Thrive This Season: Don’t Just Survive

/ Mikki Halbach

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10

If you’ve spent any time scrolling social media lately, you’ve probably seen it too—posts, reels, articles, and even “expert” tips on how to SURVIVE the holidays.
Survive?
Really?

If the birth of our Savior—God putting on flesh and stepping into our messy world—isn’t a reason to THRIVE, then what is?

And yet… we all know how it goes.

By December 1st, we’re knee-deep in wrapping paper, cookie crumbs, shopping lists, “dirty Santa” gifts, school programs, office parties, and endless “bring a dish to share” reminders. And our calendars fill as fast as our carts. The pace quickens. The noise gets louder. And suddenly, the season meant to bring peace on earth feels more like chaos in aisle seven.

But what if we don’t have to settle for the frantic version of Christmas?
What if this year could look a little different?
When my kids were younger, we did a craft project that involved glitter — the innocent-looking, shiny, sparkly kind. Everything was going smoothly until one of them bumped the container. And when I say bumped, I mean it went airborne like glitter had just been waiting for its chance to launch.

It. Went. Everywhere.

In their hair.
In the carpet.
Under the table.
In the dog’s fur (he sparkled for days).
In the grout between the tiles.
Weeks later, I’d still catch a speck shining on the edge of a lampshade or stuck to a sock fresh out of the dryer.

It didn’t matter how much I swept or wiped — the glitter kept showing up, catching the light, reminding me of a moment long after the mess was “cleaned up.”

And as ridiculous as it sounds, that glitter taught me something.

Just as Glitter Doesn’t Stay Put…Neither Does Joy

Glitter spreads.
It sticks.
It shows up in places you weren’t expecting.
It doesn’t ask permission.
It reflects light even in the dim corners.

But it only spreads because someone touched it.

And joy — real, God-given joy — works exactly the same way.

We tend to believe joy is something that happens to us. When the house is peaceful, when the plans go smoothly, when the cookies come out perfectly, when people behave the way we hope they will.

But biblical joy doesn’t behave like that.
Joy is not fragile.
Joy isn’t dependent on perfection.
Joy doesn’t wait on circumstances to improve.

Joy spreads wherever it is handled…
noticed…
touched…
and embraced.

Much like glitter, joy has a surprising way of showing up in unexpected places when we make space to truly engage with the things that produce it: God’s presence, God’s Word, and God’s peace.

Let’s Embrace the Glitter!

We rush through December touching everything but joy.
We handle stress, obligations, commitments, expectations, comparison, pressure, and noise.

But joy?
Peace?
Stillness?
Worship?

We rarely pause long enough to let them cling to us.

Yet thriving doesn’t start with a perfect holiday season.
It starts with touching what carries God’s presence — the things that sparkle with His goodness.

When you slow down to breathe in His Word…
When you choose gratitude in the middle of the mess…
When you stop scrolling long enough to pray…
When you laugh with someone you love…
When you say no to something that steals your peace…

You’re touching joy.
And like glitter, it spreads.

It sticks to you.
It shows up later when you least expect it.
It makes even the messy places shine.

Jesus Didn’t Come So You Could Just “Survive”

He came so you could have life — abundant, overflowing, joy-filled life.

Life that sparkles even in the chaos.
Life that spreads to the people around you.
Life that reminds you that no matter how busy the season becomes…
you are held, you are loved, and you are not alone.

This year, don’t settle for holiday survival mode.
Touch what matters.
Let joy cling to you.
Let peace settle over you.
Let the light of Christ show up in unexpected places — just like glitter.

Takeaway Thought:

When you slow down enough to touch the things that carry God’s presence, His joy and peace begin to cling to you—and transform your whole season.

Prayer

Lord, as we step into this season, help us slow down and remember what really matters. When things start to feel rushed or overwhelming, steady our hearts and draw our attention back to You. Let Your joy cling to us in the everyday moments and let Your peace guide the pace of our days. Use us to bring a little glitter and love to the people around us. Make this a season where we feel Your presence in real, simple ways.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

In His Love,
Mikki💜

When You Feel Worn Out: Finding Strength in God

/ Mikki Halbach

When You Feel Worn Out: Finding Strength in God

Let’s be real for a minute…
If you’re already feeling stretched thin, brace yourself — the holidays are coming. And as wonderful as this season can be, it has a way of piling on the pressure. Shopping lists grow longer, calendars fill up faster, and before we know it, the joy we want to feel, starts competing with sheer exhaustion.

Between work, family, ministry, and trying to remember whether you actually moved the laundry to the dryer or just thought about it. Life already feels full — and now we’re adding sparkle, casseroles, and gift wrap to the chaos.

You don’t even have to say it out loud; we can all see it in each other’s eyes — tired.
Emotionally tired. Mentally tired. Spiritually tired.

But here’s the beautiful thing: when our strength runs out, God’s never does.

Isaiah 40:28–31 says:

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”

God Never Gets Tired

That alone is pause worthy. We get tired just thinking about our to-do lists — but God never needs a nap, a break, or even a refill on coffee. He’s the Creator of the universe, and He’s holding you together when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

He Delights in Giving Strength

And here’s the good news: God doesn’t roll His eyes when we’re worn out. He moves toward us. He gives power to the weak — not judgment, not a lecture, but power. When you’re out of energy, out of patience, out of ideas, He offers exactly what you need — Himself.

Even the Strong Get Weary

We all know that one person who seems to have endless energy and a perfectly color-coded planner — even she gets tired. Scripture says even the strongest eventually fall. Strength fades, no matter how disciplined or devoted we are. But that’s okay, because our weakness isn’t failure — it’s the space where God’s power shows up.

Renewal Comes Through Waiting

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”
Waiting here isn’t passive or boring — it’s leaning in. It’s saying, “Lord, I’m done pretending that I can do this alone.”

Just like your phone needs to stay plugged in to recharge, your soul needs time connected to the Source. And you can’t rush that. Quiet moments with God aren’t wasted time — they’re refueling time.

Maybe for you, waiting looks like:

  • Saying no to one more event.
  • Or opening your Bible before opening your inbox.
  • Or taking a few minutes to sit with a cup of coffee and simply breathe in His presence.
  • And yes — maybe it even looks like a nap.

The Truth of the Matter

You’re not weak because you’re tired.
You’re wise when you let God be your strength.

So, take a breath. Let go of the guilt that says you must do it all. And remember, the same God who never grows weary promises to renew you.

Takeaway Thought:
God doesn’t need your strength — He offers you His.

Prayer

Lord, You see how worn out we are — in body, mind, and spirit. Thank You that You never grow weary and never give up on us. Teach us to rest in You instead of running on empty. Help us to release what we can’t control and trust You with what we can’t carry. Renew us with Your strength, refresh us with Your peace, and remind us that our power comes from Your presence. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Mikki💜

Passing the Test: Turning Trials Into Triumph

/ Sandra Bivens Smith

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Although I have been out of school going on 60 years, I can still recall those painful nights of studying for a test. I say “painful” because my dad, being one who put great stock in learning, was my tutor. He would quiz me for what seemed like hours until I either got every answer right or I ran from the room in tears. Little did I realize how, in those painful study sessions, dad was not only preparing me for the test I would be having in school, he was preparing me for the difficult, and sometimes more painful tests of life. Daddy didn’t pressure me to learn because he was cruel, on the contrary, he did it because he loved me and wanted only the best for me. Just as  my earthly father helped to prepare me for my test at school, my Heavenly Father, through the trials He sends and through the tutorship of His Word, prepares me for all of life.

Becoming a Christian is easy, being a Christian, not so much. Jesus Himself told us this in John 16:33, “…In the world you have tribulation…”There is a saying “you are either coming out of a trial, in a trial, or getting ready to go through a trial”. That pretty much sums up life doesn’t it? Even the Christian life? Yes, even the Christian life, especially the Christian life. 

When James tells us to count our trials as joy, he is telling us that it’s not about the size or even the severity of our trial, it’s about our attitude. Look at the rest of John 16:33 “…but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Whatever testing we may be going through, Jesus has gone before us and He has already won the victory on our behalf. 

Maybe you have wondered, as I have, why God would make His children go through hard times. God tells us why in 2 Chronicles 32:31, it says “God left him to test him that he [we] might know all that was in his [our] heart.” God knows us. He knows all about us. He doesn’t test us so He can know but so we can. God sends us trials to  test our faith and reveal to us:

  1. The strength of our faith (whether we press on or give up.) 
  2. The character of our faith (whether we face the trial with confidence or go crawl under the covers.)
  3. The humility of our faith (whether we try to go it on our own or turn it over to God)
  4. The focus of our faith. (whether we are engulfed by worldly things or things set above). 
  5. The affections of our faith. (Our trials test what we really love.)

Knowledge is power. So then, our trials, having revealed the measure of our faith, inform and empower us to do what is needed to strengthen our faith. After all, isn’t stronger faith the goal? Remember the little boy’s father in Mark 9, “I believe; help my unbelief”? (Mark 9:24b)

Trials cannot destroy true faith because true faith is a gift from God, and true saving faith is forever. We are secure because God has given us an undying faith.  

Trials most often come without warning. They can cause us to feel overwhelmed, as if we are drowning – going down for the third time. We struggle against them until we realize that there’s no way out but through. And yet, James tells us to “consider it all joy”? How do we do that? We look upward and forward. We look ahead to what God is doing. We look beyond the temporal to the eternal. I think Paul put it this way – keep your eyes on the prize [my translation]. 

James gives us five things that are required for us to persevere through our trials. If we commit to put these disciplines into practice James tells us we will not simply endure the trials, we will be blessed in them (v.12).  

Five things that are required. 

  1. A  joyous attitude. v.2
  2. An understanding mind. v.3-4
  3. A submissive will. v.5
  4. A believing heart. v.6-8
  5. A humble spirit. v.9-11

We are not in this alone. Remember, our Father is sovereign and He meets the needs of His own. God is always with us and He has a plan. He is powerful enough to work that plan. He is wise enough that we can be confident it is the right plan. He is faithful and will never put us through something that He doesn’t give us the grace to endure.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.

Philippians 4:19

Faith is a gift from God. The kind of faith He gives endures the test. The more faith is tested, the more it’s proven. And the more it’s proven, the more confidence you enjoy in that faith, and the stronger your hope becomes. True faith will persevere, it doesn’t matter what happens. One of the things that trials do to us is put us in a position where no human resources can solve the problem. Our senses tell us to value pleasure, to value what makes us happy – Faith teaches us to value God and His work. Sense tells us to value earthly security, earthly protection, earthly support – Faith tells us to value divine grace poured out in the midst of suffering.

In Psalm 81:10 we read, “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt,” “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” Don’t you like that? That’s how God is. He doesn’t say, “Here’s a morsel you undeserving wretch.” He says, “Open your mouth as wide as you can and I will fill you.”

God doesn’t want us to simply survive the test; His desire is for us to come out on the other side triumphantly. To do that we need to know who our God is. We need to have a sound understanding of His nature.

Our God is:

Immutable. He doesn’t change, He doesn’t alter. The character of God is fixed and established. He doesn’t need to change, never has, never will. 

Sovereign. There is no power that can thwart His plan.

Faithful. He is the strength of your heart. He will fill you with joy and courage when you put your trust in Him. 

George Whitefield said, “All trials are for two ends, that we may be better acquainted with the Lord Jesus and better acquainted with our own hearts.” Seems to me those could be pretty good words to remember when we are struggling to turn our trials into triumphs. 

For Further Encouragement 

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.” (Psalm 37:7)

“O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.” (Psalm 131)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint”.  (Isaiah 40:28-30)

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you”. (Matthew 5:10-11)

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”. (John 15:11)

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”. (Romans 5:3-5)

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  (1 Peter 5:10)

*This devotion was inspired by a sermon series “How to Endure Trials”, John MacArthur, 1999.

Grace and Peace,

Sandra

Led by the Spirit, Not by Feelings: Learning to Follow God’s Voice Over Emotion

/ Mikki Halbach

Have you ever made a decision in the heat of the moment — maybe said something you regretted, jumped into a relationship too quickly, or walked away from something God actually wanted you to stick with?


We’ve all been there. Our emotions, while God-given, can be incredibly misleading. One day we’re passionate and bold, the next we’re anxious and unsure. And if we rely on those feelings to guide our lives, we’ll end up tossed around like waves in the sea. But here’s the good news: we don’t have to live that way. God has given us the Holy Spirit — not just to comfort us but to lead us. His Spirit is steady, wise, and always aligns with truth. So, what does it really means to be led by the Holy Spirit instead of our emotions?


Your Feelings Are Real — But Not Always Right


“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand
it?” — Jeremiah 17:9

Feelings are not inherently bad. God created us with emotions. But problems arise when we treat our feelings as facts or believe they define truth. Think about it: how many times have your feelings changed in a single day? We must acknowledge our emotions but not elevate them above God’s Word or His Spirit. Emotions make great messengers, but terrible masters.

The Holy Spirit Is Your True Guide


“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” — Romans
8:14

The Holy Spirit is not just a vague presence or “gut feeling.” He’s a Person — God with
us — and He desires to lead us daily. He speaks through Scripture, through peace,
through conviction, and through wise counsel.

When we’re Spirit-led, we make decisions rooted in faith, not fear. We respond with
grace instead of impulse. We live not based on what feels good in the moment, but on
what brings lasting fruit.


How to Know if You’re Being Led by Feelings or the Spirit
Here’s a quick heart check:

Signs You Might Be Led by Emotion:

  • You’re acting quickly, impulsively.
  • Your decision is rooted in fear, anxiety, or pride.
  • You’re ignoring wise counsel or God’s Word.
  • You don’t have peace — just pressure.

Signs You’re Being Led by the Holy Spirit:

  • You feel peace, even if the decision is hard.
  • It aligns with Scripture.
  • It’s confirmed in prayer.
  • It brings clarity, not confusion.


God is not a God of chaos. His Spirit leads with peace, even in storms.

So, How Do I Walk by the Spirit?


“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” —
Galatians 5:16

Walking by the Spirit is less about one big moment and more about a daily lifestyle of surrender and sensitivity. Here are a few ways to grow in that:

  • Start your day with surrender. Before the chaos hits, ask the Spirit to lead you.
  • Stay in the Word. The Spirit uses Scripture to guide and correct us.
  • Pause before reacting. A few seconds for a prayerful pause can make all the difference.
  • Seek wise counsel. Spirit-filled friends can help you discern God’s direction.
  • Listen in prayer. Don’t just talk to God — create quiet space to hear from Him.

You Can Live with Confidence and Clarity

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind
you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” — Isaiah 30:21

If you’ve been feeling lost, tossed by your emotions, or stuck in indecision — take heart. God wants to lead you. He’s not hiding His will. His Spirit is already at work, gently guiding, whispering truth, and bringing peace. It’s okay to feel deeply — but we must follow wisely. When we’re led by the Spirit, we walk in freedom, confidence, and purpose.


Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I surrender my thoughts, emotions, and decisions to You. Help me not
to react out of fear or impulse, but to wait on Your voice. Quiet my soul and tune
my heart to Your truth. Lead me in Your peace and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Heart Sister,
Mikki 💜