Week 2
t h e
s t o
To my faithful servant, These are the words of the One who holds the stars in his hand and walks alongside you each day: I see you. I see the way you show up— at work, at home, on the sidelines of the soccer field, and in all the spaces where you're needed. I see how you pour out love for your family, invest in your work, and find ways to serve others. You’re doing good work. You haven’t given up, even when you’re exhausted or wondering if it even matters. And it does. Every bit of it. Yet I hold this against you: Sometimes, in the midst of doing all the things, you lose sight of being with me. The busyness, the noise, the endless to-do lists—they make it hard to hear my voice. You strive to keep everything running smoothly, but you forget that I’m the one who holds it all together. Come back to me. Not with a perfectly quiet morning or a long checklist of spiritual tasks. Just come as you are. Let’s reconnect like we used to. Remember this: I didn’t ask you to carry it all alone. The work you do as a mom, a wife, a professional, and a friend—it matters. But it’s not meant to drain you. Stay close to me, and I’ll renew your strength.
Before you pour into everyone else, let me pour into you. To those who overcome: The one who stays rooted in me, even when life feels chaotic, will find peace that can’t be shaken. The moments you think go unnoticed—the whispered prayers over your kids, the grace you extend when you’re running on fumes, the ways you live out your faith in quiet, everyday ways—I see it all. Keep going, but don’t go it alone. I’m with you always. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying. Life comes at us fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the rush of kids' practices, meetings at work, and endless to-dos. But it’s in the ordinary moments that Jesus invites us to pause and remember: We don’t have to carry it all alone. He offers us something different: A relationship grounded in rest, trust, and connection with him. He’s not asking us to do more—he’s inviting us to be with him. To sit, even if just for a moment, and breathe in the peace of his presence. As you consider this letter, ask yourself: What might shift if you started from a place of abiding instead of striving? And what small step could you take today to simply be with him?
In the book of Revelation, Jesus addressed seven churches, each with its own strengths and struggles. These letters were meant to challenge, encourage, and guide believers to stay faithful in a world pulling them in different directions. They served as a spiritual compass, calling people back to their first love, to truth, and to endurance. His words brought encouragement, correction, and hope to communities navigating persecution, false teachings, and spiritual complacency. These letters weren’t just for ancient churches— they still resonate today, offering reminders to stay rooted in what really matters. So, if Jesus were to write a letter to you, what might he say? Keeping with the format of Revelation 2, here's what I think he might say to me.
At this point during John's vision, Jesus specifically addresses seven churches in Asia Minor. In each letter, he wrote to discuss one or two specific things that each were struggling with or going through.
Ephesus had forsaken their first love for God. Smyrna was afraid of suffering.
Pergamum needed to repent from sexual immorality. Thyatira also needed to repent from sexual immorality. Sardis had become complacent in their faith. Philadelphia needed encouragement to hold firm even though they were losing strength. Laodicea had lukewarm faith. While the issues are specific to each church (or, more specifically, the people who made up each church) at that time, what these letters represent is something we can relate to today. How many of us have become complacent like the church of Sardis, or are afraid of suffering, like those in Smyrna? These topics give us a glimpse into what God is calling his followers to avoid even now. They all follow a similar format: 1. Address: Who's this letter to? 2. A description of Christ: What attribute of Christ is most relevant to this audience? 3. What's something the church does well?
4. What's something the church doesn't do well? 5. Call to repentance: Here's how to do better. 6. A promise from God, once they overcome their struggle.
But these letters aren't just about what the churches can do better. We ALL have things we're doing well. We ALL have things we could do better. And God is calling us ALL to turn to him. Churches, communities, and individuals alike. Have you ever thought about what Jesus might say to you if he were to write you a letter? Let's go there. Check out this example:
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Sign of the Times: A Study of Revelation
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Week 2
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