The Greenville County Detention Center has neither censored nor inspected this item. Therefore, this facility does not assume responsibility for its contents.

I was home in bed devastated by the flu when my husband brought me the mail. I’d had a bad night. Alternating between burning up with fever and shivering with cold, I’d battled a temple-splitting headache. Body aches made my skin, my hair, and my eyes hurt.

In the frailty of a miserable illness, I questioned everything about my life, including my call to write.

Who am I fooling? I asked myself. What makes you think you have anything to say that could help anyone? Why would God use you, a nobody from nowhere, to write for him? You don’t even have a degree in writing. You were trained as a dental hygienist, for heaven’s sake.

Maybe I’m done, I thought.  

Then David handed me the mail. I flipped through it halfheartedly when the red-stamped envelope caught my eye. Amidst foil-edged Christmas cards, colorful sale flyers, and bills, the plain white envelope stood out.

Greenville County Detention Center? I flipped the envelope over and read the return address—a  name I didn’t recognize and a number: #657848* 

Printed in black ink on college ruled paper, the letter began:

To Lori

Hello,

My name is James, and I received your address from a minister friend of yours. Someone donated your book Refresh Your Hope to our chaplain, and I got it. The devotional really spoke to me in times of despair and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It brought me back knowing that I have sound hope in Jesus Christ.

I have passed the book on to two other people, and they both love it as well. I still borrow the book sometimes and read certain devotions over and over that give me the most encouragement. 

I am wondering if you or maybe the publisher if you can’t, but I would like another one of your “Refresh Your” books. I have no way of ordering or paying for a book. If not, that’s OK to. I still want you to know how one of your books impacted my life and to know others are being impacted by it also! I pray God continues to use you to reach many lives for His harvest! Merry Christmas!

In Christ,

James*

I flopped my head back on the pillow as silent tears leaked from my eyes and dripped into my ears.

First, I cried for James, struggling to find hope in the darkness of the prison system.

Then I cried in repentance, asking God to forgive me for ever doubting His ability to use a nobody from nowhere to encourage one of “the least of these.”

Then I cried in gratitude, humbled and thankful that I get to serve God through the ministry of writing.

I don’t know what you’re feeling on this Christmas Eve eve. 

Maybe, like I was, you’re feeling sorry for yourself and wondering if God is still at work in your life.

Maybe, like James, you’re struggling for hope in the darkness of your circumstances.

Maybe you’re lonely, or scared, or sad.

Take comfort today.

It’s not an accident that you’re reading this post.

God, who loved you enough to come to earth as a baby, live as a man, and die on a cross to pay for your sins, sees you.

He cares about you.

He is with you.

Just like He prompted a nobody from nowhere to write a book that found its way into a prison so a hopeless inmate could read it and be encouraged, He is working in the circumstances of your life. And He reminded me to tell you:

Two thousand years ago He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save you—yes, you.

And then He sent believers down through the ages to share the good news until it reached you—yes, you.

So you could know you’re not alone. You, yes you, have a Savior, and His name is Jesus. Take comfort in this today. No matter what happens, He is with you.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel, God with us

(Isaiah 7:14).

P.S. You’ll be happy to know that I shared James’s letter with my publisher, Our Daily Bread Publishing, who responded immediately and sent James a box of books, including my newest release, Think on These Things, 60 Thoughtful Devotions for Renewed Peace. We pray God will use the material to encourage and equip not only James, but others as they live out their faith within the prison system. 

If you’d like your own copy of Think on These Things, it’s releasing soon and is available now for preorder. Click HERE  or on the image below to start 2025 with peace and joy!

Merry Christmas!

*The details been changed to protect the sender’s identity.