ENCOURAGE

July 20, 2025

Sanctified Steps: The Blanket In The Storm|Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

The Blanket In The Storm: Isaiah 26:3

📖 Scripture:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” — Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Devotional:

Not every storm is meant to be stopped. Some are meant to be endured — with God’s presence wrapped around us like a blanket.

When the winds rise and the lightning flashes, we often pray, “Lord, make it stop.” But sometimes, God doesn’t calm the storm… He calms you.

His peace isn’t a promise that thunder won’t shake your walls. It’s a quiet assurance that while the storm rages outside, your soul can stay warm, steady, and covered.

Like a parent tucking a frightened child into bed, God draws near—not always with solutions, but with stillness, shelter, and presence.

Reflection:

Are you waiting for your storm to stop… or are you resting in the comfort He’s already provided?
Think of Jesus in the boat with His disciples.

The storm raged. The waves beat against the ship. And where was He?
Asleep. On a pillow.

Not because the storm wasn’t real, but because His peace was greater than the panic around Him.

Sometimes, the greatest act of faith isn’t commanding the winds — it’s choosing to rest while they blow.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” — Mark 4:39 (KJV)

Daily Wisdom Insight:

Peace isn’t the absence of chaos.
It’s the presence of Christ in the middle of it.

The world defines peace as stillness, quiet, and control.
But God's peace isn’t tied to your circumstances — it's tied to His presence.

You can have peace in the hospital room.

Peace in the waiting.

Peace in the middle of the storm when nothing has changed — except that He's with you.

True peace doesn’t come when life gets easy…

It comes when your heart gets anchored.

Application:

Today, instead of begging for the storm to end, ask God to wrap you in His peace. Open your Bible, pray even if your voice shakes, and let His Word be your blanket.

Prayer:

Father,

the storm hasn’t passed, but I know You’re with me in it.
Wrap me in Your presence today. Calm my heart even if You don’t calm the skies.
You are my blanket of peace. And in You, I can rest.

Amen.

💬 Discussion Questions:

What “blanket” has God used to comfort you in difficult seasons?
Have you ever realized God was comforting you only after the storm passed?
Can you think of a time when God comforted you even though the situation didn’t change?

Discover More:

Stay encouraged with devotionals crafted to strengthen your faith in every season. Visit the Sanctified Steps page »

Step by sanctified step. 💕✨

July 19, 2025

Sanctified Steps: He Still Sees| Psalm 37:25 (KJV)

He Still Sees: Psalm 37:25

📖 Scripture:

"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." — Psalm 37:25 (KJV)

Devotional:

There are seasons when faithfulness feels invisible—when doing the right thing still leads to empty cupboards, overdue notices, and quiet tears behind closed doors. Yet Psalm 37:25 offers an enduring truth: The righteous are not forsaken.

Provision may not always come the way we imagined, but God’s care is never absent. In the Echoes of Faith short story Not Without, a woman struggles silently through lack—unseen by many, but not by God. Her miracle arrived right on time, even though she had stopped looking for one.

God still moves like that.

Reflection:

Are you trusting God even when it looks like He’s not answering?
What does His faithfulness look like in your current season?

Daily Wisdom Insight:

When the prophet Elijah arrived at Zarephath, the widow who met him was down to her last handful of flour and oil. She expected her next meal to be her last. But her obedience to God’s word—feeding the prophet first—opened the door to miraculous provision. The jar didn’t overflow, but it never ran empty.

Sometimes, God doesn’t remove the need. He sustains you inside it.

You may not see abundance, but you will see enough.
You may not understand the timing, but you can trust the Source.
Faith isn’t proven in plenty—it’s refined in lack.

Application:

Reread 1 Kings 17:7–16 and reflect on how God provided for the widow each day—not all at once, but just enough.

Then ask yourself: Where has God given me “just enough” in this season? Who around me might need to be reminded of that kind of sustaining grace?

Prayer:

Lord,

Help me see Your hand in the small things.
Teach me to trust You for today’s portion without demanding tomorrow’s abundance.
Whether You send provision through a friend, a stranger, or something unexpected—open my heart to receive it without pride and to give without hesitation.
You are faithful, even when my faith is stretched.