While death often brings both sorrow and relief, Jesus’ sacrifice transformed the darkness of sin into the promise of eternal life.

In Jeremiah 42, the remnant of Judah sought God’s direction and received a powerful promise: if they stayed where God had placed them, He would build them up, protect them, and show them mercy.

Everyone belongs to a camp of beliefs, loyalties, and commitments, but no decision is more important than answering Jesus’ question: “Who do you say I am?”

Life can change in a moment, taking us from seasons of joy and blessing into unexpected storms.

Like James and Proverbs remind us, we cannot boast about tomorrow, and like Jeremiah, we sometimes discover that obedience brings unexpected hardship.

Like the wisdom found in Jeremiah, Proverbs, and even C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, we are reminded that trusting ourselves leads to barrenness, but staying rooted in God brings flourishing.

As we thank God for the blessings of our country, we also acknowledge our shortcomings and seek His mercy, wisdom, and guidance.

Over two decades of visiting our nation’s capital have reminded me how meaningful it is to advocate for those in need, yet Scripture reminds us that our deepest allegiance belongs to Christ alone.