Scripture Reading: Judges 11:1-3 (NIV)
“Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute… So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him.”

Reflections: Life often puts us at a crossroad: will we give up when faced with hardship, or will we move forward in faith, trusting in God’s plan? Jephthah was born into rejection—cast out by his family due to his birth circumstances, denied an inheritance, and pushed away. Yet, rather than letting this define him, Jephthah made the decision to move forward, rebuilding his life in Tob. Like Jephthah, we too face moments of rejection and hardship, times when we feel outcast and discouraged. In these moments, we have a choice: to let bitterness take root or to trust that God has a greater plan for us. When we move forward in faith, God can transform even our most difficult circumstances into opportunities for growth and purpose.

Prayer: Father, when life feels overwhelming, strengthen me to move forward.

Confession: I choose to trust God’s plan for my life, moving forward with faith.