Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Have you ever had that moment when your phone rings and everything changes? The air leaves your lungs, the room feels smaller, and suddenly what seemed stable five minutes ago feels fragile. Job transition, family pressure, anxiety, or sickness. Seasons of shaking can come out of nowhere. The unfortunate reality of the world we live in is that no matter how much we want to pretend otherwise, we simply cannot control our circumstances. One phone call can completely blow up any illusion otherwise. It has been said that the only thing certain in life is that nothing is certain. We, as the people of God, know however that no matter the chaos of our circumstances, God is always certain.
Revelation 7 opens with angels holding back the winds of judgement that are about to blow. Before the next trumpet ever blows, God calls for a heavenly pause to seal those who belong to Him. It’s as if He is saying, “Before the storm hits, I want My people to know they are safe in Me.” What a powerful moment! It’s important we understand here, however, that the seal doesn’t mean exemption from hardship. It means hope through identity.
John sees a seal that was a mark of divine ownership and protection, a way of saying, 'These belong to Me.’ In Christ, that same promise is also written on our hearts through the Spirit. When Paul writes to the Ephesians, he uses the same language: “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Eph. 1:13-14). The Spirit’s seal is God’s pledge, His guarantee, that no matter what comes, we are His. And because we are His, there is an inheritance from Him that cannot be stopped.
Hope through identity means that even when I don’t know what tomorrow looks like, I know who I am and whose I am. My security isn’t in stability—it’s in belonging.
Being sealed doesn’t spare us from struggle; it secures us through it. God never promises we won’t face the wind. He promises the wind won’t erase who we are in Him. The seal of the Spirit is both comfort and calling: a comfort because we are protected under His authority, and a calling because our lives now bear His imprint in the world.
In a culture that is constantly shaking, politically, morally, emotionally, this truth steadies us. You don’t have to fear being lost in chaos. The Spirit Himself bears witness that you belong to God (Romans 8:16). The same power that sealed the believers in Ephesus and the servants in Revelation is marking hearts today.
When you face uncertainty, pause before you panic and remember you are His. The Spirit’s seal is stronger than any storm. While the world may tremble; your foundation won’t.
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.
PRAY FOR TPW 2025
Over 500 students, nearly 200 volunteers, and dozens of Venture Church staff will attend Turning Point Weekend this Friday through Sunday. TPW is Venture Students’ annual fall retreat designed for students in grades 7th through 12th to reach a powerful turning point in their faith and walk with Christ. Students from every Venture Church campus will come together to build relationships, play games, and, most importantly, passionately worship Jesus Christ.
As a church, before the weekend, we want to PRAY FIRST. Join us in praying every day this week for one minute at 1:00 PM for God to move in the lives of students and leaders!
How to pray for TPW 2025 this week:
- Pray for protection - physical and spiritual.
- Pray for the students and their experience this weekend, that it would be a turning point in their faith that ripples through their families, schools, and communities.
- Pray for our team and all the leaders who will be volunteering their time.
- Pray for Salvations!