Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens Keys for Kids Ministries

READ: PSALMS 42:1–43:5; 46:1-5; MATTHEW 26:37-38
Sometimes, you cry tears
They fall as hard as the rain
It feels just like a storm
This life, full of pain
 
But just as quickly, the sun appears
A smile comes to your face
Joy in your life again
It’s a beautiful time and place
 
God is with you through these moments
The ups and downs of days
He gives light to the darkness
Has a listening ear when you pray
 
Pain and joy are a part of life
Both times will come, you know
Tears and smiles until the end
Our God will hold you and not let go • Bethany Acker
 
• How could it be comforting to know that Jesus personally experienced all the joys and sorrows of being human, and He promises to be with us through all the ups and downs of life?
• Even when we experience deep sadness, it can be helpful to remember that these feelings won’t last forever. We will feel happy again, maybe in a few minutes, maybe in a few days. However, if it’s been more than a couple weeks since you’ve felt happy, you may be experiencing a form of depression. This is nothing to be ashamed of—depression can be the result of several factors, and many people will experience depression at least once in their life. God does not stand far off when we are depressed. Jesus grieves our hurts alongside us and wants to help us heal, not only through His Word and through prayer, but also through community with fellow Christians and the expertise of professionals like counselors, therapists, and doctors. If you think you might be experiencing depression, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about it?
• If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. “And be sure of this: I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 139:1-3; ISAIAH 53; HEBREWS 4:14-16



I know someone who lost part of his leg due to health issues. Now he has a prosthetic and is able to get around just fine. Seeing him in long pants, you would never guess he has anything going on with his leg. You would have no idea of the struggles he’s faced or the fact that he still has to deal with things now that a person with two good legs would never think about.



You might have an illness that most people don’t know about. This may cause you to act differently at times, and you may feel judged because of it. You might have a mental illness that affects the way you feel but is hidden to those around you. Maybe no one knows the pain you are in or how much you’re struggling to look “normal.”



The world around us thinks they know us based on what they see when spending limited time with us, but they don’t know our background or what is going on inside. The average person would never guess that the man I mentioned has something going on with his leg, and there may be things you’re dealing with that the average person would never know either.



God knows it all, though, and He understands. Your pain is not hidden from Him. God created you and loves you, and He feels your pain with you. Others might not see or understand, but you can know that He does. He will hold you even when others have no idea what is going on. • Emily Acker



• Do you have a painful situation in your life or in your past that nobody knows about? God does not want us to suffer alone. He is with us, holding us in our hurts and offering comfort, strength, and healing. And He also gives us His people, the church. Who are trusted people you could talk to about the difficult situations in your life, such as parents, pastors, youth leaders, or counselors?



• Because of God’s great love and compassion for us, Jesus came to save us. He lived among us as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isaiah 53:3), and He befriended and healed those who were isolated in their suffering. Even when most of the world doesn’t know about your pain, how could it be comforting to know that Jesus sees you and He cares?



• Jesus suffered and died for us, and He rose again so we could be with Him. One day, Jesus will return to restore creation and resurrect His people from the dead, free of injury, illness, and suffering. In the meantime, He is with us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). How could these truths remind us that we are never alone in our suffering?



You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 63:1-5; JOHN 4:1-14; 7:37-39; PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13



Imagine how good it feels to take that first sip of cold water after a long, hot run. Imagine how good it tastes to take that first bite of your favorite meal after you’ve been smelling it cooking all day long. Water and food sustain us. We need them to survive, and it can feel so good to consume them, especially in more desperate times.



Now, think about how God is our living water. Jesus said to a woman He met at a well that if she believed in Him, she would never thirst again. That doesn’t mean physically. We will always need food and drink to survive on earth. But think about how much food and water mean to us. If God says we will never thirst again with Him, that’s a big deal.



God is everything we need. He gives us life. He gives us purpose and meaning. God helps us through the hard times and gives us joy. He is our living water. He is enough for us.



Jesus is God the Son, sent by the Father to die for us and rise again. Before He went to the cross, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). And during the last supper, Jesus broke bread and gave it to His disciples, saying, “‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it’” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). In communion, the bread is broken, and we remember how Jesus’s body was sacrificed for us.



Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, He promises that everyone who trusts in Him will have His presence with us always—and the sure hope of eternal life to come. When we know Jesus, He not only sustains us, He satisfies us (Psalm 63:5) and fills us with “a glorious, inexpressible joy” (1 Peter 1:8). • Bethany Acker



• Jesus is the bread of life, and He gives us living water, which is the Holy Spirit (John 4:14; 6:35; 7:39). Why do you think God describes Himself as bread and water? How might this help us understand Him better? (If you want to dig deeper, you can read more about communion in Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.)



“But those who drink the water I [Jesus] give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 (NLT) 

READ: PHILIPPIANS 3:7-21; 4:10-13



Do you ever feel like there’s something you need to have in order to be happy? In our world of uncertainty, it can be tempting to think that something— some piece of technology or clothing or jewelry, some rental property or car or brand name—can bring us the satisfaction we crave or solve all our problems. Sometimes, we can get so focused on getting that thing, that we lose sight of our neighbors and our Creator. We end up choosing greed and violence instead of following the way of Jesus. We get lost in chasing after created things rather than walking in the love and service of our Savior.



But it doesn’t have to be this way. Because the reality is, in Christ, we already have true riches. We have the promise that God loves us, that He is with us every moment of every day, and that He is making all things new through Jesus’s death and resurrection—He is freeing all of creation from sin and its effects. Yet, as we wait in eager anticipation for Jesus’s return, we live in the already-not-yet tension of God’s kingdom. We see glimpses of His restoration, but we also long for the day all things will be made fully right and whole (Revelation 21:1-5).



So, as we live in this tension, we can count our blessings. And that’s not as cliché as it sounds. Because as we spend time pondering all the good things God has done for us, we find ourselves becoming more joyful, more peaceful, and more able to say “no” to the greed and violence and other temptations of our broken world.



And counting our blessings can be as simple as making a list. We can list the promises we find in the Bible. We can list things in nature that remind us of our Creator’s love and goodness. We can list all the ways He has been providing for our physical needs through things like food, clothes, and shelter. We can list things that delight us, like our favorite flavors and colors. And we can list the relationships in our lives that remind us of Jesus’s love—whether we see that in friends, family, teachers, pastors, church family, or other loved ones. All these good gifts come from God! And as we rest in God’s abundant love for us, we start to crave possessions less and less. Things we own don’t last that long, but knowing Jesus lasts forever. In Him, we find true riches—love that satisfies our deepest longings and purpose beyond ourselves. • A. W. Smith



• Consider making a list of blessings—where do you see God’s love in your life? Then, put your list in a safe spot so that, when you need encouragement, it’s readily available to you.



Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 36:5-9; 2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-13



"Made it. I’m free!” Sultan yelled, jumping on the train as the doors bleeped shut behind him. Where is everyone? He thought, sitting in the empty carriage, a knot of dread weaving itself inside him. Is this the right train?



“Tickets,” the guard’s rasping voice called. With trembling hands, Sultan handed over the ticket, watching in horror as the destination letters changed to Nowhere. Staring out of his dark, empty eyes the ticket collector grinned. “You’re on the right track, to Nowhere” he laughed, handing the ticket back before striding away.



Wiping the prickling sweat from his forehead, sadness physically dragged Sultan down. Past mistakes flashed before his eyes. “You’re wasting your life. They aren’t your true friends.” Mom’s words haunted him. “I wish your grandpa was still here. He’d know what to say.”



Pushing himself up with his last remaining dregs of strength, Sultan stumbled along the carriages as the train hurtled along. Nothing. The ticket collector had vanished. If only you were alive Grandpa, Sultan thought. I miss you, your faith, your Bible stories and adventures. When you died, it felt like I lost my trust in God. I don’t know if I even believe anymore.



Sliding to the floor, Sultan shuddered, recalling how he’d flung Grandpa’s well-worn Bible in his closet. He felt an ache in his stomach. Is it too late?



“Help!” His plea was a strangled whisper. “Father, Jesus. My grandpa loved you. Please help me trust You again. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” Tears poured down his face. His eyes stung and every bone ached.



A glimmer of light appeared, glowing brighter and brighter until it dazzled. A loving voice cried out, “Sultan, weep no more. You are my precious, beloved child, and my Son Jesus died for you so you could be cleansed of sin and brought into relationship with us. We have not forgotten you. We have not abandoned you. We see your sorrow, your pain. We will help you trust in us, and we will heal you.”



Sultan nodded, choking on the words. “I-I believe,” he cried out. The heaviness lifted. He could feel peace beginning to heal his brokenness. Sultan stood up. The train was buzzing with the chatter of people. Glancing at his ticket, his destination had changed to Hope. • Cindy Lee



• Have you ever felt like Sultan in this story? Sometimes, when we experience a tragedy or life-changing event, it can make us question our beliefs or make us angry with God. But the truth is, once you become a Christian, nothing can ever separate you from Jesus’s love (Romans 8:38-39). We live in an imperfect world, but Jesus has restored our broken relationship with God through His death and resurrection. And one day, Jesus will return and restore the heavens and the earth—then death and sorrow and pain will be gone forever (Revelation 21:1-5). As we wait for this glorious day, Christians don’t need to be afraid of losing our faith. Faith is a gift from God, one He gives generously (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Peter 1:1; Philippians 1:29; Acts 3:16). No matter what, you can share all your worries, your anger, your hurt, and your fears with Jesus, the One who died for you and loves you dearly. Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about whatever is on your mind.



• If you’ve never put your trust in Jesus and you want to know more, check out our "Know Jesus" page.



• Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be open and honest with about your struggles? How could you encou

READ: 1 SAMUEL 3:1-10; 2 KINGS 5:1-5; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27; GALATIANS 5:13-14



Do you ever feel too young to do anything important for Jesus? Sometimes, when we hear stories of people traveling overseas as missionaries, or becoming foster parents, or starting a career they sensed God guiding them into…we can be left wondering, What about me? Though we may love Jesus and want to follow Him with our lives, it can feel like all we’re able to do during our teen years is wait and prepare to be an adult.



But that’s not how God sees us. Just look at the Bible—there are teenagers and even kids who served God. For example, in 2 Kings 5 we find an Israelite girl who was taken captive by raiders from Aram, and she became a servant to Naaman’s wife. But when Naaman had leprosy, this girl said the prophet Elisha could cure him. Because of her compassion and her courage to speak up, Naaman journeyed to Israel, found Elisha, and was cleansed from the deadly skin disease. Then Naaman became a worshipper of the one true God (verse 15).



And in 1 Samuel 3, we see that Samuel was only a boy when he “served the Lord by assisting Eli [the priest]” (verse 1). One night while he was sleeping in the Tabernacle, young Samuel heard God call to him! Samuel listened and shared the message God gave him. As he grew up, he continued to be attentive to how God was calling him to serve in his community.



No matter how old we are, as Christians, we’re a part of God’s kingdom and family. Since we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we all have the same Holy Spirit. As 1 Peter 4:10 says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” The Holy Spirit equips us to share Jesus’s love in our words and actions wherever we are. Maybe you could pray for a friend, encourage a church leader, rake a neighbor’s leaves, help a sibling with something they’re struggling with, or look for ways to help members of your community who are experiencing homelessness. All of these loving acts of service can reflect how Jesus first loved us (1 John 4:19)—and none of them have to wait until you’re older. • A. W. Smith



• What are some practical ways you could show Jesus’s love to others by serving them? Consider taking a moment to pray and ask God to help you notice opportunities to serve the people in your community, church, or home…and write down anything that comes to mind.



And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)