Courage in the Chaos

“When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” Mark 6:49-50 (NIV)

It’s only in the storms of life that I learn what Jesus is really like. I see that he’s not a mere man. He’s not just a nice teacher or an ethical leader. He is God, the Creator of the universe.

In Mark 6, Jesus noticed the disciples were in distress. They were in the middle of a lake, where the wind and waves were pounding their boat and keeping them from making any progress. And so Jesus walked out to them on the water. “When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’” (Mark 6:49-50 NIV).

The disciples still had some nagging doubts—maybe Jesus was just a nice prophet who could do some miracles. But by walking on water, Jesus revealed he was far more than just a man. He showed them he was God.

He also gave them a challenge: “Don’t be afraid.” And he reassured them: “It is I.”

In Greek, the language this part of the Bible was originally written in, the phrase “It is I” is actually two words: ego ima. Ego ima simply means “I Am.” Why is that important?

The name of God is “I Am”—not “I was” or “I will be” or “I hope to be.” When Jesus says, “I Am,” he is saying that I don’t need to be afraid. I don’t need to sweat it. He is God. And that is enough.

If I'm going through a storm, I don’t need a job—I need Jesus. I don’t need a plan—I need a person. I don’t need a system—I need a Savior. I don’t need a new goal—I need God. 

When I'm going through a storm, remember that God is not distant, apathetic, or uninvolved. He is “I Am.” And he will get me through the storm.

In summary:

In the storms of life, I can come to truly understand who Jesus is—not just a teacher or prophet, but God Himself. In Mark 6:49-50, when the disciples were terrified by the sight of Jesus walking on water, he calmed their fears with the words, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The phrase “It is I” (ego eimi) echoes God’s divine name, “I Am,” revealing Jesus’ identity as the eternal, ever-present God. His presence in the storm reminds me that I don’t ultimately need solutions or systems—I need Him. When life feels overwhelming, Jesus doesn't stay distant; He comes near, speaks peace, and proves He is enough.

Bottom Line:

In the middle of life’s storms, Jesus reveals that He is God—ever-present, powerful, and enough—and His presence brings the peace and courage I need.

When Pain Becomes a Teacher

“God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes.” Job 36:15 (GNT)

There are some things we only learn through pain—and sometimes it’s through the pain of other people.

It's wise for me to learn from my own experiences, but it’s wiser to learn from the experiences of others—and to let others learn from my pain. I don't have time to make all the mistakes myself! That’s why it’s important to learn from each other’s mistakes—but only if I'm honest about how God uses pain to get my attention and teach me important lessons in life.

Job 36:15 says, "God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes" (GNT).

What does God want me to understand about the distress I'm going through right now? What am I learning? Once I've learned it, he wants me to pass those lessons on to others.

We all go through different kinds of trouble. But no matter what my  specific pain is, God wants me to learn these three things from it:

First, I learn to depend more on God through my pain. God wants to teach me about himself—about his power through my weakness, his love when I feel unlovely, his grace when I feel unforgiven, and his wisdom when I don't know which way to turn.

Second, I learn to trust and obey God's Word when I'm in pain. It's easy to trust God when things are going great. It's not so easy when things are going bad.

King David said in Psalm 119:67, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word" (NIV). Lessons learned through failure and painful mistakes will drive me to claim and trust in God’s promises. His Word provides hope that he is with me and has not stopped working for me and in me.

Third, I learn through pain that I need other people. If I never had any pain in my life, I wouldn't think I needed anybody. It's only in pain that some people admit that they need others to help them. Pain is one of the most powerful reminders that I'm not meant to go through life alone.

So when I go through pain, I need to trust that what God is teaching me will be helpful to others as I pass the lessons on to friends, family, and even future generations.

In summary:

Pain is one of God's most powerful teaching tools, often opening my eyes to deeper truths I might otherwise miss. According to Job 36:15, God uses suffering to instruct us, and through our distress, we learn vital lessons—not just about ourselves, but also about God’s power, grace, and presence. While it’s wise to learn from my own mistakes, it’s even wiser to learn from others' experiences—and to let others learn from ours. Pain teaches me to depend more on God, to trust and obey His Word more deeply, and to recognize my need for others. Ultimately, the lessons I learn in hardship are not just for me; they are meant to be shared to help others find hope and wisdom in their own struggles.

Bottom line: 

God uses pain to grow us, draw us closer to Him, and equip us to help others through what we’ve learned.

When You’re Sinking

“But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Matthew 14:30 (NIV)

When I'm going through a storm, God is not distant or uninvolved. He is with me, and he is working in my life for my good. 

When I feel I'm sinking in a storm, here are five things God wants me to do:

Have courage, because Jesus is with me.
Don’t ever argue with a fear. Just send it straight to Jesus! 

Take a risk in faith.
Don’t ask God to bless what I are doing. Instead, do what God is blessing. Ask him what he wants me to do, and then be willing to do it with him.

Stay focused on Jesus.
The moment I take your eyes off the Lord, I'll go under. Matthew 14:30 says, “But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”  (NIV). If I focus on the wind and the waves—my circumstances—I'm going to sink, just like Peter.

Don’t doubt.
I don’t need great faith to make it through the storm in my life. I just need faith in the right person—Jesus Christ.

Praise God.
Even in the storm, even when I feel like I'm sinking, even when I'm scared to death—praise him all the time. Thanking God is how I make it through.

What storm is scaring me right now? What storm is sinking me? Why do I think God is letting me go through this storm?

He’s letting me go through this storm for the same reasons he sent the disciples into the storm. He wants me to know: He's all I need. I can handle anything. And I’ll come walking on the very thing that scares me the most. He is not asking me to come to him. He's going to come to me.”

If I feel like I'm sinking today, don’t fear. Just call out to Jesus. I'll find he’s with me.

In summary:

Matthew 14:30 reminds me that when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind, fear took over and he began to sink—just like I do in life’s storms. But storms aren’t signs that God is distant; they are opportunities to trust Him more deeply. In the middle of fear, uncertainty, or sinking moments, God calls me to take courage, step out in faith, stay focused on Him, silence doubt, and praise Him anyway. He allows storms not to punish me, but to prove that He is all I need. When I cry out, “Lord, save me,” He always comes to me—right on top of the very thing that once scared me.

Bottom Line:

When life’s storms make me feel like I’m sinking, I don’t need to have it all together—I just need to keep my eyes on Jesus and call out to Him, because He is always near and ready to save.

Rescued in the Storm

“About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.” Mark 6:48 (NLT)

I have had storms in life that blew my life off course.

In Mark 6, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him to Bethsaida while he went off by himself to pray. It wasn’t a long trip by boat, but the disciples were blown off course by a storm. When Jesus saw them struggling against the wind in the middle of the lake, he came to their aid.

Did my life feel like the disciples’ did during that storm?

What does Jesus do when I'm at my moment of desperation? Mark 6:48 says, “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water” (NLT). Notice that he didn’t tell the disciples to come to him. He knew they couldn’t get to him. So he went to them instead. The same is true for me. When I'm at my point of desperation, Jesus comes to me!

I love the fact that Jesus did not stand on the shore and shout instructions. When I'm in a storm, I don’t need advice. I need a miracle! I need somebody to show up, and that’s what Jesus did. He intervened in the disciples’ storm.

This is the gospel: God doesn’t stand on the shoreline telling me what to do; instead, he comes out and meets me in my own storm—in my pain, fear, depression, and discouragement. He comes to me. What a God!

I may feel abandoned but I'm not. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm—I will come to you” (John 14:18). I can count on it!

In summary:

Mark 6:48 reveals the heart of Jesus in life’s storms—He doesn’t wait for me to find my way to Him; He comes to me. Just as the disciples were blown off course and struggling in the dark, Jesus walked on water to meet them at their point of desperation. When I feel lost, afraid, or overwhelmed, Jesus doesn’t shout instructions from afar—He steps into the storm with me. This is the essence of the gospel: I’m never abandoned, even when it feels like it. Jesus shows up in my pain, fear, and discouragement, bringing the miracle and presence I truly need.

Bottom Line:

Jesus doesn’t wait for me to find Him—He comes to me in the middle of my storm, bringing hope, help, and the miracle I need most.

Beyond What You Can Imagine

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)

I may face seemingly impossible challenges in life. Something that couldn’t be solved without a miracle?

When that time comes, I’ll have a choice. I can wait on God’s timing and his way. Or I can take matters into my own hands and try to make a miracle happen myself.

But the truth is that miracles don’t come from the places I expect them. And they don’t come as a result of my own effort. The source of a miracle is always unexpected.

Take Abraham, for example. God told Abraham that he was going to have a son, and that the son would be the father of a great nation. Abraham was nearly 100 years old, and he and his wife had no children. It would take a miracle to make it happen.

But Abraham had trouble believing God’s promise, and he didn’t wait on God to work a miracle. Instead, he took matters into his own hands and had a child with a woman who wasn’t his wife.

That wasn’t God’s plan. God’s plan had been to work a miracle in Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Abraham’s solution was inferior to God’s.

The same is true for me. My way of making things happen is always second best—God’s way is best.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand God’s plan. In fact, if I could always understand God, I would be God. But I'm not! Isaiah 55:8 says, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine’” (NLT).

Miracles always come in unexpected ways. So there’s no need to fret, fear, or try to figure it out.  

Trust God and say, “I don’t know how God is going to do it, but I know he will do it.”

Then simply obey and follow where God leads. And get ready for a miracle.

In summary:

Isaiah 55:8 reminds me that God’s thoughts and ways are far beyond my own, especially when facing challenges that seem impossible. When I try to force solutions in my own strength—like Abraham did—I often settle for something less than God’s best. Miracles don’t come from my effort or logic; they come from God’s unexpected and perfect timing. Even when I can’t see or understand His plan, we can trust that He is working. My role is to wait patiently, obey faithfully, and believe confidently that God will come through—just not always in the way I expect.

Bottom Line:

God’s way is always better than mine—when I trust His timing and surrender control, I open the door for miracles I could never create on my own.

Seeing People Like Jesus Does

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6:34 (NIV)

How can I know if I'm looking at life from God’s viewpoint? Think about the way I see other people.

How I see others is a great test of my spiritual maturity. It’s a better indicator of my spiritual maturity than how much Scripture I know, how often I attend church, or whether I serve, tithe, or pray.

Life is all about love and relationships. So if I want to gauge my spiritual maturity, think about how I see other people.

Consider, how God sees my wife; Valuable. Acceptable. Lovable. Forgivable. Is that the way I see my wife?

How about the stranger at the grocery store? The person who cut me off in traffic? The beggar on the street? What do I see when I look at other people? Do I see them as irritations and burdens?

What about the people I work with? Do I see them as enemies? Competition? Or do I see them the way God sees them?

All people matter to God. It doesn’t matter who they are, what they’ve done, or even what they believe. Jesus Christ died for them. He loves them. God has a plan for every person, and he wants them to have a relationship with him.

The Bible says in Mark 6:34, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (NIV).

That’s the way Jesus sees people. And that’s the way I can grow to see people too. I can learn to have compassion for my own family as well as for my neighbors, community, country, and the rest of the world.

Let my spiritual vision get stronger as I learn to see people the way Jesus does.

In summary:

Mark 6:34 shows me the heart of Jesus—full of compassion for people who were lost and in need, like sheep without a shepherd. This verse challenges me to evaluate my own spiritual maturity not by religious activity, but by how I see and treat others. God calls for me to view people—family, strangers, coworkers, even those who frustrate me—with His eyes: as valuable, lovable, and forgivable. Every person matters deeply to God, and true spiritual growth means developing a heart of compassion that sees people the way Jesus does and responds with love.

Bottom Line:

Spiritual maturity for me isn’t measured by religious activity but by how I see and treat others—true growth means seeing people through the compassionate eyes of Jesus.

Where God Guides, He Provides, Obedience is the Key to Unlocking It

“My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Waiting for a miracle can be hard. Sometimes the road is cold, dark, and lonely; I may even find myself stuck in a rut. I might not know where I'm going or how long the journey will take.

No matter where I am on the way to my miracle, here are some things to keep in mind:

God is all I need.
I don’t need a big bank account, a full refrigerator, or even a job. If God wants to, he can have ravens drop food on me as his way of providing. That’s how he provided for the prophet Elijah, who was exhausted and burned-out in the desert; see 1 Kings 17. When God turns off one source of provision, he can turn on another just as easily. I can trust him for all my needs.

Where God guides, God provides.
After sending the ravens to feed Elijah, God told him to make a dangerous trip to Zarephath. There was a drought in Zarephath and very little food. Yet God provided for Elijah through a poor widow with a generous heart. When God tells me to go somewhere, go immediately. When God tells me to do something, do it right away. When God gives me direction, he will provide what I need to get there.

I must trust him one day at a time.
Why? Because some of your problems persist day after day. For instance, if I had financial problems, I'll have to deal with them every day. And so I must trust God one day at a time to provide. The Bible says, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

God’s promises work when I'm obedient.
God often lays out his plan just one step at a time. He wants me to take the first step in obedience, and then he’ll show me the next step. Each step along the way may not seem logical, but I can obey in faith and confidence, knowing God’s way is always best. 

In summary:

Philippians 4:19 assures us that God will meet all my needs through His limitless riches in Christ. While waiting for a miracle can feel lonely, uncertain, and slow, I am reminded that God is my ultimate provider—He alone is enough. Just as He provided for Elijah through ravens and a widow during a drought, He can supply in unexpected ways. Where God leads, He also provides, but His provision often unfolds one day and one step at a time. Trusting Him requires daily faith and immediate obedience, even when the path doesn’t make sense. God's promises are activated through trust and faithful action.

Bottom Line:

God will always provide what I need—your job is to trust Him daily and obey Him step by step, even when the way forward isn’t clear.

Obedience Over Understanding

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

As a follower of Jesus, he calls me to a life of obedience—even if it appears foolish to other people, even if it doesn’t make sense financially, and even if I don’t understand it and scared to death.

Luke 5:4-5 says, “When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets’” (NIV).

Jesus had stepped into Simon Peter’s boat. But he didn’t stop there. He also started giving this professional fisherman instructions on how to fish!

Notice Peter’s reaction. He didn’t argue with Jesus. He didn’t say, “Excuse me, Lord. You’re a carpenter. I’m a fisherman. And those fish aren’t biting! Who are you to tell me how to do my job?”

And he didn’t hesitate. When Jesus told him to launch the boat, he didn’t say, “Why don’t we think about this for a minute? Let’s form a committee and vote on it” or “We’re pretty dirty and tired here, Lord. How about we try again this afternoon?”

What did Peter do? He responded to Jesus with unquestioning obedience.

God has tells me to do things: Disobedience always hurts me because I miss out on God’s blessing in my life.

But when I say, “God, I don’t understand it all, but I choose to obey you no matter what,” I'll experience a life of purpose and peace. His instructions don’t have to make sense to me; I just need to follow them—trusting him in faith.

The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

I can trust God because he always has my best interest in mind, even if I can’t see it right away.

In summary:

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to fully trust in God, not relying on my own limited understanding, but submitting to Him in every area of life. This kind of trust often requires obedience even when it doesn’t make sense—just like Peter in Luke 5, who, despite exhaustion and doubt, obeyed Jesus’ unexpected instruction to fish again and witnessed a miracle. God calls me to follow Him with faith, not logic, because His ways are higher than mine. When I choose obedience over understanding, I open myself to His guidance, peace, and blessing—trusting that He always has my best in mind.

Bottom Line:

Even when it doesn’t make sense, obedience to God leads to blessing—trust Him fully, surrender my understanding, and follow His lead.

When Effort Isn’t Enough: Trusting Jesus for the Breakthrough

“When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” Luke 5:4-5 (NIV)

In Luke 5, we read about Simon Peter admitting his failure to Jesus. He was a professional fisherman—and a good one. It was how he made his living. So imagine how hard it must have been for Peter to confess to Jesus, “We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” (Luke 5:5 NIV).

But sometimes, even the pros fish all night and catch nothing.

Sometimes I feel that way. Sometimes my best isn’t good enough, and sometimes I face situations out of my control. I can’t control the economy. I can’t control the weather. I can’t control a lot of things that affect my life.

So what should I do when I keep trying hard in my work but just don’t have much to show for it?

First, I need to get Jesus in my boat. In other words, let him be the center of my career or whatever I do each day to provide, care, or serve. Then, once I've asked Jesus to come into my boat, I need to admit my way isn’t working and let him take over. The Bible has a name for “admitting your way isn’t working.” It’s called confession, and it can be tough.

Why is it so hard for me to admit my way isn’t working? 

Here are a few reasons:

Pride. I don’t want anybody to think I can’t handle it. Instead, I try to look like I'm in charge and like I've got it all together. I want to be able to handle everything by myself, even if it means working 12 hours a day.

Stubbornness. I'm unwilling to change the way I do things. The greatest enemy of tomorrow’s success is yesterday’s success?

Fear. I can’t admit I've fished all night and caught nothing. I'm afraid people will think less of me. I'm afraid to let Jesus into my boat because he might steer it in a direction I don’t want to go.

It’s time to confess that my way isn’t working. Let go of my pride, stubbornness, and fear. See how Jesus can take my boat and fill my nets to overflowing.

In summary:

In Luke 5:4-5, Simon Peter, a skilled fisherman, humbly admits his failure after a long, unproductive night of fishing—but still obeys Jesus' instruction to try again. This story illustrates how, despite our best efforts and expertise, I sometimes come up empty due to circumstances beyond my control. When that happens, the key is to invite Jesus into the center of my work and life, confess that my way isn't working, and let Him lead. Confession requires letting go of pride, stubbornness, and fear—barriers that keep me from trusting God fully. Only then can He guide me to abundance beyond my efforts.

Bottom Line:

When my own efforts fall short, learn to invite Jesus into the center of life, surrender control, and trust His direction—He can do more with my obedience than I can with my expertise.

Short-Term Thinking, Long-Term Loss

“His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, ‘He said this because we have no bread.’ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed?’” Mark 8:16-17 (NCV)

When I focus on the wrong things, I miss what God is doing in my life.

When my attention is only on the here and now, I miss God’s long-term plan. When I just think about comfort, I miss out on character. When I concentrate on happiness, I forget holiness. When I just want to enjoy the moment, I may not prepare for eternity.

When my thinking is short-term, I miss seeing the spiritual work God is doing all around me.

This is what happened to the disciples in Mark 8. The Bible says, “Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake. His followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat; they had forgotten to bring more. Jesus warned them, ‘Be careful! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod’” (Mark 8:13-15 NCV).

But the disciples missed the point: “His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, ‘He said this because we have no bread.’ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed?’” (Mark 8:16-17 NCV).

Using yeast as a metaphor, Jesus was trying to teach his disciples a lesson about pride. When you put yeast in dough, the yeast puffs up the dough. It only takes a small amount for this to happen.

Pride in people is similar. Just a little pride can puff me up and quickly take over my life, getting me in all kinds of trouble. But the disciples didn’t understand the deeper meaning—they thought he was talking about lunch!

While Jesus was talking about the need for maturity, his disciples were talking about their next meal. That’s short-term thinking.

Whenever I think short-term, I can’t see the larger picture of what God is doing in my life. So ask God today to give me a glimpse into eternity and to help me experience the hope that comes from seeing his long-term plan.

In summary:

When I focus only on immediate needs or concerns, like the disciples worrying about having no bread, I can easily miss the deeper spiritual lessons God is trying to teach me. In Mark 8, Jesus uses the metaphor of yeast to warn about the destructive nature of pride, but his followers misunderstand, showing how short-term thinking blinds us to God’s greater plan. Like them, when I prioritize comfort, happiness, or the moment, I risk losing sight of character development, holiness, and eternal purpose. To truly grow, I must ask God to shift my perspective from temporary concerns to his long-term, eternal work in my life.

Bottom line:

Don’t allow short-term thinking blind me to God’s deeper work—I need to shift my focus from the temporary to the eternal so I can grow in faith and maturity.

Faith Over Fear: Facing Giants with God's Power

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty . . . This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands . . . and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)

If I want to be a person of great faith, with a great dream and a great life’s work, do the very things that David did to defeat the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt.

Remember how God has helped me in the past.
David said in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (NLT).

When I remember the ways that God has helped me in the past, it gives me confidence for the future.

Use the tools that God has given me now.
David used the tools that God provided that utilized his strengths: “Then Saul gave David his own armor . . . ‘I can’t go in these,’ he protested to Saul. ‘I’m not used to them.’ So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag” (1 Samuel 17:38-40 NLT).

Don’t wait for something I don’t have—money, education, or connections. Use the tools God has already given me to face my giants with confidence.

Ignore the dream busters.
Later in life, when others were speaking against him, David had to encourage himself in the Lord: “David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6 TLB).

When I encourage myself in the Lord, it’s not just a positive mental attitude. There is a bedrock trust in God’s grace, provision, security, and power.

Expect God to help me for his glory.
David stormed the battlefield, shouting, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty. . . . This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 NIV).

Make this decision, “God, I’m not the smartest guy, the best educated, or the most talented. But I’m going to trust you. And I will do anything, anytime, anywhere in faith, even when it doesn’t make sense to me.” And then let the adventure in life begin!

God will use anybody who will trust him and expect to be used by him—not because of who I am but because it brings him glory.

In summary:

To become a person of great faith and purpose like David, I must face the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt by remembering how God has helped me in the past, using the tools and strengths He’s already given me, ignoring those who try to crush my dreams, and stepping out in faith expecting God to act for His glory—not because of my ability, but because of His power.

Bottom Line:

Trust God fully, use what He’s already given me, and face life’s giants with bold faith—because the battle belongs to the Lord and brings glory to Him.

Slaying the Giants Within

“Everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:47 (NLT)

Before David faced Goliath in 1 Samuel, he had to fight four other giants. But they weren’t physical giants; they were giants in his mind.

I'm far more likely to face those kinds of giants than an actual Goliath, but they can be just as big and intimidating. They can keep me from becoming who God wants me to be and fulfilling the dream that God has put in my heart. 

The first giant in facing my dream is delay. No dream is fulfilled instantly. It may be years before I see the fulfillment of my life dream. There is always a waiting period.

In David’s case, his dad held him back from the dream. After Samuel anointed David as king, Jesse told David to get back to tending the sheep!

When God’s plan contradicts somebody else’s plan, there’s going to be a delay, and people may try to hold me back. But God is faithful, and he will complete his work in his timing.

The second giant I may face is discouragement. Goliath created a climate of fear in Israel, and everybody was convinced they were going to lose the battle.

What people are I listening who say it can’t be done? Who’s putting down my dream, saying it won’t ever happen?

Sometimes I just need a fresh voice—a kid from the village with fresh eyes who says, “This giant is nothing. We can take him down.”

The third giant standing in my way is disapproval. In David’s case, his own brother questioned his motives and disapproved of him going after Goliath.

When God gives me a dream that scares other people and I go for it anyway, I will be misjudged, maligned, and misunderstood. That’s when I have to decide what matters most: the approval of others or God’s approval.

The fourth giant I may have to face is doubt. King Saul was an expert on war, and he told David he was crazy for thinking a boy could fight a warrior like Goliath.

Maybe the expert is saying I can’t do it, either. That’s enough to make me start doubting myself.

Besides, the experts are often wrong. Don’t let doubt hold me back from God’s dream for my life.

In summary:

Before David ever faced Goliath, he had to overcome four invisible giants—delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt—that threatened to stop him from fulfilling God’s dream for his life. Like David, I often face these internal giants that arise from people’s opinions, setbacks, or even my own insecurities. Delay may come from being held back by others, discouragement from fear-driven voices, disapproval from those close to me, and doubt from so-called experts. But as David declared in 1 Samuel 17:47, the battle belongs to the Lord, and with faith in Him, I can overcome these giants and walk boldly toward the purpose God has placed in my heart.

Bottom Line:

Before I can defeat the external giants in life, I must first overcome the internal ones—delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt—by trusting that the battle belongs to God.

Guided by Trust, The Answer to the Stress of Indecision

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 (NIV)

When I'm afraid of making the wrong decision, it creates stress in my life.

But God has an antidote to indecision. Psalm 23:3 says, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (NIV). The way to handle the stress of decision-making—whether it’s a financial decision, relational decision, or vocational decision—is to let God guide me.

“But I’ve tried this!” I asked God to guide me, but then I became more confused than ever before. I still couldn’t figure it out, and I wondered why knowing God’s will is so difficult.

Is God playing games with me? Of course not! God wants to guide me. He wants me to know his will more than I want to know. But sometimes I look for the wrong thing when I'm trying to find God’s will. We all do this.

Some of us look for a feeling. Some want a formula or recipe to follow. Others treat it like magic—waiting for God to give them a big, fantastic sign.

These ways only lead to frustration and can cause me to miss God’s will.

God doesn’t want me confused, and he doesn’t want me stressed over making a decision. He wants me to ask him for guidance before I make a decision and then trust him and his goodness once the decision is made.

When I do, he sets me free from second-guessing myself.

James 1:6-8 says, “When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do” (NLT).

Here’s the good news: Even if the future looks uncertain, I don’t have to feel unsettled or stressed or afraid. God is stable, and I can trust his guidance. 

When I unequivocally trust God in uncertain times—in all times—he will give me everything I need to make wise decisions.

God will be there guiding me every step of the way. This is his promise, and I can believe it to be true: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

In summary:

When faced with difficult decisions, I don't have to be overwhelmed by fear or stress—God promises to guide me along the right paths, as Psalm 23:3 assures. Often, I seek guidance through feelings, formulas, or signs, but God’s will isn’t found in confusion or gimmicks; it’s discovered through faith and trust. He desires to lead me more than I desire to be led, and when I ask in faith and commit to trusting Him fully, He frees me from doubt and second-guessing. Even in uncertain times, God's guidance is steady and reliable—He will show me the right way when I rely on Him completely.

Bottom Line:

When I trust God fully, He will guide me on the right path and give me peace in every decision.

The Power of Thanking God in Advance

"The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!'" 2 Chronicles 20:21 (NLT)

In 2 Chronicles 20:21, King Jehoshaphat had a very unusual way of organizing an army: "The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!'" (NLT).

Jehoshaphat’s battle plan was to put a choir before the infantry. Picture this: On one side, there are three enemy armies amassed to do battle against Israel. Then there’s the valley where they’re going to battle. Then there are the lowly Israelites. Jehoshaphat essentially says, “We’re going to take those of you who sing and make a choir out of you, putting you in front of the army as you march into battle.”

There’s a very important truth here: The Israelites were thanking God in advance for the victory. Praise and thanksgiving are verbalized faith. If I thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If I thank God before it happens, that’s faith.

Notice the effect of praise in verses 22 and 23: “When they began to sing, the LORD threw the invading armies into a panic. The Ammonites and the Moabites attacked the Edomite army and completely destroyed it, and then they turned on each other in savage fighting" (GNT). God confused the enemy, and they turned on each other and destroyed themselves while the Israelites looked on. There is power in expectation.

That insurmountable problem in my life—the one with the odds may be stacked against me? When i thank God after he’s solved everything, that’s called gratitude. But when I thank him before it’s all settled—right in the middle of the problem—that’s faith.

When I allow God to solve my problems, it becomes a testimony to unbelievers. The world takes notice when his followers live by faith. And God loves to demonstrate his power in those who expect him to work in their lives.

So when facing a difficult circumstance—with money, relationships, or career and feel like the odds are against me or if I think my problem is overwhelming? What do I do? I need to turn to God, who defends me.

In summary:

I read In 2 Chronicles 20:21, how King Jehoshaphat demonstrated bold faith by sending singers to lead his army into battle, praising God in advance for the victory. This act of worship wasn’t just symbolic—it was a declaration of trust in God’s power before the outcome was visible. As the people sang, God caused their enemies to turn on each other, proving that faith-filled praise can unlock divine intervention. The lesson is clear: thanking God after a breakthrough shows gratitude, but praising Him before the breakthrough shows faith. When we trust God in the face of overwhelming odds, He not only fights for me but also uses my faith as a testimony to others.

Bottom line:

Praising God before the victory is an act of faith that invites His power to turn the battle in my favor.

Transformed Through Trials

“If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” 1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)

Before photography went digital, you took a picture, and the first thing you’d get was a negative. Then you’d develop the negative into a positive by going into a darkroom and shining a light through it onto photographic paper. This turned the negative into a positive, full-color photograph.

I'm learning that this is what God wants to do with the injustices in our lives. We have all experienced injustice. People have mistreated us. They’ve passed over us. They’ve taken advantage of us. God wants to take all the negatives, shine the light of Jesus through them, and turn them into positives—a full-color picture of the life I was made to live.

The Bible says, “If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you” (1 Peter 4:19 NLT). The most important thing I can remember when I’ve been treated unfairly is that Jesus is on my side. 

Throughout Scripture, God shows special care for people who are treated unfairly. He is a God of justice. He hears my cry, sees my pain, and knows my hurt. I didn’t get what I thought you deserved. But God has a plan for my pain.

When I shine the light of God’s love through my circumstances, he can turn my pain into a beautiful picture. He develops my character through it. He makes me stronger. Most importantly, he uses my pain.

I’ll never get an explanation for much of the pain I'll endure in this life. When I get to heaven, I may understand more about why bad things happened to me. But God does not owe me an explanation for it.

The good news is that I don’t need an explanation. I just need to know that God loves me. He has a plan for me. God will settle the score with whoever hurt me.

God never wastes a hurt. Welcome the light of the gospel into it, and God will use my hurt—the very real injustice that has happened to me—to create a beautiful picture through my life.

In summary:

Just as a photographic negative is transformed into a beautiful image by light, God can shine His light through the injustices and hurts in my life to create something good and meaningful. When I suffer in a way that honors Him, Scripture encourages me to keep doing what is right and trust in His unfailing love and justice (1 Peter 4:19). Though I may never get an explanation for the pain I endure, I can rest in the truth that God sees, hears, and cares deeply. He uses my suffering to strengthen my character, grow my faith, and ultimately turn my pain into purpose—never wasting a hurt when I surrender it to Him.

When I trust God with my pain, He will use it to shape my character, reveal His love, and create something meaningful from my suffering.

Loving Like Jesus, A Love That Never Quits

“Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (GW)

The same love God offers to me, he wants me to offer to everyone else. It’s not an option or a suggestion. It’s a command: “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT).

As a follower of Christ, I must love everybody—whether I like them or not—in the same way that Christ loves me. That means I am to accept them completely, love them unconditionally, forgive them totally, and consider them extremely valuable.

Loving others in this way will transform my relationships!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up” (GW).

This is how God loves me. God never stops being patient with me. God never stops believing in me. God never stops hoping for the best in my life. God never gives up on me. That’s what God expects me to do with everybody else.

“Love never stops being patient.” That means love extends grace. I need to offer grace to others.

“Love . . . never stops believing.” That means love expresses faith. The people in my life should know that, even if things are strained between us, I will never stop believing in them.

“Love . . . never stops hoping.” That means love expects the best. Are I expecting the best in my marriage, with my daughter, grandsons, or with my coworkers? Or have I settled for less than the best? Have I become pessimistic or cynical when it comes to my relationships?

“Love . . . never gives up.” That means love endures the worst. It means I can look at the other person and say, “You can throw everything at me, but I’m going to keep loving you, no matter what.”

If I want to start loving the people God has placed in my life even better, I can say “Dear God, I admit that I’ve sometimes made a mess in my relationships. They’re complicated and broken, and I’ve often settled for less than the best. They need a transformation! So please begin by changing me.

“Help me to accept others, just as you’ve accepted me. Help me to love others unconditionally, just as you have loved me. Help me to forgive others totally, just as you’ve forgiven me. And help me to value others as much as you value me. Help me to extend grace to and express faith in the people around me. Help me to expect the best in others, and when the worst happens, help me to endure it and to keep on loving them. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

In summary:

God calls me to love others with the same relentless, grace-filled love He shows me—patient, faithful, hopeful, and enduring. According to 1 Corinthians 13:7, true love never gives up, never loses faith, never stops hoping, and never quits—and this is exactly how God loves me. As a follower of Christ, I'm commanded to extend that same love to everyone, whether I like them or not: accepting completely, loving unconditionally, forgiving totally, and valuing deeply. When I embrace this kind of love, it transforms my relationships, beginning with a prayer for God to change my own heart so I can love others as He loves me.

When I let God transform my heart, I can extend grace, endure in love, and build relationships that reflect His unconditional love.

Loved and Worthy: Living from God's View Of Me

“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end.” Isaiah 54:10 (GNT)

If I don’t feel loved by God, it’s going to be much more difficult for me to offer love to someone else. But when I understand and remember how deeply God loves me, it becomes more natural—and even easy—to love others.

This is why I need to remind myself every day what God thinks about me—not what the world thinks or what I think about myself. “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe” (Proverbs 29:25 GNT).

Four truths God wants me to remember about who I am. These will help me to better feel his love and share it with others. 

I'm completely accepted.
I spend a lot of my life trying to earn acceptance from parents, peers, those I respect, those I envy, and even total strangers. But I need to realize that God has already settled this issue of acceptance: “Jesus . . . made us acceptable to God” (Titus 3:7 CEV). What Jesus did on the cross made me completely acceptable to God—no matter what I've done or will do.

I'm unconditionally loved.
God doesn’t say, “I love you if . . .” or “ I love you because . . .” He says, “I love you—period!” I can’t make God stop loving me, because his love is not based on what I do but on who he is. Isaiah 54:10 says, “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (GNT).

I'm totally forgiven.
Because Jesus died on the cross and gave his life as a payment for my sins, I am totally forgiven when I accepted God’s gift of forgiveness. Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). God doesn’t rehearse my sins. He releases them.

I'm considered to be extremely valuable.
There are two things that determine the value of something: who it belongs to and what someone is willing to pay for it.

The truth is, I'm a child of God—and “you have been bought and paid for by Christ” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB). God says I belong to him, and Jesus paid for me with his life. That’s how valuable I am! 

When I remember that I'm accepted, loved, forgiven, and valuable to the Creator of the universe, I'll be better equipped to show that love to others and build deeper relationships. I must see value in myself to add value to myself and to others.

In summary:

Isaiah 54:10 reminds me that God's love is unwavering, even when everything else falls apart. When I truly grasp how deeply God loves me—that I’m completely accepted, unconditionally loved, totally forgiven, and extremely valuable—it transforms how I see myself and how I relate to others. God’s view of me matters more than the opinions of others or even my own negative self-talk. As I anchor my identity in His truth and remember what Jesus has done for me, I can love others more freely and genuinely. Feeling secure in God’s love empowers me to offer that same love and value to those around me. I must see value in myself to add value to myself and to others.

Knowing I'm accepted, loved, forgiven, and valued by God empowers me to love others with confidence and grace.

Be Led by Truth, Not by Feelings

“From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God’s will and not by human desires.” 1 Peter 4:2 (GNT)

What are human desires? They’re my emotions and my affections. Once I become a Christ-follower, my life should be controlled by God’s will, not by how I feel.

When I'm angry or upset or frustrated—whatever I'm feeling—I need to consider these three questions:

“What’s the real reason I’m feeling this?” Maybe the answer is fear or worry. Maybe it goes back to something parents said years ago. Or maybe someone hurt me last week, and today they’re the target of all my pent-up anger.

“Is it true?” Is what I'm feeling at that moment true? There’s a point in the Bible where Elijah got so discouraged that he went to God and complained, “God, I’m the only one in the entire nation of Israel left serving you.” And God challenged him, essentially saying, “Are you kidding me? I’ve got all these people who are still serving me! You’re acting like you’re the only one trying to do the right thing in the whole world! No. That’s not true.”

“Is what I’m feeling helping me or hurting me?” Will I get what you want by continuing to feel this way? A lot of feelings I have seem natural, but they’re actually self-defeating.

If I go to a restaurant, the service is extremely slow. I wait a long time to be served, and then a couple walks in 15 minutes after you and gets their meals before you do. I become increasingly irritated until I feel something welling up inside.

When something like this happens, consider each question: What’s the real reason I'm feeling that way? I'm hungry! Is it true? Yes. I'm frustrated because the service is slow. Is what I'm feeling helping or hurting? Getting angry with the server never works. When somebody tells me all the things I'm doing wrong, does it make me want to change? No! All it does is make me defensive.

When I ask yourself these three questions, I'll get a better grip on why I feel the way I do and what I need to do to help the situation.

That’s called managing your emotions.

In summary:

1 Peter 4:2 reminds me that once I follow Christ, my life should be guided by God's will, not by my human desires— emotions and affections. Managing my emotions means not being controlled by how I feel in the moment, but by seeking truth and alignment with God’s purpose. When emotions rise, I can pause and ask three key questions: What’s the real reason I’m feeling this? Is it true? Is this feeling helping or hurting me? These questions help me uncover deeper causes, challenge distorted thinking, and evaluate whether my emotions are leading me toward or away from God's will. This intentional process leads to greater emotional self-awareness and Christlike self-control.

I need to live by God’s will, not by my emotions, by pausing to reflect on the truth behind my feelings.

The Peace of a Surrendered Heart

“Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.” Job 11:13-18 (CEV)

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (NCV).

So how can I learn to live in God’s love so that you can live free of fear?

Every day, I need to surrender my heart to God.

When I wake up each morning, before my feet hit the floor, I need to say, “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions. I surrender my heart to you. I want you to fill me with your love.”

Job 11:13-18 says, “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry” (CEV).

I find three commands and eight promises in that verse. God says if I do this, then he’ll do that. In fact, so many of God’s promises come with a premise.

First, he gives me the commands: Surrender my heart to God every day. Turn to him in prayer. And give up my sins—confess my sins to God.

Then come the eight benefits: I won’t be ashamed, I’ll be confident, I’ll be fearless, my troubles will be like water under the bridge, the dark night I'm going through is going to be brighter than noon, Ill be able to sleep well because I am safe and secure, I will be filled with hope, and I’ll be emptied of worry.

Wow! These are great benefits to experience. I need to consider writing that Scripture on an index card and put it somewhere where I’ll see it throughout the week. Let it remind me to do those three things—surrender my heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and confess my sins—so that God’s peace will fill my life.

Do this and watch and see how God helps me “rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.”

In summary:

Job 11:13–18 reminds us that when I daily surrender my heart to God, turn to Him in prayer, and confess my sins—even the hidden ones—I open the door to a life free of fear, shame, and worry. This passage outlines three simple but powerful commands that lead to eight incredible promises: confidence, fearlessness, peace, hope, rest, and more. By starting each day giving God control of my heart and emotions, I'm inviting His perfect love to fill me and drive out fear, as 1 John 4:18 teaches. Living this way brings deep spiritual security and transforms even my darkest moments into light.