I have observed along my journey that people don't always lose faith by walking away from God. Sometimes they move God a little farther from the center of their lives, one seemingly reasonable decision at a time.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 16. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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The politics of the Kingdoms of this World thrive on chaos, scandal, personal attacks, sensationalism, and lies. As it always has been here on earth, and always shall be in this fallen world.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 15. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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There's something profoundly beautiful about a God whose compassion isn't dependent on the spiritual performance of the people who need it. Judgment is not God's only response to human failure.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 14. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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When I'm disappointed in myself (and that happens a lot), I assume God must be disappointed enough to turn away. When I've repeated an old failure, I assume God's patience must finally be exhausted. When I've wandered, I assume the distance between God and me is equal to the distance God has moved away from me. But today's chapter tells me something different.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 13. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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Somewhere along the way, Joash appears to confuse maintaining the institution with having and maintaining his own personal relationship with God.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 12. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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The events of today's chapter do challenge my assumption that God's apparent silence means His absence. The delay did not mean the promise had died. It meant the story wasn't finished.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 11. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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Sometimes the hardest act of obedience isn't the spectacular sacrifice everyone can see. It's the quiet surrender nobody notices.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 10. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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Busyness -- even doing God's work -- can come from very different heart motivations. Jehu was absolutely convinced that he was doing God's work. And, in a very real sense, he was. But doing God's work is not necessarily the same thing as having God's heart. That's a sobering distinction.

A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 9. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

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