February 10, 2026 Devo

There is a special place in heaven for people I call “the remnants.” They are the people who stay faithful when others choose to leave. They are the ones who hold on tenaciously, even when they’re being told to quit. They are resilient, determined, and often broken and remade. But they STAY. And they cling to God.
Our verse today talks about the remnant of Israel who will return. They will return to their land. They will return to God. They will have the scars of having gone through the fire, but in the end, they will reap the rewards of renewal and restoration. And they will receive the favor of God.
I’ve known a lot of “remnants” along the way. Have you? I remember a congregation that I had the privilege of working with, which was on the verge of throwing in the towel. Their numbers had dwindled through the years, and their congregation had grown older. In desperation, they called a group I worked with and asked for our help. Though I suspect they simply wanted financial support, we said that we wouldn’t help them unless they were willing to give up control of the church. Though it was a hard thing to do, they agreed. They submitted themselves to leadership and decisions that were unfamiliar and uncomfortable. But as a result, that “remnant” became a growing, thriving congregation that is still going strong.
I think about the people I’ve seen who have stayed in their marriage when it seemed it was over. Husbands and wives who chose to fight for the covenant they made to each other, rather than choose the closest exit when things got hard. They went to counseling. They opened themselves to learn, grow, and heal. It was HARD. But out of that “remnant,” God made a holy marriage.
I’ve seen “remnants” called single moms who, in my opinion, are nothing less than superheroes. When their spouse walked out, they stayed. They stayed and raised their kids, trying to be both father and mother to confused, hurting children. They stayed and worked full-time jobs during the day and full-time parenting at night. They were often exhausted, overwhelmed, and broke. But they stayed and gave those children the best of what they had. Many of those children are followers of Christ today because those moms were the “remnant” through which He could work.
I hope you’ll remember this when you feel outnumbered or alone. I pray that you won’t give up so quickly or quit on the promises you made to God just because many others do. The higher road certainly isn’t the easiest to walk. But it is the road you are sometimes called to when there are things worth fighting for. It’s the road where you’ll find The Remnants. That’s God’s Word for you today.