The 10 PM News Brief Christians Can Read Before Bed Without Losing Their Peace

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 10:00 PM CT

Take a breath. The world kept spinning today, and here's what happened: without the panic, without the spin, and with the steady reminder that our God neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).

Economic Hope: Inflation Shows Signs of Cooling

The latest economic data shows U.S. inflation continuing its downward trend, offering relief to families stretched thin by years of rising costs. Grocery prices, fuel, and housing expenses: while still elevated: are stabilizing in several key markets. Economists suggest the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies may finally be producing the desired effect without triggering a recession.

Why It Matters: Every parent who's stretched a paycheck knows what this means. When milk costs less and rent stops climbing, dignity returns to the dinner table. When economic anxiety loosens its grip, families can breathe.

Biblical Lens: Proverbs 11:1 reminds us, "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight." Fair prices aren't just economics: they're justice issues. God cares about the widow's grocery bill and the single parent's gas tank.

Your Response: Pray for wisdom among those setting fiscal policy. Give thanks for any relief you've experienced. If you've gained margin, ask God who needs it shared.

Immigration: Federal Officers Withdrawn from Minnesota

The Trump administration announced the withdrawal of federal immigration enforcement officers from Minnesota this week, signaling what some analysts describe as a "softer touch" on interior enforcement. The move follows pushback from state officials and faith leaders who argued that aggressive enforcement tactics were separating families and creating fear in immigrant communities.

Why It Matters: Behind every policy are real people: children who wonder if their parents will come home from work, families fleeing violence, and communities wrestling with how to balance law, mercy, and security.

Biblical Lens: The stranger, the sojourner, the refugee: Scripture mentions them more than 90 times. Leviticus 19:34 is clear: "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Grace and order aren't enemies. Christians can advocate for both secure borders and dignified treatment of every image-bearer.

Your Response: Pray for immigrant families living in fear. Pray for officials making impossibly hard calls. Ask God how your church can embody both truth and mercy in this conversation.

A Community Searches: Nancy Guthrie Still Missing

The search continues for Nancy Guthrie, a 62-year-old grandmother last seen leaving her home in central Illinois on Monday morning. Local authorities have expanded the search radius, and volunteers have been combing wooded areas and checking surveillance footage from nearby businesses. Her family describes her as a devoted church member and asks for the community's prayers.

Why It Matters: When someone goes missing, a family holds its breath. Every hour feels like a week. Every phone call might be the one that changes everything.

Biblical Lens: Jesus told stories about lost things: a sheep, a coin, a son: because heaven celebrates every search that ends in reunion. "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). God is in the business of finding the lost.

Your Response: Stop right now. Pray for Nancy. Pray for the searchers. Pray for her family's peace. If you're local, consider joining the search efforts. Sometimes love wears hiking boots.

Justice Department Tensions: SDNY Resignations Over Adams Case

Multiple senior prosecutors at the Southern District of New York resigned this week following pressure to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The case, which alleges campaign finance violations and improper foreign influence, has become a flashpoint in debates over prosecutorial independence and political interference.

Why It Matters: When justice bends toward power, the poor pay the price. When prosecutors resign rather than compromise, it's a signal that institutional integrity still matters to someone.

Biblical Lens: Amos 5:24 thunders across the centuries: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." God doesn't negotiate on justice. Neither should we.

Your Response: Pray for prosecutors navigating impossible pressure. Pray for truth to surface, whatever it reveals. Ask God to raise up leaders who fear Him more than losing their jobs.

FBI Leadership Gains Senate Support

The Senate panel reviewing President Trump's nominee for FBI Director signaled strong bipartisan support this week, suggesting smooth confirmation ahead. The nominee, a former federal prosecutor with experience in both counterterrorism and civil rights cases, has pledged to restore public confidence in the bureau following years of partisan controversy.

Why It Matters: Stability matters. Institutions matter. When leadership changes create constant chaos, it's citizens who suffer the consequences.

Biblical Lens: Romans 13:1 doesn't mean blind allegiance, but it does mean recognizing that order beats anarchy. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."

We can pray for leaders we didn't vote for. We can hope for their wisdom. That's not compromise: it's spiritual maturity.

Your Response: Pray for the incoming FBI director. Pray for agents trying to do their jobs with integrity. Pray for healing in an agency caught in the crossfire of America's polarization.

Coast Guard Faces Shutdown Threat Amid Budget Standoff

The U.S. Coast Guard warned this week that continued budget gridlock could force a partial shutdown, leaving search-and-rescue operations understaffed and drug interdiction efforts compromised. Service members, some already working second jobs to make ends meet, expressed frustration over being used as political leverage.

Why It Matters: Real people stand watch on cold decks tonight. Real families wonder if the next paycheck will clear. When Washington plays chicken, it's always the servants who get run over.

Biblical Lens: Galatians 6:2 commands us to "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." That includes the burdens of those who serve us: even when it's politically inconvenient.

Your Response: Thank a service member if you know one. Pray for leaders to remember that real lives hang in the balance. Advocate for the dignity of those who've pledged to serve.

NYC Mayoral Candidate Proposes Wealth Tax to Fund Services

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani unveiled a proposal this week to impose an additional tax on the city's highest earners to fund expanded mental health services, affordable housing, and education programs. Supporters say it's about fairness; critics warn it will drive high earners to leave the city, shrinking the tax base.

Why It Matters: How we fund community care reveals what we value. Every tax policy is ultimately a theological statement about responsibility, wealth, and the common good.

Biblical Lens: Luke 12:48 offers wisdom here: "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required." That doesn't settle every tax debate, but it does establish a principle: blessing creates responsibility.

Your Response: Pray for wisdom among policymakers. Ask God to help you hold generosity and stewardship in tension. Examine your own heart about money: it reveals more than you think.

IRS Data Breach Exposes Immigrant Information

Federal officials confirmed this week that a data breach at the IRS may have exposed personal information of thousands of immigrants, including addresses, employment details, and family connections. Advocacy groups warn the breach could be used for targeting or intimidation, particularly among undocumented communities.

Why It Matters: Privacy is a dignity issue. When vulnerable people's information is exposed, it's not just data: it's safety compromised, fear amplified, and trust shattered.

Biblical Lens: Proverbs 31:8-9 calls us to a higher standard: "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Your Response: Pray for those whose information was exposed. Pray for better security practices. Ask God if your church could be a safe place for someone living in fear right now.

Before You Sleep

You made it. Eight stories, zero panic attacks. The world is messy, but it's still held in the hands of the One who calmed storms with a word.

Before you close your eyes tonight, remember: "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8).

Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341.

Follow at LayneMcDonald.com for calm updates as stories develop: because you deserve news that doesn't steal your peace.

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Sources: USA Today, Reuters, Associated Press, Politico