if we feel that’s God’s answer. If He doesn’t want us in a certain position, He has someone else in mind. In fact, one time when I did have to say no, the person who said yes did a much better job than I could have. I realized that saying no sometimes makes way for another to step into that place.

There are times a ministry has to shut down. When we lived in GA, we had a wonderful, active homeschool support group. One mom started it simply, but then it grew to hundreds of people. When the coordinator was pregnant with her seventh child, she just could not handle the group any more. We did without the group for about a year. But then one woman volunteered to do the newsletter. Another agreed to coordinate the monthly meetings. One by one, the various aspects of the group were taken on by others. It took that year of being without the group to make everyone realize how much they wanted it and to be willing to structure it differently.

On the other hand, sometimes a particular ministry lasts for a time and then gives way to something new as the times or the needs of the group change.

I won’t always feel sufficient. Like Moses when God called him to lead the people of Israel, I often feel insufficient for a job before I start. But even when I do something that I feel God has equipped me for, at some point I often feel overwhelmed. That’s a good place to be, though, because we learn by experience that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Ministry will stretch us. If we never venture out of our comfort zones, we’ll never grow. It’s scary, but God will meet us in our need.

Keep first things first. Like Martha, we can be “cumbered about much serving” and forget the one needful thing: fellowshipping with our Savior and getting to know Him better. Serving is no substitute for growing in love for Him and His people.

There’s nothing like seeing God provide strength and ideas and even tiny details that make us marvel at His attention and love and care.

There is nothing like being used of God. That’s what ministry comes down to: allowing God to work through us in others’ lives. When someone lets us know that they were blessed, encouraged, instructed, or helped by some small thing we said or did, and we know it was only because of God’s grace, our own hearts rejoice and are encouraged.

The Bible tells us, “If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11, CSB). That’s our ultimate purpose in all we do: to glorify God with the strength He provides.

There is much more that can be said about ministry: there are whole books written on the subject. But I hope some of these thoughts help encourage you in your ministry for the Lord.

What have you learned about ministry along the way?

Revised from the archives.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

When People Act Like Jerks

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Barbara Harper

You’ve probably seen those lists people post on social media from time to time–the ones that say something like, “The man speeding on the highway? Maybe his wife is in labor and they are racing to the hospital. The woman who passed you in the hallway without speaking? Maybe she’s worried about a sick child at home.”

On the list goes with various scenarios in which we tend to jump to conclusions and misjudge people.

It’s true, we don’t usually know what’s motivating someone’s actions. We do tend to be quick to judge. As someone has said, we never know what kind of battles people are fighting. In Scriptural terms, we’re to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).

One day as I was driving on the highway, a man in another car cut me off and proceeded to speed in and out of traffic for as far as I could see him.

I thought, “Well, maybe he’s trying to get home to an emergency.”

Then I thought, “Or maybe he’s just being a jerk.”

Because people are sometimes, especially while driving.

So what do we do with jerk-like behavior?

Well, my usual responses to call names or rant about the wrongness of the other person’s actions are not good ones. I don’t do these things in person, but in the solitude of my own car or home–unless I am venting to my husband about my encounters.

I have gotten so steamed at other people’s unfair or thoughtless or just plain wrong actions that my heart starts racing and I worry about my blood pressure.

It doesn’t help to fixate on the situation or repeat it over and over in my mind. Those actions only escalate the situation and my wrong responses.

One of my college professors used to say, “Don’t let other people’s problems become your problems.” He wasn’t saying we shouldn’t care about people’s problems or try to help them. He was saying, in this context, don’t let someone else’s wrongdoing cause you to react wrongly or to sin.

It doesn’t do anything to correct the matter if I work myself up into stroke-levels of blood pressure when someone drives crazily. It only does me harm. So I need to just let it go and not stew over it. Maybe I could pray for them not to hurt anyone or for a policeman to stop them.

What about when jerk-like behavior is closer to home? When a boorish person is a relative or neighbor?

Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 is a good example. Her husband, Nabal, “was harsh and badly behaved.” While David and his men were on the run from Saul, they acted as security or bodyguards to Nabal’s shepherds. When Nabal was shearing his sheep near a feast day, David sent a few of his men to ask Nabal if he could spare some food for them.

Nabal not only said no, he insulted David.

So David called 400 of his men to strap on their swords and head to Nabal’s house.

In the meantime, one of the servants told Abigail what had happened. She hurriedly gathered up food and sent it ahead, and then she got on a donkey and headed to David. When she found him, she humbled herself before him. She admitted her husband was foolish. She asked for forgiveness for him. She appealed to David not to make things worse and cause bloodshed against innocent people by “working salvation himself.” She acknowledged that David was God’s chosen.

David thanked and blessed her, realizing she “kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!” He told her to go home in peace.

Abigail did so, and found Nabal eating, drinking, and making merry. She didn’t tell him about her interaction with David until the next morning, when Nabal was clearheaded. “His heart died within him, and he became as a stone.” Ten days later, “the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.”

Abigail acknowledged what kind of man her husband was; there was no hiding it. But she used wisdom and discretion to protect him and the entire household.

Of course, an even better example is our Lord Jesus. He had the authority to rebuke people when they needed it. But He endured a lot from stubborn, rebellious, foolish people. When it came time for Him to give Himself to die for our sins, He did so without fighting back. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23).

He taught us not just to endure, but to go the extra mile, to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies:

You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48).

The Bible acknowledges there are some people we can’t live peaceably with despite our best efforts.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).

There are times to confront people or to appeal to an authority to deal with them. There are times to leave an abusive situation. There are other times to let the situation go. We exercise wisdom, show love, and trust “him who judges justly.”

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

Sure-Footed Confidence

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Barbara Harper

The book of Habakkuk might seem an unlikely place to draw inspiration for Easter. But my study from Habakkuk last week gave me food for thought this Easter week.

Habakkuk is my favorite of the Old Testament “minor” prophets. His book is just three chapters long and seems to be a lot more understandable than some of the others.

First, Habakkuk laments the violence, destruction, iniquity, and injustice he sees around him. He asks God how long he’ll cry for help without God answering.

God answers that He is sending the “dreaded and fearsome” Chaldeans.

Habakkuk’s response in our day would sound something like, “Wait–what?!” He wonders how God in His holiness can send a wicked nation against His own people.

God’s answer is the longest part of the book, too long to delineate here. But He begins with “The righteous shall live by his faith” and ends with “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

In other words, “I know what I am doing. Trust me.”

In-between those truths, He promises He will deal with the Chaldeans.

His answer satisfied Habakkuk, who praises Him and prays for revival. In what’s probably the most well-known part of the book, next to “The just shall live by His faith,” Habakkuk proclaims that, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls”–

In other words, through economic collapse, need, everything going wrong–

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

That passage has rebuked and inspired me many times. But what stood out to me on this reading was the next verse: “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

The ESV Study Bible notes say of this verse, “Habakkuk can have sure-footed confidence in God and can live on the heights even amid extreme circumstances.”

Have you ever seen deer or mountain goats walking and leaping in areas where it looks like they’ll take a tumble at any moment? They are much more sure-footed than I would be in their place.

Our day is not unlike Habakkuk’s. Violence, injustice, and iniquity abound. We know from later books in the Bible that things will get worse before the end.

But because Jesus came, lived a totally righteous life in our place, died for our sins, and rose again:

We can be forgiven.

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:13-15).

We can have everlasting life.

“I am the resurrection and the life.Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25).
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Jesus lives within us.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

We have access to God.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4: 14-16).

We don’t have to fear death.

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

We have comfort in sorrow.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

We have meaning in our work.

After 57 verses about the resurrection, Paul writes, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We have perspective in our suffering.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

We have focus for our daily walk.

“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

God has graciously given us more Scripture than Habakkuk had. But the truth remains: “The righteous shall live by his faith” and “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

We don’t know how everything will work out before the Lord comes again. But we can have “sure-footed confidence in God” and “live on the heights even amid extreme circumstances.” Our souls can be stable even when our circumstances are not.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

Who Is Responsible for Jesus’ Death?

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Barbara Harper

Every now and then, the question comes up: Who killed Jesus? Who is responsible for His death?

Let’s look at the possibilities:

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Even though Pilate said he did not find in guilt in Jesus (John 18:38; 19:5), and tried to have Jesus released (John 19:12), he still delivered Him over to be crucified (John 19:16). Even though Pilate washed his hands, proclaiming his innocence of Jesus’ blood (Matthew 27:24), he is still responsible.

The Roman soldiers. One could say they were just following Pilate’s orders, that they didn’t authorize Jesus’ death. Yet they were the ones to actually nail Him to a cross. And they went beyond orders to mock and beat Him (Matthew 27:27-31).

The Jewish officials. The chief priests and elders “plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him” (Matthew 26:3-5). They paid Judas to betray Him. They sent people to seize Jesus (Mathew 26:47). They accused him before Pilate (John 18:28-32; 19:12-16). When Pilate offered to free Jesus as part of his tradition of freeing a prisoner during the Passover week, they urged the people to ask for Barabbas to be freed instead and to call for Jesus to be crucified Matthew 27:15-23).

The Jewish people. When Pilate washed his hands, saying he was innocent of Jesus’ blood, “all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’” (Matthew 27:24-25). This is not a reason for antisemitism, nor is it saying that all Jews of all time are guilty of Jesus’ death. It’s just saying that the people who had rejected Jesus during the time of His ministry called for His death and willingly took responsibility.

Judas. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and led those seeking Him straight to Him. I don’t know if he realized his actions would result in Jesus’ death. But whether he intended it or not, he had a hand in Jesus’ crucifixion.

God the Father. None of the above could have happened if God did not allow it. But God the Father did not merely allow events to happen that resulted in His Son’s death. He gave His Son to die for our sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).

Jesus Himself. Jesus was not an unwilling pawn in His death. He said, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17-19). “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. . . Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesian 5:2, 25-27).

Us. How can we be responsible for Jesus’ death when we didn’t live at the time of His crucifixion? He died for the sins of the whole world. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6). We may not have held the hammer that drove the nails or shouted for His crucifixion. But he was on the cross to pay for our sins.

So–who was ultimately responsible?

Well, the disciples said in Acts 4:27-28 (NKJV), “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.” The Roman officials, the Jewish people, and even the Gentiles are mentioned–but so is God’s plan and purpose.

Likewise, Acts 2:23 says, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” The Father and Son planned this ahead of time, but it was accomplished “by the hands of lawless men” (some translations say wicked men).

Somehow God’s rule and man’s will worked together to accomplish God’s purposes. It’s like what Joseph said of his brothers’ wrongs committed against him: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).

The good news is that Jesus didn’t die just to heap guilt on us. He died to save us from our sins. He prayed for forgiveness even for the men who killed Him. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). And His desire is that people believe on Him and accept His forgiveness.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

He died for us. He died for you. Please don’t neglect this wonderful gift of love.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

Spring for the Soul

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Barbara Harper

After Noah and his family finally got off the ark, God promised, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).

One of the things I loved about moving from TX to SC and TN was having four distinct seasons. Winter has its charms, but it’s not my favorite. Our winters aren’t as severe as many of our northern neighbors, but the cold can still pack a punch.

Early spring can still host a snowfall or two. We don’t usually plant anything until well into May, so young seedlings aren’t killed by a late frost.

Still, by and large, signs of spring increase day by day. Light stays longer. Trees begin to bud. Spring flowers start sending their shoots above ground. And many of us feel a new hope and energy with the return of color and light into our worlds.

Souls have seasons, too, though they are not as predictable as the physical realm. I’ve often been inspired by John Newton’s “Waiting for Spring.” The whole poem, along with some of his journal entries at the time, can be found here. I’ve shared it many times before, but it always speaks to me this time of year. In the first three stanzas, he talks about the change of seasons as part of God’s decree. Then he writes:

Such changes are for us decreed;
Believers have their winters too;
But spring shall certainly succeed,
And all their former life renew.

Winter and spring have each their use,
And each, in turn, his people know;
One kills the weeds their hearts produce,
The other makes their graces grow.

Though like dead trees awhile they seem,
Yet having life within their root,
The welcome spring’s reviving beam
Draws forth their blossoms, leaves, and fruit.

Then he prays in the last stanza:

Dear Lord, afford our souls a spring,
Thou know’st our winter has been long;
Shine forth, and warm our hearts to sing,
And thy rich grace shall be our song.

Another of his poems, or hymns, “Pleasing spring is here again” captures evidences of spring.

What a change has taken place!
Emblem of the spring of grace;
How the soul, in winter, mourns
Till the Lord, the Sun, returns;
Till the Spirit’s gentle rain,
Bids the heart revive again;
Then the stone is turned to flesh,
And each grace springs forth afresh.

Lord, afford a spring to me!
Let me feel like what I see;
Ah! my winter has been long,
Chilled my hopes, and stopped my song!
Winter threatened to destroy
Faith and love, and every joy;
If thy life was in the root,
Still I could not yield thee fruit.

Speak, and by thy gracious voice
Make my drooping soul rejoice;
O beloved Saviour, haste,
Tell me all the storms are past:
On thy garden deign to smile,
Raise the plants, enrich the soil;
Soon thy presence will restore
Life to what seemed dead before.

Both of these hymns were in Newton’s Olney Hymns, Book 2.

Unlike dormant spring plants and trees, we don’t have to wait for the Son to shine. We can go to His light: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:3).

“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2).

“To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:77-79).

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).

When winter hangs on in our souls, we need God’s light to warm, nourish, and revive us. We can pray with John Newton:

Dear Lord, afford our souls a spring,
Thou know’st our winter has been long;
Shine forth, and warm our hearts to sing,
And thy rich grace shall be our song.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

God Uses the Ordinary

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Barbara Harper

I often hear people put the words “just” or “only” in front of their descriptions.

I’m just a student.

I’m just a housewife.

I’m just a mom.

I’m just a secretary.

I’m just a bus driver.

Saying “I’m just . . . ” in that context implies the speaker feels somehow subpar, that others have a bigger role in life.

It’s true that God sometimes takes a person from relative obscurity, gives them a big job, and puts them out in front. Moses, Joseph, Gideon, David, Daniel, Peter, and so many others come to mind.

But most of the people preached to in the Bible, the people who made up the churches the New Testament letters were written to, were just ordinary people learning what it meant to live for Christ in their worlds.

Some of the people we see in the Bible were in the spotlight for a while, but went back to ordinary life: Ruth, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Anna, Simeon, and others. There are some of Jesus’ disciples about whom we know nothing but their names. Mary, the mother of Jesus, experienced some spectacular episodes around Jesus’ birth. But most of the rest of her life was involved with the everyday happenings of a Jewish mother in Nazareth.

Then there were people like the little girl who served Naaman’s wife and told about the prophet in Israel who could heal her master, or the boy who gave his small lunch to the disciples, which was broken and multiplied to feed thousands.

Ordinary life is where the rubber meets the road, isn’t it? That’s where we tend to let our guard down. But that’s also where the bulk of our ministry is, among our own family, neighborhood, and church.

Some of the ordinary people who have ministered to me:

A couple in our church who often invited me over for a meal, followed by their family devotional time, and unwittingly modeled for me what a godly marriage and family looked like.

A woman just ahead of me in life seasons who talked about her teenage daughter while we put up a missionary bulletin board at church and shaped my view of parenting teenagers.

A couple at church who anonymously paid for my tuition to a Christian school for my last two years of high school. This not only helped me become grounded spiritually, but led to the college I attended, where I met my husband. To this day I don’t know who they are, but I think I might have an idea.

The woman who served with a smile almost every time the church had a function involving food.

People who may never have taught a class or preached a message, but who prayed or shared a quiet word of encouragement.

People who do their jobs with excellence and a good attitude, who are a balm after dealing with people who don’t.

My grandfather used to say, “God must love common folks, He made so many of us.”

Most of us are “common folks.” But God loves us and can use us in our everyday ordinary ways to minister to others and glorify Him.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

How Do We Delight In the Lord?

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Barbara Harper

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Whenever I’ve heard teaching or preaching on this verse, the emphasis has always been on the second half. We’re taught that this verse isn’t a blank check for whatever our hearts might want. Instead, as we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires we ought to have. The better we know Him and delight in Him, the more our desires will align with His.

However, I don’t think I’ve ever heard the first part of the verse explained–unless I have forgotten it. It seems to be assumed that we know what it means to delight in something.

And we do. “Delight” carries the connotation of pleasure and joy. We delight in people–a husband, child, grandchild, or friend. We might take pleasure in a special gift, heirloom, or a just-right or longed-for purchase. We take joy in special occasions–graduation, wedding days, dinner with friends.

But do we take joy in God?

We’re often thankful for our salvation, answered prayer, the beauty of creation, and many other gifts from God. And that’s good.

But do we delight in Him?

Here are some ways that are a help to me–perhaps they will be to you, too.

Delight in God’s Word.

The Bible is the primary way God speaks to us in our day. There will be times our Bible reading might seem a little dry, but God promises “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The more we read the Bible with a heart to know God, the more we’ll delight in it, and then in Him. Psalm 119 calls God’s Word a delight ten different times.

Aside from specific study, have you ever opened the Bible to find exactly what you needed for the moment? Fellow blogger Nancy Ruegg calls this experience Bible Hugs. I don’t know how many times I have been pondering a question, issue, or need, and my scheduled Bible reading for the day addressed the very thing I was thinking about.. That makes me feel so seen and loved by my Father.

One quick example: I was in the hospital thirty years ago undergoing tests for what would eventually be diagnosed as transverse myelitis. I was scheduled for an MRI, which was fairly new at the time. Any medical personnel who came into my room asked me if I was claustrophobic. I wasn’t sure–I had never been in a position that would cause me to feel claustrophobia. But their questions were making me that way! They explained that some people are bothered by being surrounded by the MRI machine and having to be still through the somewhat lengthy scan. They could give me something to relax me for it, but would need to know if I wanted it early enough to order it and then for it to be administered in time.

That day, the reading in my Daily Light on the Daily Path devotional was full of verses about stillness, like, “Sit still, my daughter,” “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted,: “Be still, and know that I am God,” “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, ” “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still,” “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” Those calmed my heart. I recited them to myself while in the MRI machine and even dozed off.

Study God’s attributes.

At first, that might sound like a dry academic pursuit. Instead, such a study leads to worship and joy.

As an example, a friend and I are studying God’s attributes in None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different From Us and Why That’s a Good Thing by Jen Wilkin.

The first chapter deals with God’s infinity. Jen points out that it is impossible to measure Him in any way. David says “his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3). Solomon said the highest heaven could not contain God (1 Kings 8:27).

God Himself measures the waters, the heavens, and the mountains, but “Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord?” (Isaiah 40:12-13).

God’s greatness inspires awe and worship, but also fear. What might a God that big do to us? Does He even notice us or care about us?

Yes, Jen says. He knows the number of our hairs (Luke 12:7). He measures our sorrows and tears (Psalm 56:8). He measures our sins, yet “his immeasurable grace exceeds them” (Romans 4:7-8; 5:20).

When I read this book the first time, I was amazed how meditating on God’s attributes increased my faith: “God can take care of anything! What do I have to worry about?” But learning about Him more deeply also spilled over into love for Him and delight in Him.

Mardi Collier had a similar experience as a result of Bible study. She and her husband, Ken, served at The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center in various capacities for years (at one time, he was the president). When she talked with her husband about wanting to know God better, he suggested she start in the psalms and make note of every verse that said something about God. She made a notebook and started a new page every time she saw a new attribute of God, adding to each page as she found other verses. Her study expanded to the rest of the Bible. That project eventually became a book: What Do I Know About My God?

So as we read the Bible, we don’t just get through the scheduled reading for the day: we look for God. What does the passage say about God? But we don’t just read it academically. We read it personally.

Remember what God has done.

Psalm 150:2 tells us to “Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!” We marvel at God’s hand throughout history as we read the Bible. Not only does He demonstrate His wisdom and ability in leading and providing for and protecting His often unappreciative people, He also shows His love and compassion for them.

But God didn’t just work in history. He works in our lives today. David writes in Psalm 63:5-8: “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Whether making a list with pen (or computer) or lying awake and thinking in the middle of the night, recounting God’s work in our lives causes us to joy in Him.

Some years ago, I was encouraged to write down my “Ebenezers.” The word means “stone of help” and comes from 1 Samuel 7:12, where Samuel placed a stone as a memorial of God’s help and called it “Ebenezer.” God helps us every day in big and small ways, but I made a list of some special times when I particularly saw God’s hand at work (that list can be found here.)

Pray.

Prayer is a big subject with many facets, but for our purposes today, I’ll just say there’s nothing like a direct answer to a personal prayer–or the realization that God’s “no” was the best response–to inspire our delight in the Lord.

Read and sing hymns.

Colossians 3:16 says we are taught and admonished as we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Music and poetry have a way of engaging our minds as well as our emotions and can feed our delight in the Lord.

I can hardly sing “Is He Worthy?” without getting teary. “God of Heaven,” “Behold Our God,” and “O God Beyond All Praising” all transport me into instant worship.

Another favorite is the lesser-known but lovely “O God My Joy” (lyrics and background information here), based on Psalm 43:3-4: “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.”

And then there are the multitudes of hymns that are testimonies of what God has done in our lives.

See God’s hand in creation.

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by a gorgeous sunset, beautiful flowers, or majestic mountain scenes and marveled at God’s handiwork?

Then David wrote in Psalm 8:3-4: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” The God of such grandeur knows and loves and cares for us!

Turn thoughts to God all through the day.

We don’t have to confine our worship or our delight in the Lord to our time in the Bible with Him or in prayer. As we go about our daily tasks, we can pray, sing, or think about God’s character, words, and deeds.

What helps you most to delight in the Lord?