Fueled by Jesus and Coffee

We are in that in-between time of Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we just might be leaning on Jesus and coffee to get us through.

So let’s talk about that today… Fueled by Jesus and Coffee.

Many of us really do feel held together by faith and caffeine. But we know the truth: Jesus is our real source of strength, peace, and clarity…The coffee just helps us get moving.

Before we pulled our kids from the brick-and-mortar public school, our mornings were stressful and hectic. Sometimes we would bicker or get frustrated, and I always felt horrible starting the day that way.

But once we got in the car and took a breath on the way to school drop-off, everything shifted. Sure, the warm coffee helped, but that quiet moment in the car gave us space to shake off what happened in the house. I could bring the kids back around — at least most days — and point them back to Jesus.

We always prayed before they got out of the car, and I always told them, “Be sweet, be kind, be helpful.”

With those things in mind, they’d look for ways to live them out… and they’d often tell me their stories in the afternoon.

Sometimes it’s not how things start — it’s how they end.

We know caffeine wakes up the body, but Jesus is the One who wakes the soul. That’s where our real focus belongs.

The caffeine eventually wears off, but what Jesus offers stays with us.

Psalm 73:26 (NLT) reminds us: “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.”

That verse keeps our perspective clear: coffee might fuel the morning, but God’s grace fuels every moment of the day.

When I drink coffee, there is a very fine line between “just enough” and “too much.” Two cups? Perfect. A third? I’m a jittery mess with no focus. And some days, even that third cup doesn’t make a difference — I still feel just as tired as before. Are you like that as well?

One day at a former job, my husband surprised me by showing up with lunch. It was rare, and I was shocked. It made me feel seen — because he thought of me.

What’s a moment you can recall where someone’s surprise made your day better?

We’re talking about being fueled by Jesus and coffee…Those shirts and signs are everywhere — I even have one in my office. When I see it, it reminds me I’m not doing life alone.

It may sound silly, but it’s still a great reminder that Jesus is present — He is fueling me, especially when I feel tired, weary, or worn out.

Have you ever woken up exhausted both mentally and physically?

Like your brain never shut off… or like you ran a marathon in your sleep?

I’ve woken up sore before — so tense through the night that my body felt like I had carried the weight of the world.

These are the days when we lean heavily on caffeine… and even more heavily on God.

We try to refill ourselves, but sometimes we end up even more drained.

The spiritual boost we receive from the Lord is like that first warm sip of coffee —It gives hope and breathes life into us.

I know I’ve been talking about coffee, but in reality, I spent a good 12 years having no caffeine at all so I know there are other ways to get going and now I wake up 30 minutes before everyone else and sit in the quiet reading my Bible.

Yes, the coffee helps — but it’s the time with the Lord that truly sets my day.

There’s something about the stillness of the morning that clears my mind. I start my day with gratitude for His goodness, and that sustains my strength more than anything else.

Let’s take a moment to pray:

Lord, thank You for Your jolt of grace and joy every morning. Give us renewed strength, clear minds, calm hearts, and encouragement for the day ahead. Thank You for the consistency we have in You and for the simple joys You sprinkle throughout our days. Above all, thank You for guiding us and keeping us spiritually grounded in Your truth. Amen.

One morning I made coffee and left it at home — which did not stop me from swinging by a convenience store. Those machines hit a little different sometimes! That day I was so thankful I had time to stop, because without caffeine it would have been a very long day.

But when I think back on it, I realize it wasn’t the coffee that fueled me…It was listening to worship music and spending my commute with the Lord that gave me what I truly needed.

“Fueled by Jesus and coffee” is fun to say — but deeply true. Life works better when God is set first in our hearts and minds.

Jesus provides the energy caffeine can’t. He gives hope, joy, peace, and direction.

Here are a couple questions to carry with you today:

What helps you feel spiritually fueled as you start your day?

And where do you feel like you need God to refill you right now?