Tag: Carla Hardy

Where Are You?

Nehemiah 1-2

Psalm 88

2 Timothy 3

-Devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

Psalm 88 is a tough one. It is a psalm of lament, and the only one that doesn’t shift at the end towards a more hopeful or uplifting view. It’s tempting to read this psalm and feel…well, depressed. We can be fine in our feelings, as long as there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We can feel sad, as long as we know a happy ending is just around the corner. But let’s be real – that’s not always the case. Jesus never promised us a life free of heartache. He said there will be trouble. He doesn’t share specifics on what these troubles will be or how long they will last, but he guarantees we will all have them. 

I know there have been seasons in my life when heartache is the overarching theme. The writer of Psalm 88 could have been me. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Sometimes we call out to God, desperately, and we feel like we are calling out into the void. We wonder if He hears us, or if our prayers are in vain. We pray and we pray and we pray…and…we feel nothing.

The key word here, though, is “feel.” We may feel that our prayers are just echoing into the depths, but if we are rooted in the Word, and committed to prayer and seeking the very character of God, we can KNOW, not just feel. If we feel far away from God or that He’s not hearing us, we can always KNOW that He is near and that He does. 

All this being said, don’t disregard Psalm 88. It may not be a common one the songwriters go to to write the next Sunday morning worship song, but it’s important. It shows us that we will have seasons of great sorrow and distress. But don’t worry. Just as Jesus promises in the book of John that we will have troubles and tribulations, he also promises this: “But take heart, I have overcome the world.” 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you ever gone through a long season of heartache? Are you in one right now? (Take heart, my friend.) 
  2. I encourage you, if you are in a season of distress, to focus on who God is. Keep praying, keep seeking. He is there. He loves you, knows you, and hears you. Don’t give up. God’s got this! 

Prayer:

God, thank you for your word, even when it is not sugar-coated. Thank you for sending your son Jesus, as he lived a life and knew the deepest heartache…and truly gets us. Thank you for assuring us that although we have trouble, Jesus has overcome the world, and that our tribulations will have their end. Help us to remember this and to seek you and know you. Help us to keep talking to you and to never wonder if you hear us. Help us to know without a doubt that you hear us, always, even if in our feeble human hearts we feel hopeless. 

Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Mold Me, Use Me

Ezra 9-10

Psalm 87

2 Timothy 2

-devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

In the “real” world, our status is so often measured by worldly things – your family, your job, your home, your car, your social circle, your financial reality…the list goes on. However, status in this sense means very little to God. It doesn’t matter what we are “made of.” It matters whether we are pure. 

Verse 20 in 2 Timothy 2 says, “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.” If we looked at these materials from a worldly standpoint, we would obviously deem gold and silver as much more valuable, and wood and clay as more standard and unpolished. However, gold and silver can be impure.  They may look bright and shiny on the outside, but impurities can lurk, and often it takes more than just a skin-deep glance to determine this. On the other hand, raw wood is primitive and simple in nature, but can be pure in its constitution. The opposite can be true of each element, but the point is, outward status alone cannot determine something’s purity. 

In verse 21 Paul tells us that if we cleanse ourselves of dishonorable, impure things, we can be “set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Cleansing from impure things and setting our hearts and minds on the word of God and His heart and will makes us vessels that He can use for good. 

I am not someone who the world would look at and say “oh, she has made it!” My status in this life is pretty average. But, I am a child of God and my desire isn’t to be looked upon in envy by the world, but to be used by God as a vessel for His good. I want to have a pure heart and mind, so I can be God’s agent, out in the world, proclaiming His name and working as the hands and feet of Jesus. In this life, I’ll happily be the clay, a long as He is the potter. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Do you look up to anyone who the world would consider a high-status person? Why? Why not?
  2. If you’re being honest with yourself, do you sometimes wish you could reach a certain worldly status? What would you consider that to be?
  3. How do you want to be used by God? What is holding you back?

Prayer:

God, thank you for seeing my heart. Thank you for not looking at my status in this world to determine my worth. Thank you for seeing me for who I am, and shaping me into someone who can be used for your good. Help me to cleanse myself of impurities so I can wholeheartedly serve you and honor you. Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Boldly Proclaim

Ezra 7-8

Psalm 87

2 Timothy 1

-Devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

Paul mentions the word “ashamed” several times in 2 Timothy 1. He tells Timothy to not be ashamed of Jesus nor of himself (v. 8). In verse 12 he says he, Paul, is not ashamed. Lastly, in verse 16 he refers to Onesiphorus, commending him for not being ashamed of Paul’s chains.

Merriam-Webster defines the concept of being ashamed as “feeling shame, guilt or disgrace.” It also says if one is ashamed he is “reluctant or unwilling to do something because of shame or embarrassment.” 

This begs the questions: why would Timothy be ashamed of Jesus? Why would Paul be ashamed of himself, or why would anyone else? And the better question is: why would WE?

I’m sure we have all been ashamed of something about ourselves or our lives. Something we have done has caused us shame or perhaps someone in our family has embarrassed us. This, quite simply, is so human of us. But, to be ashamed of what Jesus has done, of who he is? Why would we? The sad answer is, there is a reason why Paul mentions this in 2 Timothy. We all are capable of this. Can we admit that? 

If we are honest with ourselves, there have likely been times where we don’t share the good news of Jesus with someone. There probably have been times when we just felt like it wasn’t the best environment to share it in or the best people to share it with. Maybe we have felt different and wanted to blend in with the crowd, so we didn’t outwardly show or voice who we were in Jesus. To acknowledge this reality hurts – but it is true. 

Sometimes we need these truths, though. I’m grateful we have Paul’s words here to remind us that we should never ever be ashamed of God, His son, or the saving grace we’ve all been given. 

Let us remember Romans 1:16 whenever we feel shame creeping in: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”

Reflection Questions:

  1. Can you recall a time when you were ashamed of the gospel? 
  2. When you feel like you could be inching towards being ashamed, what can you tangibly do, in that moment, to conquer this tactic of the enemy?

Prayer:

God, thank you for your word, and how you spoke through your saints, like Paul, to warn us about hard truths that we may fall prey to. Help us to always remember to not be ashamed. Help us to remember to feel and act upon the very opposite: that you are unapologetically worthy of our adoration and praise, whether we are alone or with others. Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

I Exalt Thee

Ezra 5-6

Psalm 86

1 Timothy 6

-Devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

The second part of Psalm 86 is full of verses where David exalts God.

As much as God wants us to come to him with our despair, worries & sadness, he also wants us to come to him with reverence. He is a holy God, worthy of our praise and adoration. 

David says to the Lord:

v. 8 “There is none like you…O Lord…”

v. 10 “For you are great and do wondrous things…”

v. 11 “…unite my heart to fear your name.”

v. 13 “For great is your steadfast love toward me…”

David knew the importance of praising the Lord. He knew that a relationship with the Lord is not a one-way street. God wants a relationship with us, and to have that requires mutuality. We cannot simply keep asking God for His favor, rescue and intervention in our lives without recognizing who He is and what He has done for us. He loves us and would give us anything – and indeed He has! – and for that we should desire to exalt His name in humble gratitude. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Do you include praise to God in your prayers? If you don’t do that regularly, let me encourage you to do so. He is worthy! 

Prayer:

God, thank you for all you have done and will do for us. You are our creator, provider, hope and in Jesus, our salvation. We owe you everything. Help us to remember that and to acknowledge that before you always. We love you. Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Cry Out

Ezra 3-4

Psalm 86

1 Timothy 5

-Devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

Psalm 86 is a desperate prayer of David, in a time of his great distress. He says in verse 7, “in the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.”

I don’t know what you are going through right now. You may be in a season of joy, or a season of despair, like David. You may even be living in some mixture of the two. Let me assure you – God didn’t abandon David, and He hasn’t abandoned you. In our times of joy and in our times of distress, calling upon the name of the Lord is never done in vain. He hears us, and Jesus, at His right hand, intercedes for us, even pleads for us. What a beautiful picture that is!

David calls on God, desperately so, throughout this psalm:

v. 1 “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”

v . 2 “…save your servant, who trusts in you–you are my God.”

v. 6 “Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.”

And, in verse 3 David says “…for to you do I cry all the day.” As a believer, I know how important setting aside intentional prayer time is. I encourage you to  make it a habit however you can – mark it on your calendar, set a reminder…and do so until it becomes second nature. 

Additionally, I also know how important constant prayer is. God is our Father (“…and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:18) and Jesus is our Friend (“…but I have called you friends…” John 15:15). We should, also as habit, be in constant communication with them, from the time we open our eyes in the morning to the time we close them at night – and every time in between. We can call on God any time, for any reason. It should be natural, as talking to our spouse, our children, or our friends. The God of the universe is personal, Jesus is ALIVE, and they want to hear from you. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. What season are you at in your life right now? What is troubling you? What do you, or should you, cry out to God about these days?
  2. Do you set aside intentional time for daily prayer? Do you pray throughout the day? Do you do both?

Prayer:

God, thank you for being there for us, listening to us, whenever we call upon you. Thank you for the saving grace and gift of Jesus, who pleads on our behalf, and knows our suffering. Help us to seek you out in our joy and in our sorrow, and help us to lean on you and speak with you about every aspect of our lives, because there is nothing you do not know and nothing you do not care about. We ask for your ear, and we ask for you to speak to us, too. Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Still Small Voice

Ezra 1-2

Psalm 85

1 Timothy 4

-devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul warns us that in the later days, some people will abandon the faith by following “deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” Today, in our culture heavily saturated with constant voices, this has never rung more true.

We are surrounded by and bombarded with information, opinions and relentless noise all day. It’s on our TVs, radios and phones. No matter the time of day, we can be assured that someone, somewhere, is talking. The TV channels & radio stations are seemingly endless, and our phones are gateways to millions of apps, a great number of which are social media in nature. We live in such a time when we no longer need to wonder long about a topic all on our own – we can simply tune into someone else’s take on it. We are a click away from all kinds of answers. We no longer are left to discern our own thoughts and opinions – they are shaped by the interpretations of others. We are influenced by millions of people in so many different ways. The important question is, my fellow brothers & sisters…whose voice will you listen to?

I’m not saying that every voice is bad. I’m not saying everyone has evil intentions. But what I AM saying is that the FIRST voice we need to heed, as followers of Jesus, is God’s. He has given us His holy spirit, His very word, and the privilege of talking to Him anytime we want to. These are gifts, and they are gifts to be used for discernment. We can discern, through these gifts, what is true, holy, and of God, and refuse to listen to voices that are not these things. In this way, we will not be led astray. We will not be counted among the people Paul mentions who have abandoned their faith. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Do you find yourself listening to other voices on a daily basis? Has this habit shaped your opinions and thoughts – has it shaped you as a person? 
  2. If you answered the above with a round of yeses, do you believe the voices you listen to are of God? Or do you think they have led you away from Him? 
  3. Using your discernment, what are your next steps? What can you do, tangibly, to reshape your habits? How can you reclaim the voice of God in your life?

Prayer:

God, thank you for the gift of your holy spirit, for your word, and for the honor of being able to talk to you, the very creator of everything, anytime we want to. Help us to listen to you above all else. Help us to drown out the constant noise around us, and to tune in only to you. Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

How Are You?

Restore us again, God our Savior

2 Chronicles 35-36

Psalm 85

1 Timothy 3

-Devotion by Carla Hardy (MI)

You are probably asked countless times a day, “How are you?” And your answer probably varies between a polite “good” or “not too bad” to maybe a “tired” response. I know I have often replied with my share of “tired!” 

Being tired – physically, mentally & emotionally. We’ve all been there! This can be a good thing, though. Being physically fatigued means you worked hard, that you achieved something. You put your able body to good use. Mentally fatigued? You used your brain, gave thought, produced. Emotional fatigue can be positive – it means you experienced emotions – it’s good to love, it’s normal to feel – we are human after all, created with all sorts of complexities. 

While being tired can be good, it can also sway to the negative side if it’s in excess. Being overly tired can be taxing on us, affecting us negatively. Physical fatigue can wear us down if it’s habitual. We need rest & restoration because our bodies have limits. God created us that way, and has even designated a day for us to rest! We can get sick or hurt if we exceed our physical limits without taking time out. Mental fatigue can also affect us negatively if we don’t manage it well. If we don’t give our minds rest, it can impact our peace, and our thoughts can get out of control. Lastly, emotional fatigue, like mental fatigue, can wear us out. If we get too wrapped up and enmeshed in emotions, it can impact our overall health. 

All that being said, feeling tired – physically, mentally & emotionally so – can be good or bad. Tired tells us ‘good job’ and then ‘rest up.’ However, being spiritually tired? That is never good. It is never healthy for us to be spiritually fatigued. Our spiritual strength should never run out, because it isn’t even our own – it’s God working through us. If we feel spiritually tired, it’s a sign for us to seek revival. To seek the true source of strength. 

If we are spiritually tired, what can happen? Well, two pretty big things stand out:

-We can be caught unaware of the enemy and what he is doing. The enemy is always prowling, and we need to always be on alert. 

-We can miss what God has for us. We can fail to see and respond to His leading in our lives.

We want to be aware of both our Father and of our enemy, for two very different reasons. If we are spiritually tired, our awareness can fall short, and we can become victims of either spiritual attack or missed blessings.

What really stood out to me in Psalm 85 is the concept of revival. This psalm speaks of revival from God throughout the entirety of it:

v. 4 “Restore us again, O God of our salvation…”

v. 6 “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”

v. 8 “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people…”

v. 12 “Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.”

Revival, restoration, peace – whatever you recognize it as, seek it out. Constantly. As followers of Jesus, we must keep ourselves in check, look for signs of spiritual exhaustion. When we see hints of exhaustion, we need to:

-get into the Word. It is healing, life-giving and gives us the tools we need.

-pray. Boldly ask God for revival and a renewed spiritual life.

-seek out others to help us. Others can provide a path to revival and renewal, too. We grow in community, and our brothers & sisters in Christ can pour into our spiritual lives simply by their presence, and their prayers. We need each other. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you recently experienced spiritual exhaustion? What were the signs? What did you do? 
  2. Are you connected with a solid, Bible-believing church? Are there people in the church you feel like you can rely on – to pray for you, mentor you, hold you accountable, pour into your life?

Prayer:

God, thank you for our physical bodies. Thank you that you have enabled our bodies to perform and labor, that our bodies are so miraculously built. Thank you for our brains. Thank you that we can think, reason and create. Thank you for our emotions. Thank you that we can feel joy, love – and even the harder emotions, because it means we can use them to rely on you. Thank you for all of these things – and thank you for providing ways for restoration. We ask that when we are spiritually tired that you help us to recognize this and to act. We thank you that we can talk to you and ask for renewal, that your Word is accessible to us, that there are people after your own heart to help renew us when we need it. Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

We Need More Ezras

Ezra 7-10

Devotion by Carla Hardy (Michigan)

The name Ezra comes from a Hebrew word that means “help.” Ezra was a man of integrity, trusted by the king. Most importantly, though, Ezra was a man of God. He committed himself to knowing the Word of God. In Ezra chapter 7, verse 10, it says, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” So not only did Ezra study the Word, but he lived it out so he could share his knowledge and heart with others – in this way he embodied what it truly means to be a helper. 

Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:2 to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” This is exactly what Ezra did. He knew the Word so he could then go out and teach it. When Ezra is sent by the king to Jerusalem, he finds the Israelites in bad shape. They had been disobedient to God, neglecting all of His ways. Ezra was equipped and ready to handle this unexpected discovery because He knew God’s word inside and out. He set about helping the Israelites find their way back to God. He was a true leader; he cared about people, lifted them up, prayed for their repentance, taught them the Word, and showed them how to live out a life of faith. 

In all areas of my life, I want to be like Ezra. I pray and hope people see me as someone with integrity, someone they can trust. I want to know God’s word and keep it in my heart, so I am prepared to help in all seasons. Above all, I want to share God with others and proclaim His goodness, mercy and love.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you committed yourself to knowing the Word? How do you study it? How do you best commit it to your heart?
  2. Have you ever known a great leader? In what ways was this person like Ezra? What wisdom did that person impart to you?
  3. This world needs more Ezras. How can you be more like Ezra today in your walk with God?
SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

Pride’s Downfall

Esther 5-10

Devotion by Carla Hardy (Michigan)

Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” I think the perfect poster child for this proverb is none other than Haman, the villain of the book of Esther. 

Haman had a lot of plans, didn’t he? He plotted and schemed and thought he had everything locked in. He was the king’s right hand man and proud to be in that position. 

But, when his true colors were revealed to the king, he was taken down. And he fell hard. 

We might look at Haman’s story and think, “Of course! I saw that coming. If only he’d read Proverbs 16.” But, as we see in Jesus’s words in Matthew 7, sometimes we can’t see the log in our own eye. 

I’m not immune to feeling prideful. It comes out in me sometimes, and I’m willing to bet that it comes out in you, too. It’s so easy to spot and talk about someone else’s sin. But it’s not easy when we have to face our own. 

So when we feel pride creeping in, what do we do? Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Every good thing we have, every good thing we are…is God’s. He is the source, and recognizing that we can do nothing apart from Him is humbling. And it halts pride right in its tracks. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you ever had, or witnessed in someone else, a downfall from pride?
  2. How do we protect our hearts against what Proverbs 16:18 warns us about? Is there a Scripture that speaks to you about this? 
SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload

For His Purposes

Esther 1-4

Devotion by Carla Hardy (Michigan)

Sometimes (usually in the midst of a scuffle with technology) I wonder if living in 2025 is really for me. Maybe I would have been more suited for life in the 1800s, living life on the prairie. But then I remember how much I love indoor plumbing. 

I kid, but in all seriousness I wonder, do you ever feel this way, too? Why are you placed in the here and now? For me, feeling equipped doesn’t always come easy. My guess is that you often feel the same. The world moves quickly and so much is happening…and sometimes I feel a bit helpless. What can I even contribute to the story? Where is my place here?

I bet this, in part, is what Esther wrestled with when Mordecai relays to her in chapter 4, verse 14, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 

At first, she was in fear of her life, knowing that if she approached the king she would likely be put to death. In no way did she feel prepared to do what Mordecai asked of her – as if she was in a position to approach the king as anyone special. But, when Mordecai reminds her of what is at stake, she is convicted and courageously decides to take action. 

I want to confront my insecurities and fears like Esther. Whether I’m facing a small task or a life-altering one, I want to show up for God. Because He told me, I know that I am made in His image, and He has placed me here, in this place and at this moment, for His purposes. I want to be an instrument He can use to further His Kingdom. How about you?

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you ever felt inadequate or out of place? What did you do in response to that? 
  2. Has there been a time in your life when you were called to be brave, like Esther, beyond your own strength? How did you experience God in that moment?
  3. What is God calling you to do today? How can you be courageous and embrace what He has for you?
SGL.2025.SeptemberFullPageDownload