Sip Happens, Part 3: Pumpkin Spice & Gospel Truth

I love a good iced pumpkin-spiced latte. It feels like fall in a cup, and honestly, it’s one of those little seasonal joys I look forward to every year. Add in a fresh blowout, and I feel like I can take on the week with a little extra polish. Those things are sweet, comforting, and fun.

But here’s the truth: no matter how good the latte tastes or how smooth my hair looks, it all fades. The coffee runs out. The blowout falls flat. Seasonal comforts don’t last forever.

a person reading and flipping through a bible

I’ve learned that the same is true with the rhythms of life. The Hobby Lobby aisles will roll from pumpkins to poinsettias to spring florals before we can blink. The casseroles will come and go at women’s ministry brunches. Even the laughter around the table will change depending on who showed up that day. Those moments are precious, but they’re not permanent.

God’s word, though? That’s the kind of comfort that never runs out. His promises don’t expire when the season changes. His truth doesn’t lose its shine overnight. When everything else fades, His word still sustains me.

“The grass dies and the flowers fall, but the word of our God will live forever.”(Isaiah 40:8, ERV)

Here’s what I mean when I talk about the gospel. At its core, the gospel is the good news that God loves us so much He sent Jesus to do what we could never do on our own. Jesus lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again so that we could be forgiven and free. It’s not about cleaning yourself up before you’re worthy. It’s not about having it all together. It’s not even about being “good enough,” because none of us can be on our own. The gospel is grace—unearned, undeserved, but freely given.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16, ERV)

Think of it this way: a latte gives you a quick pick-me-up, but it wears off. A blowout makes you feel confident, but it falls flat in a few days. The gospel isn’t like that. It doesn’t wear off or fall apart. It’s not temporary comfort—it’s eternal hope. It’s the foundation that says, “You are loved, you are forgiven, and you have a place at the table,” not because of what you’ve done but because of what Jesus already finished.

And here’s the beautiful part: the gospel doesn’t just cover our Sunday best moments. It covers our messy Mondays, our tired Tuesdays, and every other day we limp through with dry shampoo and caffeine. It reminds us that God’s love isn’t seasonal. It doesn’t come and go like the fall flavors at Starbucks. His love is steady, faithful, and available every single day.

Pumpkin spice can make me smile, but it can’t give me peace in the middle of chaos. A blowout can give me confidence, but it can’t give me strength when I feel weak. Only the gospel can do that. Only Jesus can meet me where I am, steady me when I feel shaky, and remind me who I am when the world tries to tell me otherwise.

And maybe that’s the real lesson of pumpkin spice season. It’s fun, it’s cozy, and it brings us together. But it points to something deeper—the reminder that we all crave comfort, we all want something to hold onto, and we all need truth that doesn’t fade when the season does.

So yes, I’ll keep sipping my lattes and enjoying the little rituals that make life sweeter. But I know they’re not what holds me up. They’re just extras. The real foundation—the thing that carries me through every season—is the gospel truth.

Latte in hand, blowout blessed, dry-shampooed and determined—but always standing on the gospel truth.