December 21, 2025 

Micah reminds us that  God offers small places, big promises. He promises that from the tiny town of Bethlehem will come a ruler whose strength and peace will stretch to the ends of the earth. God uses the small and overlooked to bring hope.

Devotional: Some days in late December feel a little heavy. We’re close to Christmas, but the world doesn’t always look ready for joy. Schedules stay crowded, hearts stay tired, and the deeper meaning of the season can feel buried under errands and expectations. That’s why Micah’s words speak so clearly today. He reminds us that God’s story never begins in the places we expect. It starts in Bethlehem, a town so small it barely registered on a map, yet chosen to carry the weight of heaven’s promise. God has always loved working through what feels ordinary so His grace can surprise us.

Micah points to a ruler who would shepherd His people with strength and tenderness, a King whose peace would reach far beyond the borders of Israel. When we hear it now, so close to Christmas, it pulls us into the wonder of what God actually did. He didn’t send a warrior to a palace. He sent a baby to a village no one bragged about. It makes you wonder where God might be quietly working in your own life, using the small moments you overlook, the humble steps you take, and the days that don’t feel very spiritual at all. Bethlehem teaches us that God is already moving long before we notice Him.

As we move into the final days before Christmas, this passage gives us room to breathe. You don’t have to produce joy or force your heart to feel ready. God came into a world that was just as chaotic and uncertain as ours, and He came through a place no one celebrated. That means He can meet you exactly where you are today. The promise Micah speaks is the same one God whispers now, right in the middle of December weariness: I am coming to you. I have not forgotten you. My peace is on the way.

Action: Look for one “Bethlehem” moment today — something small, unnoticed, or ordinary — and name how God might be showing His presence in it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for choosing quiet places and ordinary people to carry Your hope. As we approach Christmas, open my eyes to the ways You are already at work in the small corners of my life. Steady my heart with Your peace, and help me trust that Your promises still hold true. Let my spirit rest in the truth that You always come near. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought for the Day: 
God’s biggest promises often grow in the smallest places.

As Christmas draws near, Micah reminds us that God loves to work through small places and ordinary moments. Bethlehem wasn’t impressive, yet it carried the hope of the world. Maybe your life feels a little “Bethlehem-sized” right now, a little overlooked or worn down. Take heart — God often begins His greatest work in places just like that. His peace is already on the way.