FaithStones Devotional - June

🌅 A New Horizon

Summer arrives with warmth, light, and a sense of joy that many can feel in the air. For some, it’s the sunshine. For others, it’s rest, family time, or a change of pace. Seasons like this remind us that joy is a gift from God.

But here is a beautiful truth: God delights in your joy.

When your heart is truly glad, He rejoices with you. When your heart is heavy, He draws near to comfort you. He is not distant or detached from your life—He is deeply involved in it. Closer than you imagine. Present in every detail.

Take a moment today. Breathe. Quiet your thoughts. And become aware of His presence. God is not far away in the clouds—He is with you, and by His Spirit, He lives in you.

He is attentive to your life, your seasons, your emotions, and your journey.

📖 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you… He will rejoice over you with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17

This month’s reflections:

🌿 Week 1: God rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)

🌿 Week 2: A friend closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)

🌿 Week 3: “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15–16)

🌿 Week 4: You are engraved on His hands (Isaiah 49:16)

Whatever this season holds, remember this: you are seen, known, and never forgotten.

Finding peace when He seems quiet

Have you ever experienced the silence of God at a time when you need the most to hear from Him?

It feels like an invisible wall separates you from Him.

Now this can be quite frustrating, especially when you are used to feeling His presence, used to Him answering even before you call, fighting for you when battles arise, and all you have to do is hold your peace and watch.

You now find yourself having to quickly make right decisions seemingly on your own. You find yourself in the middle of a raging inner or outward war and you wonder where is your God.

You find yourself vulnerable and you desperately search for your Shield and Refuge.

Perhaps you are asking yourself how this is even possible when His Word says that He'll never leave you nor

forsake you. Well, I'm guessing until you experience this you may not fully understand.

But if you have truly committed to follow the Lord and surrender your all to Him... be psychologically

prepared, because you will most likely experience this; unless you are 'lucky' enough that He decides you don't necessarily need to have that kind of test.

Remember even our Lord and Savior Jesus went through this at His most vulnerable time on the Cross and He cried out loud 'Father why have you forsaken me?'.

However, if ever you come across this, here are some few tips to help you pass through this frustrating phase in your life:

• Go back to the things He told you previously, make sure you don't forget. It may be a promise, an

instruction, a warning. Did you heed to it? Are you still holding onto that promise?

• Remind yourself of His nature and attributes. Time may change, circumstances may change, but He Does

Not Change. This is a fact that Cannot and Will Not Change. He remains Faithful and True. He cannot be

false to Himself. Let this be the anchor you hold onto until your last breath.

• Get alone in a quiet place and listen to inspirational gospel music or sermons. It can be very hard in such

times to read the Bible on your own. Look for an alternative, listen to the Word, through music, through

preaching.

• If you find it hard to pray in such times, try to write your prayers; write how you feel to the Lord, be open,

be honest, no need to hide or pretend. He sees through you like an X-ray. You are transparent before Him. If

still you can't write your prayers, do request prayers from trusted believers.

• One last tip that may seem silly, but trust me, it works. Go to bed with your Bible held tight on your chest.

You will be surprised of the comfort it will bring to you.

Now in such seasons don't try to condemn yourself. The devil will come pointing his accusing finger at you or at the Lord. Don't give in to him! He is the accuser of the brethren, that is his business, and he is good at that.

If you find it hard to silence his voice, put on inspirational gospel songs. Don't let yourself get depressed.

Know that this too will pass, very soon it will only become a memory and a testimony.

And in case you are still wondering... Yes His promise is true, '[He] will never leave you nor forsake you', He

is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. Don't turn away from Him, get even closer and He will draw

closer, sooner or later. Just keep your peace.

love,

Eva-Marianne