Today we look at Jacob — a man facing one of the most feared moments of his life.

He’s about to meet his brother Esau, whom he once betrayed.
Scripture tells us:

— Genesis 32:7

He doesn’t know what will happen.
He imagines the worst.
He fears the future.

Sound familiar?

Many of our deepest anxieties come from:

Not knowing the outcome

Fearing consequences

Worry about the people we love

Situations we can’t control

Jacob’s story meets us right there.

He plans, he strategizes, he prepares for the worst.

Jacob cries out:

“O Lord… I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown…
Deliver me, for I fear my brother.”

He stops trying to control the outcome
and surrenders the situation to God.

God stays with him.
God strengthens him.
God gives him a new name — Israel.
God works in Esau’s heart.
The future Jacob feared becomes the future God redeems.

Before you arrive, He is preparing the path.
Before you face it, He is shaping the outcome.
Before you fear it, He is already working.

You don’t walk into the future alone.

What future moment am I most anxious about?

What would surrender look like in that exact situation?

How might God already be working behind the scenes?

Lord, thank You for being faithful in every season — past, present, and future.
Help me surrender my fears about tomorrow.
Give me courage to trust Your plan, even when I can’t see it.
Go before me and prepare the way,
just as You did for Jacob.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

If these 3 days have encouraged you, I’d love for you to know more about our future Digital Discipleship Library, where you’ll find Bible studies, devotionals, mini courses, and resources to help you grow spiritually every day.

But no matter what — I’m proud of you.
And I believe God is going to continue giving you His peace.

Thank you for joining me for Peace on Earth.

In Christ,
Todd

Psalm 23 begins with a powerful declaration:

Not distant.
Not passive.
Not occasionally helpful.

Your Shepherd.

Anxiety tries to convince you you’re alone.
But Scripture reminds you: you never are.

“The valley of the shadow of death.”

Evil.

Enemies.

Fear.

David didn’t hide his anxiety — he named it.
And in naming it, he made space for God to comfort him.

He makes me lie down — He gives rest when your mind races.

He restores my soul — He heals what fear has damaged.

He comforts me — He protects what feels fragile.

He prepares a table — He provides even in chaos.

Goodness and mercy follow me — He writes a hopeful future.

God doesn’t just calm the storm around you.
He calms the storm inside you.

What “valley” am I walking through in this season?

What fear do I need to express honestly to God today?

What promise from Psalm 23 brings me the most comfort?

Father, thank You for being my Shepherd.
You see my anxiety, and You stay close.
Restore my soul today.
Help me to feel Your presence,
Your comfort, and Your goodness following me.
Carry me where I feel weak.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

You’re doing great.
Your willingness to seek God in your anxiety is a sign of spiritual strength — not weakness.

Excited to see you tomorrow for our final lesson.

In Christ,
Todd

Today we look at Proverbs 3, a passage written by King Solomon — one of the youngest and most pressured kings in history.
He knew anxiety. He lived with massive responsibility, enormous expectations, and heavy decisions.

And under that pressure, God gave him wisdom that still speaks life to us today.

Anxiety is one of life’s greatest speed bumps.
It interrupts your peace…
your clarity…
your confidence…
and even your spiritual focus.

But Proverbs 3 gives us a roadmap:

God invites you to trust Him even when you don’t understand what’s happening.

Anxiety shrinks your vision.
God widens it.

This means inviting Him into the exact places where you feel overwhelmed.

Not perfect.
Not painless.
But straight — steady, guided, and secure.

This is God’s promise for you today.

Take a moment and ask yourself:

What situation in my life feels the most uncertain right now?

What would it look like to acknowledge God in that exact place?

How might I be leaning on my own understanding rather than His wisdom?

Lord, thank You for meeting me in my anxiety with compassion and strength.
Help me trust You with all my heart today.
Teach me to release the need to understand everything,
and instead rest in Your presence and Your direction.
Make my path straight as I walk with You.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you’re enjoying today’s lesson, I’d love to invite you to explore our plans for our Digital Discipleship Library, where we're planning to include more Bible studies, devotionals, and spiritual growth tools.
But for now — I’m proud of you for taking this step toward peace.

See you tomorrow for Day 2.

In Christ,
Todd

This story of Jacob takes place around 1900 BC in Genesis 32 and 33. That tells us that anxiety is NOT a new issue.  

The main emphasis of this story is a look into Jacob's very real fear of the future.

Insights to Note: 

• Tells us the story of Jacob's inner conflict with his brother Esau
• Reveals Jacob's great fear and distress with confrontation
• Shows Jacob's human reaction to the fear he faced
• Gives us Jacob's dependence prayer on Yahweh in the face of fear, anxiety, and stress
• Reveals God's desire to stay with Jacob throughout fearful and overwhelming situations
• Shows how God helped Jacob to reconcile with his brother Esau

Episode Highlights:

00:26 - Understanding Anxiety in a Biblical Context

03:17 - Jacob's Early Life and Family Dynamics

06:15 - Jacob's Encounter with God

19:59 - Transformation from Jacob to Israel

23:54 - Reconciliation with Esau

28:01 - Faith, Trust, and Overcoming Anxiety with God's Help

31:41 - The Importance of Forgiveness

Download our free Psalm 23 Exercise for facing anxiety. Use it to follow along and take your own notes while listening to this episode.

00:31 - Exploring David's Anxieties

02:10 - Understanding Anxiety Through the Lens of Scripture

03:32 - The Nature of Anxiety and Fear

04:46 - Psalm 23: Trust in God's Goodness

05:39 - God as the Shepherd

06:04 - Finding Rest in God

06:36 - Spiritual Nourishment and Fulfillment

07:57 - Engaging Anxiety in Difficult Situations

09:36 - God's Protection and Safety

10:50 - Facing the Dark Valleys

15:44 - Relating to David's Struggles

16:52 - Experiencing Blessings Amidst Challenges

21:09 - Daily Connection with God

1:02 - Understanding Anxiety

8:19 - General Anxiety vs. Panic Attacks

9:28 - Biblical Perspectives on Anxiety

10:13 - Wisdom from Proverbs 3

22:25 - Benefits of Seeking God's Wisdom

29:29 - God's Desire for Our Peace

30:39 - Practical Steps to Overcome Anxiety

Download our Psalm 23 Exercise to prepare for life's anxious moments.

Two practical steps frame out this message:

1. How to know that God is walking beside you in your work each day
2. How to allow God to continue working inside you so that you are accomplishing His work

The passages in this message are: Romans 12:1-21

Peter had denied Jesus, and then Jesus died on the cross. But through the resurrection and the mercy of God, Jesus still had extremely valuable work for Peter to do. Even when we feel that God couldn't possibly use us, we're reminded that God can redeem anyone who turns to Him. The work God has designed for His people is redeeming and full of eternal purpose.

This episode focuses on the following passages: Matthew 19:23-30 and John 21:1-19

The story of David being overlooked by his entire family teaches us that God wants to give His valuable work to people who have His kind of heart. When we are overlooked by others, God always has something to teach us. In spite of how others see you, God sees your heart, and He has unique and meaningful work that He is calling ONLY you to do.

The evidence of a heart for God can be seen in a person's understanding and use of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

David didn't always use these gifts of the Spirit in the best ways, but David's heart was consistently humble toward God so that He could use David to do extraordinary work.

True success includes God in your life. Moses was a uniquely gifted leader who learned from God again and again to always put the LORD first.

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses encouraged the people of Israel to look to God to prepare them for the success He was giving them.

In a similar way, God wants to prepare us for the success He wants to give us... but it takes trust in God and His commands, patience with ourselves, and discipline to daily look to God.