Healing in Humility (The Unnamed Girl)

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3TRNhAJ

View devo: https://bit.ly/4l3q4HO

1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Aram said, "Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel." He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me." 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, "Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:1-14 NRSV)

Happy Wednesday Friend! May God's blessing be upon you in marvelous ways; and may people marvel at the ways you will share those withj them.

The star of this story is, of course, God; and right behind him is an unnamed little girl of faith. I learned that on a Wednesday night in a midweek worship/Bible study led on that night by a distant relative of my bride, it was the late Mrs. Clotilde Nañez, wife of The Rev. Dr. Alfredo Nañez, a long-time leader of the Rio Grande Conference, both of whom retired to Edinburg. She did a study on this passage and shared how this little girl, who leads to the healing of a commander of a foreign army, named Naaman. Naaman was all that and a bag of chips being in high favor with the king of Aram whose leadership gave many victories blessed the kingdom of Aram. His outward success could not protect him from inner need. Now this little girl was a prisoner of war, a captive of this commander, taken against her will from her native Israel. It was she who told Naaman's wife that if her husband would travel to Samaria there the prophet would cure him of his disease. The commander goes to see the king just what the little girl shared with him and the king agrees that he should indeed travel to Israel, adding that he would send a letter to the king of Israel, and quite the treasure of money and garments for the king and prophet. Now, keep in mind that this is an enemy of Israel so any letter or visit by Naaman would be very suspicious. And the Israeli king's response gives that away. The king misreads it and freaks out about what this could mean for his country because he says he is not God and healing is not in his job description.

The prophet hears of this, he sends a message to the king asking that the commander come to his house to "Learn there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman makes the trip to Elisha's home, complete with all the chariots and horses and is greeted by a messenger of the prophet with instructions: "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean."

What’s striking in this story is how God begins to work through the unexpected: a captive servant girl who speaks of a prophet in Israel, a reluctant king, and a message that comes not through ceremony, but through simple instruction. Elisha, the prophet, doesn’t even come out to greet Naaman. Instead, he sends a messenger to say, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan” .

Naaman is insulted. He expected something dramatic—some act worthy of his stature. But healing would not come through spectacle. It would come through obedience and humility. When Naaman finally surrenders his pride and dips in the Jordan, “his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy”.

This story reminds us that God often works through what seems simple or even beneath us. Sometimes, healing and transformation begin when we’re willing to humble ourselves, lay down our expectations, and trust God’s ways over our own. His power is not limited by our understanding—it is released in our obedience.

PRAYER: Merciful God, thank You for seeing past our pride and reaching us with Your healing grace. Help us to trust You even when Your ways are not what we expect. Teach us humility, and give us a heart that listens, obeys, and responds in faith. Wash us anew in Your mercy, and make us whole. This we pray in Jesus' strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time today to release any pride or resistance in your heart. Trust God’s instructions—even the simple ones—and let humility open the door to healing.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Prayerfully consider supporting this ministry!

http://paypal.me/eradiovalverde

Bear With One Another

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3ZVQ3Zp

View devo: https://bit.ly/447AoZo

1 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads. 6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. 11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16 As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:1-16 NRSV)

Loving God of mercy and peace, bestow on us Your grace that we might become those who bless others. Forgive us our sins and embolden us for Thy service; in Jesus we pray, amen. This has been quite the year for transgressions of a pastoral nature. It seemed that every other week a pastor in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex was found guilty of something or other and they stepped down. To be fair this has been going on since day one, but it's still something that we should address. Paul is addressing it in the first verses of this passage. His recommendation is to help the transgressors be restored with a spirit of gentleness. That one sentence screams Jesus' presence and power because far too many of us usually scream, "Crucify him/her!" Those of us who have been shaped by the world will have worldly responses; the ones shaped by Christ will have Christian responses. And logically, Paul follows it with the wise warning, "Take care that you yourselves are not tempted." Amen. Jesus said that it's easy for us to point out the speck in our brother's eye but ignore the plank in ours. This is the same thing.

Paul’s words in Galatians 6 remind us that life in the Spirit is not a solitary journey. “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (v. 2). In a world where independence is praised, Scripture calls us into mutual care—a community marked not by competition, but by compassion.

Paul warns against self-deception and pride. We’re each called to examine our own lives honestly (v. 4), to carry our own responsibilities (v. 5), but also to help lift others when they fall. Restoration, not judgment, should guide our response when someone is caught in wrongdoing (v. 1), always with gentleness.

The principle of sowing and reaping runs through the heart of this passage: “You reap whatever you sow” (v. 7). To sow to the Spirit means investing in what leads to life—acts of kindness, generosity, love, and truth. Paul encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, “for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up” (v. 9). Faithfulness today plants seeds for a fruitful tomorrow.

The letter ends with a strong affirmation: it’s not outward marks or appearances that define us, but the “new creation” (v. 15). In Christ, we are made new—and from that place of grace, we are called to live with humility, integrity, and love.

PRAYER: God of grace and truth, thank You for the new life You’ve given me in Christ. Help me to sow to the Spirit in all I do, to bear the burdens of others with compassion, and to live with integrity. Keep me from growing weary in doing good, and remind me that the harvest You promise is worth every faithful step. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Today, look for someone whose burden you can help carry—and sow seeds of kindness that reflect the love of the new creation within you.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Purpose and Power

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Hear devo here: https://bit.ly/44FEzfc

View devo: https://bit.ly/4l7eNGE

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 NIV)

If you are a baptized and confirmed member of a church, guess what? You have God's permission and power to go forth and do the work of Jesus! I know this excites you. Okay, I know it doesn't, but think about it after hearing what Jesus did. Two thousand years ago, Jesus felt the pressure and urgency to save the world by starting with twelve men. I should add common men. No professor among them. No medically trained personnel among them. No theologically prepared and licensed or certified person among them. And not a rich man among them. We're talking fishermen, a tax collector, a religious zealot (I don't know how much that pays!), a tradesman or two, a treasurer and traitor, and two unknown backgrounds. And then, Jesus adds to that number an additional seventy-two "others," and sends them! Two by two ahead of Him and the Twelve into every town and place where He was about to go. Why? "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." So, Jesus sends workers, meaning those self-starters made bold by the Spirit to do the work needed to be done. We used to sing in Spanish a corito or chorus that says, "Only the power of God can transform your life; the proof I offer you is that God changed me." Trust me it sounds better sung in español. And I'd be the first to raise my hand if asked, "Who here is the least qualified but God's transformation allowed you to go and do what God asked?" Meeeee!! I tried getting out of it, folks. I knew I was shy and I was told I was boring, but I was willing. Ready? Not so much, but God send me, as Isaiah said, when I realized God would not let me go. And I used every excuse I could think of; God would not have it. Would I have laughed if the girl who told me I was boring would also say one day I would preach to a stadium-filled crowd? Yes. Or, that I would be asked to preach at a university (twice?) which led to an event that over two weekends allowed me to preach to 13,000 youth? Again, yes, and friends I brag not on myself, but the God who can take all of us and use us all to reach the world! How humbling but exciting have been the words of gratitude on many a death bed of those who have come to faith and assurance through Jesus and His ministry in our churches. The harvest is truly plentiful and we are just the laborers that Jesus talked about!

The mission of the Seventy Two gives away key points for our deployment. The harvest field is ready, but it won't all be easy pickings! We go, as Jesus said, "like lambs among wolves." Jesus gave us the example that even among people being healed, made whole, made to walk and see, and even raised from the dead, the cries were for it to stop and to stop the man who was doing it. To me, it makes no sense! The urgency to get to the harvest is such that Jesus said for them (and us) not not worry about taking a purse (wallet), bag or sandals and even lolly-gagging to greet others on the road.. As we get to a home, and I would remind us that Wesley asked, and we were asked at our ordination, if we would visit from house to house; rare is the pastor who takes that seriously. Could we learn from the Jehovah's Witnesses or LDS (Mormons) who do take very seriously the calling on all houses? I have to ask how many people do open their doors when the doorbell rings or someone knocks? Gone are the days when the afternoons found most families in their front yards! We've gone from being porch people to deck people in the back yard behind high wooden privacy fences. Can we blame the invention of the air conditioner? Back to the home that does welcome you, Jesus says, first say a blessing of peace upon the house; if the residents there promote peace that greeting of peace will truly stay with them; it not, the blessing returns to you. If their hospitality is extended for a long stay, enjoy whatever they offer in the way of food and drinks. If you enter a town and they offer you food, eat the food offered. Then the ministry of healing; pray for the sick and share with them the message Jesus and John the Baptist offered as their first sermons, "The Kingdom of God has come near to you." If you are ever not welcomed, in public view declare, "Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you and again, the sermon of Jesus and John regarding the Kingdom. Jesus said that whoever listens to us is listening to God; those who reject us are really rejecting Jesus.

The Seventy-Two returned with great joy and reported victory, claiming victory over the demons who submitted to the name of Jesus, to which Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," meaning a great defeat of the Enemy. Jesus also reminds them that they had received from Him the authority and power to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy; "Nothing will harm you." Yet, His greatest statement was that they/we should not rejoice that we have power over the spirits submitting to us, but our joy should be that our names are written in Heaven.

This passage reminds us that we are also sent—not necessarily to distant places, but into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families. We are sent with purpose: to bring peace, to care for others, and to proclaim the nearness of God. And like the seventy-two, our confidence lies not in what we have, but in the One who has written our names in heaven. I can think of no greater comfort than knowing God has written our names in the book of life meaniung that we bleong to Him not only now, but forever!

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, thank You for calling and sending me, not because of who I am, but because of who You are. Help me to walk in obedience, not fearing rejection or relying on my own strength. Let me be a bearer of peace and a witness to Your kingdom. And in all things, may my joy be rooted in knowing that I belong to You. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Go into your day with purpose. Wherever you are sent, speak peace, show love, and remember—you carry the presence of the Kingdom with you.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

http://paypal.me/eradiovalverde

God in the Dark with Us

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View devo: https://bit.ly/4nlBNmz

1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” 13 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. 16 The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. 17 The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 NiV)

Happy Thursday of the tremendous kind, dear Friend! May this be a day someone remembers forever because you reached out in love and caring and you made a positive difference in their life. Go and do so!

There have been those moments for many of us when it seemed like our prayers were not getting through; parents praying for their child who was losing a battle to cancer; spouses praying for their spouse to get sober; employees getting fired on a whim by a bad employer, and oh the list goes on so long. Our prayers are like shouting into the wind -- sorrows clings tightly and sleep won't come. Such leads the psalmist to sit down and write these words. He has been in a spot of anguish and he knows to reach for God even though it seems like God is not listening, but still he reaches. This is a powerful portrait of honest faith: not pretending to feel better, but choosing to seek God anyway.

We see a turn in his attitude as verses 11–20 begin. Not because the pain has vanished, but because the psalmist remembers. He remembers God’s mighty deeds, His wonders of old, His power over the sea, and His faithful leading of His people through Moses and Aaron. The turning point is not the change in circumstance—but the choice to reflect on who God has been. In the same way we should turn to the mighty acts of God in our lives when though still painful, God was with us and helped us move forward.

When our present feels unbearable, memory can become a lifeline. Remembering God’s past faithfulness can renew hope in the present. The same God who made a path through the sea is with us still—though, as the psalm says, “Your footprints were unseen” (v. 19). Even when we cannot see Him, He leads. This is a marvelous byproduct of a strong faith. Though outwardly it may seem like darkness has enshrouded us, but the light is still within the presence of God when we invite Him in. If you fast forward to Romans 8, we will see the Apostle Paul went through the same thing, but he realized that our prayers continue even when words can't seem to come forth, but our sighs, our moans, our cries; these are turned into prayers by the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Advocate. Thanks be to God.

PRAYER: Faithful God, when we are overwhelmed and our hearts are heavy, help us remember who You are. Remind us of Your power, Your mercy, and Your past faithfulness. Lead us through the deep waters and into peace, even when Your footprints are hidden. Strengthen us to trust You in the dark. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time today to remember a moment when God came through for you. Write it down, give thanks, and let it anchor your hope as you walk through whatever waters lie ahead.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

You can support this ministry by making a donation to paypal.me/eradiovalverde

The Difficult Goodbye

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/44m2Khz

View devo here: https://bit.ly/4li3NGB

1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” 4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. 7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. (2 Kings 2:1-12 NIV)

Good day dear Friend! Welcome Wednesday to your life and mission! May the Lord bless you and guide you in all that you will face and overcome with His grace and peace!

The Reverend José Galindo was my mentor and father in ministry. It was his faith and grace that helped a questioning seminarian intern realize that perhaps I could "make it" in ministry. I learned many wonderful things about ministry and about myself through his tutelage. His love and focus was on Jesus and His ministry. It was he who showed me that when working on a church budget we be honest and bold about the ministerial line item. Instead of salary he would put Ministry of Christ which helped remind the church that the person serving as pastor was also there representing Jesus. He also taught me the greatest lesson about preaching; that people hear better when they know you love them and care for them. Not all of them respond in kind, but because of them you preach even more loving and kinder. He helped introduce me to Nellie and he married us, and he was our oldest daughter's godfather; such was his impact on my life. He also knew how to put things into perspective and how to balance things; and all things he did blessed me.

I can only imagine the impact that Elijah had on Elisha. This passage says a lot about the younger one's devotion to the ministry of Elijah. We just studied that moment of fear and uncertainty that Elijah had on Mount Horeb and how he asked God to take him home, but it was not yet time. And after his moment of doubting, he anointed a new king and anointed Elisha as his successor and it is believed he spent about 6-10 years under his supervision. I spent an academic year with Rev. Galindo, but stayed close to him during my early ministry both personally and geographically. Rev. Galindo asked me to bury him whenever he died, a sad thing that I was out ot state doing a wedding when Rev. Galindo died and could not get home in time to do his funeral, a sorrow I still carry to this day. Elisha had a special blessing, albeit a tough one, in being by the side of the old prophet when it came time for Elijah to return home. The goodbye was difficult for Elisha for Elijah wanted, I believe, some time to himself, but the younger prophet would not have it. "Stay here.." "No way!" And what makes it more interesting and a bit humorous is that Elisha kept getting reminded by several of the impending departure. "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?" Yes and shut up! The older prophet kept saying just stay here, and Elisha would say, "Ain't no way!" Another group again asks, You know your losing your master today, don't you? Yes, shut up!

More travel and a miracle of crossing the Jordan River with Elijah's cloak serving to divide the water. And that famous exchange where the older asks the younger, "What would you have me do for you before I go?" And the ever famous, "Give me a double portion of your spirit." Elisha was well aware of the power of the Spirit at work in Elijah's ministry; he had heard the stories both from the old man himself and from those who were witnesses; yes, give me double what he has! God honors those who follow Him with steadfast hearts. Like Elisha, we may not always know what lies ahead, but when we stay close, remain faithful, and ask boldly, God equips us for the next chapter. The mantle of purpose may fall at our feet when we least expect it—but only those who are watching, waiting, and walking in step with God will recognize it and pick it up.

PRAYER: Lord God, give us hearts like Elisha—steadfast, courageous, and hungry for more of You. Help us to remain faithful when the journey is hard and the future uncertain. Teach us to stay close to You and to the people You’ve placed in our lives to guide us. When the time comes, give us the strength to pick up the mantle and walk boldly in Your calling. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Stay close to God today and be ready. Watch with expectation and follow with faith—He may be preparing you for something greater than you imagined.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Thirsty for God

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4e5KRHY

View devo: https://bit.ly/3I3sYh1

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?" 10 As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. (Psalm 42 NRSV)

This is a psalm that has always drawn me in; the image of a thirsty deer longing for water just hit me as a wow, God understands and God relates to us! And more so as we have been blessed with rain lately but we are still very much in drought conditions in our state, driven home as we traveled this weekend home through a longer route from Mission to Laredo and up to San Antonio and home. The once majestic and always wonderful Falcon Lake is gone! The lake is more a garden and grave of trees, and we live close to the Guadalupe River and that is unusually low and recent rain has made it a muddy mess. You might be in a spiritual drought my friend, and thank God you're in the right place studying the right passage! I pray this bring your the quenching you need in your soul. We are reading the actual words of David, who, being human, experienced both mountain top and valley experiences; moments when he sensed God "right there," and others when he asked, "Where are. you, God?" So, one day God led him to sit down and write down these very honest and searching words. He confesses that he is thirsty; going through a spiritual drought, and confesses that he as been crying such is his pain. He remembers the days when he was part of a happy throng processing to the House of the Lord, shouting and singing praises to God; now he is alienated from God, and he is asking the question, "Why have your forgotten me?"

And yet, this psalm is not one of hopelessness. It’s a cry of longing—a deep, soul-thirst for the living God.

The image of the deer searching for water is tender and telling. The deer doesn’t just want water; it needs it to survive. Likewise, the psalmist doesn’t merely want a religious experience—he needs God’s presence to live. This isn’t a casual devotion; it’s a desperate one.

In the middle of sorrow, the psalmist talks to himself: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God..." (v. 5) This is faith in real life. He doesn’t deny his pain. He doesn’t pretend things are fine. He acknowledges the hurt and still dares to hope. Twice he repeats this refrain—a reminder that feelings are real, but they are not the final word.

God hasn’t changed. Even in exile, even in silence, He is still the God of steadfast love (v. 8), still the Rock, still worthy of our trust.

Psalm 42 gives us permission to be honest about our spiritual thirst—and it also gently turns our face toward the One who alone can quench it.

PRAYER: God of mercy, we come to You thirsty, weary, and longing. Meet us in our dry seasons with the refreshment only You can give. Teach us to hope in You even when we feel far away. Help us remember who You are—faithful, near, and full of love. Satisfy our souls with Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: If your soul feels dry, don't hide it -- bring it to God. Let your thirst lead you back to the Source.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Sometimes God Whispers

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Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4eiiPcv

View devo: https://bit.ly/4l9yJbl

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. 9 And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, (I Kings 19:1-15 NIV)

I've shared my horror stories of churches who a) wanted to place a Complaint Box on the altar table so church members could share their complaints against their pastor. b) Announce loudly during worship that if anyone had a complaint against their pastor to them. This passage would please these folks. Ahab was the president of the church council, and his wife Jezebel, was the chair of the pulpit committee. They had no love loss for their pastor, The Rev. Elijah Truthteller. Old Elijah did not put up with any stuff and even stood up against false prophets that the two chairpersons wanted to hire after they fired Rev. Elijah. They put their 400 pastors up against one, and they cried and yelled to their flase gods and Elijah calmly defeated them and after that showdown, unalived all 400. Yes, this was a brutal church! Jezebel did not hide her anger and threatens Elijah with death, and so the old man starts to run for his life, as would you and me! What follows next is pure human drama.

Elijah has reached the boiling point and confesses to God; "I have had enough , Lord, take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." And Elijah lays down and falls asleep; expecting God to take him in his sleep. But God had no such plans; an angel immediately awakens him and orders Elijah to get up and eat some of the hot bread that was fresh baked, and to drink from a jar of fresh water. Elijah eats and drank and went back to sleep again. A second time this is repeated with Elijah eating and drinking again. He then starts a 40-day journey which led him to Mount Horeb, where he goes into a cave and spends the night there. In the cave the Lord asks Elijah what he was doing there? Elijah reports he has been very zealous for God and God's people have revolted against God and against Elijah's ministry. They tore down the altars, rejected the covenant, put other prophets to death, and I'm the only one left and now, they're out to put me to death. God says and stand out on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. And then the great drama occurs: A great and powerful wind comes by, destroying the mountain, but God was not in the wind. Then an earthquake comes, again, the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then a fire, God was not in the fire, but then a gentle whisper and God asks again of Elijah what he was doing where he stood. Elijah repeats his speech and God simply says for him to return the same way he had come.

God’s response to Elijah’s exhaustion was not a rebuke, but rest. He gave him food, allowed him sleep, and sent him on a journey—not to punish him, but to meet him.

And when God does meet him, it’s not in the windstorm, the earthquake, or the fire—all things that had previously represented God's power. This time, it’s in a gentle whisper, or as the text says, “a sound of sheer silence.”

The presence of God met Elijah not in spectacle, but in stillness.

Sometimes, we look for God in the loud, the grand, or the dramatic. But God often meets us most powerfully in the quiet—through solitude, rest, or a soft word spoken in prayer. He listens when we cry out. He speaks when we feel empty. And just like Elijah, He reminds us that we are not alone.

God doesn’t just restore Elijah; He re-commissions him. There is still work to do, and God still trusts him to do it.

PRAYER: Lord, You are not only the God of fire and thunder, but also the God of silence and stillness. Thank You for meeting us in our weariness and reminding us that we are not alone. Speak to us in the quiet moments, restore our hearts, and help us trust Your voice even when it whispers. Strengthen us to rise again and walk in the calling You have given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Make time for silence today—God may be closer than the noise is letting you hear.

I love you and I thank God for you!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.