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The mission of The Upper Room daily devotional guide is to provide a practical way to listen to scripture, connect with believers around the world, and spend time with God each day. Read more about The Upper Room here.

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Seen, Known, and Held

July 29, 2026 by Janis Gregg Pressley (Maryland, USA)
Janis Gregg Pressley and her cowriter
at a June 6 book signing in Maryland

Janis signing the book she cowrote

It’s been one year since The Upper Room published my second meditation, “God Never Fails,” and two years since I submitted the third one, which is today’s meditation. In that time, I’ve stayed busy writing in my journals, singing with the church choir, volunteering in the church pantry, spending time with family and friends, taking piano lessons, and doing senior exercises. Each day, before any of those activities, I spend time alone with the Father who gives me the ability to do all I do. In those quiet moments I connect to God’s spirit within me, and I know he will go with me throughout my day and night. Holding on to God’s presence and love and knowing God knows and sees all gets me through the difficulties that we all face.

In the last year, I have experienced many highs and lows. Highs included recuperating from back and cataracts surgery, going on several trips with family and friends, attending my great-granddaughter’s grade-school graduation, singing a couple of solos with the choir, and promoting the book I cowrote on what I wish I knew about aging. 

At seventy-eight years of age, my biggest obstacles, aches and pains, forgetfulness, invisibility to some people, and a recent diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ all melt away when I hold on to the knowledge that our all-powerful God sees me and holds me in his loving arms. Prayerfully, I will continue to use all the gifts that God graced me with for the benefit of God’s people for many years to come. I trust and believe that I will if I hold on to God (the right thing), and I pray the same for everyone.


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