Scripture Reading:

Luke 2:34–35 (ESV) “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many… so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Devotional Thought:

Christmas has passed. The noise has faded, routines have returned, and life feels normal again. Yet the days after Christmas have a way of revealing what’s really in our hearts. It’s easy to celebrate Jesus when the season feels joyful. It’s harder to trust Him when the pressure returns.

Simeon reminds us that Jesus did not only come to save — He came to reveal. He reveals what we truly trust in, what can no longer hold us, and who He really is. Under pressure, our hearts are exposed. When life shakes us, Jesus shows us where our foundation is weak and where it is secure.

The good news is this: God does not reveal to shame us, but to restore us. What falls away was never meant to carry us. What remains is what He wants to grow. When we behold Jesus clearly, He reshapes our trust, our identity, and our future.

Reflection Questions:

1. What has the season after Christmas revealed about where I place my trust?
2. Are there mindsets, habits, or expectations that God may be asking me to release?
3. How do I see Jesus right now — as distant, or as Emmanuel, God with me?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for gently revealing what is in my heart. Help me trust You not only in celebration, but in everyday life. Show me what needs to fall and strengthen what remains. Open my eyes to see You clearly, and let Your presence transform me. Amen.

Action Step:

Take a quiet moment today to ask God, “What am I leaning on instead of You?” Surrender one specific worry or expectation to Him and choose to trust His Word over your circumstances.

Family Declaration:

As a family, we declare: Jesus is our foundation. We trust the Lord with all our hearts. What God reveals, He redeems. What God shakes, He strengthens. We behold Jesus, and we are being transformed.