In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, we all long for something more—a greater purpose, a deeper meaning, a lasting hope. What if the answer has been available all along? What if the transformation we seek is just waiting for us to embrace it?

Discipleship is a lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus, learning from Him, and experiencing His reality. When we turn our lives over to Christ—allowing Him to forgive us, love us, and take His rightful place in our lives—it's like a ray of light breaking through darkness.

Consider Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. He once hated Christians and enjoyed dragging them to jail. Yet in a millisecond, after encountering the living God, he was completely changed. The way he thought about others transformed, and we see the rest of his story unfold through his letters to the early church.

God uses ordinary people just like us to do extraordinary things. Paul wasn't special in himself—he was an ordinary man whom God revealed Himself to, and he was forever changed. Each of us has the same potential for transformation.

Think of your spiritual life as a reservoir that needs to be kept filled—not just on Sundays, but every day. God has the power to give you a full reservoir daily, filled to overflowing.
This reminds me of a mission trip to Jamaica where we cleaned out a massive cistern filled with mud and gunk. Once cleaned, the rainy season came and filled it with clear, beautiful water that sustained a farm. Our lives can be like that—once the muck is cleared out, we become open to receive from heaven above.

Many of us find it easy to thank God and feel His presence when everything is going well. But what about during difficult seasons? During COVID, many churches didn't survive, but those that did—including ours—found creative ways to not just survive but thrive.

Some say the church in America is going the way of Europe—declining and dying. But I don't believe that's true. I believe we're in our finest hour:

• Prayer warriors are praying
• Pastors are gathering to seek God
• People are turning their lives to Christ
• Churches are seeing growth again

According to recent Barna research, Gen Z (teens and young adults) is one of the most spiritually in-tune generations. We see this at our church, with young people bowing their heads to the Lord and experiencing blessing because of it.

I believe we're on the cusp of another spiritual movement in this nation. As the old cliché says, "It's always darkest before the dawn." Just as I love watching the first glow of sunrise make darkness disappear, I believe we're witnessing the beginning of another great awakening.

Nicky Gumbel, creator of Alpha, said: "Many people see only hopeless ends, but with Jesus, you can enjoy an endless hope." Not only is our future secure, but right now in our lives, we are secure in Jesus.

We saw this hope in action at our recent Messiah Summer Camp. Kids who came in with their arms folded, resistant to the message, were at the front of their seats by the end of the week, belting out worship songs. Late-night conversations stretched into the morning as kids asked, "What is it that's different about you? I need Jesus."

One boy who had been constantly in trouble at school was asked if he would continue his bad behavior this year. His response? "No, that was before I was baptized. I am a new creation in Christ."

Look around you. We see people who are worn out, depressed, living at an out-of-control pace. Our church should be a "headquarters of hope"—like a MASH unit (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) that can set up anywhere to provide healing.

Each believer carries this hope within them. Each of us has a transformational story of what life was before Jesus and what it is after. The fields are ripe for harvest, as Jesus said in John 4:34-35:

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."

Matthew 18:3 tells us: "Truly, I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

This means we need:

• Humility
• Trust
• A simple, teachable spirit
• Complete dependence on God

When faced with the truth of Jesus, we can either embrace it or reject it—there's no middle ground.

Henry Blackaby wisely said we should find out where God is at work and join Him. Every day we wake up with a choice to follow self or to follow God.

Acts 1:8 promises: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Romans 10:15 adds: "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" Those who share the gospel—whether to children in a classroom or strangers in another country—are bringing life-changing truth.

The rest of your story—your life after encountering Christ—involves practicing spiritual disciplines and conveying the story of Jesus to others. Here are some questions to consider this week:

• Where is God already at work around you, and how can you join Him there?
• What "muck" in your spiritual reservoir needs to be cleaned out so you can be filled afresh with God's presence?
• Who in your life needs to hear about the hope you've found in Jesus? How can you share it with them this week?
• In what ways can you cultivate a more childlike faith—with greater trust, humility, and dependence on God?
• What specific step can you take to invest in the next generation, whether through mentoring, teaching, or simply being present in their lives?