TeaTime Devotional June 13th, 2025

Written By:        Shequita Sledge

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13, 15 (NIV)

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."

Testify

In October, I was in a car accident that left me physically shaken and emotionally rattled. As part of my recovery, I began physical therapy to address the tension and tightness in my body. The pain wasn't just from the impact it was from the way my body had instinctively tensed up, bracing for the hit. Each session, the therapists reminded me of one thing: “Engage your core.” They instructed me to keep my core strong and active as I stretched, and to breathe intentionally, breathing out while pulling my core inward. It wasn’t just about flexibility; it was about stability. Without a strong core, the stretch would either be ineffective or lead to further injury.

Edify

That physical reality mirrors our spiritual walk. Just like my muscles were tight from trauma, our hearts and faith can become constricted by trials, fear, and uncertainty. 1 Corinthians 16:13 gives us clear instruction for those stretching seasons in life: Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. These aren’t passive suggestions they are active commands, just like engaging your core in therapy. When life pulls you in difficult directions, when you feel stretched beyond your limits, God reminds us to keep our spiritual core engaged in our faith.

Standing firm in faith doesn't mean ignoring the pain or pretending the stretch doesn’t hurt. It means acknowledging the difficulty while staying anchored in God’s truth. Courage and strength aren’t things we muster up on our own; they come from the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. As Romans 10:17 reminds us, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." When we feed on the Word, we strengthen our spiritual core. The Word helps us stand, breathe, and endure during spiritual therapy.

Apply

What is your posture this season? Are you standing in faith, or slouched in doubt?

Take one area where your faith feels most challenged right now. Search scripture that speaks to that situation. Meditate on it. Speak it out loud. Post it on your mirror. Let it stretch your understanding and strengthen your spiritual core.  Because faith, like muscle, only grows under pressure. And God is your ultimate therapist guiding you through the stretch, strengthening your foundation, and shaping you to stand firm in every season.