Elevation Point Church: Recent Episodes
Elevation Point Church
Welcome to the audio podcast of Elevation Point Church, lead by Dustin and Nicole Barker. At EP, we exist to connect people to God & Others. Our hope is that this podcast delivers hope, faith, and encouragement to your heart each week. To learn more about Elevation Point Church, visit www.elevationpoint.church.
Sometimes life with Jesus can feel confusing — His Word says one thing, but our reality feels completely different. This message explores the tension between what we believe and what we experience. Even when we don’t understand what God is doing, we’re still called to trust and remain committed. Faithfulness isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about staying the course, even in the questions.
In Matthew 16:21–24, Peter thought he was helping Jesus—trying to protect Him from suffering. But instead of supporting His mission, Peter became a distraction from it. In this message, we explore how even well-meaning people and good intentions can unintentionally pull us off course from God’s calling. Sometimes the most dangerous distractions aren’t evil—they’re just misaligned. Learn how to recognize when love, comfort, or fear are disguising themselves as wisdom, and how to stay focused on what God is really calling you to do.
Have you ever wanted to do the right thing but still found yourself falling short? In Romans 7, Paul reminds us that we’re not alone in that struggle—the battle between our intentions and our actions is real. This message speaks to the tension we all feel and points us to the only one who can rescue us from it: Jesus. Even when we don’t get it right, His grace is still greater.
Life can hit hard—so hard that you wonder if you’ll ever recover, if you’ll ever feel whole again. Maybe you’ve been there, or maybe you’re there right now, questioning everything and barely holding on. This message is a reminder that it’s okay to not be okay, and you don’t have to pretend to have it all together. But with God’s help, you don’t have to stay stuck—healing, hope, and restoration are possible.
When Jesus changes your life, it should be obvious—not just in what you say, but in how you live. This message challenges us to let our transformed lives speak for themselves, showing the world the power of His grace through our actions. True faith isn’t just confessed with words; it’s displayed through a life that looks more and more like Jesus. Let your life be the proof of the change only He can bring.
This Mother’s Day, we’re looking at the powerful yet often overlooked story of Jehosheba in 2 Chronicles 22:10–12—a woman whose quiet courage preserved a royal child and protected a promise. In a time of danger and darkness, her decision to hide Joash may have seemed small, but it was a pivotal piece in God’s larger plan, ultimately preserving the lineage of Jesus. In this message, It All Adds Up, we’re reminded that nothing in our lives is wasted. Every action, every sacrifice, every unseen moment of faithfulness—especially those that feel small or hidden—has purpose. Whether you're a mother, a mentor, or simply someone trying to live faithfully, your role matters more than you know. God is using every detail to build something bigger than we can see.
God often works behind the scenes, preparing us for moments that may seem sudden but are divinely orchestrated. This message challenges us to stay spiritually ready, obedient, and faithful in the waiting so we don’t miss the opportunities He’s preparing. When God's timing arrives, those who have prepared in private will be positioned to walk boldly into His purpose.
Ever felt like life hit you with more problems than you could possibly handle—fires everywhere, and not enough water to put them out? From chaos at home to work stress, car trouble, and family drama, it’s easy to slip into survival mode and try to fight every battle on our own. But the truth is, when we take matters into our own hands, we often end up out of position and making things worse. In this message, we’re learning how surrendering the fight to God opens our eyes—not just to one solution, but to everything we need to face what’s ahead.
Easter reminds us that even those closest to Jesus wrestled with doubt. The disciples heard His promises, yet it wasn’t until they saw the empty tomb—and the risen Jesus—that belief fully took root. In this message, we explore the tension between faith and sight, and how Jesus meets us in our moments of uncertainty, just as He did with His followers. Resurrection isn’t just a story—it’s an invitation to believe His promises, even before we see.
We are often looking for direction, resources, opportunities, fulfillment, and more in our lives. We wonder how it will happen, when it will happen, and where it will happen. But the Lord always has a plan. He always has everything perfectly laid out, even to the most finite detail. Once He speaks something, we can know that it will happen as we follow each and every instruction along the way. While it may not always appear so, as we follow, we find that everything was just as He said it would be.
No matter how heavy the burden you’re carrying, Jesus wants you to know that rest isn’t just possible—it’s available. Rest isn’t something you have to earn or achieve; it’s freely offered by Jesus. Life is constantly moving, filled with responsibilities, worries, and an endless to-do list—work, relationships, parenting, friendships, church, fitness, travel—the demands never stop. We often get caught up in the cycle of doing more, believing that stress equates to holiness. But the truth is, stress does not make us more righteous. The more we push ourselves to handle everything alone, the further we drift from the life Jesus intended for us. Religion may tell us that our worth is measured by how much we do, but Jesus never did. Instead, He extends an invitation: when the weight of life feels overwhelming, take it easy—hand it over to Him.
We often face situations where following God's way feels difficult, slow, or even inconvenient. In those moments, it’s tempting to take matters into our own hands, seeking quick relief or immediate results. However, when we prioritize our own wisdom over God's direction, we may experience temporary satisfaction, but it often comes with long-term consequences. God's way may not always be easy, but it is always best. When we trust His timing and direction, even when it’s uncomfortable, He leads us to lasting peace, provision, and purpose. The challenge is to surrender control and believe that God's plan is worth the wait.
It’s easy to think we’re following Jesus, but if our words are out of control, we’re deceiving ourselves. Scripture reminds us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks—so if our speech doesn’t align with what we claim is in our hearts, something isn’t right. Controlling our words isn’t easy; it’s much simpler to follow Jesus in church than to guard our tongue in daily life. But the difficult thing is often the right thing. As followers of Jesus, it’s our responsibility—not our friends’, family’s, or even God’s—to ensure that our words reflect the example Christ set for us.
In the rush of our daily lives, it’s easy to become so consumed with our schedules, responsibilities, and distractions that we fail to recognize Jesus' presence right in front of us. Just like Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we can be so busy doing things for Jesus that we miss simply being with Him. In this message, we’ll explore how busyness can crowd out our awareness of Christ and how we can intentionally slow down, refocus, and make space to hear His voice. Jesus is always near—are we too busy to notice?
It's easier to overcome the fear of man when you have assurance that everything will work out, but that’s what makes the faith of the three men in Daniel 3 so remarkable—they had no guarantee that God would save them from Nebuchadnezzar. Too often, we anchor our hope in the “what if.” What if God heals? What if He delivers? What if He answers? What if things improve? We tend to base our faith on what we expect God to do, and while that’s not necessarily wrong, it raises an important question—one that I believe shaped their unwavering trust: What if He doesn’t? What if nothing changes? What if, years from now, we’re still facing the same struggles? What if the plans we hold onto never come to pass?
No matter how far we stray or how badly we fall, God’s love remains relentless. He never turns His back on us or decides we are beyond redemption. Instead, He continually pursues us, offering grace upon grace and countless second chances. In our lowest moments, we may feel like there’s no hope of turning things around—as if we’ve gone too far or waited too long. But with God, it is never too late. His arms are always open, ready to receive us when we humble ourselves, recognize where we’ve fallen short, and choose to follow His leading once again.
We all make mistakes—none of us are perfect. There are times we wish we could undo our past actions, but that isn’t always an option. However, while we may not be able to erase the past, a fresh start is always possible. No mistake is too great for God to redeem and bring about a better outcome. In this message, we explore how Jonah navigated his way back from his own missteps and experienced a powerful turnaround through God’s grace.
God is always speaking, guiding, and directing us. Yet, in the midst of life’s noise, we often choose when to follow His voice. Sometimes, we convince ourselves He isn’t saying what we don’t want to hear. While God’s direction may not always be easy or preferred, His Word is always clear. This message will challenge us to silence the distractions, discern His voice, and faithfully obey His call.
We often find ourselves in situations where decisions must be made. Many times, we start off on the right foot by praying and asking God for guidance, which is always a great beginning. However, inevitably, God’s opinion isn’t the only one we hear. If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve likely discovered that there’s always someone eager to share their opinion—whether it’s a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or even a complete stranger. Consider the story of David. God gave him clear direction, but his men advised him against following it. What’s worth noting here is that David didn’t even ask for their opinions, and his men weren’t bad people—they simply had a perspective that conflicted with God’s direction. The problem doesn’t necessarily arise from others sharing their thoughts or even from us asking for advice. Trouble begins when we prioritize what people say over what God has already spoken.
Often, when we pray, we come to God with our own expectations—how, when, and what we want Him to do. This can lead to frustration and disappointment because God doesn’t always act according to our will; in fact, He seldom does. But our prayers shouldn’t depend on whether God meets our expectations. Instead, prayer is meant to draw us closer to Him, trusting that His plan—always better than ours—will unfold in His perfect timing.
We all long for confidence. While it’s easy to find fleeting confidence in things like the perfect outfit, a kind compliment, or mastering a skill, these sources are temporary and often depend on ever-changing circumstances. As followers of Jesus, however, we have access to a confidence that never wavers. This constant confidence isn’t rooted in how we feel, how we look, or whether we feel prepared or good enough. Instead, it’s anchored in prayer. When prayer becomes our priority, it unlocks a wellspring of reasons to remain steadfast and confident, no matter what challenges life brings our way.
We all seek answers in life—answers to our problems, our purpose, and our deepest questions. Often, we look in different places: relationships, careers, achievements, or even within ourselves. Sometimes, we convince ourselves that we already have the answers, only to realize that relying on our own wisdom leaves us feeling lost, confused, and trapped in a cycle of unmet expectations, broken promises, and unfulfilled goals. The truth is, the answers we seek—the ones that bring true peace, clarity, and direction—can only be found when we turn to the One who holds every answer. Only the Lord offers the sustainable, life-giving guidance we need to break free from the cycle and live with purpose and fulfillment.
It’s human nature to want to understand everything. To understand why things are happening when they are, how they are, with whom they are. We’re often ok with not understanding for a brief moment, but we become anxious when a moment turns into a month or year(s). If we could only understand, then we’d be on board with God’s plan. But what if we never truly get to fully understand? What if our lives will always feel more full of questions than answers? What if it seems it will never truly make sense? Can we still trust? Can we still believe? Is there still hope?
God has a way of using what we’ve been through to create a purpose that’s better than we expected. When he does, He calls for us to use the trials we’ve overcome as a source of encouragement and peace for others. By sharing what God has done in our lives, we reflect His love and bring hope to those facing similar battles. Learn how your story can be a light in someone else’s darkness and a reminder of God’s unending grace and purpose.
In this week's message, we explore how our peace is often disrupted when we forget to reflect on God’s faithfulness. It's easy to let today’s struggles or comparisons to others overshadow the countless ways He’s already provided for us. Join us as we rediscover the power of gratitude and reflection, shifting our focus from problems to provision, and from comparison to contentment in Jesus.
Have you ever envisioned your day, your year, or even your life going one way, only to have things turn out completely different? Sometimes, these moments leave us struggling to find a single reason to be thankful. We know there must be something good to hold onto, but in the midst of challenging circumstances, it can be hard to see past the pain or disappointment. This message explores what it means to choose gratitude in all seasons—not just when things are easy. We’ll challenge the mindset that says, “I’ll be thankful when things get better” and discover how God calls us to a gratitude that isn’t dependent on life’s ups and downs. Real thankfulness isn’t about waiting for good days but learning to see God’s faithfulness through every situation.
In this sermon, we'll explore how our struggles are not signs of a distant or uncaring Jesus, nor of punishment for our mistakes. Instead, sometimes the storms we face are designed to build our faith. Looking at Peter’s experience on the water, we’ll see that he was doing just fine walking toward Jesus—until doubt crept in. Just as Peter began to sink when he wavered, we, too, face times when our trust in Jesus feels shaky. Jesus challenges us with a choice: do we trust Him fully or let doubt pull us under? This message will encourage us to embrace faith, even when life’s storms feel overwhelming, knowing Jesus is right there with us, inviting us to keep our eyes on Him.
Have you ever had someone suggest that you should just give up? Or maybe you’ve felt that way yourself—wondering if it’s time to let go, if you’re asking too much, or if your dream is simply out of reach. We’ve all been there. Anyone who’s ever reached for something great has had that moment of doubt, standing on the edge, thinking, “This feels impossible. This is too much. Maybe this is just crazy.” Yet, it’s often in those very moments that God meets us, reminding us that with Him, all things are possible. When we feel the weight of the unknown, we’re faced with a choice: do we let doubt hold us back, or do we lean into God’s strength, trusting that His plans are greater than what we can see?
No matter how long we've been carrying the weight of our struggles, today could be the day Jesus transforms everything. His timing is perfect, even when it feels delayed or uncertain. In a single moment, He can bring healing, breakthrough, or peace to the situation we've been battling for so long. Make up your mind to keep showing up because Jesus is always working, and today could be the day He brings the change we’ve been praying for.
Many of us believe that when God is at work, every detail—where to go, what to do, the timing—will be laid out clearly before us. While we want this to be true, it’s not quite the case. Although God knows the full plan from beginning to end, we rarely have the privilege of seeing the entire picture ahead of time. He offers us guidance through instructions and reassurances through His promises, but He often withholds the finer details. This requires us to walk in faith, trusting Him step by step, even when the path ahead is not fully visible or understood.
We often fall into the mindset that if we display a few of the fruits of the Spirit, we are truly being led by the Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit calls us to embody all the fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Being led by the Spirit isn't about selectively living out certain virtues but allowing the full spectrum of the Spirit’s work to shape every aspect of our lives. When we neglect some of these fruits, we limit the Spirit’s transformative power, settling for a partial reflection of what God intends for us. True spiritual growth means embracing and cultivating each of these qualities.
Life isn’t always perfect, and challenges are inevitable. Yet, balancing faith means understanding that while we may face storms, we can remain unbothered, knowing God is with us. He doesn't promise a life without hardships, but He does promise His presence through it all. In trusting Him, we find peace, strength, and reassurance that no matter what comes our way, He is guiding us through every step.
Change can come suddenly when God is at work. In moments we least expect, He can open doors, shift our circumstances, and lead us in new directions. What may feel like an unexpected disruption is often God moving swiftly to align us with His greater purpose. His timing is perfect, and though we may not always be prepared for the suddenness of change, we can trust that He is in control. When God moves, it’s a reminder that nothing is beyond His power, and He can transform our lives in an instant for His glory.
Many of us have experienced the loss of things we once believed were essential for the changes we sought in our lives. It could be opportunities, relationships, or circumstances we thought we couldn’t do without. But in these moments of loss, Jesus teaches us that the answer isn’t found in what was taken away. Instead, it’s in how we allow Him to transform that loss into growth. Through Him, we can find purpose, healing, and strength. The true value lies not in what we once held onto but in the lessons and faith we gain as we trust Jesus to guide us through, shaping us into who we’re meant to be.
Have you ever prayed for God to do something, only to find yourself upset when He actually does it? The truth is, God's ways are not our ways, and that often leaves us feeling stressed, frustrated, and confused. We want God to move on our behalf, to bring about change in our lives, but we want Him to do it in a way that aligns with our own plans. When we cling too tightly to our own methods, we risk becoming bitter in the midst of a miracle. We might find ourselves thinking, "God, I asked for change, but this isn't what I meant." God, however, doesn’t move in the ways we want — He moves in the ways we need.
We often find ourselves uncomfortable with the messiness of our lives, struggling to embrace the chaos and imperfections that seem to overshadow our sense of order and control. Yet, it is in this very mess that God can work profoundly, transforming our struggles and setbacks into opportunities for growth and grace. Through the turbulence of our lives, divine purpose can emerge, turning our broken pieces into a story of redemption and hope. Embracing this reality can help us find peace, knowing that our imperfections are not barriers but gateways for a greater, purposeful journey.
Often, we find ourselves seeking identity in various support systems and crutches, such as careers, relationships, achievements, or material possessions. These external sources may provide temporary validation and a sense of belonging, but they are ultimately fragile and fleeting. Our true identity, however, lies in Jesus Christ, who offers an unshakeable foundation. In Him, we are accepted, loved, and valued not for what we do or possess, but for who we are as children of God. Embracing this identity in Jesus brings a profound and lasting sense of purpose and peace, freeing us from the constant striving for approval and security in the world around us.
Have you ever been told something true about yourself that wasn’t flattering and hurt your feelings? It’s hard to argue with the truth, even when it stings. We often try to dismiss such truths, but their pain doesn’t make them any less real. In Joshua 13:1, Joshua was old, which many saw as a disqualification for leading into battle. However, God said, “It’s true that you’re old, but it’s not a disqualification. There are STILL very large areas of land to be taken over.” We all encounter facts that seem to disqualify us from a victorious life, and unfortunately, we often believe them. We think we’re too old, too young, inexperienced, overly experienced, married, unmarried, have kids, or don’t have kids. The truth is, anything about us can be twisted into a reason to disqualify us and make us feel like it’s over. But God is saying today, “you’re not finished yet.”
We all desire to feel strong and capable in our daily lives. No one wants to feel weak. The reality, however, is that we all have weaknesses. While we often hide from or ignore our weaknesses, they are nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, we should embrace and acknowledge them, finding strength through the Lord. In Him, the Holy Spirit strengthens our weak areas and reinforces our strengths. We may feel weak, but as followers of Jesus, we are stronger than we appear.
In John 4:27-35, Jesus speaks to a woman, tells her all about herself, and she runs to share this encounter with others. The disciples return, utterly confused, and start talking to Jesus about needing food. Jesus then tells them He has a different food. Despite this, they still didn't understand because they were focused on physical needs, while Jesus was addressing spiritual needs. We frequently find ourselves frustrated, feeling caught in an endless loop of insufficiency. This sense of being stuck can be overwhelming, but perhaps the real issue lies in our focus. Could it be that our frustration stems from seeking fulfillment in the wrong places? Instead of addressing the root of our dissatisfaction, we might be chasing after things that don't truly satisfy our deeper needs. By reevaluating our goals and desires, we might discover that our sense of lack comes not from an external shortage, but from a misalignment of our priorities and values.
Saul’s insecurity drove him to the point of insanity, leading him to try to kill the very person who saved his entire army. This is fascinating because Saul's insecurity was so intense that he targeted David, though the real issue was deeper. If it wasn’t David, it would have been someone else, as David was merely the manifestation of a deeper problem. Insecurity is often hidden and unrecognized because we have learned to eliminate its triggers. For example, if someone’s profile makes us feel insecure, we might delete them as a friend and feel better temporarily, but soon someone else will trigger those feelings again. Many of us are skilled at removing the triggers of insecurity without addressing its root cause. However, if we don't deal with the root of our insecurity, it will persist. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about who we are, it’s about whose we are.
While many would say they believe in prayer, the reality is that it can also leave us confused at times. No doubt, we’ve all had times where we prayed for something that we thought was a good thing, but it didn’t come to pass. In those moments, it’s easy to wonder why. Why would God leave prayers, that we prayed with good intentions and even in faith for, unanswered? Sometimes, it may even feel as if praying is pointless because we’ve felt letdown time and time again. However prayer, while sometimes confusing, is always powerful. The key is to understand why we pray what we pray and how to position ourselves for God to answer them in His way, not ours. Because while we may have it all figured out in our minds, He always has a better way.
People often question, "If God is such a great God, then why do bad things happen?" Many leave the church almost daily because they were taught to believe that following Jesus would make their problems disappear. But God is able to work in the midst of all situations and circumstances, no matter how difficult, and can bring about good in spite of the bad. It may not be how we envisioned it to go, but God is still in control.
Life often brings unexpected difficulties, testing our resilience and challenging our belief in brighter days and God’s promises. In the face of relentless struggles, it's easy to feel disheartened and lose hope. However, it's crucial to remember that each new day carries the potential for a breakthrough. Amidst the uncertainty and hardship, a single moment can transform everything, reigniting our faith and reminding us that perseverance can lead to unexpected and profound changes. So, even in the darkest times, we are to hold on to the possibility that today could be the day when we finally see God do what we’ve been believing for.
In Romans 5, Paul says that as followers of Jesus we have hope and peace, but these concepts may not mean what we typically think they do. He then delivers a surprising message: we should "glory in our sufferings." Generally, we don't like pain, and that's a sentiment most people share. However, just because we don't like something doesn't mean it's bad. We often view suffering as negative, but sometimes pain can be beneficial. Growth and progress often come from pain! As followers of Jesus, we frequently encounter pain. We face suffering, but what truly matters is persevering through it and understanding that it will be worth it in the end.
We often fixate on the idea that our mistakes should disqualify us from God's love. Similarly, it's just as easy to dwell on others' mistakes and think they too should be disqualified. Both perspectives fail to grasp the vastness of God's love. His love surpasses our misdeeds and those of others. In the end, it's only us who are preoccupied with these mistakes—God is more concerned with our identity as His children.
Jesus pointed out that people are often so preoccupied with criticizing others for insignificant actions that they fail to address their own significant issues. The Pharisees, for instance, were well-versed in the rules, laws, and religious practices, yet they missed what truly mattered. While it's easy to criticize the Pharisees for this oversight, if we're honest, we often face the same struggle. We might have mastered the religious jargon, know when to shout, and understand the rules to follow. However, Jesus emphasized that if our hearts are not aligned with our actions, then those actions are meaningless. He taught that adherence to man-made rules is futile if it doesn't come from a sincere heart.
In Genesis 30, we see two sisters who are both blessed in different ways. One is deeply loved by her husband, while the other has already given birth to four children. However, neither of them is happy. It's noteworthy that their discontent doesn't stem from what they possess but from what they lack compared to each other. Leah desires what Rachel has, while Rachel desires what Leah has. Isn't it remarkable how what we lack is often magnified while what we possess is minimized, especially when we start comparing ourselves to others? For instance, we're content with our car until we see someone else's. We're satisfied with our children's behavior until we observe someone else's. We're happy with our business until we notice someone else's. We're content with our marriage until we compare it to someone else's. Often, our dissatisfaction with our current circumstances arises when we compare them to others'. We end up comparing unrelated aspects of our lives to others', mistakenly believing they are similar; when they are in fact, not the same.
David's emotions seem to be all over the place in Psalm 62. He begins with a strong declaration of faith, stating, "I find rest in God," and expressing his trust in Him, asserting that he will not be shaken. However, almost immediately afterward, he portrays himself as a tottering fence, on the brink of collapse. Throughout this passage, David grapples with an inner conflict that is universal—struggling to fully trust in God while also attempting to handle things independently. When we try to manage everything by ourselves, rely on the wrong people, or trust only in our own abilities, we never fully invest our trust in the Lord. David emphasizes that our hope and our stability come from the Lord alone. By choosing to rest in Him, we find the strength necessary to stand firm.
In Judges 6, Gideon, much like many of us, resorts to offering every conceivable excuse he can muster as to why he’s incapable of what God’s spoken. These excuses range from what he perceives as genuine and legitimate reasons as to why God must have chosen the wrong person. Have you ever found yourself in such a position? Perhaps feeling as though you're not the right fit for the task despite divine assurance? Gideon wrestles with these doubts when God approaches him, affirming, "Hey mighty warrior, you're going to defeat the Midianites." In response, Gideon protests, "Who, me? I'm just threshing wheat." Despite Gideon's protests, citing his past, his perceived inadequacies, and weaknesses, God persists in affirming, “I’m not finished with you yet.”
God assures us, "I shall provide assistance," thereby alleviating concerns regarding the solo navigation of life's intricacies. We don’t need to dwell on understanding every detail or confronting challenges in isolation; God pledges His support. Furthermore, He underscores, "I have summoned you!" What additional validation could one seek? His divine call and commitment to aid obliterate any doubts concerning one's capability or worthiness. With God as an ally, anxiety, fear, and apprehension about the future dissipate. Instead, confidence grows as we understand that God has intentionally chosen us.
We sometimes find ourselves in situations that appeared utterly desolate. It could be that our marriage is struggling, or we’re grappling with financial worries such as how to make this month's mortgage payment, or perhaps we’re simply feeling unappreciated and taken advantage of. The intensity of those moments is often magnified by the devil's desire to dwell on the negative, reminding us of our pain and struggles. While it might be tempting to dismiss his words as lies, often they ring true—at least in the moment. Nevertheless, it's essential to remember that God always has the last word.
While Jesus entered into Jerusalem, He was continually thinking about others. However, He was also grieving. Not because He was dreading the cross, but because those around were missing the moment as it unfolded right before their eyes. They thought they understood, but they didn’t really understand. This happens often in life — we think we understand what Jesus is doing, but we don’t truly understand. We become distracted and surrounded by our desires and the opinions of others, all the while missing the supernatural moment that’s unfolding before our very eyes.
Mary and Martha held onto hope, believing for something miraculous: the preservation of their brother's life. Their faith was anchored in the conviction that Jesus would arrive in time to heal him. Throughout our lives, we encounter moments when it seems as though Jesus is delayed, when time runs out and our prayers appear unanswered. Yet, it's essential to recognize that even for Jesus Himself, there were moments of perceived lateness. Lazarus, a cherished friend, had succumbed to death, prompting Jesus to weep upon hearing the news. Despite His grief, Jesus understood the importance of trusting in God's perfect timing. He would have preferred Lazarus to be healed sooner, but He comprehended the necessity of divine timing—a lesson we too must embrace.
No matter where we are in life, how long we’ve served the Lord, or how well we know the Bible — temptations still show up in our lives. Jesus Himself was tempted. This is why it’s vital that we know and understand God’s Word while continually drawing near to Him. When we begin to think we are strong and/or smart enough to face temptation on our own, we’ll give in. Temptations are not always obvious, but they are often present. Jesus was tempted, as we are, with things that seemed innocent — yet, He knew…it wasn’t worth it.
Everyone who has experienced life has likely encountered relational wounds. In Genesis 32:22-31, Jacob endured such a wound, resulting in a lasting limp that served as a constant reminder of his struggle that night. Despite this setback, Jacob persevered, refusing to let it hinder his life's journey and purpose. Similarly, when we face wounds in our relationships and friendships, it's common to feel inclined to shut ourselves off. Instead of succumbing to bitterness, we should strive to learn and grow from these experiences, using them to fortify our future connections.
Relationships come, and relationships go. Lost or missed relationships are often things that cause us to remain stuck in a season or moment of life. Regret of what happened, or even what didn’t happen, can cause us to stay frozen — rather than moving forward into the new that God is trying to bless us with. If we’re not careful, we can miss new relationships and seasons because we’re still mourning past relationships, seasons, hurts, or opportunities. The Lord doesn’t intend for us to give that type of power to others that forces us to remain stuck — but rather, He desires that we choose to step into the freedom of the next season He has for us.
We are often tempted to treat others the way they’ve treated us. But the key isn’t to treat others the way we’ve been treated — it’s to treat others the way we want to be treated. In Luke 23:33-34, Jesus found Himself in a difficult situation that He didn’t belong in. However, His response wasn’t to react negatively and reciprocate what had been done to Him. Instead, He showed love, forgiveness, and grace. It’s no different in our lives. Our response is always a choice. You may not be able to choose what happens; but the way you respond is up to you.
True love is the glue for all aspects of every relationship. If we love, there will be peace; if we don’t, there will be strife. If we love, we’ll honor others; if we don’t, there will be strife. If we love, we’ll put others first; if we don’t, we’ll put ourselves first. The list goes on — but the truth is, we all want to feel loved. With our friends, family, romantic relationships, coworkers, we want to experience love. Romans 12 teaches us that true love begins with…us. It begins with our own hearts. Once we learn to properly live a life of true love towards others, it will impact the love we experience from others.
One of the most difficult things for us to do in life is be consistent, no matter the circumstances. It’s easy to remain consistent when things are easy and everything is working; however, we tend to quit being consistent when it’s difficult and we see no change. But what if our consistency in the difficult moments is what would bring about growth, change, and breakthrough? In I Corinthians 15:58, Paul encouraged that we remain steadfast — that we not allow our circumstances to sway our trust, faith, and confidence in the Lord. It’s through our consistency that we are able to see the completion and finished work of what God has for us.
In this one passage of scripture, we see two stories that needed a miracle from Jesus. But specifically, we see the lady who had been subjected to bleeding for 12 years. See, it’s a lot easier to believe Jesus will change your story when it’s a new problem than it is to keep believing that when it’s an old problem. For this lady, it wasn’t her pastor, doctor, spouse, or friends that gave her the strength to believe. It was her trust in Jesus, it was her faith. Jesus said, your faith has healed you. In this message, we look at 3 habits to develop and/or strengthen if we’re going to see a positive change in our outcome.
As we enter a new year, we tend to pray for new things. We pray for God to bless us with more, so that we can experience greater — More talents, more opportunities, more abilities. We read the Bible, we pray, we learn from God’s word; and yet, we’ve made a habit of missing the most important step — putting His word to use. We won’t see God provide more until we first are willing to take what He’s given us, and put it to use.
When it comes to believing and working toward anything great, we tend to disqualify ourselves in our own minds. It’s often easier for us to believe what we’re facing is stronger and more able than we are. For the Israelites in Numbers 13, they viewed the people in Canaan as giants, while they viewed themselves as grasshoppers. However, Caleb was able to adjust his vision and see the Canaanites for what they were — already defeated. God had spoken and said it was already handled, and Caleb shifted his vision to match God’s word over what it may have looked like. Because of this, he was able to experience all that God promised.
We have a tendency to find our excuses and disqualifications of why God can’t fulfill what He’s spoken about our lives. While we may believe for a moment, it’s difficult to continue to see it through after facing disappointment. As we end another year, we no doubt look back and see missed opportunities, failures, and disappointments. But while this year may not have looked like what we expected, here’s what we do know — if God has promised something, He will see it through.
We often hear it said that Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year.” But the reality is, for many it doesn’t seem wonderful. For a wide array of reasons — from unmet yearly expectations, to loss of loved ones, Christmas can be a difficult season. Yet, while it may not feel wonderful for all, it truly is wonderful — not because of the reasons we’ve grown to expect and measure it by, but because of what is truly celebrated during this season…the birth of our wonderful Savior, Jesus.
Mary being chosen to give birth to Jesus was miraculous, but it was also inconvenient. Telling Joseph, explaining to others, making it to Bethlehem — it was all inconvenient. However, it all took place for Mary because she was favored. In our lives, we tend to get hung up on how inconvenient God’s plans seem, and we overlook just how favored we are to be a part of the bigger picture He has planned.
It’s often difficult for us to get our hopes up for anything great because we’ve been let down so many times. The truth is — life and people have a way of letting us down. Because of this, we find it easier to just expect anything great, even when it’s something God has promised. But to move forward into the fullness of what God has for our lives, we have to move beyond past disappointments, and raise our hopes and expectations to the level of what’s He’s spoken.
We tend to live as if we know what’s best. We feel we know ourselves best, we know what’s best for us, and so on. Then, when what we believed for doesn’t happen, we think God is mad at us. However, He’s not mad at us. He just has something better. If you feel your plans have been wrecked, that’s not a reason to be upset — it’s a reason to rejoice. It simply means God has a better, immeasurable plan for you.
Life is full of mountains and valleys. On the mountains, it’s easy to be thankful and to rejoice. However, in the valleys, there is just as much reason to be thankful and rejoice. While valley experiences are never easy, and while we prefer to be celebrating on the mountain, Jesus is still good and worthy of gratitude. He’s with us on the mountain, but He’s also with us in the valley. Circumstances and situations may change, but His love, care, and protection for us remains the same.
Most of us have no trouble trusting God when we’re in a time of abundance. However, in moments where things seem to be bleak, desperate, and impossible, we can feel like we’re holding on for dear life. In those circumstances, we tend to trust more in what’s left than we do in what God said will happen once we surrender it to Him. The widow in I Kings 17 felt she had nothing left, but she chose to trust what was left with God, and He turned it into more than enough.
Mary and Martha were both in the room with Jesus. They could both see Him, talk to Him, hang out with Him. They both had total access — but only Mary took full advantage. Martha missed the one that mattered, because she was consumed with a multitude of things that did not. We, too, easily forget the One who matters most, as He gets lost in the busyness of our lives. This leaves us feeling tired, depleted, and even shorted. We feel as if we’re missing Jesus, when He’s right there. We were just too busy to realize.
How many times do we enter into tension, strife, stress, adversity, that we could have avoided by slowing our response? It’s easier said than done, but our first reaction is almost never the correct response. While we cannot control what happens to us and how others treat us, it is our responsibility to control our we respond. It’s not up to everyone around us to ensure peace is brought to circumstances we face and are a part of, it’s up to us. No matter what happens, we’re to be peacemakers. As we pursue peace, God brings the solutions and fulfillment of His word.
At times, we find it challenging to discover peace during difficult moments because we tend to overlook the instances when God has previously guided us through adversity. Although circumstances may vary, the challenges we face may take different forms, and the sources of our fear and anxiety may evolve, one constant remains unaltered: the unchanging nature of the Lord that has consistently provided solutions in the past. While it's essential not to dwell excessively on the past, it's equally crucial not to lose sight of how far God has brought us. In those daunting moments when life appears overwhelming and fear grips us, we must recall the previous occasions when we experienced similar feelings—and remember that, without fail, God has always brought us through.
Staying consistent can be challenging, yet it holds great significance. Its significance lies in the fact that it keeps us firmly anchored in the position where God can perform His unique work. The difficulty arises from the fact that consistency is seldom, if ever, a simple task. It demands our patience and unwavering trust in the Lord. In the case of Peter in Luke 5:4-10, he had spent the entire night fishing without any success. Nevertheless, when Jesus appeared, He instructed Peter to persist and return to the water for another attempt. Despite his previous failures, Peter obeyed, and he witnessed the realization of Jesus' words. Peace prevails when we remain unwavering in the place to which God has summoned us, while turmoil arises when we opt for inconsistency.
In our lives, we’re surrounded by people and things vying for our attention and focus. But not everything we’re surrounded by has our peace in mind. In fact, most do not. God has provided us with peace, but we often give it away without even realizing it. As followers of Jesus it is important that we remain vigilant and don’t give our peace away.
Excuses. We all have them, we all use them. Moses was no exception. He had plenty of reasons why he could not do what God was telling him to do while at the burning bush. The truth is, every excuse Moses gave had some validity. Likewise, the excuses we give more than likely have a measure of validity to them. However, our excuses are simply that…excuses. Our excuses are never a true preventive barrier if it stands between us and what God is calling us to. Unfortunately, the reason we often hide behind our excuses is because we like them. It’s easier to make an excuse than to risk failing. It’s easier to make an excuse than to be forced out of our comfort zone. It’s easier to make an excuse than to face disappointment. In truth, it’s not always that our excuses are hindering us — it’s actually that we just like using them.
Whenever Jesus gives us an instruction and leads us in a direction, don’t we expect things to go smoothly? Of course we do! Jesus said He would never leave us, nor forsake us. However, we must not confuse safety and protection with comfort. A foundational misunderstanding that many followers of Jesus have is that Jesus will never lead us into a storm. This simply is not true. He will not allow the storm to overtake us, but He will most certainly lead us into them. Storms often build our faith and courage in Him, while also helping us move from places we’ve settled in comfort.
Many miracles are missed because we’re expecting them to happen differently than God intends. If God said He was going to bring water, we’d expect it to come from rain. Yet, in II Kings 3, we see Him send it in a different way. He told the Israelites to dig ditches and water would come. We also limit what God can do my setting our expectations too low. Once God sent the water, it filled the ditches that they dug in preparation to the depth in which they dug them. May our expectation be great, and our preparation be greater so that God can do abundantly, above, and beyond anything we ask or think.
If you've had any life experience, you've encountered pain. Even individuals we've placed our trust in, held dear, or assisted can introduce pain into our lives. At that juncture, David had the option to retreat into solitude, yet he made a deliberate decision to actively engage with the concept of community. It's important to recognize that feelings of loneliness and isolation are consistently employed as strategies by adversarial forces. These influences attempt to persuade us that we're solitary. Nonetheless, despite our uncertainty about future outcomes, of this we can be certain — we are never alone. God remains a constant, unwavering presence.
There are moments in our lives where everything seems to be dead. All of our surroundings, dreams, hopes, and desires appear finished. In the beginning, there is always such promise and excitement. But over time, the hype diminishes, life happens, and it can feel as if it’s over. However, no matter how done it may seem, God is not done. If He spoke something, He will complete it.
It’s generally not our desire to purposely enter a valley, especially when we’re safe and secure on either side of one. In I Samuel 17, the Israelites wanted to defeat the Philistines and advance, but they were frozen in fear on the opposite side of the valley. It wasn’t until David showed up and was willing to go into the valley, that victory was won. See, even though the valley is rarely, if ever, a desirable location; it’s important. Because it’s usually in the valley and through the valley, that God fulfills His perfect plan.
Life's journey can resemble a rollercoaster, filled with its ups and downs, peaks, and valleys. During those challenging moments in the valleys, it becomes arduous to grasp the notion that they are only temporary and won't linger indefinitely. The prospect of things turning around might seem idealistic and unattainable. Nevertheless, even in the depths of these lows, hope persists, for the power of God's restoration remains constant.
We tend to view dark moments in life as bad whenever they happen. We feel as if darkness is always bad — but it’s not always bad. Dark moments are scary, uncertain, and blinding; however, it is in the dark moments that we can experience God working His greatest plans. Don’t run from the shade, embrace it.
Momentary disappointment is a natural part of life, but God has a greater plan and perfect timing. Many times we go where God sends us and do what he says, but we don’t see what was promised. Even when things don't go as expected or dreams seem delayed, God remains faithful and true to His promises. In moments of doubt or uncertainty, it is comforting to know that God never forgets His promises. Just as He remembered His promises to the Israelites, He will remember His covenants with us. Trusting in God's plan and timing allows us to find hope and peace, knowing that He is working all things together for our ultimate good.
Jesus could have easily come down to earth from heaven and done what He wanted — He’s Jesus. But instead, He came down and did what His Father wanted. He chose to fulfill the will of the one who sent Him. Likewise, we all go through moments where we want to do our own thing. We have our plans, agendas, priorities. We have our responses to circumstances, our feelings, our emotions. And yet, in the end, it’s our following of His plan that leads to peace, fulfillment, and hope.
We often dismiss the extraordinary because it appears ordinary. We make things more complex than they should be. Jesus provides straightforward guidance, yet we underestimate it due to its simplicity. We even complicate the essence of the gospel. Jesus simply said, "follow me," but we have turned it into a set of rigid rules and regulations. Dress in this manner, pray in that manner, and only then will you reach heaven. We have needlessly overcomplicated what should be straightforward.
We all have weaknesses, setbacks, and mistakes. The thing is, the enemy is really good at reminding us of our weakness. And as much as we’d like to think all weakness is behind us, the reality is that it’s not always that easy. What if my weakness isn’t just a part of my past? What if it’s still a part of who I am? The beautiful truth, however, is that even in the midst of all this, God is known for using broken people to do big things. He brings His greatest strengths through the acknowledgment of our greatest weaknesses.
God always keeps His word. While it may look different than we thought it would, it doesn’t make His word any less true. Too often, we allow our surroundings to skew our view of what God said. If what we see looks different than what God said, we give up and stop short. But just because the surroundings may not match God’s promises right now, it doesn’t mean that they won’t line up with God’s word in His timing.
We tend to focus on what we’re going through, instead of who we’re going with. We feel unhappy because: The divorce was too much, we can’t figure life out, or life got rocky. But Paul says “no no, don’t focus on everything going on OUT HERE — it’s about WHO you have IN HERE. On the outside, it may not seem that there’s much to smile about; but as followers of Jesus, our smile comes from what He’s done on the inside.
Moving on from seasons, people, and experiences is rarely ever easy. It’s natural to even need to mourn those things leaving our lives. While we know that what God has in store is always better, there’s still an understandable connection to what we’ve lost or left. It’s never wrong to feel sad for a moment, as long as we don’t stay there. We have to be willing to get up and move forward into what God has ahead of us.
The Israelites are stuck. They’re at a mountain. No doubt, many of us feel this way or have felt this way at some time or another. Stuck in the same place we’ve been, with limited to no progress. The Israelites appeared to be stuck. They had been in Horeb for about a year — in the same place for an entire year. And what makes matters even more discouraging is that what God promised them was on the other side of the mountain. Can you imagine how frustrating this must have been for them? To know where they were “supposed” to be, but to be camped out on the other side? To know what God said, but for that not to be what you see? To have a mountain, obstacle, or hindrance blocking your view? But see, many times we convince ourselves that we’re stuck because of something else; when the truth is, we’ve chosen to be stuck. We’ve become complacent and comfortable. We’ve turned a momentary situation into forever, when it was never meant to be forever.
Have you ever faced a time where things didn’t go how you expected? Have you ever had a plan, but nothing went how you planned it? In those moments, it’s difficult to see how our wrecked plans could ever be a good thing. In Luke 24, Mary and Mary expected to pay their respects to Jesus in the tomb where He had been laid. They expected Jesus to still be dead. They expected the tomb to be closed. Instead — the tomb was open, and Jesus was gone. But as they found out — when Jesus is involved, what looks bad becomes good.
Palm Sunday teaches us that God doesn’t always show up in our lives the way that we expected Him to. And while it’s easy to say we understand that, it’s difficult to live out. We all have expectations of how we want Jesus to show up in our lives and what we are believing for Him to do. The tension comes when He doesn’t do it how we wanted. In those moments, we often begin to doubt and reject what God is doing. We begin to question and quit on God’s plan and purpose simply because we don’t understand it. What we must remember is this: God never said we had to understand everything in the beginning, He just promised it will be revealed to us in His time.
For the most part, we acknowledge that God has the ability to use us in significant ways, even though we may have a flawed past before knowing Him. However, what happens when we make mistakes after deciding to follow Him? We often feel like our present imperfections, rather than our actions before following Jesus, disqualify us. We may start to doubt that God can still use us after we've "messed it up." Nonetheless, God isn't restricted to only empowering us once; He can continue to do so over and over again. Just as He did it before, He can do it again.
When it comes to being used by God or having a purpose, we expect it to go perfectly. God is perfect; so if we’re following Him, we think our lives will be perfect. Then, once things go differently than we thought they would, we begin to doubt God’s ability to use us. Once we fail, make a mistake, end up in a different direction than we thought — we view our purpose as over. However, God never said that our lives had to flow smoothly to be used by Him (just look at Moses, David, Abraham, JESUS). He will still use us, as long as we don’t get stuck and frustrated when things don’t go according to plan. God has a plan; but by the time it’s all said and done, it won’t look perfect.
Rahab was not living what most would call a “morally-pure” life when the Israelite spies met her. In fact, many would claim that disqualified her from being used by God. However, she was the one God used to protect the Israelite spies and help them escape Jericho. Her history didn’t disqualify her as most would think; but rather, it prepared her. You may think that what you’ve done has disqualified you or counted you out from being used by God; but if you’ll flip the perspective, you’ll often find that it prepared you.
The enemy of our lives knows that we are weakest when we’re on our own. Because of this, he tries to keep us from community — to keep us from going through life together. He’ll use betrayal, unforgiveness, jealousy, and whatever else he has to in order to keep us separated from others. However, God’s desire is for us to go through life together. Although it’s tempting to go through life alone, our strength comes from going through it together.
When we hear the stories of David and Saul, we often forget that they weren’t always enemies. David was first a psalmist for Saul. Saul loved David. Saul’s son was David’s best friend. However, comparison, insecurity, and jealousy led to Saul creating an enemy out of David. We, too, must be careful not to do the same thing in our relationships. Many times, we self sabotage our own relationships out of comparison, insecurity, and jealously. We allow relationships to be broken apart by made up enemies.
Love is a word that we through around without much thought. We say we love people, things, and even ideas. But that word carries less and less weight the more than we fail to put actions behind it. Jesus never instructed us to SAY we love one another, He just told us TO love one another. In other words, the love we profess doesn’t matter at all, if it’s not lived out and shown through our actions. It’s not telling people you love them that matters most — it’s showing them.
Jesus instructed us to love all, even those who hate us. While that’s not easily done, and it may not make sense to our minds naturally, we were still instructed to do it. Jesus didn’t just tell us to do this, but He also displayed it throughout His life — most notably when He was willing to die for the sins of those who hated Him. Jesus showed us that love is not based on a feeling, it’s based on understanding. The enemy may try to lead us to hate others who hurt us; but as followers of Jesus, our love is stronger than that.
In I Kings 18:21, Elijah is pleading with the Israelites to make up their minds and choose who they were going to follow. One day it’s the Lord, the next day it’s Baal. It all depended on who/what they thought could provide for them, help them, or make them happy in the moment. The truth is that if Elijah were alive today, he would ask a lot of us the same question. Maybe not about Baal and God, but about our significant other and God, our preferences and God, or our money and God. How long will you waver? How long will you trust in both your God and your idols?
God says, through Isaiah, “Forget the former things – you can’t go back.” That’s the bad news. But the good news is, He can still make a way! God said, “I can do a NEW thing THROUGH the bad thing, I can make a way through the wilderness.” This is why your whole story is so important. We like to edit our story. We prefer to tell the happy parts, the parts that we’re proud of, and things we wouldn’t change. However, it’s the moments that we didn’t know what to do that are the most important. The parts that we try to hide under a rug (because we’re ashamed of them, or regret them) are just as important to what God is doing. Just because you can’t start over, it doesn’t mean you can’t start now. Life moves forward — we can’t go backwards. The awesome thing about God is that he’s already ahead of us, and He knows how the story ends. We just need to reset our focus and our hearts on things ahead as we trust Him every step of the way.
Have you ever made a decision that didn’t quite pan out the way you expected based on how it looked? In Genesis 13, Lot chose to go to the land that he thought looked the best in the moment. It was well watered, it was beautiful, it was most desirable. However, it turned out that it wasn’t what it looked like. And the land he chose, that he was so excited about — was later destroyed. That’s kind of how life goes sometimes: You see an opportunity, you get excited about it; but then, it doesn’t turn out how you expected. And our first instinct is often to blame God, or to feel like we’re being punished. When in fact, we chose to settle.
While David was praising God in II Samuel 6:14-17, his wife, Michal, was watching him. She didn’t participate, and she wasn’t happy about it — but she watched. David could have allowed her displeasure to dictate his praise, but he chose to worship anyways. This is always the goal, but it’s not always easily done. The greater temptation and inclination is to allow those who are watching to turn us from worshippers to watchers. And because of this, many of us have been watching what God is doing, rather than participating. But this year, it’s time to stop watching and start worshipping.
As we begin a new year, we generally feel hopeful. Hopeful that we’ll accomplish more, see more, feel God move more. However, as we enter a new year, we also face many of the same battles, the same fears and worries. A new year gives a fresh start, but it doesn’t completely erase everything that’s been holding us back or causing worry to inundate our hearts. The reality is that on the surface there are reasons to worry, but the greater truth is that Jesus knows all things and still instructed us not to worry. When we worry, we waste our time and energy on things that may or may not even happen. And if they were to happen, Jesus still has the answer as long as we seek Him first.
We live in a headline society. Many times, we pass along articles without even reading them, all based on the headline. When Mary and Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, it was a scandalous headline. Based on the headline, it wasn’t good news. The same is true for many of us — based on the headlines of our lives, it’s not good news. However, as we know — there was more to the story for Mary and Joseph than the headlines would’ve suggested; and the same is true for us.
God always gives His children instructions of how to handle whatever it is they face. Whether it’s through His Word, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, or through another follower of Jesus — He leads us. The problem, however, is that sometimes…those instructions don’t make sense. And yet, it’s generally the instructions that make the least sense to our natural minds that bring about the most miraculous of moments. In this message, we’re learning how to react when instructions don’t make sense.
Everyone wants to see miracles take place in their lives, but not everyone is willing to do what’s required to see them. Jesus gives instructions, and we obey. As we obey, we see the fulfillment of what He has said. And then once He brings about all He promised, our responsibility doesn’t stop there. The Leper in Luke 17 that returned to praise Jesus and thank Him was the one who Jesus said was made well. The amazing thing about Jesus is that He doesn’t just stop with healing the outward problems — in Him, the closer we get, the more we’re able to see and experience.
Miracles and blessings are wonderful, and we should celebrate when they take place in our lives. However, they should not be our primary pursuit. Whenever a miracle from the Lord becomes our pursuit, rather than the presence of the Lord — we’ve missed the point. We must be careful not to become entitled and take the gifts and blessings of the Lord for granted. When He performs the miracles we desire, He’s good and worthy of worship. And when He doesn’t, He’s equally as good and worthy of worship.
When it comes to believing for miracles in our lives, we have ideas of how God can move. We know of ways he’s done it before for us, our family, our friends, and others. Because of this, we tend to make plans based on what’s common when it comes to God’s past miracles. The thing about God, however, is that He is consistent in showing up — but that doesn’t mean He’s consistent in the way he goes about it. God has a tendency to bring about provision from what we would consider to be uncommon places.
We’d all agree that life would be easier if there were never any attacks or reasons to fear. The reality, however, is that will never be the case. Attacks will happen. Attacks from the enemy, people, and sometimes ourselves. But just because something arises to bring fear, that doesn’t mean it gets to win. Paul experienced a snake bite in Acts 28 — he experienced an attack — but even though the snake was poisonous, it had no effect on him. We aren’t always protected from BEING attacked; but in Him, we are protected from the EFFECTS of the attack.
Fear and worry cause us to overcomplicate what God has really made simple. We begin to look for answers, and we overlook the solution God has already spoken. Because when we face earthly battles, it’s easy to believe that we need an earthly solution. This only causes us to overcomplicate things that God has already handled on our behalf.
When Jesus was preparing to ascend to heaven after His resurrection, He told the disciples that He was leaving them His peace. Jesus knew that the disciples would face scary days ahead, just like He knew we would face difficult days. There are legitimate reasons to fear all around us…when we try to face it on our own. Jesus said — rather than trying to face fear with things you think will bring peace, make the decision to embrace MY peace. While we may find peace in things on this earth for a moment, the peace that Jesus provides is forever. There’s a better way to face fear and find peace; and it’s by embracing the peace Jesus already gave us.
Fear arises when we lose our confidence. We lose our confidence when we lose our faith. This is almost never done intentionally, but it takes place when we begin to trust in the wrong things. For many of us, it’s not that we’ve completely lost our confidence — it’s that we’ve put our confidence in the wrong things. Life isn’t easy…the life of a follower of isn’t easy. The enemy is always busy, and he knows if he can cause us to misplace our confidence, he can get us to stop walking in what God has for us all together. This is why we have to ensure our confidence is resting in the proper place — Jesus.
It seems as if there are always reasons to fear, always reasons to be afraid. We feel weak, and we automatically assume we’ll fail. We get a bad report from the doctor, and we automatically assume the worst. We lose our job, and we automatically are tempted to believe we’re going to lose everything. However, it doesn’t matter what it looks like — it matters what God said. In His word, He told us there may look like you have a reason to be afraid; but with Him, there’s no reason.
All throughout the Bible we are instructed to control our words. This is even more important in times where we may be upset, discouraged, or hurt. The more we speak, the more we risk saying the wrong things. Our response to this is often, “I didn’t mean it.” But the Bible also says, “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” This gives all the more reason for us to guard what we allow ourselves to say. It is up to us — not others — to control our words.
Trusting in God is easy to say but often difficult to do. The reason it’s difficult is because it generally involves unknown moments, scary moments, and uncertain moments. While most followers of Jesus would claim they fully trust in God, their actions reveal the opposite. At the very least, their actions reveal a limited trust. Yet, in order to fully embrace God’s plan, purpose, and direction — it requires total and complete trust. As we lean all the way in to that, we begin to see the bigger picture He had planned all along.
God is always leading and directing. For many of us, we listen and obey His voice once…maybe twice. We follow one instruction, and then we feel good about ourselves. And because we’ve become so comfortable, we’re no longer listening to his guidance or direction. So when he gives us another instruction to go to another place where He will provide, we miss it. And then we wonder why those areas of our lives dry up. God led Elijah to Karith Ravine, for a season. And he provided for him there, for a season. But then He came back to Elijah and told him…there’s another place to go now. Karith Ravine has been good, but don’t stop there.
Zacchaeus had an undesirable reputation. He was known to be a shady tax collector and crook, among other things. We all have our undesirable characteristics or past events that we’re not proud of. When we allow those things to become what we focus on, or our identity, then we begin to believe the lie that the goodness and grace of Jesus doesn’t apply to us. While we may not verbally admit it, the evidence is in how we live and what we believe about ourselves. While Zacchaeus had flaws, he didn’t allow them to hold him back from seeking Jesus. The amazing thing is, Jesus was seeking him too. Because Jesus is always seeking us, even when we feel messed up or undesirable. It’s time to stop looking at the wrong thing — who we were — and look at the right thing — who we are in Jesus.
There are seasons of waiting, and then there are seasons of moving. While seasons of waiting bring their own challenges of patience, trust, and peace…seasons of moving can be even more difficult. While we’re waiting, we can talk about doing great things for the Lord. However, when it’s time to move into those moments, we have to actually do great things for the Lord. And that is when fear and discouragement can creep in. What if we’re not strong enough? What if we’re not good enough? What if we fail? This overcomplicates what God has already made simple. He’s already shown us by example as the Bible says He goes before us. All we have to do is follower the leader.
Being told to leave a stronghold doesn’t make sense. A stronghold was/is a safe place for David during his time running from Saul. If someone told us to leave a place we felt completely safe, we’d question them as well. And yet, that’s exactly what the prophet, Gad, told David to do. Because sometimes, the place of isolation that we think keeps us safe and protected, turns into the most dangerous place we can be.
Waiting is never fun. And honestly, waiting can be tiring — mentally and sometimes physically. There is a proper time for God to work in our lives, but the reality is that His proper time rarely lines up with our ideal proper time. In our minds, we have a proper time. Our time tends to be now, or at the very least — soon. Yet, because God’s proper time doesn’t always line up with our proper time, there are moments where we are tempted to quit or give up. But it’s always worth holding on and waiting for God’s timing; because if we don’t, we’ll miss the good part.
We’ve all experienced moments of desperation. Moments where something was not functioning the way we wanted it to. Bartimeus was desperate for his healing. We know he was desperate because he shouted. And when those around him told him to be quiet, he shouted even louder. While these moments can feel discouraging, they can also bring freedom. They allow us to see that our identity is not in what we’re going through or who is around us. Our identity is in the truth that Jesus has called us. And that is how we’re able to cheer up and have joy in the midst of difficult moments. Because our circumstances and surroundings do not identify us — our calling does.
It’s a difficult feeling whenever we think that something is over. That the chances, the hope, the possibilities we were believing for are over. That the calling, dream, vision God gave us is over. But one of the greater tragedies in life is that many call things over that are really just beginning. We think it’s over because it looks dead and done, but Jesus says there’s still life left. For many of us, we’ve given up too early — and Jesus is saying, “stop saying it’s over.”
A lot of our frustration in life comes when we feel like we missed the moment. We tend to feel as if opportunities come and go; and that once they’re gone, that’s it. We also feel as if the stars have to align perfectly and that if it doesn’t happen in a certain environment, then it can’t happen — that if we don’t have people’s approval, or if people are inconvenienced, then it’s not possible. However, Jesus wasn’t limited by people’s time, environment, and preferences. He showed up whenever He wanted to show up. Because with Jesus, it can always be time for a miracle.
Whenever things get difficult, our greatest tendency is to overreact. Either we do too much, or we give up all together. Both are overreactions and not the way God intends for us to respond to adverse situations. Perhaps surprisingly, He encourages us to rest. To rest in Him, in His power, and in His strength. While we tend to be taught that the answer is to work harder to overcome everything, God looks for us to rest and obey Him. This doesn’t mean we don’t do anything, it just means we don’t do anything alone or in our own strength. Rather than overreacting, many of us are needing to chill out and rest.
The father in John 4:46-53 had a good desire. He wanted his son to be healed. He also had a good expectation. He expected that Jesus could (and would) heal his son. However, the father also had the wrong method by which he thought Jesus would do it. The father of the boy had his plan, but Jesus had an even better plan. The ironic thing in life, is that many times we view our plan as the only plan. We view our way of doing things as the only way to do things. This causes us to miss out on the best plan — Jesus’ plan. It’s important that we believe, but it’s also important that we be flexible in how we believe Jesus will do it. Thankfully, this father in John 4 was willing to lay aside his plan and embrace Jesus’ plan — because in the end, he just wanted whatever works.
We live in a world that strives to convince everyone we have it all together. That we’re strong enough to handle anything. That we’re smart enough to figure it all out. In II Corinthians, Paul encourages us to embrace the weakness, and allow Christ’s power to bring the strength. Any strength we can accomplish on our own is temporary, but strength found through Him is never-ending. Understanding the role that the grace and power of Jesus plays in our lives is essential to all we do. He’s not looking for us to say, “I’m strong enough to handle it on my own” — He’s looking for us to be honest and admit, “I’m weak.”
We all desire peace. We all look for peace. The danger is, however, that there are many things around us that profess peace, but lead to a lack of it. God gave us the Holy Spirit to follow in alignment with peace; and whenever we follow the Holy Spirit, that’s what it leads to. However, we are also given the freedom to choose to follow our flesh; and whenever we follow that, it leads to destruction. They both may look good, but only one leads to life and peace. The choice is easy, but it’s not always obvious.
Daniel wasn’t thrown into a lion’s den for doing something wrong — he was thrown in for doing something right. He was thrown in for being consistent in his relationship with the Lord. This teaches us that just because everything is not ok, that doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. In fact, it often means you’ve chosen to do what’s right. The same God who is with us before the lion’s dens of life, is also with us during the lion’s den experiences in life. When we’re consistent, we can walk through every situation unbothered.
It’s never easy when what God said doesn’t match what we see. When the word God gave doesn’t match our situation. For Abraham, God told him he would be a father, but he was too old by everyone’s standards. Rather than seeming like he would be a father, it looked like the dream of Abraham ever having children was finished — much less be “the father of many nations.” However, it didn’t matter what it looked like, and it didn’t matter that God’s word seemed to have ended. All that mattered was what God had said.
It’s never easy when what God said doesn’t match what we see. When the word God gave doesn’t match our situation. For Abraham, God told him he would be a father, but he was too old by everyone’s standards. Rather than seeming like he would be a father, it looked like the dream of Abraham ever having children was finished — much less be “the father of many nations.” However, it didn’t matter what it looked like, and it didn’t matter that God’s word seemed to have ended. All that mattered was what God had said.
Storms tend to show up suddenly in our lives. And in the midst of them, especially if we’re caught off guard; we can feel as if they’re going to take us under. We may have been making progress in one area, but a new storm shows up to shatter the newfound hopes and dreams. However, in Jesus we are able to overcome what seems to be taking us under.
Moments of disappointment often lead us to feel stuck in the same position we’re in. We feel as if we’ve tried and failed, been overlooked, or missed out. These feelings tend to translate into claiming the role of a victim. As if we’re not progressing because others aren’t allowing us to. In times such as this, patience is important — but complacence is dangerous. When it comes to overcoming and moving forward in the face of disappointment, being a little restless is actually a good thing.
We have all experienced dark moments in our lives. Some of us may even currently be facing dark moments, situations, circumstances. While nobody wants to go through those moments, and while they’re never enjoyable — they also do not define us. In fact, beautiful moments often springboard out of dark moments. It’s true in our lives, it was true in Jesus’ life. The moment that He died seemed to be the darkest moment anyone could ever imagine. Not just for Jesus, but for all of humanity. However, it was through that dark moment that the light He carried was released. Because Jesus overcame darkness, we too are able to come out of darkness.
From the time Jesus entered Jerusalem, marking the start of a painful and trying time, those closest to Him were trying to talk Him out of it. Because the reality is — no one prefers pain over peace, trouble over ease, death over life. Those around Jesus wanted to protect Him from all He was preparing to encounter. However, Jesus knew that the painful season would pass, and that it would prepare Him for the reason He was here. Ultimately, Jesus knew that His sole purpose was to glorify the Father. We often wonder "why?" Why the pain, why the uncertainty, why the trouble, etc. What if the things we’ve been avoiding and viewing as an ending were really momentary seasons that God was using for a reason?
Potential is such a loaded word. We use it all the time to describe things that could happen but aren’t guaranteed. The reason potential is not guaranteed is because it has to be put to work in order to fulfill what it could be. There are always variables around potential that can prevent it from coming to pass. One of the greatest variables that works against potential are hindrances. The reasons that we believe (or are told) that the potential cannot be fulfilled. In order to step into the full potential, we have to be able to see past the hindrances and disqualifications. We have to be able to see something greater, in the midst of something smaller. When it comes to the potential God’s placed in your life, what do you see?
We all desire for grace to be shown to us. We all seek mercy and forgiveness from Jesus and others for things we’ve done. While others may not always show the upmost forgiveness, Jesus never fails to forgive. No matter what we’ve done, no matter what we do — He shows grace, love, and forgiveness. Why is it, then, that we struggle to forgive others as easily? Do we view ourselves as special or more deserving of forgiveness? And if so, why? Grace and forgiveness is for us to RECEIVE, but it is also for us to GIVE to others.
When we think of pride, we generally view it as something we’d never fall prey to. As if it’s something that everyone else struggles with, but we never would (Coincidentally enough, that’s a prideful thought in and of itself) :) The reality is, it’s easy to look down on others while forgetting we need grace ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in an act of pretending we get it right all the time. Most of the time, it isn’t done in a malicious way — we truly may think we’re doing all the right things, but the heart behind them is wrong. While we can fake everyone us out, and maybe even ourselves, Jesus always knows what’s taking place behind the scenes. This is exactly why He prefers we just be honest to begin with.
Life is full of voices. We have people telling us what to do, the enemy telling us what to do, and God offering guidance of what to do. It takes discernment to know what to listen to — what voice to follow. John 10 tells us that those who are God’s children, know His voice. Whether or not we listen is up to us. In a world full of mixed voices and conflicting directions, it’s imperative we learn how to follow the right one.
God has given us abilities, time, talents — but how we use them is up to us. Do we cultivate them and allow them to multiply? Or do we sit on them for fear that they’re not enough? We have all we need to do all God has called us to do, but we have to be the ones to do it. Growth doesn’t come from stagnation or fear, it comes from making the most of what we have.
It’s easy to fall into isolation. But isolation is rarely good when it comes to maintaining a steady, healthy heart. God gave us community for a reason. He gave us each other for a reason. He knew that there was strength in numbers, and that we’re better together. While the temptation may be to isolate ourselves when our hearts are troubled, healing most often comes when we engage in community. It’s in community that we learn we’re not alone, and that we’re not the only ones facing troubled hearts.
Jesus sacrificed His life for us to be able to spend eternity with Him, but He also gave His life for us to experience the fullness of Him on this earth. That fullness is something that at its core is incomprehensible when we try to understand it ourselves. This leads many of us to live below the level Christ intended for us to live. Instead of bringing our level of living down to the place we can comprehend it, He’s called us to raise our level of living to the place He truly intended. He’s called us to level up.
There’s many different reasons we can feel tired, discouraged, or weak. However, most stem from the same root — our inability to find the proper source of sustainable strength. We’re good at finding moments of strength, but consistent strength is more difficult to come by. It doesn’t come from people, accolades, or things. True strength comes when we rest in, and live out of, the love Jesus has for us. All other sources of strength eventually leave us running on empty.
As Jesus prepared to be arrested and crucified, He prepared His disciples for the moments ahead as much as possible. Part of the preparation was acknowledging that there would be reason to worry, to be afraid. However, he encouraged them not to allow their hearts to become troubled by what was ahead; but instead, to continue believing in Him and all He promised. The same is true for us whenever trouble arises. We don’t have to allow it to take root or grow — but we can choose to overcome it by understanding Who we believe in is greater than whatever situation we find ourselves in.
There are times we become so discouraged, it seems as if there’s no point in trying anymore. It can seem as if there’s nod point in believing anymore. After disappointment after disappointment, and delay after delay, it can feel as if there’s no use. This often leads us to stop trying, to stop showing up. But there’s power in showing up. There’s strength in showing up. And eventually, there’s a miracle waiting when we decide to keep showing up.
It’s easy to get caught up in the destination and forget the beauty of the journey. When we have a goal in mind, a dream in mind, we want to accomplish it immediately. This can cause us not to enjoy the minor victories. It can cause us to overlook the small, yet important, progress we make along the way. While the destination is worth celebrating — and those moments will come — we can’t forget that each step along the way is worth celebrating too.
We rarely just quit for no reason. We rarely give up on dreams, plans, and callings for no reason. But just because we have a reason to quit, doesn’t mean that we should quit. In life, we get tired and weary for legitimate reasons. There are times we don’t see any way that we could keep trusting the process and continuing to move forward. There are moments where everyone would understand if/why we quit. But we can find strength in those moments. As is the case for everything in our lives, Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to keep going.
We want to understand how things work. We desire to know how things work, why they work, and even why they don’t work. While that in and of itself is not bad, the Kingdom of God is different. It requires faith — which means it requires us to trust things that we may not be able to understand and/or explain. Because of this, we often stop short of seeing the completion of God’s plan in our lives. It is always tempting to quit things we cannot explain, or maybe to not even begin in the first place. However, freedom and growth is found in the moments we become ok with saying, “I don’t know.”
The Christmas story offers hope and joy — but it also offers important lessons. Each person that played a part in the story of Jesus’ birth was placed in a situation that did not make sense. They had reason after reason to doubt what was to take place, and they especially had reasons to doubt how they could be involved. We, too, often feel as if God’s plan for our lives is too impossible — too good to be true. We have our disqualifications, our misunderstandings, and our personal objections. Yet, while those may all be legitimate on the surface, God’s plan supersedes them all — just like what took place throughout the events in and around Jesus’ birth.
We tend to feel alone, when God is very much present. However, we miss Him for a variety of different reasons. We’re expecting something different, we’re wanting something different, we were told it would be something different. Yet, just because it’s not how we thought He’d show up, it doesn’t mean God didn’t show up. God is with you, but He may reveal Himself in different ways or places that you expected Him to.
It’s difficult to find rest when our lives appear to be in disarray. When the place we thought as safe, begins to take on water. When it’s too dark to see any signs of hope. When there are more reasons to worry than to trust. These moments can be discouraging — when we look at life and don’t see the pretty picture we hoped/believed for. It can seem like Jesus doesn’t care because we feel that He’s silent. But His silence, peace, and rest is not indifference — it’s trust. He knows that one bad picture doesn’t undo an entire story. Jesus has a way of refining even the worst of circumstances through His grace and power. It may not look picture perfect now, but the story isn’t finished yet.
With everything we face at times, it can feel overwhelming. Life can be overwhelming. Life can be painful. However, the solution isn’t to ignore it. The solution is to acknowledge that the difficulties are real, but God is stronger. And the easiest way to overcome feelings that seem overwhelming, is to focus on the times God delivered us from other times that felt insurmountable. It may seem like it’s too much to handle, as if we can’t deal. But as God has proven time and time again — with Him, we CAN deal.
There are times when we think we should feel connected with Jesus, but we feel disconnected. Because of all we’re doing for Him, we expect to feel close… but we still feel distant. Why? More often than not, it isn’t that we’ve lost connection with Him, it’s just that we’ve become so busy trying to check boxes that we’ve bogged down the connection and weakened the signal.
Life is busy. It’s full of things to do, reasons to worry, and problems to solve. We tend to get caught up in doing it all. Many of us even feel as if the more we’re doing, the more holy we are. But busyness does not equate holiness. In fact, the more tired we are from overexerting ourselves while trying to handle things we aren’t supposed to handle alone, the more we stray away from the way Jesus truly intended for it to be. Religion may say that the busier we are, the holier we are; however, Jesus never did. Instead, He volunteered Himself and said — when it seems to be too much to handle alone, pass it off to me.
The last year and a half has brought a lot of reasons to fear. Uncertainty, questions, unusual circumstances. The argument has been, “If you have faith, you’ll do this,” or, “If you have wisdom, you’ll do that.” However, as followers of Jesus, it’s not about having to choose between faith or wisdom. It’s about understanding that they work together.
The voice of fear is loud. The reasons to fear are innumerable. But the reasons to be confident are greater. As children of God, we are called, chosen — and therefore — we can be confident. Don’t give into the hype of fear. Rather, walk in the confidence of one who knows that God has their back.
Walking by faith is often a process. It’s a process filled with overcoming fear, ignoring doubt, and avoid the wrong voices. At times, it seems that such things can hinder the process, or to lead us to doubt what God said — causing us to feel as if we have nothing to believe for. Yet, when it feels like there’s nothing left — it might just mean we’re perfect in the middle of the process. Rather than believing we’re finished, let us find the faith to say, “I’m in process.”
We know that it’s easy to have faith when we can see the fulfillment of what we’re believing for right away. It’s a little more difficult to have faith when we have to remain patient, but it’s possible to remain hopeful with faith in those moments. However, what about the times we hold onto faith and never see the fulfillment? What about the times that we believed and never saw it happen? Are those moments of faith worthless? Did we miss God? Many of us struggle to keep faith the longer we follow Jesus because we’ve been let down one too many times. But what if those times weren’t a letdown? What if the promise we had faith for was never for us to see… but instead for someone else to experience from the benefits of our faith?
We all know that our trust should be in Jesus, but is that where our trust really is? Do we trust in Him, or do we trust in our own ability, talents, finances, gifts? The easiest way to tell where our trust truly lies is by following heart. And you can know where your heart lies by seeing where you invest your time, abilities, talents, finances, and gifts.
It is always good to dream; however, what is a dream without some nightmares, what is sunshine without rain, what is summer without winter. The good life is not obtaining the dream, but it’s the journey in getting to them. Will you trust that God is setting you for up something amazing even though you are experiencing some of the worst times of your life? Or will quit on the journey? God gives the dream, God walks with us on the journey, God fulfills his purpose through us. We must keep our faith and focus on him.
Isolation is an easy trap to fall into. Some are busy, some are private, some are quiet — but all of us are stronger when we go through life together. Alone, we might swerve off path; but together, we help keep each other on course. The truth is, we’re not supposed to handle everything on our own. Yes, the Holy Spirit is there to edify us — but God also gave us one another. When we gather together, we learn together. When we learn together, we grow together. And when we grow together, we overcome together. The enemy leads us to believe we have to be alone when we’re not ok, and that it’s better that way — but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
When we hear “the good life,” what do we think of? It’s almost a guarantee that our first thought isn’t “when we lose something.” Most thoughts of “the good life” center on things being added to our lives. Blessings, finances, people, desires. And while those things are not bad, they also do not define “the good life.” In Christ, “the good life” is found in what we lose — in what we lay down. Once we lay down our desires, once we lose our preferences, we are able to enjoy the true fulfillment of a Christ-centered “good life.”
We all have a Saul in our lives. Someone who seemingly made it their mission to hold us back. To rob us of God’s plan for us. And if we’re honest, it’s hard for us to imagine mourning when that person(s) is no longer in our lives. For David, his identity in the Lord was so locked down, and he was so secure, that he wanted to show KINDNESS to Saul. He wanted to show kindness to the one who had made his life miserable for years! We often think we’ve forgiven and overcome bitterness; but the best way to see if we’ve truly canceled bitterness is to show kindness to those who we once were bitter towards.
We’ve all messed up. We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all lived through moments we’re not proud of. The problem, however, is not what we’ve done — it’s who we begin to see ourselves as because of it. Shame is a powerful tool that leads us to believe we’re worthless and finished. Every time we try to take a step forward, we’re reminded of the time we tripped. Every time we try to begin again, we’re reminded of the time we stopped. Whenever we allow those thoughts to flood our minds and stop us, we’ve chosen to listen to the wrong voice(s). God’s voice is a voice of grace, not disgrace. It’s a voice of vindication, not of shame.
None of us like grief or difficulty — but we all love joyful moments. However, it’s often the moments of grief that leads to the joy. If we don’t trust God’s timing/process, we’ll go through the difficult seasons before we’re supposed to; which will cause us to miss the joyful seasons. Grief and disappointment aren’t easy, but sometimes they’re good. Not because the grief is good, but because what’s on the other side of it is.
When circumstances arise, we can respond in faith or in fear. The manner in which we respond tends to be determined by what the circumstance actually is. We may respond to some adversity one way, and other adverse situations another way. However, scripture instructs us to respond the same way, no matter what the circumstance. Whatever it is, our response should be the same — and that’s with a confidence of knowing God is working.
When the Israelites needed water, God told Moses and Aaron what to do — He said to speak to the rock. However, Moses and Aaron hit the rock instead. Even though they didn’t do as God said, water still came from the rock. Yet, while water still came from the rock, it also came with a high price. Because they did it their way instead of God’s way, they were no longer able to enter the Promised Land with everyone else. When we do it our way, it may work for a season — but the consequences will always catch up to us eventually.
Persistence is a vital key to anything of value. Many begin journeys, but few display the persistence it takes to fulfill the journey. We grow tired, hopeless, and doubtful as time goes on. It’s always easier in those moments to give up. To think that there’s no point. To want to avoid appearing desperate. Yet, those are the moments where persistence is most important. When we’re persistent, we can find the peace we need to know that God will be faithful and fulfill exactly what He promised.
We can tend to get so caught up in the method that we miss the miraculous. God doesn’t change, His word doesn’t change; but the way he fulfills His word can change. The way God had David defeat the Philistine’s the first time was different than the way He did it the second time. If David would’ve just done what worked the first time God gave victory, he and his men would have been defeated. We must understand that God’s plan of attack and victory may be different each time.
We don’t always understand everything in life. We don’t always understand how/why God works the way He does. We don’t always understand everything we go through. But there’s a purpose. It may feel messy, but there’s a purpose. It may be difficult, but there’s a purpose. As we take steps of obedience, God moves. As He moves, we change.
If we’re honest, many of us find it easier just not to get our hopes up. We would rather not see a glimmer of hope at all than to be let down. It seems better that way. Because the pain of lost hope tends to feel unbearable. But what if the hope is what kept our story alive? What if what seemed like the end of our story was just the beginning of a better story?
We all want to feel loved, wanted, and needed. However, sometimes we become so busy juggling different responsibilities and plans, that we lose sight of what’s important. When Jesus showed up, Mary refused to miss it — while Martha, her sister, was so busy with everything else, that she nearly missed what Jesus was doing. Martha was too busy to notice that what mattered most was right in front of her.
Life is confusing. Not just for those who aren’t followers of Jesus, but even for those who are. We don’t always understand why God works the way He does, or why life turns out the way it does. But the uncertainty of a Christlike life isn’t an excuse for an uncommitted life. Even in the questions, even in the waiting, and even in the confusion… we are to be committed.
We all have support systems in our lives — family, friends, vices, and things that carry us places. However, support comes and goes. Friends that support you one day, may leave you the next. Places you looked to for support one day, may be destroyed the next. Many of our lives are shaky because we’ve placed our hope and trust in shaky supports.
If we are going to build good habits, it also means we have to overcome bad habits. We tend to hope that good habits will outweigh bad habits; when in reality, it’s a combination of both — beginning good habits, but also removing bad habits. Sometimes bad habits don’t seem to be all that bad, but they’re preventing us from great. In this final week of “Habits,” we’re looking at practical steps to remove bad habits, so we can make room for the right habits.
Whenever we think it all has to be put together before we can see a change, we don’t even start. Rather than focusing on the BIG goal, dream, vision, change — what would happen if we started with one SMALL change? One small act of obedience, one small change of pace, one small change of routine, can produce big results in the hands of God.
Many of us have the best of intentions. We have the right hearts. But it still seems like it’s difficult to get it right all the time. It still seems like it’s difficult to make the right decisions all the time. It still seems like it’s difficult to make the right choice all the time. Sometimes, it just seems like we’re too much to handle. And that’s ok — because we’re not the answer… Jesus is!
Whenever we read or talk about the story of the prodigal son, we tend to focus on the son that made the obvious mistake. We focus on the son the left his father. The one that left the source. But he wasn’t the only son that made a mistake. The brother who stayed also made a mistake. He made the mistake of not appreciating what had always been available to him. Both brothers made different mistakes, but the father loved them both the same. Likewise, we’ve all made mistakes — and our “level” of mistakes never disqualifies us from God’s love and acceptance.
Whenever God gives direction, He follows through. He doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t lead us astray. The instructions from Him are not what cause us to lose our way or get off track — our decision to listen to other voices is what leads us in the wrong direction. However, the beautiful thing about God’s love is that He’s always there, always waiting. When we decide to seek His leading again, He’s still there to guide us in the right direction — which never changed.
Life has a way of landing us in places we don’t feel we deserve to be in. In Acts 12, Peter found himself in prison. He didn’t “deserve” to be in prison, but he was there nonetheless. In those moments, we can have our doubts about what God is doing. About if He’s even doing anything. But in the end, God will always reveal Himself, His plan, and His direction to us.
In order to make room for Jesus to move, we may have to remove some of what we’re holding onto. What if what Jesus is wanting to do in our lives isn’t what we think He’s wanting to do? What if Him working in and through our lives isn’t how we think he’s going to work? Jesus rode into Jerusalem to a triumphant entry, but the very first thing He did after was disrupt what was taking place in the temple amongst those who thought they had it all figured out.
There are times in our lives where we’ve been facing something for so long, we’re used to it. Times where we’ve put up with something for so long, we no long fight it. Our response has become — ‘it’s always been this way.” And since it’s always been this way, we believe it can’t change. But just because it’s always been this way, that doesn’t mean it has to stay this way. Today can be the day that change begins.
When we feel afraid, when we feel outnumbered, when we feel overwhelmed — we can resort to hiding. We can choose to avoid what we will inevitably have to face. The longer we put it off, the stronger the opposition gets. Hiding is never the answer. Avoiding is never the answer. Victory and freedom come when we finally get tired of hiding, and we choose to attack.
Everyone isn’t easy to love. It’s naive to believe that just because we follow Jesus, loving others is easy. The reality is, loving others is difficult. People lie, steal, betray, and more. Loving others is a choice. And in truth, it will cost us something. It will cost us pride, it will cost us comfort, and it will cost us preferences. That’s what makes it so powerful. Not because it’s forced upon us, but because we get to choose to live it out.
It’s often difficult to love, forgive, and care for others the way we’re called to do in scripture. While this can be caused by a variety of circumstances, the most common is that we don’t love, forgive, or care for ourselves. We cannot pour from an empty cup. We cannot give to others what we haven’t even given ourselves. May we learn to see ourselves the way Jesus sees us — as worthy of love. Then, and only then, can we in turn show others that same love.
If we’re going to be where God intends for us to be in 5 years, we have to be consistent. We have to make our minds up. We have to be steadfast and focused. We cannot say “yes” one day and then “no” another. With Jesus, it is always “yes.”
Now is the time to wake up. Now is the time to stop putting things off for “tomorrow.” Life change isn’t for tomorrow, growth isn’t for tomorrow, progress isn’t for tomorrow — it’s for today! As we live with Jesus’ desires above our own, it’ll transform the way we think, act, and live.