Slow for a Reason
In a BBC video series on The Life of Mammals, host David Attenborough climbs a tree to take a humorous look at a three-toed sloth. Getting face-to-face with the world’s slowest moving mammal, he greets it with a “boo!” Failing to get a reaction, he explains that going slow is what you do if you are a three-toed sloth living primarily on leaves that are not easily digested and not very nutritious.
In a rehearsal of Israel’s history, Nehemiah reminds us of another example and explanation for going slow (9:9–21), but this one isn’t comical. According to Nehemiah, our God is…
Encouragement for Parents
This special edition of Our Daily Bread is designed for parents with children of any age. The articles, stories, meditations and Scripture readings will encourage you in the ups and downs, and help you to model your parenting style on our heavenly Father!
You can read online, or download the pdf.
Encouragement for Every Day
This special edition of Our Daily Bread contains encouraging and uplifting daily readings to help you rediscover the joy of spending time with God. Refresh yourself in the truth of the Bible and be reminded just who God is and what He has done for you in Jesus.
You can read online, or download the pdf.
Why doesn't God just sort out all the bad stuff?
Friends, family and even people at church have all asked something similar to this. If God is real, why doesn’t He do more? Why is there all this pain in our lives? When is He going to help me out? Exploring this subject sensitively, yet honestly, this leaflet will help those you know to think about what God has already…
What can I do with my worry?
We all worry! Whether it's about the people we care for, our money problems or the future . . . we worry. Is there an answer for such a big problem? You might be surprised to hear what the Bible has to say about worry. Learn about what it means to trust God with everything, including our worry, and discover…
Why in the world is there suffering?
This is a big question for all of us. In this world of pain, sadness and loss, we want to know why. What is God doing about it all? Without trying to give 'textbook' answers to our painfully raw questions, this booklet will show you the suffering God Himself has gone through for us to make sure we have an…
Is it ever OK to not be OK?
All of us have weaknesses and issues. Whether we choose to admit this is another matter. Is it ever OK to not be OK? is a reminder that God uses our weaknesses as opportunities to show His power, strength, love and care.
You can read and listen online, download the pdf, or download the audio.
Why doesn't God answer me?
If you’ve ever asked God for anything and not had a response, you may well think that God doesn’t care that much about you. It might surprise you that there are people in the Bible, such as a man called Asaph, who also wrestled with this same issue. By studying Psalm 77, one of Asaph’s heartfelt prayers, you’ll discover the…
What am I hoping for?
The Bible says the answer to the uncertainty of life is hope. This isn’t flimsy ‘wishful’ thinking. The hope the Bible tells us to have is one of confident expectation. Find out just what this hope is and why it makes a difference to absolutely everything!
You can read and listen online, download the pdf, or download the audio.
What are you worried about?
Be encouraged that worry needn’t drive us away from God in despair, but drive us to Him in hope! We do not have to wrestle with our fears or confront our nightmares alone. This short study will help you to turn your worry into prayer and even praise.
You can read and listen online, download the pdf, or download the…
Hope in Hard Times
These reflections from Our Daily Bread will bring comfort, hope and encouragement to those facing illness. Each article has been selected to address the worries and pain associated with physical illness and injuries, serving as a reminder that the Great Doctor is with us and knows our every need.
You can read online, or download the pdf.
Hope in Hard Times
The threat of the Corona Virus has meant many of us are now working from home or self-isolating. It’s unsettling, stressful and lonely. And we simply don’t know how long this season of challenge and change is going to last.
In these unsettling and uncertain times we can quickly become overwhelmed and anxious. That’s why the Our Daily Bread writers want…
Delight in the Book
Tsundoku. It’s the word I’ve always needed! A Japanese term, it refers to the stack of books on a bedside table waiting to be read. Books offer the potential for learning or a delightful escape to a different time or place, and I long for the delights and insights found within their pages. So, the stack remains.
The idea that we can find enjoyment and help in a book is even more true for the book of books—the Bible. I see the encouragement to immerse oneself in Scripture in God’s instructions to Joshua, the newly appointed leader of Israel, commissioned to…
Death Row Joy
In 1985 Anthony Ray Hinton was charged with the murders of two restaurant managers. It was a set up—he’d been miles away when the crimes happened—but he was found guilty and sentenced to death. At the trial, Ray forgave those who lied about him, adding that he still had joy despite this injustice. “After my death, I’m going to heaven,” he said. “Where are you going?”
Life on death row was hard for Ray. Prison lights flickered whenever the electric chair was used for others, a grim reminder of what lay ahead. Ray passed a lie detector test but the…
