Hannah Kuhn is a twentysomething writer from West Michigan who is passionate about using the power of God’s Word and her gift of writing to encourage others to cling to God when this world says you’re not enough. She is currently completing a master’s in creative writing as well as a book about how God has used the biggest burden in her life for His glory and her good. As a longtime writer and follower of Jesus, she combines both joys as a copywriter for Our Daily Bread Ministries—a place that’s very special to her. It is a joy to welcome Hannah to the farm’s table…

Guest Post by Hannah Kuhn

I committed my life to Jesus when I was seven years old, but I didn’t become a devoted friend of His until I was eighteen.

Growing up, the concept of being a Christian fit my personality. I was a perfectionistic people-pleaser who did what I was told and minded my own business. I went to church every Sunday with my family, I prayed before meals, I knew God made the world, and I understood why we celebrated Christmas and Easter.

I was a “Christian;” that’s what we did, and that’s what we believed. Maybe you can relate?

When I was a little girl, I started developing very aggressive, irrational fears. These reoccurring panic attacks held me captive and took away any sense of joy, peace, and rationality.

“He wasn’t just my Creator and Savior anymore, He was also my most loyal friend—always with me, and always fighting for me.“

As much as I wanted to give in and believe the loud, paralyzing fears in my head, my mom never gave in. She taught me that fear comes from our only true enemy, not from God. She taught me that since I accepted Jesus into my heart, He wasn’t just my Creator and Savior anymore, He was also my most loyal friend—always with me, and always fighting for me. 

As funny as it sounds, I like to say I met Jesus in my public school’s third-grade bathroom because whenever I felt a panic attack boiling inside of me, I excused myself to run cold water on my wrists and repeat the first verse I learned: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NLT). I learned at a young age who God is, who our true enemy is, and the incomparable power God has. 

Unfortunately, youth groups, kid’s camps, and Bible studies weren’t really a part of my story.

I had a hard time fitting in and feeling welcomed at those programs my church had while growing up. The kids there had their own friends, and they weren’t interested in including anyone else.

Instead of leaving church spiritually filled up and reminded of God’s love, I left in tears feeling unwanted, unseen, and not good enough. 

“… if we want to know Jesus, we need to make the time to meet with Him.“

No matter what age you are, it’s hard to feel like no one wants to get to know you—like no one wants to be your friend. I knew from my faith and anxiety as a little girl that Jesus was my friend, but just like the other kids, I wasn’t being a good friend to Him. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15 NLT), but I didn’t know what those commandments really were.

Good friends know each other better than anyone else because they take the time to get to know one another. If we can love flawed human beings (or rather, if Jesus who is perfect can love imperfect human beings), then why is it so hard to love Jesus sometimes? 

Suddenly I discovered a deep desire as a teenager to know Jesus, know His Word, and be a better friend to Him.

It’s a desire that never since appeared to go away.

Like we do with our other friends, if we want to know Jesus, we need to make the time to meet with Him. Talk to Him, tell Him what’s on our minds (the good and the bad—He wants to hear it all), thank Him for everything He is and all He has done for you, and then read His Word.

“It’s no coincidence that an all-knowing God would include answers and comfort for the things He knew His children would struggle with centuries after the Bible was written.“

Do you want to know what Jesus was like on earth? Read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Do you ever wonder what it looks like to live the way Jesus wants us to live? Read Matthew 5–7.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, purpose, value, or identity, Jesus affirms all those things in His Word. 

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV). It’s no coincidence that an all-knowing God would include answers and comfort for the things He knew His children would struggle with centuries after the Bible was written. 

You can open up the Bible and read from beginning to end (and at some point, I recommend you do), but I understand how intimidating it can be to even get started.

Having Scripture verses with a story that illustrates the point, like in the Our Daily Bread devotional, helps bring the message home.

When I was a teenager looking to know my friend Jesus, my church had monthly devotional booklets on their windowsill—my dad always grabbed one, so I started to as well.

The number of times that short but powerful daily devotional ended up glued to a page inside my journal was more than could be explained by any coincidence. Reading the articles in that booklet often made my eyes well with tears because they made me feel seen, heard, loved, and wanted.

In the Bible, Jesus says, “Seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7), and I certainly did, and continue to do so. God used those little Our Daily Bread daily devotionals to grow my relationship with Him from being just a believer to becoming a friend of Jesus.

“Jesus and I got to be better friends as my dependence on Him and His promises to me became more personal.“

Once I went to college, Jesus and I got to be better friends as my dependence on Him and His promises to me became more personal. While I started to find other devotionals and was blessed with good, Christian friends, I continued every morning to read the Our Daily Bread my parents always sent in the mail, along with a note of encouragement. 

Today, it’s a privilege to serve with the ministry that produced the devotionals that ultimately built the foundation of my friendship with Jesus, and it’s an honor now to be the one sending these booklets to people all over the world, including my parents.

Tens of millions of Our Daily Bread devotionals are printed in-house every year and have been changing lives for multiple generations. From mailboxes to prison cells, people all over the world are finding encouragement, comfort, and hope in God’s Word—and you can too! 

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