Devotional Thoughts for the Week of February 1, 2026
Guest Author: Bobbie Carrigan
When You Feel Cold Inside
It’s cold right now. Real Northern Michigan cold. The kind that seeps in through places you didn’t even know were there. You can bundle up all you want, but if you stay out in it long enough, it still gets to you.
And sometimes, that’s what life feels like too.
We don’t always notice when we start getting cold on the inside. It happens slowly. We feel tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix. Disconnected. A little numb. We still show up and do what we’re supposed to do, but something feels off, like the warmth is gone.
Up here, we know better than to ignore the cold. You don’t tough it out forever. You go inside. You sit by the fire. You let yourself warm up. Spiritually, though, we don’t always do that. We push through and hope it passes.
But Scripture reminds us that God meets us in those moments. Isaiah says He won’t snuff out a smoldering wick. Even when all we have left is a small spark, God doesn’t demand more, He protects what’s still burning. The Psalms tell us that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Not after we pull ourselves together, but right there, in it. And Psalm 147 says He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. That kind of healing takes time. That kind of care stays.
Cold stiffens things. It makes movement harder. When we stay cold inside, our hearts can stiffen too. We get guarded. Short-tempered. Withdrawn. Not because we’re failing, but because we’re cold.
God’s presence is like stepping inside after being out in the wind too long. Malachi calls Him the sun of righteousness, rising with healing in His wings. His warmth restores circulation to what’s gone numb. Feeling comes back. Breath deepens.
And Jesus Himself said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Not more pressure. Not more expectations. Rest.
So if you feel cold inside today, you’re not broken. You may just be tired. And tired souls don’t need to be pushed harder; they need God’s warmth. This means you need to open yourself up to receive it.
The invitation today is simple: move closer to the heat. Stay a little longer in God’s presence. Pray honestly. Sit with His Word. Let Him warm the places you’ve learned to keep closed.
You don’t have to create warmth yourself. You just have to stop standing out in the cold.
Because even in a Northern Michigan winter, God is still in the business of thawing hearts and bringing His people back to life. May this week be a warmer week for us both physically and spiritually.
Guest Author: Bobbie Carrigan
When You Feel Cold Inside
It’s cold right now. Real Northern Michigan cold. The kind that seeps in through places you didn’t even know were there. You can bundle up all you want, but if you stay out in it long enough, it still gets to you.
And sometimes, that’s what life feels like too.
We don’t always notice when we start getting cold on the inside. It happens slowly. We feel tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix. Disconnected. A little numb. We still show up and do what we’re supposed to do, but something feels off, like the warmth is gone.
Up here, we know better than to ignore the cold. You don’t tough it out forever. You go inside. You sit by the fire. You let yourself warm up. Spiritually, though, we don’t always do that. We push through and hope it passes.
But Scripture reminds us that God meets us in those moments. Isaiah says He won’t snuff out a smoldering wick. Even when all we have left is a small spark, God doesn’t demand more, He protects what’s still burning. The Psalms tell us that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Not after we pull ourselves together, but right there, in it. And Psalm 147 says He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. That kind of healing takes time. That kind of care stays.
Cold stiffens things. It makes movement harder. When we stay cold inside, our hearts can stiffen too. We get guarded. Short-tempered. Withdrawn. Not because we’re failing, but because we’re cold.
God’s presence is like stepping inside after being out in the wind too long. Malachi calls Him the sun of righteousness, rising with healing in His wings. His warmth restores circulation to what’s gone numb. Feeling comes back. Breath deepens.
And Jesus Himself said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Not more pressure. Not more expectations. Rest.
So if you feel cold inside today, you’re not broken. You may just be tired. And tired souls don’t need to be pushed harder; they need God’s warmth. This means you need to open yourself up to receive it.
The invitation today is simple: move closer to the heat. Stay a little longer in God’s presence. Pray honestly. Sit with His Word. Let Him warm the places you’ve learned to keep closed.
You don’t have to create warmth yourself. You just have to stop standing out in the cold.
Because even in a Northern Michigan winter, God is still in the business of thawing hearts and bringing His people back to life. May this week be a warmer week for us both physically and spiritually.
