The apostle Paul wrote these words to encourage the believers in Corinth. What's remarkable is that Paul wasn't writing this from an encouraging spot. He was enduring tremendous hardship. By every visible measure, his circumstances were very discouraging.

Jesus often taught through parables—simple stories filled with profound spiritual truths. But understanding His teachings is not simply an intellectual exercise. Through God's mercy and the work of the Holy Spirit, He opens our hearts to understand His Word.

In the middle of an everyday interaction, Jesus reveals something profound about the heart of God and what it means to truly be present with Him.

There are few things more comforting than being truly known. And yet, if we’re honest, many of us walk through our days feeling more unknown than known.