Hi friend!
Have you ever prayed for something not knowing why or how God will work it out?
Last year, I sensed God’s Spirit urging me to pray for three specific requests, even though they didn’t make sense to me at the time.
One prayer kept burning in my heart: “Lord, bring us co-laborers in this ministry. The harvest is plentiful, but we need more help.”1
Day after day, I placed that prayer before Jesus, trusting Him to see what I could not.
And over the last couple of months, I began to see God moving, assembling a team for this next season of ministry. A big part of that team is comprised of my new publishing partners at Tyndale Publishers, who said a big “YES” to helping me bring into the world the messages God has placed on my heart.
Last month, I spent a couple days at Tyndale’s headquarters with both their nonfiction and fiction teams (and my lovely agent, Jenni), and I can’t tell you how excited we all are for the good things that we’re working to bring you in the next few years: more books, Bible studies, devotionals, and a time-traveling series for children. 🥳
Sitting around those tables, I kept thinking: Lord, how did we get here? And then the quiet realization: You knew all along, didn’t You?
Even when I didn’t see, God foreknew… and He led me to pray for the very answer He was preparing beforehand.
This team is a beautiful embodiment of God’s generous heart toward His children—our good Father who gives good gifts to those who ask:
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
I can’t get over the goodness of God. Truly, my cup overflows.2
And as if that were not enough, also this year, I joined the YouVersion Bible app’s team of content partners, which means we get to share our devotionals with over a billion people around the world! To say I’m “excited” doesn’t even begin to capture my exuberance to be a part of how God’s Spirit is moving globally to bring the good news of Jesus to people of every tribe and language!
Joining the YouVersion content team has been a desire of my heart for years, and to see its fulfillment just now is no small coincidence. Truly God answers prayers, even those secret desires of our hearts that seem too fragile to speak aloud.
As I write this, I wonder what you’ve been praying for that seems like a distant dream? Or maybe you haven’t even dared pray, but you’ve been harboring a hidden hope, not sure if you can entrust it to Jesus?
Maybe you’re tempted to give up and stop praying—because you just can’t see how it’ll work out.
No matter what that desire is that’s burning in your heart, let me urge you to bring it to the Lord in prayer, day after day, even when it doesn’t seem like anything’s changing. Because God’s Spirit delights to work in the unseen places in partnership with our prayers:
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16 NLT)
or, as The Message puts it:
“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”
So don’t give up, dear one. Whether it’s a prodigal child you’re praying home, unity in your marriage, or healing for a loved one, your prayers are precious to your Heavenly Father. And Jesus is interceding for you even now (see Hebrews 7:25).
As for me, the next six months hold a mountain of writing deadlines. Some days it feels exhilarating; other days, honestly, a little overwhelming.
But I’m not carrying this alone.
God has surrounded this ministry with faithful co-laborers who’ve been serving our community faithfully behind the scenes: Flaviu, Kathryn, Kaitlyn, and our new team members Alex and Simona. And also, on their knees, is a team of over 100 prayer warriors who are praying these projects into the hands of those looking for hope in Jesus!
Truly, God provides exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21 NIV)
Don’t give up, dear one. Keep turning your heart to Jesus.
If these resources encourage you, I’d love to continue walking alongside you through the Delighting in Jesus Companion newsletter, where I share Scripture encouragement, creative Bible habits, prayer resources, and glimpses of joy along the way.
Each month, we’ll share a resource to grow your friendship with Jesus—plus a sweet giveaway and a simple idea to enjoy His Word.3
This month’s featured Bible is the Read. Think. Live. Devotional Bible. This 365-day devotional Bible takes you on an intentional, thematic journey through Scripture that will help you slow down, reflect deeply, and connect Scripture to your everyday life..
It’s also the Bible I’m using in this month’s “Bible Study with Me” YouTube video, so if you’d like to study alongside me, you can watch here:
And because we love resourcing this community to delight in God’s Word, we’re giving away three copies this month. 💛
✨ Here are three simple ways to enter:
Start here to officially enter:
Tell us in the comments: What tender hope are you praying for that we may join with you in prayer?
Leave a comment, then pause to pray for someone else’s prayer request, and leave an encouraging word or heart emoji on their request, would you?
Watch this month’s Bible study video and share in the comments:
What stood out to you?
What surprised you?
What helped you engage Scripture differently?
And if this newsletter encouraged you, feel free to forward it to a friend who might enjoy opening God’s Word with us this summer.
Because everything is more joyful when we grow together.
These last few weeks, I’ve had the joy of serving at churches and women’s events around the country, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude for all God did among us.
I watched women release burdens they’d been carrying for years, worship with fresh freedom, and encounter Jesus in deeply personal ways. Truly, God’s Spirit is moving in powerful ways.
One of the sweetest parts of this spring was getting to serve alongside my family at two of these events. The kids helped at the book table, handed out bookmarks, and even acted as my junior personal assistants. :)
And somewhere between the sessions and snack runs and loading boxes into the car, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude watching my children begin finding their places in the story of God.
This fall, they’re especially excited to join me for speaking events from Florida to France—and they’re already faithfully praying for the women we’ll meet along the way.
But more than anything, I’m grateful for every opportunity God gives our family to encourage women to delight in Jesus through His Word.
If you’d like to explore bringing us to serve at your next women’s event, we’re prayerfully scheduling for Spring 2027 through Spring 2028, and we’d love to have a conversation with you!
Simple delights from our team to you.
My 7-year-old son is playing coach pitch baseball again this year and my husband signed up to coach for the first time! I have loved watching them out on the field together, and seeing my husband coach and instruct the whole team has been so heartwarming. - Hannah
On the Myers-Briggs scale, I’m about as “J” as they come—which means I deeply enjoy things like schedules, efficiency, and mentally reorganizing everyone else’s life for them. 😅 My friend Shannon Popkin’s new book, Kinda Judgy, was both convicting and encouraging in all the right ways. I had the joy of reading an early copy, and truly appreciate Shannon’s thoughtful reminder that spiritual maturity isn’t about proving we’re right, but about learning to live humbly before God and generously toward others. —Asheritah
Last week, I spent several days at a theme park with two of my young nieces. My feet are sore, but every step was worth it to see the wonder in their little eyes. - Kaitlyn
Summer means I’m looking for quick and easy dinner ideas, but grilling has always felt intimidating for my Romanian husband (and I’d overcooked too many chicken breasts myself). But last month, we got this new electric grill and smoker and it’s changed everything! I kid you not—he’s been grilling five times a week and I couldn’t be more delighted. This Grilled Chicken Shawarma is on regular rotation at our house, and if you haven’t tried grilling balsamic marinated mushrooms yet, you’ll want to add these to your meal plan. Trust me on this one. —Asheritah
We went to our first concert as a family and it was a truly beautiful evening. We loved singing along to our favorite worship songs by Paul Zach and The Porter’s Gate. - Kathryn
A monthly freebie to spark joy in your walk with Jesus.
My kids LOVE a good reading challenge, so I was delighted to see this free Family Summer of Reading Challenge from Moody Publishers & Redeemed Reader. The printable reading tracker, Bingo reading board, and fun reward ideas makes it easy for me and fun for my kids.
Of course, my kids immediately started strategizing how to fill their Bingo boards fastest. 😂 Here’s where you can get your summer reading packet.
💛 Let’s stay connected
If something in today’s email encouraged you, we’d love to hear! Just hit reply or leave a comment.
And if you know someone who’d enjoy this letter, feel free to forward it their way. ✨
With much joy,
Asheritah & Team
P.S. I’d genuinely love to hear: What’s one prayer you’re continuing to bring before Jesus right now? Hit reply or leave a comment—I read every one. 💛
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