Sellers Hickman – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Obey God

Sellers Hickman on September 18, 2025

⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6 (ESV)

OBEY GOD

It’s one thing to ask God for wisdom, but it’s another to act when He grants it.
In this passage, James connects asking with believing, because true asking assumes obedience. If you’re unwilling to obey, then your asking is just lip service. Obedience stretches our faith because it requires trust. It’s easy to agree with God in theory. It’s much harder to put His Word into practice—especially when it challenges our comfort zones or calls us to give up control.

Obedience costs us. Forgiving someone means releasing bitterness. Serving others means sacrificing time and energy. Speaking truth means risking rejection. Saying no to temptation means denying desire. But true obedience is where faith becomes real. It’s the bridge between hearing and living, between belief and practice. Without it, faith is just an idea that never leaves our heads.

Think back to Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14. Peter asked Jesus to call him. We don’t know his true intention—maybe he was just testing Jesus, trying to sound more spiritual than the other disciples. Regardless, Jesus responded to Peter’s request and told him to come out on the water. Peter then had a choice to make. He might have believed that Jesus could enable him to walk on water, but there was a moment where he had to act on that belief and climb out of the boat. That one step turned belief into obedience.

Sometimes we imagine obedience only in big, dramatic decisions. But often it’s the small, daily steps of obedience that stretch our faith the most. It stretches us to be honest at work when it will cost us. It stretches us to show kindness to a neighbor when it’s inconvenient. It stretches us to be faithful in prayer when life feels busy. See, obedience is a posture of the heart that shows up in the details of life.

How can you grow in obedience today?

Start with what you know — God has made His Word clear. It won’t necessarily answer every decision you face, but there is enough in Scripture to guide you to love God, love people, and live sent.
Obey quickly — You know as well as I do: the longer you wait to obey, the harder it gets. We rationalize disobedience the more we put it off.
Obey fully — I’ve heard it said before: partial obedience is disobedience. God’s call on our lives is not to pick and choose the parts we like or find easy. He calls us to total surrender.
Obey joyfully — If I haven’t lost you yet, this is the most important part. These four steps get harder as they go, but this last one is often the most difficult. It requires a shift in perspective to see that obedience isn’t a burden but an opportunity to honor God.

Let me remind you: obedience feels costly in the moment, but it always leads to blessing in the long run. This blessing may not be material or immediate, but obedience brings peace, intimacy with God, and freedom from guilt.

So where has God been clearly calling you—and where have you been putting Him off? How can you take a step toward obedience today? Don’t just ask for wisdom. Act on it. That’s where faith becomes sight.

Sellers Hickman serves as College & Teaching Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their two daughters. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.

Digging Deeper: Ask God

Sellers Hickman on September 17, 2025

⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5 (ESV)

ASK GOD

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Is this wise?”
It’s a very valid question we often ask—when making big purchases, planning trips, navigating friendships, or deciding what food to eat. Some choices are small and seemingly insignificant, while others carry long-term impact. Either way, we often pause and wonder, “Is this the best thing to do?”

James 1:5 gives us a simple yet profound answer: Why don’t you just ask God?

One of the simplest commands in Scripture is also one of the most life-changing: ask God. James says if we lack wisdom, we should simply ask—because God gives generously. Not reluctantly. Not sparingly. Generously.

Think about that for a moment. The Creator of the universe—the same God who spoke galaxies into existence—invites you to bring Him your questions, your confusion, your decisions, and your needs. He promises not to scold you for asking. He won’t shame you for your uncertainty. Instead, He will give generously. What a picture of grace!

Now here’s the tension: if the invitation to ask God for wisdom is so clear, and if He promises to give generously, why do we often struggle to ask? Maybe it’s pride—we want to prove we can handle things on our own. Maybe it’s fear—what if God’s wisdom leads us somewhere uncomfortable? Maybe it’s doubt—we’re not sure if God really cares about the details of our lives.

In our heads, there are a million reasons not to ask, but James pushes us past all of them. He reminds us that God’s character isn’t stingy or reluctant. He delights to give His children wisdom when they ask.

It’s worth noting that James doesn’t say God will give us information. At the click of a button, you can learn how to fix a sink, change a tire, cook a gourmet meal, or even plan your retirement. There are blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, and endless “expert” opinions on every topic under the sun. Information is easy to come by.

But wisdom is something far deeper. Information can tell you what to do, but wisdom helps you discern when and how to do it. Wisdom applies God’s truth to real-life situations. It takes knowledge and transforms it into righteous action. It helps you hold your tongue instead of stirring up division. It teaches you to forgive even when bitterness feels easier. It guides you to be patient when everything in life is pushing you faster.

Here’s the beauty of wisdom: it isn’t reserved for the super-spiritual. It’s not locked away behind a seminary degree or a certain number of years following the Lord. James says it is available to anyone who asks. That means you—right now—in whatever situation you’re facing.

But here’s the catch: wisdom doesn’t always come with the answer we want. Sometimes God calls us to things we would rather not do. Wisdom doesn’t always align with our instincts. But it always leads us closer to His heart.

So where do you need wisdom right now? Identify one specific area—family, work, finances, relationships—and bring it before God. Stop trying to figure it all out on your own. Stop carrying the weight of every decision as if it’s all on your shoulders. The God who knows the end from the beginning is inviting you to ask Him.

And when you do, trust His answer. It may not be what you expect, but it will be exactly what you need.

Digging Deeper: Wait on God

Sellers Hickman on September 16, 2025

⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:4 (ESV)

WAIT ON GOD

Waiting does not come easy nowadays. Amazon Prime one-day shipping doesn’t feel fast enough sometimes. The drive-through takes too long. I-75 South was too slow, so you got a Peach Pass—and now even that isn’t as fast as you’d like. We live in a culture of instant gratification, and when things don’t happen in our timing, it’s easy to get frustrated. Waiting stretches us in unusual ways because it is so countercultural simply to wait.

James tells us in verse 4 that steadfastness must have its full effect. Can I be honest? That doesn’t sound quick. But James is saying that in order for us to grow, it will take time. Waiting is not wasted time. In fact, it may be the very place where God wants to do His best work in you.

None of us like to wait. But God sees something bigger. Think back to Genesis and the story of Abram. God promised him descendants who would outnumber the stars. There was only one problem: he had no children, and he was 75 years old. This was a promise God had made to him, but it did not begin to materialize for another 25 years! (God must not have believed in Amazon Prime.) Abram even became impatient with God and tried to take matters into his own hands through his servant Hagar.

This is the reality of waiting—it reveals who we trust and how dependent we are on God. If every prayer were answered instantly, would we truly depend on the Lord? If God supernaturally provided everything we ever desired, would we even believe that we needed Him?

In a strange way, waiting becomes a gift. It forces us to slow down, unclench our grip on control, and live in a posture of faith. Waiting strips away the illusion of self-sufficiency and reminds us that we are not God. Honestly, I wonder if waiting is one of the Lord’s ways of training our hearts to remember that we are fully dependent on Him.

So how can we wait well?

Stay rooted in Scripture — When God feels silent, His Word still speaks. Fill your mind with His promises while you wait.
Pray honestly — Waiting isn’t about pretending you’re okay. Pour out your frustration and weariness to God. He can handle it!
Be patient with others — Seasons of waiting can make us irritable because we feel unsteady. Let the Spirit use this time to grow your gentleness and grace toward those around you.
Look back at His faithfulness — Waiting means you don’t yet know the end of the story. Take heart in how God has written past chapters of your life. Remind yourself of how He has proven Himself faithful before.

Let’s be honest: waiting can hurt. It can bring tears, frustration, and moments of deep despair. Some of you may have been waiting for years—for healing, restoration, or breakthrough. James isn’t minimizing that pain. Instead, he challenges us to lift our eyes to the bigger picture. Waiting is never wasted. God is completing something in you that can only be formed through time.

Today, make the daily choice to trust God in your waiting. Don’t rush the process. Don’t despise the delay. God may be using this very season to shape your heart, strengthen your faith, and prepare you for something greater than you could ever imagine!

Digging Deeper: Remember God

Sellers Hickman on September 15, 2025

²Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:2-3 (ESV)

REMEMBER GOD

Those two words don’t seem like they belong in the same sentence (especially after the difficult few weeks we’ve been experiencing). When life is painful and relationships are strained, when finances are tight, joy is usually the last emotion we want to feel. Yet James opens his letter by telling believers to “count it all joy” when they face trials.

That’s not how most of us respond. When we’re stretched thin by life, our first instinct is usually frustration, not joy. We ask questions like, “Why is this happening?” or “Where is God in this?”

But James reminds us of something crucial: God is at work in our trials. When our faith is tested, perseverance grows. Trials are not wasted; they are a training ground for faith.

James doesn’t suggest that we might face trials—he knows we will face them. He is preparing us for what’s inevitable. Faith is ultimately grown under pressure. Just as a muscle grows when pushed to its limits, faith strengthens when it’s stretched beyond comfort. Without the stretching of our faith, we would remain shallow and fragile—pushed around by the wind and easily deceived. With trials, our faith becomes resilient, deep, and real.

Do we wish trials upon ourselves? Absolutely not! But when we face trials, our response reveals a lot about the God we believe in. I encourage you to remember these three things when a trial comes your way: God’s character, purpose, and presence.

God’s Character — God is faithful. His character never changes. Just because we are walking through hardship does not mean that God is any less good.
God’s Purpose — God uses difficulties to grow us, not destroy us. It may feel like trials are out of line with God’s purpose, but what if they are the very thing He is using to shape you into who He created you to be?
God’s Presence — You are not alone in this. God is near to you, even in the trial.

James isn’t calling us to fake happiness in hard times. He’s not saying, “Fake it until you make it.” Instead, he points us to a deeper joy—a joy that can coexist with grief, hardship, and struggle. Joy isn’t denial; it’s remembering God’s bigger picture. Joy is the assurance that God is producing something eternal through our suffering.

Paul echoes this in Romans 5:3–4: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

Joy isn’t found in the trial itself, but in the God who works through the trial and holds us in it.

Maybe today you need the reminder of what comes on the other side of trials: a mature faith—steady and unshakable.

Here’s my challenge for the next time you face a trial: Write this on a piece of paper and display it in your car—

“Count it all joy.
God is at work in this.”

Digging Deeper: I Am the Resurrection

Sellers Hickman on June 27, 2025

20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

John 11:20-26 (ESV)

I AM THE RESURRECTION

Martha believed that Lazarus would rise again on the last day.
Her answer was theologically correct—Lazarus will rise when the Messiah returns.
But that’s not what Jesus was talking about in that moment.

He surprises her with something even more personal and profound:
Jesus doesn’t just bring resurrection—
He is the resurrection.

Not simply that a resurrection will one day happen, or that He has the power to perform one,
but that Jesus Himself is the resurrection and the life.

This changes everything.

Jesus isn’t pointing to an event.
He’s pointing to Himself.

Eternal life isn’t found in a future timeline—it’s found in a present relationship.
And this resurrection life isn’t just available for Lazarus.
Jesus reassures Martha that anyone who believes in Him will never die.

Now, we know that physical death is still a reality.
All around us, we see the evidence—war, sickness, aging.
Death feels inevitable.

But Jesus wasn’t speaking about the physical.
He was speaking about what matters most: the spiritual.

It reminds me of a story my student pastor once told.

At the time, he had a few young sons—probably around 3 to 5 years old.
One day, he offered them a choice:
“Do you want one piece of cake today, or a whole cake next week?”

Without hesitation, they took the slice.
Immediate pleasure won over a better reward later.

Jesus gives us a similar offer.
On this earth, will you settle for a small taste of temporary satisfaction,
or will you trust Him and receive the eternal feast of joy in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Will you choose the fleeting pleasures of now…
or the everlasting promises of forever?

This pattern runs all throughout Scripture.

Think about the Israelites in the wilderness.
God provided them manna from Heaven—daily bread, fresh each morning.
But instead of gratitude, they grumbled.

They longed for Egypt’s food: fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Numbers 11:5).
They begged to go back to slavery just to eat what they missed.
But ahead of them was something so much better:
a Promised Land flowing with milk and honey.

They could settle for cucumbers and onions…
or keep walking toward the feast God had prepared.

We face the same decision.

Jesus stands before us, asking the question from John 11:26:
“Do you believe this?”

Not:

“Do you believe in Heaven?”
“Do you believe Jesus was a good teacher?”

But:
Do you believe that He is the resurrection and the life?
That even when everything around you feels like death, brokenness, heartbreak, and loss—
He can still bring life?

Do you believe that trusting Him is better than anything you could gain on your own?

Digging Deeper: He’s Alive!

Sellers Hickman on June 26, 2025

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

John 11:38-44 (ESV)

HE’S ALIVE!

There is power in words.

Some speeches have changed the course of history. Others are only a few words long, yet they change the course of a life:
“I do.”
“You’re fired.”
“It’s a boy.”

And in three short words, Jesus changed everything for a grieving crowd in Bethany:
“Lazarus, come out.”

When Jesus spoke those words, death obeyed.
A man who had been dead for four days walked out of his tomb, still wrapped in grave clothes.
It was a miracle—a moment of divine power breaking through into ordinary life.

But as stunning as it was, this wasn’t the main event.
This miracle wasn’t the finale.
It was a sign—a preview—pointing to something even greater.

Lazarus came back to life that day, but he would eventually die again.
His resurrection was temporary.
But Jesus’ resurrection? It was final. Eternal. Complete victory over death.

When Jesus rose from the grave, He didn’t come out wearing grave clothes.
He folded them and left them behind (John 20:7).
He didn’t just step out of death—He defeated it.

That’s why Jesus could cry out, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The old way of life, the curse of sin, and death itself—finished.
From that moment on, nothing would ever be the same.

The voice that raised Lazarus—the same voice that spoke creation into existence—will one day call every believer out of the grave.
Lazarus is living proof:
Death doesn’t get the final word.

But this story isn’t just about Lazarus.

It’s about us.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1 that we were all “dead in our trespasses and sins.”
Not just “messed up” or “in need of improvement”—dead.

And yet, Jesus didn’t leave us in the tomb.
He called us out by name.

Even today, Jesus speaks life into places of spiritual death.
He still says, “Come out.”

And when we respond, we are raised to spiritual life.
Yes, we may still carry traces of the grave—habits, doubts, fears—but Jesus gently helps us remove those grave clothes.
He teaches us how to walk in freedom.

The resurrection of Lazarus is a stunning miracle.
But it’s also a promise:
Jesus is not finished with dead things.
He brings life—even still.

Digging Deeper: What Would Jesus Pray?

Sellers Hickman on June 25, 2025

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

John 11:38-42 (ESV)

WHAT WOULD JESUS PRAY?

Sometimes we move too quickly.
We rush to solve a problem, give an answer, or offer a solution.
But in John 11, just before one of the seven miracles John records, Jesus does something unexpected:
He pauses. He prays.

Lazarus had been dead for four days. The tomb was sealed. Everyone was grieving.
Jesus had just wept. And now, He stands at the grave of His friend—fully prepared to bring him back to life.

But before He calls Lazarus out of the tomb, He lifts His eyes.

Jesus is about to demonstrate His divine power, but first, He acknowledges His divine relationship.
This isn’t a prayer where Jesus is seeking power He lacks—He already has it.
He prays because He lives in constant, unbroken communion with the Father.

Jesus also makes it clear that His prayer isn’t only for God—it’s also for the people around Him.
He wants them to see His ongoing, moment-by-moment dependence on the Father.
His public prayer becomes a visible invitation for others to believe.

And through that prayer, Jesus shows them (and us) that this isn’t some spiritual performance or magic trick.
Four days is a long time for a body in a sealed tomb.
Jesus doesn’t want people to simply witness a miracle—
He wants them to believe in the power of God.

That day, Jesus did the impossible—again.

But before the miracle came the prayer.

In the face of overwhelming need, do you pause to pray?
Do you lift your eyes before you lift your voice?
Or do you rush ahead, hoping God will meet you somewhere along the way?

We often act first and pray later.
But Jesus models something different: a pace of trust, not panic.
It might feel easier to be patient when a body has already been in the grave (after all, where’s it going?)…
But what about when your kids frustrate you, your boss is unkind, or a deadline looms?

How can you show the same dependence on God in those moments?

If you’re struggling to bring the impossible to God today, try coming to Him the way Jesus did:

Lift your eyes – Acknowledge who truly holds the power.
Thank Him – Even before you see any results.
Pray publicly when needed – Not to perform, but to point others to the Father.
Believe that He hears you – Even when you don’t yet see the grave open.

Sometimes we’re waiting on God to move.
But sometimes… He’s waiting for us to lift our eyes.

Take a moment today—right now—and walk through those prayer prompts.
Pause. Lift your eyes. He is listening.

Digging Deeper: The Shortest Verse in the Bible

Sellers Hickman on June 24, 2025

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

John 11:33-35 (ESV)

THE SHORTEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE

During middle and high school, I attended a summer camp where the entire week revolved around teams earning points. There were several ways your team could climb the leaderboard—winning sports tournaments, recreational games, having the loudest cheers, and memorizing and reciting Scripture. (Scripture memory was worth the most points.)

Knowing how much Scripture memory helped our team, I was the guy who told everyone,
“Just memorize John 11:35. It’s only two words.”

That’s right.
“Jesus wept.”
The shortest verse in the Bible.

Eventually, the camp caught on. They realized how easy that verse was to memorize, so they updated the rules: you couldn’t just recite it—you had to explain why Jesus wept.

That question is powerful:
Why did Jesus cry?

Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. He had already said that this illness would not have the final word.
Even though He knew the outcome, Jesus still stopped to cry.
Why?

Because Jesus was moved by the sorrow of the people He loved.
Mary, Martha, the surrounding community—grief was everywhere. And it touched Him deeply.
He didn’t just witness their pain—He shared in it.

This tells us something incredible about our Savior:
Jesus doesn’t just care about fixing our problems—He is present in our pain.
He doesn’t always rush to solve what’s broken. Sometimes, He simply pauses… and sits in the hurt with us.

When you reflect even deeper on this moment, it becomes even more stunning.
The God of the universe—the One who created galaxies, who knows how far the east is from the west, who counts every hair on your head—cried.

That is not what we expect from someone who is all-powerful and all-knowing.
But that is the heart of Christ. He doesn’t stand at a distance.
He steps into our mess.
He is not emotionally detached.
He is deeply moved by what we go through.

If Jesus cried, we can too.

Our culture often rushes us to move on from moments of grief. But Jesus gives us permission to stay in them for a while.
His tears validate our own.
More than that, they remind us that we are never alone in our sorrow.

When you face loss, heartbreak, or hardship, remember this:
Jesus weeps with those who weep.
He stays near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

And the best part?
This moment isn’t the end of the story.

Jesus’ tears were real—but they weren’t final.
He raised Lazarus.
And one day, He’ll do the same for us.

Because of His resurrection, we look forward to the day when every tear will be wiped away for good. That is the promise of Revelation 21:4—
a promise that will become reality for each of us.

Until that day…
know that you are seen.
You are loved.
And in your sorrow,
you are not alone.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.”
—Revelation 21:4

Digging Deeper: Hearing Before Seeing

Sellers Hickman on June 23, 2025

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:20-21; 28-32 (ESV)

PROCESSING GRIEF

Grief does strange things to people. It stirs up questions, old hurts, doubts, and anxiety. But perhaps the strangest thing about grief is that it touches everyone differently. In John 11, we see grief through the eyes of two sisters—Mary and Martha—and how Jesus met them in their pain.

When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany—four days after Lazarus’ death—each sister responds in her own unique way. Interestingly, their words to Jesus are nearly identical, but their posture and approach are not. In this, we discover a deeply encouraging truth: Jesus meets them both in their own way.

Martha hears that Jesus is near, and she cannot wait. She runs to Him. I can’t say for sure what her motives were. Is this the same Martha we met in Luke 10:38–42—the one frustrated that her sister wasn’t helping prepare the home for Jesus, focused more on service than presence? Or is she now running to Jesus full of faith, grounded in what she knows to be true of Him?

Whatever her motivation, she comes to Jesus with solid theological understanding. She says, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24) She believes in the future hope, but not necessarily in the possibility of a present miracle. Even with right belief, she still carries the weight of grief. Yet, she brings her pain and thoughts to Jesus and holds nothing back.

Mary, on the other hand, doesn’t run that day. She waits. Maybe she sat in the same spot she had occupied the last time she was with Jesus—at His feet, listening. Is her waiting a quiet act of faith, trusting the One who once met her in that very place? Or is her grief so heavy that she cannot move until Jesus calls for her?

When she finally comes, she falls at His feet and weeps. She doesn’t speak with theological insight; she simply brings her vulnerability and tears. And Jesus doesn’t respond with a sermon—He responds with His own tears.

The beauty of this story isn’t in determining which sister was “right” or “wrong.” Both loved Jesus deeply. Both believed in His power. Both grieved honestly. And both were deeply loved by Jesus.

But Jesus responds to each of them differently. To Martha, He gives truth to cling to: “I am the resurrection and the life.” To Mary, He offers His presence and emotion. He meets each according to her need.

When we grieve, some of us run to God with our questions. Others sit in silence, waiting for His presence. Jesus understands both. And He draws near to both.

When life hurts and God feels late, are you more like Martha or Mary?
Do you need to talk it out—or sit quietly in the pain?

Neither is right or wrong. What matters most is that you bring your grief to Jesus. He is ready to meet you—in whatever way you come.

He is for you. He sees you. He weeps with you.

Digging Deeper: Hearing Before Seeing

Sellers Hickman on March 14, 2025

⁴⁶And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. ⁴⁷And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” ⁵⁰And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” ⁵²And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:46-52 (ESV)

HEARING BEFORE SEEING

When I think of the quote, “You have to see it to believe it,” I immediately think of the movie Now You See Me. The premise of the movie is about illusionists who perform mind-blowing magic tricks—while secretly stealing money from their audience members. The first time I watched this movie was with my wife’s family, and they had all seen it before. They had a great time watching me react to each and every illusion on screen.

In the second movie, there is a crazy scene where the main characters pass a card around while being searched (using the real magic of CGI). It was one of those moments where I had to rewind just to process how they pulled it off.

This movie was a wild story that you had to see to believe, but ultimately, it was just a fictional story meant to entertain. However, the story of Bartimaeus in Scripture is also one that might seem hard to believe at first, yet I assure you—it is completely true.

It’s easy to put our faith in things we can see and trust. But put yourself in Bartimaeus’ shoes for a moment. He had never seen Jesus perform a miracle. He had never watched as Jesus taught the crowds. He probably didn’t participate in any of the other stories written in Scripture because of how difficult it would have been for him to get there. Yet, he had full faith in Jesus as the Son of David, the promised Messiah.

I wonder how Bartimaeus even heard about Jesus. Maybe it was as others walked past him on the side of the road, sharing stories of healings and miracles. Maybe it was from people he used to spend time with before his blindness isolated him from society. Imagine how much faith it must have taken to fully believe in something he had only heard about but never seen for himself. His faith was not based on sight but on trust in what he had heard about Jesus’ power and goodness.

This is the same place where many of your friends might find themselves today. Maybe they are familiar with who Jesus is or have heard the stories of the Bible, but those truths haven’t yet taken root in their hearts. We must fully depend on the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so we can truly understand and receive the Word of God. This is why two people can read the same verse—like John 3:16—and have completely different reactions. One person may be unmoved, while another may be so deeply convicted that they put their trust in Christ on the spot. It’s not just about hearing the Word but having the spiritual eyes to see and believe it.

Now let me ask you: What are you believing in God to do before you ever see the fruit of it? What do you trust Him to do because of His faithfulness to His promises so far? So often, we wait for visible proof before trusting in God’s plan, but faith calls us to trust before we see.

Can I assure you today that if Jesus accomplished the work of bringing us new life spiritually through the cross, then truly anything is possible? He is still faithful, still working, and still calling us to trust Him… even when we haven’t yet seen the full picture.