With Us
Read: Matthew 28:16-20 I am with you always. (v. 20) Christmas has come and gone, and the new year is here. If you live in Michigan like I do, this
Nancy Boote January 1, 2026
Have you ever felt abandoned, unseen, or unsure if anyone truly understands what you’re going through? In life’s hardest moments, it can feel like we are left to carry the weight alone. But the good news of the gospel is that we are never alone. Jesus is with us—always.
This devotional reading plan explores the many ways Jesus’s presence meets us in the real struggles of life. We will see him sit with the grieving, calm the fearful, forgive the guilty, and bring healing to the sick. We will also notice Jesus’s own humanity—his tears, his anger, his moments of agony—and discover that he knows what it is to walk through suffering. Each day reminds us that no matter what we face, Jesus comes alongside us. He is Immanuel, God with us.
The promise Jesus gave to his disciples still stands for us today: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). His presence doesn’t erase hardship, but it transforms it. It assures us of his love, strengthens our hope, and brings peace that passes understanding.
If you are carrying a burden today, take heart: you don’t have to walk alone. Through this series, may you find renewed comfort and confidence in the truth that Jesus is with you—always.
This series was written by Nancy Boote, an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America. Nancy lives in Holland, Michigan, with her husband. She serves in a variety of leadership positions within the denomination. Besides being a wife, mother, and grandmother, Nancy enjoys taking prayer walks, hiking in nature, mentoring, and has a heart for justice matters.
Read: Matthew 28:16-20 I am with you always. (v. 20) Christmas has come and gone, and the new year is here. If you live in Michigan like I do, this
Read: Luke 4:16-30 No prophet is acceptable in his hometown. (v. 24) Many people have experienced rejection. What about you? Perhaps you were overlooked for a job promotion. Maybe you
Read: John 4:16-26 I who speak to you am he. (v. 26) We often avoid people when we feel shame and loneliness. We don’t want others to learn the truth
Read: Matthew 6:25-34 Do not worry about your life. (v. 25 NIV) Let’s face it, we worry. Most of us worry about big things and little things. We worry about
Read: Matthew 8:14-17 . . . and healed all who were sick. (v. 16) What makes you feel better when you are sick? Is it comfort food like homemade chicken
Read: John 1:1-5 The light shines in the darkness. (v. 5) Today believers in Jesus around the world celebrate Epiphany. On this day, we remember the story of the Magi
Read: Mark 6:45-51 He got into the boat with them. (v. 51) What makes you feel afraid? I am afraid of bees since I am allergic to them. I am
Read: John 8:1-11 Neither do I condemn you. (v. 11) “Our sins they are many; His mercy is more,” is repeated throughout the hymn “His Mercy is More,” written by
Read: Matthew 11:1-6 Are you the one who is to come? (v. 3) Have you faced despair? Have you spent time in that dark place where hope is fleeting or
Nancy Boote, an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America, lives in Holland, Michigan, with her husband. She serves in a variety of leadership positions within the denomination. Besides being a wife, mother, and grandmother, Nancy enjoys taking prayer walks, hiking in nature, mentoring, and has a heart for justice matters.