Mid-week Devotional:

Week of June 7, 2026

Mid-week Devotional - week of June 7, 2026
Rev. Joanne Elston

Scripture for this week’s Mid-week Devotional comes from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 33:6-8 where God speaks to Jeremiah who was in prison.

Hear the Word of God,

“6 I am going to bring it recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.”

This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.

Last week I shared with you that carpenters and painters have been working on the exterior of our home. On Tuesday of this week, they finished most everything that needed to be done except installing a gutter and completing electrical work in the metal building that we use for storage. On Wednesday we began cleaning up. One of the items on our list was to take down the 2 bird nests that I wrote about in the mid-week devotional for the week of April 26. All of the chicks from both nests survived the presence of the painters and it was a joy to see them all fly.

I took the barn swallow nest down first from where it was attached to the wall of the front porch. As I worked 4 barn swallows watched me from their perch on the pasture fence. It didn’t take them long to fly near me on the porch to see what I was doing.  

The phoebe’s nest was located on a light fixture on the back porch. As I worked taking down the phoebe nest several phoebes began flying around me. They had been watching me from their perch on the branches on the big oak tree by the house.

After I finished cleaning up both areas it was as if the birds sensed that it was time to begin anew. The phoebes began working on a new nest on the lower part of the light fixture as I swept up the pieces of their old nest beneath them. The birds did not dive bomb or squawk at me. They just continued to move forward on creating a new nest for their next brood of phoebes. The phoebe nest is now complete, and the female spends time in the new nest. It is a time of new beginnings.

In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 33:6-8, God tells Jeremiah that there will come a time of renewal and new beginnings. God shares with him words of hope and life. The prophet Jeremiah did not give up, nor did he turn away from God. He remained faithful.

  • God’s words to Jeremiah are timeless. God’s words remain true.

Watching the birds and their ability to move forward in their lives after changes occurred without giving up reminded me how I am to respond to changes that occur in my life.

  • I am reminded that God never leaves me or forsakes me.

  • I am reminded that God is always present.

  • Today and in the days ahead may you also lean upon God’s presence today and all the days ahead.

Peace be with you.

AMEN.