Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Life is heavy.

Maybe you woke up this morning, and it felt like a scene out of a Hallmark movie. Your coffee was perfect, the air had just the right chill, and the sunrise felt like God Himself had painted it just for you.

Or maybe you woke up with a sense of heaviness, sadness, or weight.

If you’re in that latter group, Psalm 137 might speak to you in a very real way. Because Psalm 137 is the exact opposite of every Hallmark movie.
Jerusalem had been destroyed.
Temples were burned.
Families were killed.
People were dragged from their homes and carried off as captives.

They were mourning.
They were hurting.
They were crying out.
They were unsure if they’d even see another sunrise.

They were angry.
They wanted justice.
They wanted revenge.
They were human, and God heard them all the same.

They were at one of the lowest moments in their history, but God was there listening.
He was big enough for their fear.
Big enough for their anger.
Big enough for their short-sightedness and confusion.

And He’s big enough for yours, too.

As tragic and heavy as Psalm 137 is, Psalm 138 feels like the very next sunrise.

The tone shifts. Suddenly, the words are:

• Praise
• Thanks
• Faithfulness
• Promise

It is no accident that these chapters are back-to-back. Together, they show a real spiritual journey: The valley of Psalm 137 leads to the hope of Psalm 138.

Life is full of moments where we feel: alone, forgotten, separated, overwhelmed. But those are just feelings. Christ is there in the exile moments of your soul, just as He is present in the moments of praise. Like the psalmist, you may be living in Psalm 137 today, but Psalm 138 is coming.

These psalms teach us something beautiful: It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to hurt. It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to feel lost, or frustrated, or afraid. Because Christ is bigger.

He can handle your grief.
He can handle your questions.
He can handle your anger.
And He wants to.

You have a Father who took on the sin of the world, and He is more than willing to take on the weight you’re carrying today. And for that, we can be eternally grateful.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

New Year, New Bible Reading Plan

At Venture Church, providing quality Daily Essential tools for spiritual development is a priority we are passionate about. As a result, we provided a Bible Reading Plan in 2020, Daily Devos in 2021, and Family Devos in 2023. We are always looking for ways to better serve the church through resources that assist in the growth of your faith. Thank you for supporting us and joining us on this journey!

This year, we have some exciting additions to our Daily Essential tools. In 2026, Venture Church will begin offering two Bible Reading Plans. Both of these plans will be delivered to your inbox in a weekly summary, replacing daily emails. Scripture, Daily Devos, Family Devos, videos, and relevant links for the week will be delivered in a single, easy-to-access email each Monday morning.

The first plan will be the New Testament Bible Reading Plan, a 5-day-a-week plan that leads readers from Matthew to Revelation in a year. Daily Devos and Family Devos will continue to help readers dig deeper into God’s Word. And this year, we are adding audio recordings of the Daily Devos for on-the-go listening!

The second Bible Reading Plan option will be the One-Year Bible Reading Plan. This 7-day-a-week plan will guide readers through the entire Bible in 365 days. If you’re looking to read all of the Word this year, this plan is for you! Though Daily Devos will not be connected to this plan, we are excited to provide introduction videos for each Book of the Bible as an additional resource.

Join us January 1st to start a new Bible Reading Plan in the New Year!