Tag Archives: Christian Living

What To Do When God Fails to Meet Your Expectations

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

When God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we expect—or when His timing feels painfully slow—we often slip into disappointment, confusion, or even anger. This week’s post explores why our expectations of God can become distorted, how we mistakenly judge God through our own experiences or the stories of others, and why His names (Provider, Healer, Defender) don’t represent promises of predictability, but invitations into deeper trust. We also acknowledge the reality of church hurt and the way people—not Jesus—can push believers away. Ultimately, the path forward isn’t pulling away from God but drawing closer through prayer, worship, and Scripture—the “center rail” that keeps our faith aligned. Even when life doesn’t make sense, God remains good, present, and faithful. Our greatest act of faith is learning to trust Him, even without full understanding. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian encouragement, Christian Living, Encouragement, Faith & Encouragement, Faith & Spiritual Growth, Hope, Hope in Hardship, Spiritual Encouragement | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons in Temptation

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

What can we learn from the way Jesus handled temptation compared to Adam and Eve? Discover the power of Scripture, spiritual armor, and grace in resisting sin—and why the Christian life is about freedom, not perfection. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study and Devotion, Biblical Characters, Biblical insights, Biblical Reflections, Biblical Teachings, Biblical Truth, Biblical Truths, Christian, Christian encouragement, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Dependence on God, Devotional Reflections, Discipleship, Encouragement, Faith, Faith & Salvation, Faith and Dependence, Faith and Encouragement, Faith and Grace, Faith and Identity, Faith and Inspiration, Faith and Resilience, Faith and Resilliance, Faith and Spiritual Growth, Faith and Spirituality, Faith and Trust, Faith Reflections, God's love, God's Love & Grace, God's provision, Grace and Redemption, Hope, Hope & Renewal in Christ, Inspirational, Jesus and the Gospel, Jesus's teachings, Personal Growth, Personal Reflection, Prayer and faith, Redemption & Forgiveness, Salvation and Grace, Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hope of Christmas

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Introduction As we enter the season of Advent, we often find ourselves surrounded by messages of hope. It’s in the lights decorating our homes, the songs playing in stores, and even in the wishes of good cheer exchanged between neighbors. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent & Christmas, Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian encouragement, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Dependence on God, Encouragement, Faith, Faith and Dependence, Faith and Encouragement, Faith and Inspiration, Faith and Resilience, Faith and Resilliance, Faith and Trust, Faith Reflections, God's love, God's provision, Hope, Inspirational, Life Challenges, Living in Uncertain Times, Navigating Life's Challenges, Personal Reflection, Prayer and faith, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vote with Your Heart for Your Heart

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Introduction As you may have noticed, Election Day in the United States is in just a couple of days. But fear not, this will not be a political post. As hard as it is to believe, there won’t even be … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian encouragement, Christian Living, Christianity and Mental Health, Daily Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, Faith and Culture, Faith and Encouragement, Faith and Inspiration, Faith and Resilience, Faith and Resilliance, Faith and Trust, Inspirational, Jesus and the Gospel, Jesus's teachings, Life Challenges, Living in Uncertain Times, Navigating Life's Challenges, Personal Reflection, Reflections on Current Events, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Are You Going?

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Introduction In life, when things seem to be going well, it’s natural for us to want to maintain the status quo. We work hard to build a life where everything is in balance—where our relationships, careers, and daily routines run … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian encouragement, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Faith, Faith and Encouragement, Faith and Inspiration, God's love, Inspirational, Personal Reflection, Prayer and faith, Prayer and Worship, Self-Improvement, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Does My Help Come From?

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Introduction Last year, my wife, father-in-law, and I moved from Colorado to Florida, the flattest state in the US. I love Florida, so I’m glad we made the move, but I miss my friends and family still living in Colorado, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Faith, Life Transitions, Nature and spirituality, Poetry, Self-Improvement, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Soul Rest: Finding Restoration with God

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

In the relentless hustle of modern life, where the din of demands never ceases, the concept of rest can seem almost revolutionary. Yet, it’s not merely a modern necessity but a divine invitation. Scripture is full of references to rest, … Continue reading →

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The Search for Significance: Yes, We Matter

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Introduction In writing this blog each week, sometimes I feel like God is poking and prodding me to write about something I’d rather keep to myself. This is one of those weeks. But I figure if I resist God’s prodding, … Continue reading →

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