Read: James 1:13-16

Mitchell sniffed the air as he walked into the house. “Mmm, cookies! Can I have one, Mom?”

“Not right now,” said Mom. “They need to cool, and we’re going to be having dinner soon. You can have one for dessert after we eat.”

“Okay,” said Mitchell, but he looked longingly at the cookies as they cooled on the counter. They smelled so good, and he knew they tasted even better. He was still standing there, looking at them, when his mother took another cookie sheet from the oven. “The more I smell these cookies, the more I want one,” he said. “Can’t I just have a small one?”

Mom shook her head. “It would be easier to wait if you went somewhere else instead of standing there where you can see them and smell them,” she said. “Remember the Bible verse you learned last week?”

“You mean the one about God always providing a way to escape temptation so we don’t have to give in to it?” asked Mitchell.

“That’s the one,” said Mom. “And I think the way to escape this temptation is to go outside and play.”

“But cookies aren’t bad,” said Mitchell. “It’s not a sin to eat a cookie.”

“True,” said Mom, “but if you stay around the cookies long enough, you might give in to the temptation to eat one. And then you’d be disobeying me, which is a sin.”

Mitchell sighed. “Okay, I’ll go outside.” He left the kitchen and went out the door to the garage.

He was shooting baskets in the driveway when his mother called him to come in for dinner. “You were right, Mom,” he said as he sat down at the table. “The cookies quit bothering me after I got away from them. When I got busy doing something else, I forgot all about them.”

Mom nodded. “As Christians, we can always say no when we’re tempted to sin because Jesus freed us from sin, and it has no power over us anymore. But it’s still a good idea to get away from things that we know will tempt us. Sometimes that’s the best way to avoid giving in!”

–Pamela J. Kuhn

How about you? Is it hard for you to say no to sin? When you’re tempted to do something wrong, remember that if you trust in Jesus, He has freed you from sin, and you don’t ever have to give in to it. But it’s still a good idea to avoid putting yourself in situations where you know you’ll be tempted. Ask God for guidance in knowing when to stay away from something. When you do find yourself in a tempting situation, trust Him to show you a way out.

Today’s key verse: But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ERV)

Today’s key thought: Avoid temptation

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 11:33-36

“I think we’re going in circles,” Troy said as he and his dad and sister tried to make their way out of a corn maze. “I think we’ve been down this path before.”

“How can you tell?” Elinor asked. She looked up at cornstalks that were twice as tall as she was.

“Everything looks the same. Do you know the way out, Dad?”

Dad laughed. “At the moment, I’m not quite sure.”

“Hey, look!” shouted Troy. “There’s a platform-thing. We can climb up there and see where we are!” Sure enough, in the middle of the path was a high platform.

Troy and Elinor ran up the steps, and Dad followed them. Standing above the stalks, they could see the whole field. Elinor pointed. “There’s the orange flag at the end of the maze. We gotta go that way!”

“And look how far we’ve come,” said Troy. “With this a-maze-ing view, we can see we’re not going in circles after all.” They laughed at Troy’s joke.

When they had found their way out of the maze, Dad bought warm cinnamon doughnuts and hot apple cider. They settled down on hay bales to enjoy their snack. “Dad,” Troy said, “why do you think God is having us move to another state for your job? I like it here!”

“Yeah,” said Elinor after a sip of cider. “We have so many friends here—and we like our church so much! Why would God want us to move?”

“I don’t know,” Dad replied. “We don’t always understand the way He leads, but you know what? Our lives are something like a corn maze. Remember when we stood on that platform? We saw the whole maze—where we’d been and where we needed to go. That’s how God sees us—He has an a-maze-ing view too! He sees our lives from beginning to end. The way God leads us may not make sense to us, but He has a different view.”

“I guess that’s why He tells us to trust Him,” said Troy.

“Exactly,” said Dad. “We don’t see all that will happen, but God does. And He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us so we could have eternal life with Him. We can trust Him and accept this move as part of His plan for our family.”

–Jennifer Quackenbush

How about you? Is there something in your life that doesn’t make sense to you right now? Do you feel all alone? Turn to God for comfort and peace. You may not understand the things that are happening, but He does. He sees things more clearly than you do, and He’s working in your life. He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you, and He will be with you no matter what. You can trust Him.

Today’s key verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart…In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Trust God with your life

Read: Lamentations 3:25-26; Romans 5:1-5

Hudson cast his line into the water. The bait landed with a small plop. On the other end of the boat, his grandfather quietly held his fishing pole. All was silent except for the sound of crickets chirping.

Suddenly, a loud squawk split the misty air. The sound came again, and Grandpa pointed across the bayou to an owl perched on the top branch of a tall tree. A large crow circled him, squawking.

“What’s that crow’s problem?” asked Hudson.

Grandpa shrugged. “The owl might be sitting too close to the crow’s nest. Or maybe the crow is just pestering the owl and keeping him from sleeping. Crows do that kind of thing sometimes.”

Hudson watched as the black bird swooped again and again, its harsh cries filling the swamp. Only the owl’s head moved as it turned to watch the crow. “I wish that crow would go away,” he said. “Can it hurt the owl?”

Grandpa shook his head. “Not likely. God gave owls what they need to protect themselves—strong wings and sharp talons. If the crow gets too close, he’ll be in trouble, and he knows it. See how he stays at a safe distance?”

“Yeah, but if I were the owl, I’d fight or fly away,” said Hudson.

Grandpa chuckled. “Maybe the owl knows the crow will get tired and go away after a while.” He pulled up his line and cast it out again. “You know, we could learn a lesson from that owl. Instead of getting flustered and upset when things happen that trouble us, we can quietly look to Jesus and trust Him. We can ask Him to show us if there’s something we should do to change the situation or if we just need to patiently wait for Him to work things out.”

“Because Jesus promises to work everything out for good, right?” said Hudson.

Grandpa nodded. “He died and rose again to save us, and that means we can trust Him. Even when our problems don’t go away, He’s still with us, and He promises to come again one day and end all our troubles forever.”

Hudson turned his attention back to his fishing line. A little later, he realized it was quiet again. “Hey, Grandpa,” he said with a smile, “the crow is gone!”

–Debra W. Smith

How about you? Are you troubled by something happening in your life or in the world? Life can be scary and hard at times, but you can rest knowing that God is in control of every situation. Trust Jesus to help you act wisely and show others His love in times of trouble. Remember that He is with you even in the hardest situations and trust Him to give you peace.

Today’s key verse: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Be patient and trust Jesus

Read: Genesis 41:46-57

“Guess what Joseph is doing?” exclaimed Ellie as she burst into the kitchen. “He’s burying acorns near the apple tree!”

“Who’s Joseph?” asked Mom. “The new boy next door?”

Ellie laughed. “No, Mom! Joseph is the squirrel who comes to our garden. But why would he bury acorns instead of eating them?”

Ellie’s brother Michael answered her question. “He’s storing them away to eat in the winter.”

Mom nodded. “While the weather is good, squirrels collect acorns and hide them,” she explained. “Then when winter comes and food is hard to find, they have their secret supply.”

“That sounds like Joseph in the Bible,” said Michael. “God told him to collect grain for seven years so that when a famine came, the people would have plenty to eat.”

“You’re right,” said Mom. “We can learn something from both Josephs.”

“You mean we need to store up food in case there’s a famine here?” asked Ellie.

Mom smiled. “I was thinking of a different kind of food—spiritual food. When difficult times come, we often realize we need God’s help, but we don’t always remember to use the good times to store up spiritual food that will help us trust and depend on Him when things get tough.”

“How do we store up spiritual food?” asked Ellie.

“When things are going well for us, we should be faithful in learning more about Jesus and what He did to save us so we can grow in our relationship with Him,” replied Mom. “Some of the ways we can do that is by reading the Bible, memorizing verses, meeting with other Christians, and hearing God’s Word explained by pastors and teachers.”

“I get it,” said Michael. “If we do those things to store up spiritual food, it will help us remember He’s with us when hard times come.”

“Right,” said Mom. “For example, there have been times when I needed wise advice or encouragement, and a verse just popped into my head—one I learned when I was a little girl and hadn’t even thought about for years. We can draw spiritual strength from all the things we’ve learned about Jesus from God’s Word in the past and know our future is safe in His hands.”

–Tanya Ferdinandusz

How about you? Are things going well for you right now? Then use this time to thank Jesus and learn all you can about Him. But maybe things aren’t going so well and you’re dealing with difficulties in your life. Then remember that Jesus gave His life for you and promises to always be with you, and ask Him to comfort and encourage you. Remember that He helped Joseph in his time of trouble, and He’ll do the same for you.

Today’s key verse: Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them. Psalm 22:4 (CSB)

Today’s key thought: Store up spiritual food

Read: Colossians 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:14-15

Jackson Henry! Had Dad really called out that name to be in their small group nature walk tomorrow? Nolan was still mad at Jackson for goofing around and breaking his compass on their last church campout. Renewed anger filled Nolan. He stomped off to the cabin.

A few minutes later, Dad opened the door. “Come with me. I want to show you something.” Dad’s tone left no room for argument.

Sighing, Nolan scuffed across the floor to the door then followed Dad down a trail.

Dad stopped by a large rock and pointed toward the top of a tall tree. “See that spruce tree with the orange yellow clump on its branches?”

“Yes.” Nolan looked intently at the tree. “Is it some kind of nest?”

“No. The tree is diseased with a fungus commonly called broom rust. The mass created by the disease looks like the bristles of a straw broom.”

Nolan studied the bristled mass. “Why don’t the forest rangers treat the tree to kill the disease?”

“They can’t. Once a tree is diseased, there is no cure.”

“That’s too bad,” Nolan said.

“I agree. You know, that same type of thing happens to people. Our feelings get hurt or a possession gets broken, and instead of forgiving the offender, we carry a grudge. Holding a grudge causes bitterness to fester and grow inside of us. Over time, it shows on our faces and in our actions—kind of like that fungus on the tree.” Dad raised his brows. “I saw your reaction after I read Jackson’s name. I’m confused. I thought you forgave Jackson when he apologized for breaking your compass.”

“I tried,” Nolan said. “But I feel angry when I think about my compass or when Jackson’s around. I’m not sure how to get rid of the bad feelings.”

Dad put a hand on Nolan’s shoulder. “Unlike the infected spruce tree, Christians have someone who can cure our spiritual diseases, like grudges. Jesus died so you could be forgiven for all your sins, and He can heal your heart. Trust Him to help you forgive others and replace those feelings of anger and bitterness with love. Have you asked Him to help you forgive Jackson?”

“No, but I will.” Nolan bowed his head and began to pray.

–Rose Ross Zediker

How about you? When someone wrongs you, do you dwell on the incident and harbor ill feelings toward that person? God tells us to forgive as He forgives us. He doesn’t dwell on our past mistakes because Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross for all our sins. Forgiving can be hard, but if you depend on God to help you, He can replace the bad feelings in your heart with His love.

Today’s key verse: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Trust God to help you forgive

Read: Psalm 20:6-7; Romans 8:38-39

Editor’s note: This story may not be suitable for some children.

“Almost time for school,” Mom said as she picked up Rhea’s backpack. “Rhea! What do you have in here? Feels like a bag full of rocks!” She unzipped the top.

Rhea’s eyes grew round. “No, Mom, don’t—”

But Mom was already pulling out a can of hairspray, a camouflage jacket that belonged to Rhea’s brother, a bicycle helmet, and indeed, one large rock. “Is this for some kind of project at school?”

Rhea looked down. “No. I was just…” She sighed. “Scared.”

Mom sat down with her on the sofa. “Scared? Of school?”

“I’ve been watching the news.” Rhea leaned her head against her mom. “There was another shooting at a school. And we did a drill at school so we’d know what to do if it wasn’t safe.”

Mom had a sad look in her eyes. But then they twinkled a bit. “So if someone dangerous comes in, you’re going to…do his hair? Or send him away on a bicycle?” Mom grinned softly, and Rhea smiled too.

“I thought I could spray hairspray in his eyes. The bicycle helmet is for me, to protect my head. The camo is so he wouldn’t see me. And I could throw the rock at him. I’ve been practicing.”

“Oh, honey.” Mom pulled Rhea onto her lap. “I hate that you feel afraid. But think of the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. Was it the rock that kept David safe?”

Rhea nodded. “He killed Goliath with it.”

Mom shook her head. “It might seem that way, but that’s not what happened. It wasn’t something that kept David safe, but someone.”

Rhea’s eyes brightened. “Oh! You mean God.”

“That’s right,” said Mom. “He’s the one who truly keeps us safe, but that doesn’t always mean He’ll keep us from harm. Remember, when Jesus died on the cross, He was right where God wanted Him to be. He was fulfilling God’s good plan for salvation.”

“Yeah,” said Rhea, “saving us was a really good plan.”

Mom nodded. “And because of that good plan, we know nothing can ever separate us from Jesus, even when bad stuff happens and we feel afraid. He promises to always be with us. And”—she tickled Rhea lightly—“I trust Him a lot more than hairspray!”

–Janel Breitenstein

How about you? Are you relying on something to keep you safe? It’s good to be prepared and take precautions, but remember where your safety really comes from. No matter what scary situations you face, you’re always safe with Jesus because He died and rose again to save you from sin and give you eternal life. Even when terrible things happen, nothing can separate you from Him. Trust Him to always be with you and keep you safe.

Today’s key verse: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus keeps you safe

Read: Acts 4:1-12

How about you? Have you received the antidote for sin? The Bible says everyone has sinned by doing wrong things, and sin leads to death. There’s nothing we can do to save ourselves—the only way to be saved is through Jesus, God’s Son. Trust Him to save you from sin and death and give you eternal life with Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus is the antidote for sin

Read: Psalm 78:34-39; Ephesians 4:26-32

“Stop following me around, Diego!” Santos yelled at his little brother.

“But I want to be with you,” Diego said tearfully.

“I don’t care! I’m tired of you following me everywhere!” Santos said as he stormed out of the house.

Later that day, Santos went inside to get a snack. “What are you doing?” he asked when he found his dad under the kitchen sink.

Dad crawled out from under the sink and fumbled around in his toolbox. “Oh, the faucet is leaking again, and I’m trying to fix it. Ever since it started leaking, I just can’t seem to get it to stop! I may have to call in a professional.” Dad sighed, somewhat discouraged, then went back to work as Santos continued to look for something to eat.

A few minutes later, Dad gave up trying to fix the faucet and sat down at the table. “You know, we can be like that faucet sometimes,” he said.

Santos looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“When we get angry with someone and respond to them harshly, it’s a lot like water dripping from a leak. Once it gets started, it’s hard to mend. The faucet was never the same after I tried to fix it, just like our feelings toward one another are never quite the same when we try to fix them ourselves. We need to call in a professional!”

“A professional? Like who?” Santos asked.

“Jesus!” Dad answered. “We need to call on Him to fix the leak in our relationships. The only way to stop anger from leaking out of our hearts and hurting others is for Him to replace it with His love. We need to remember how much He loves us and then trust Him to help us respond to others with love and forgiveness instead of anger.”

Santos thought about how he had yelled at his little brother earlier that day. “I think I need to ask Jesus to fix a leak in my heart and then go apologize to Diego.”

Dad smiled. “I think that’s a good idea. While you do that, I’m going to call a plumber!”

–Elena Ketner

How about you? Do you have a leak in a relationship that you just can’t seem to fix? Do mean, angry words spurt out of your mouth when you get upset? You can’t fix that leak on your own—you need a professional. Jesus is the only one who can fix the angry leak in your heart. Trust Him to help you love others the way He loves you so you can respond to them with kindness and forgiveness instead of anger.

Today’s key verse: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: God’s love can fix relationships