FRESH

BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

Today is a gift.

Not because I have earned it. Not because I deserve it. But simply because God is good.

In Lamentations 3:22-23, we learn that "Because of the Lord's faithful love, we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!"

Every day, we are given new mercies — fresh grace that washes over yesterday's mistakes, doubts, and struggles. And the best part? It is not conditional. God does not wait for us to have it all together. His love meets us exactly where we are, offering a chance to begin again.

That truth is freeing. It means I do not have to be perfect or hold onto yesterday's weight. I just have to show up today.

Showing up does not have to mean doing something grand. Sometimes, it is just about being present, noticing the people around me, offering a kind word, taking the time to listen, and doing the work that is mine to do — whether it is caring for my family, checking in on a friend, or simply moving through the world with love.

We don't have to do everything. But we are called to do something.

So today, I choose to lean into the grace I have been given. I choose to trust that God's mercies are enough for whatever the day holds. And I choose to love — because that is the work that will always be ours to do.

Wherever today took you, know this: His love is steady. His grace is enough. And no matter what, tomorrow will bring new mercies again.

That is a promise worth resting in.

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