Psalm 14:4-6

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the Lord?
There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is his refuge.

Some seasons of parenting are rough. Let’s be honest, all seasons of parenting are rough. Angi and I were in the most difficult season of parenting we had ever faced. One of our 3 girls was quite vulnerable. She was struggling to see her identity in Christ. If I’m completely honest, the church didn’t look attractive or feel safe for her kind of struggle. And there was a wolf of a boy devouring her heart. We were struggling to know what to do and we felt alone. At that moment, no matter what our bank account said, we were as poor as poor can be. In my desperation for control I offered, “we could pack up the house and move to another state.” Angi, with God’s wisdom, said, “how would that change our daughter’s heart?” We stayed and began to learn that the Pierce family needs a better refuge than a change of address when life is hard. Do you feel poor today? Take refuge in the Lord.

Father, I know you are present in the most desperate of circumstances. This world is so evil that at times it feels like it’s standing over me, mocking me. But You, oh Lord, see me, the poor, and love me. Through Christ, You have drawn me near and given me safe harbor as your son forever. In your grace I rest today. Amen.

– Jeff Pierce