1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”

These two short verses tell us several things: One, if we submit to God’s power by acknowledging we can’t solve our problems, He is strong enough to intervene and bring about the outcome we really want.

Second, He does this in His own time, on His own timetable.

Third, we are to leave our problems at His feet. There is nothing wrong with getting an image in your mind where you actually do this and then walk away, your burden lifted.

Key in getting on track is recognizing that you might have trust problem. If you’ve been deeply hurt by, say, a family member, you might subconsciously be failing to trust God himself.

And this is a first step in getting free of fear for good.

Know that an unburdened mind is not usually gained quickly, or without what we would call maintenance. The only thing predictable about our world is that it’s unpredictable. If you think you’re going to have one great afternoon and then every day after that is carefree, you’re deluding yourself.

We’ve already established that a daily time of prayer, reading your Bible, and focusing on God’s love for you is a combination that our enemy can’t overcome. Choosing to believe God’s Word is practical, and it works. That can’t be emphasized enough!

Jesus said in John 16:33 that we will absolutely have trouble in our lives, but that He has already overcome the world. This fact will help to keep you on that straight path that will ultimately one day lead to paradise with the One that created you, sustains you, and loves you forever.

Let’s pray.

Lord, having the discipline to daily rely on you is something we often lack. When we focus and concentrate our minds and our hearts on your good gifts, fear leaves and can be replaced with courage and peace. Thank you for providing for all of our needs, all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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I’m not sure where you’re at today. You might be angry at God. Something happened, maybe in your life, that has damaged your faith. If we live in the world long enough, it can happen to any of us.

How you respond is really important. If you’ve listened previously, you know we are talking about how to live by faith.

Having perseverance when we’re miserable is really, really hard. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re the only one.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, and not by sight.”

Really listen to the words: “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

That’s how we’re supposed to live. Not for a few hours or a day or even a season. For life. It’s how we’re supposed to live. And we don’t always cling to what we can see in the short term.

Strong faith is built over time. Think back over your life to those times when God met your needs. Big needs! Those were the moments He gave you to prove that His strength is not limited.

That’s how we walk by faith!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, life is a marathon, it’s not a quick sprint. God help us to walk by faith, from beginning to end. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Even during times of calm and security, the honest truth is, there are very few examples of really strong and steady leaders.

It’s a given then that when times are scary, brave leaders that reassure us are really needed…but really rare!

The Bible speaks of one such person.

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua was an especially passionate and courageous leader. A born leader. God used him during a time the Israelites were ‘going all wobbly,’ as a political leader once said.

The Israelites had seen it all. A plague in Egypt. An army bearing down on them. Mass hunger. Homelessness for years.

But Joshua played it all with a chip on his shoulder. An edge of anger, really that caused him to never be afraid. In his community, he was boss—and everyone knew it. God made him that way.

In your own community—your family at home, your church family, a group of scared coworkers—be a Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Set your feet so that your legs don’t go wobbly, and then tell your people that God has this.

He is with you, wherever this situation goes.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, Joshua is our human example of courage. Help us keep others safe and calm in the midst of crisis. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young men from Judah who found themselves in a heated situation.

They were brought into the court of King Nebuchadnezzar II, and ordered to bow before the king’s golden image. The alternative was a one-way ticket to the fiery furnace.

The king’s command would have been easy for these guys to follow, but their own King of Kings had already commanded them to place no other gods before Him, and to stay away from the evil of graven images. They may have been wary of the king’s wrath, but their faith in God was stronger.

They replied in Daniel 3:16–18, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter...Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Rather than violate their commitment to obey God, these men put their lives in His hands. They didn’t know whether God would intervene to save them. They knew God could, but they didn't know that He would. Regardless of the outcome, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to live for the Lord, and if necessary, they were willing to die in obedience to the Lord.

Romans 14:8 says, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

As an example of His power, God intervened to spare their lives. Even though He allowed them to be tied up and thrown into the furnace, the blazing heat didn't affect them at all. They walked out unharmed.

In the midst of our own challenges, we know God can and does show up for us. He asks us to trust Him with the obstacles we face every day, and even with our very lives.

Let’s pray.

Jesus, it’s unlikely anyone will threaten to throw us into a fiery furnace, but sometimes it sure feels like our feet are put to the fire. Remind us to trust you...with every dilemma, every shortcoming, and every situation. We give you our challenges and our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Are you the kind of person everyone looks at and assumes you are strong and you have it all together?

You too, huh? Many of us look fine on the outside, but the human condition is often much different on the inside.

Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

But the thing is, God did not make us to have a spirit of fear. He never planned for us to suffer from depression or anxiety.

Look, life happens. Sometimes we are rocked by circumstances. But God’s Word says that we don’t stay there. We keep our eyes on Him, and He is our strength. It’s not even our job to find the strength to breathe and go about our day!

The person who endures a cancer diagnosis isn’t doing it on her own. When Christ dwells in you, He takes the burdens and promises that in the end, we will be healed.

If you look like a confident statue on the outside, but you’re about to lose it on the inside, take time to tell that to Jesus. Give Him your fears and doubts.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we are not in this alone. Your grace is sufficient for all our needs, every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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A positive in our culture today is that we can admit our shortcomings. 

In the past, it was sort of taboo to tell the world you were not exactly all together. Back in the day, a “hot mess” usually referred to an overturned pot on the stove.

But today, the phrase “hot mess” has a whole new meaning. Our lives are often just a mess.

Thank goodness the outcome is not dependent on us.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Recognizing that you don’t quite have it together is a positive first step to moving beyond your circumstances. But the real key is internalizing the fact that God—not you—saves the day. 

All we can do is admit our shortcomings and then rest in the knowledge that God has it from here. That’s an attitude the Lord will bless. 

God’s got you covered and blessed all at the same time!

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are so good to us. And you have so much more for us than we can even imagine. Thank you for blessing us and not leaving us where we were. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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By some estimates, the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” is performed over 10 million times a year around the world. Imagine not being able to hear this sweet song!

Losing the ability to hear, or being born deaf, is unimaginable for many of us who have never experienced hearing loss, but there are some surprising upsides to being differently-abled in this way.

Deaf people develop keener senses of observation, touch, taste, and smell to compensate for their loss of hearing. What the hearing world may view as a loss can lead to Sensory Superpowers for members of the deaf community.

ASL, or American Sign Language, is an incredibly rich language, and it’s the 6th most common language in the United States

Statistics show deaf people are safer drivers due to their ability to focus on the visual aspects of driving, and actually live longer than hearing people.

Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Sometimes when we lose out on something, God’s grace sweeps in to fill up that space with other beautiful blessings in amazing ways.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, sometimes we see differences as stumbling blocks, but your grace tells us otherwise. Help us to be noticers of where your grace shines a light in the lives of those around us, and to embrace the differences we encounter. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever been really angry at someone, and had a tough time letting it go?

Maybe a work colleague let you down, or got you in trouble with the boss.

Maybe family drama is dragging you down, and there are unresolved hurt feelings.

Maybe your spouse betrayed you, and you aren’t sure how to move past it.

Unforgiveness in our lives is painful, and as believers, it can affect our prayer life, and even our relationship with the Lord.

Mark 11:25 says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

God’s amazing grace is one of the most beautiful aspects of Christian belief. He sent His Own Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in exchange for our sins. We are forgiven because of the sacrifice Jesus made, and have eternity in heaven to look forward to because of that forgiveness.

The truth about unforgiveness is it does the most damage not to the party we hold a grudge against — but to ourselves. You can’t see it on the outside, but an unhealed wound on our hearts is like a cancer, spreading and growing, and preventing us from experiencing joy to the full.

God wants better for us. If you are struggling to forgive someone, give it to God today, and ask Him to help you let it go.

Let’s pray.

Lord, I have a person or situation to forgive that is weighing heavily on my heart, and I need your help. Please give me the strength to forgive and renew my sense of peace. I give you every aspect of this situation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Do you ever worry you might not measure up?

Sam was a fourth grader with a big problem: he left his homework at school, and he was so worried he’d be in trouble with the teacher, he could hardly stand to go to school the next day.

In the car on the way to school, Sam’s mom explained the concept of grace, asking, “Sam, do you know about the idea of grace? Grace means even if we aren’t perfect, the people who care about us can choose to forgive us. I think your teacher will understand about your homework.”

Ephesians 2 verses 8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

The concerns on your mind today are probably bigger than a missed homework assignment. Maybe you’re struggling in your marriage or experiencing financial distress. Maybe things aren’t going well at work, or you are battling addiction, or wrestling with sin.

When you begin to worry you are falling short, give it to the Lord. God sent Jesus as a living sacrifice for me and for you, so we could all experience His grace. Grace isn’t something we can earn, it’s a gift God gives to us, simply because He loves us. And that’s truly amazing!

Let’s pray.

Lord, we thank you for your grace and thank you for loving us. We thank you for who you are and all you’ve done. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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“Mom — I broke something! I’m so sorry!”

Benjamin had slipped on the wet bathroom floor and managed to take down the shower curtain and the curtain rod in one fell swoop.

His mom’s concern wasn’t the state of the shower curtain, but whether the broken something was an arm or leg. Thankfully, her son wasn’t hurt, and fixing the curtain was a lot easier than mending a broken bone. A reassuring hug from Mom was all the boy needed to mend his hurt pride.

None of us are perfect, whether we’re 8 years old or 80. Slips and trips happen in life, and beyond accidental mishaps, we also slip up and sin, making choices that disappoint the Lord, and send us on a detour from the path He has planned for us. 

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

God loves us dearly, and while our sin makes Him sad, He is ready and willing to forgive us; we only need to ask Him to. God’s love for us is so deep He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins because He knew we’d need forgiveness. That’s amazing grace!

Let’s pray.

Lord, you love us through our imperfections. Thank you for the incredible gift of your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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