Happy Friday, everyone! Well, congratulations—you made it through the first week of school. Having raised five kids, my wife and I always knew that some of the most chaotic times of the year were going to be the school-into-summer transition, and definitely the summer-back-into-school transition. Alarm clocks, lunches have to be made, homework starting again—it can really stress a family out.

But even if it’s not a transition back into school, there are plenty of things in life to get us stressed and concerned. The psalmist was not immune to that either. He felt some of those pressures, changes, and worries that came upon him. But what he found was that when he leaned in and listened to the loving voice of His Savior, remind him that He was there with him, walking through those valleys with him, he found actual comfort.

In fact, the psalmist wrote these words in Psalm 94:19: “When there are many troubles and worries that come upon my heart, your consolations cheer my soul.” That’s Psalm 94:19, and I pray that will be what you experience this weekend—as you listen to the voice of Your Shepherd, as you continue to journey into tomorrow.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You very much for being with us always, especially at these times of transition. Schedule changes can be stressful, and we just ask that You would calm every single heart that is stressed right now with the consolation of Your love, with those soothing words that You speak—that You would speak them deeply into our hearts and our souls—that we would find comfort and rest this week, and be reminded that You’re with us, that You love us, and that there is nothing that can come against us that will separate us from Your love. Be with us now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.