Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

If you listen, you can hear it: the wind moving branches of trees long dead, these creaking bones that ache to live again. You hear it in the weary words of a mother at the store, comforting her cryi…

The nightmares had started again. It had only been a few nights, and already I felt like I was sleepwalking through the days—pure exhaustion from the moment I opened my eyes. As the shower water beat…

God, not in my own strength I can’t do this alone God, not without your help I am too weak to press on God, not without your promises I can’t keep going God, not without you holding me I am too weak …

I am adopted. From what I hear from my parents, adopting me was not an easy task! Lots of paperwork, government background checks, and other miscellaneous things—it took them many months before they …

Sometimes, I don’t know how to pray for people. And that’s a bummer, because Jesus calls us to pray for others—for our friends, our leaders, and even our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28; 1 Timothy 2…

In our day-to-day lives, we meet different people who affect us in different ways. Some say and do things that break our hearts and cause us tears. Some of the people who hurt our feelings are those …

When I talk about my mom, it’s easy to become emotional. After losing my mom in 2020, I wondered at the ways she mirrored God’s grace. In moments when I stood guilty, I knew I was still loved by Mom.

We can serve God in many different ways—in our families, at church, at school, and beyond. But sometimes, we can get discouraged when we feel like our service is not appreciated. We might feel like t…

By day, the town of Goshen was like any other. People went to work, children went to school, and families gathered to share a meal at suppertime. But after dark, everything changed. Doors were locked…

How quickly the grass changes. From green to brown to covered in white snow How quickly the trees shift First orange, then bare and gray How quickly the air cools From warm and balmy to cold and cris…

We all have times in our lives when we mess up and things are not right. We all have times when we feel guilty and dirty. We want to make things better, but we aren’t sure what steps we need to take.…

The science of astronomy studies the heavens—planets, moons, stars, and more. In 1571 a boy was born in Württemberg, Germany who became one of the most famous and influential scientists and astronom…

In and out, I remind myself There’s no air in this room My lungs collapsing Pathogens attacking Brain on fire

Keep it in, I remind myself This will have to end But, great tears rolling Body trembling…

In reading the narrative of David and Goliath, I noticed a small detail, and it got me thinking. The first seven verses of 1 Samuel 17 detail Goliath’s very impressive appearance. Verse 5 mentions hi…

I’m fourteen, and something I need to be constantly reminded of is that I don’t need to rush life. I always want my way—I want what’s next. I want to drive a car, have a boyfriend, be married, and ha…

We live by a lake in the northwEsther If we awoke from a twenty-year-long nap, like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, and we didn’t know what month it was, we could guess by looking at the lake. Diffe…

In most crime shows there is at least one episode involving something counterfeit: currency, artwork, even identities. While many of these shows depict the criminals using state-of-the-art technology…

Are you a morning person? I am an early bird, and I love to start most days with a brisk walk. I greet the people I meet with a “Good morning!” Not everyone answers, and some look downright grumpy. …

When I was in fifth grade, I made a unique request of my mom. For my birthday, I wanted a homemade cake with homemade icing. Specifically, I asked for frosting made of peanut butter and jelly. Once i…

Humans are flawed, but God is not. Humans mess up, hurt us, or abandon us, but God never will. Humans pretend to love, run out of love, and turn love into hate, but God isn’t like that. You are preci…