Her very name means grace. Hannah is held in highest regard in Scripture and in history as a woman who exemplifies what it means to live in God’s grace.

But, grace was not a given in the life of Hannah. Childlessness, a difficult marriage situation, unanswered prayer and years of clinging to hope made God’s grace shine all the brighter. Her story is one of contrasts and choices. Through it all, Hannah shines as a beacon of light and hope against the backdrop of strife, corruption and decay.

This Mother’s Day, Hannah offers not only a picture of grace, but also inspiration to persevere in faith and to trust in the grace of God.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older.ADAA.org Fear and anxiety seem to be part of our lives today. According to Scripture, fear is nothing new to our human circumstance. From the earliest of narratives, fear is something that Scripture points out and responds to. Fear is an obstacle to our faith and to the abundant life that is ours in Christ.

So how do we respond to fear? Today, we will look at the issues that come with choosing to live in fear. We will also look to Scripture and the freedom that is ours if we choose to live in the freedom Christ offers.

Testimonies of the Golas Family

From Doubt to Faith

Joseph tried to blend in, but it was difficult to be a religious leader at the crucifixion of Jesus and not be noticed. Pharisees and Sadducees just couldn’t help but be noticed. But, Joseph wasn’t at the cross simply to verify that this messianic imposter would be crucified, he was there for personal reasons. Joseph was a secret follower of Jesus. He couldn’t hide his compassion for the suffering of Jesus.

Joseph must have been engaged in a personal war as he watched Jesus give His life on the cross. His undercover disciple status was crumbling. The voice in his heart was crying out to finally identify with Jesus, no matter the cost.

Through the Holy Spirit’s prompting, Joseph calls to us today. His testimony calls us out of the shadows and into fully identifying as followers of Jesus.

It’s easy to be consumed, overwhelmed, by the horrific nature of the cross, the utter darkness of the moment. In the background of the narrative is the Roman Centurion and his fellow soldiers. It was their resonsibility to make sure that the daily executions by crucifixion went as planned. Brutality and death were a regular part of their lives and careers.

Yet, God was over the circumstances of that horrible day. The gospel of Matthew tells us simply that Jesus yielded up His spirit. No one but God is master over death, its timing and its power. What started as a routine day for the Centurion would conclude by Him realizing that God had been in their midst.

It was no accident that Jesus was crucified between two criminals. It was all part of the intense mocking and ridiculing that both Jew and Gentile intended to inflict upon Jesus in His last hours. The day and event of the cross was a time of intense derision heaped incessantly upon the King of the Jews, the Messiah sent from God.

Yet, in the midst of such abuse from every corner, God saw fit to provide one more testimony, one more transformed life, to reflect the grace of God in the midst of such terrible darkness. The thief on the cross traded his guilt for forgiveness, his life for Jesus’ promise and his death for paradise. His salvation is lived out literally alongside the cross of Christ.