Layers of Faith: Seeing God Through Simple Things
by Pastor Krista Price
Week of November 3
If you’ve stopped by the church recently, you may have noticed something unusual — a big collection of walnuts! Each year, we gather walnuts as part of one of our mission projects, and this week’s collection has been a success. Our bin is already about three-quarters full, but there’s still time to help out before Friday if you have more to share. Every handful makes a difference, and we’re always grateful for your generosity.
As I was looking at those walnuts, I started thinking about how much they can teach us about life — and faith. A walnut has three layers:
An outer coating that protects it from the world.
A hard shell that keeps the nut inside safe.
And finally, the heart of the walnut — the part that nourishes.
When you stop to think about it, we’re a lot like that walnut. Each of us has layers. There’s the outside layer — the one we show to the world — and sometimes, that’s the version of ourselves that we use to stay safe or comfortable. Beneath that is a shell, the tougher part of us that forms from life’s challenges or our need to protect what’s most personal.
But inside that shell is where God truly wants to reach us. That’s the heart — the part He shaped and loves most. Sometimes, God has to work through our layers. He gently removes the outer coating and cracks through the shell so He can get to the core of who we are. And when He does, He helps us live more openly, more faithfully, and more in tune with the person He created us to be.
This reflection feels especially meaningful as we come out of All Saints Sunday and look ahead to Veterans Sunday. Both occasions invite us to pause and remember — the saints and loved ones who have gone before us, and the veterans who have sacrificed and served with courage and honor. Their lives remind us of devotion, faith, and the power of giving of oneself for something greater.
As we move through this week, I invite you to think about your own “walnut layers.” What might God be trying to gently open in you? Where might He be asking you to let Him in more deeply?
We’d love for you to join us this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. for worship. If you can’t make it in person, we’ll continue sharing weekly devotion videos online — another way to stay connected and encouraged.
No matter how you join us, we hope you find time this week to pause, reflect, and let God work through your layers.
May you feel His blessings and warmth in all you do.
