Fear is a clever adversary. When we think of fear, the first things that come to mind are old, decrepit Victorian mansions or abandoned houses fueled by stories of stories of swinging chandeliers or doors that creak open on their own. Or we might think of less dramatic fears: heights or flying or small spaces. Unless you’re suffering from one of these or other phobias—or ghosts—it is rather easy to simply discard fear as something other people experience. But fear is not so simple. Most often, it sneaks into mind and festers and builds like a bacteria that, if untreated, to infection, sepsis, and even death. You can try preventative measures to keep it at bay, but bacteria can still get in. And you never know until you’re infected until the symptoms appear. This is the primary modus operandi of fear. It sneaks in, debilitates, and even paralyzes. Ultimately, it renders its victim completely helpless. This came to light during an unrelated discussion with my wife. We have been trying to put the finishing touches on my next manuscript, which frankly has been simmering on the backburner over the last several due to life distractions. Currently, it is coming down to fact-checking and formatting endnotes. It is especially nerve-racking because, unlike my previous book, we chose to self-publish this one. We have to get it right. It is all on us. It’s been difficult to release the manuscript. We’re haunted by the questions: is there more that can be done? Is the subject even all that relevant anymore? What am I missing? We check and recheck every detail. We don’t want to let go and send it into a very cruel world. We both recognized this paralysis after hearing ourselves begin everything with the phrase: “I’m afraid…” This realization suddenly made this year make sense. I have felt a bit off most of the year. I have become more subdued, resigned, troubled. I thought I was hiding it okay until a former (and very discerning) student came up to me recently and asked, “Mr. H., are you sad?” That simple, innocent question shook me into an awareness. I don’t necessarily think I am depressed, but something is not right. Since then, between that question and this recent epiphany with my wife, I realized that fear has crept into my life and is now controlling my psyche. The first part of 2026 has been difficult. Now, I won’t pretend that it was somehow more difficult than others. But it has been tough. The remainder of 2026 has been trying to recover from it. Last March, within days of the door slamming shut on my wife’s 25-year career, I lost my mom. In a way, I lost her over the last several years as she sank into dementia, but last March her battle ended. Add this to standard stresses associated with a second semester in a high school, which in and of itself is enough to deplete my tanks. Now I have to tap into mental and emotional resources that don’t exist. Fast forward to the present and I can see how God was with us in the storm. He gave me mental and emotionally resources, I never knew existed. He took care of us despite a huge income drop and being uninsured for a couple of month. Further, I know that my mom is now thinking more clearly than I could ever dream. God gets the glory. However, the enemy used a different tactic to paralyze me. Out of these hardship, fear crept in. And now I realize I am infected with it. Watching my mom sink into the darkness of dementia, I have become afraid that one day I might suffer from that myself. I am afraid of losing my mind. Unfortunately, once fear has a foothold, it doesn’t stop there. Fear escalated from fearing dementia to fearing getting old in general. I am only a few months away from leaving behind my fifties forever. I began to fear getting old. I fear my body slowing down. Simple things become a little harder. My back, my knees, and feet start to hurt a little more. I have a little more trouble hearing someone in a noisy room. I am doing that weird thing with my glasses when transitioning between reading close up and at a distance. It takes longer to get over a cold. Last July, I turned an ankle in Colorado that still aches today. The thought of not driving because driving in the winter or at night just isn’t worth the risk. I don’t want to give up the things that require the energy I had when I was young. How many summer road trips do I have left? What happens when I can no longer match the energy of a classroom of high school students? Fear takes that into a whole new direction. I really don’t want to stop teaching. I love the classroom. I love the cycle of the school calendar. But what happens when my body can’t keep up? Can my filters remain strong enough to keep me from saying something mean or stupid? Will I become tiresome, or in the way? Can I keep my teaching style and not turn into a grumpy old stooge? Worse yet, what happens when I become irrelevant? I have found myself somewhat paralyzed by this fear. And it has dragged me down. It has made me “look sad.” All of this came together with the recent discussion with my wife. Fear has overtaken me. It has taken control of me. But is it too late? Thankfully, no. The most used phrase in the entirety of scripture is: “do not be afraid.” However, one important observation that seems to be overlooked is that that phrase is almost always spoken from the supernatural point of view: God to human, Jesus to human, heavenly messenger to human. From a broader, heavenly perspective to a limited, natural one. “Do not be afraid.” I have thought about this constantly since that epiphany I had with my wife. I should not—must not—live in fear. Not as a child of the King. But how do you switch fear off? It is not as simple as a light switch. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” The enemy’s game plan is to always whisper thoughts into our head that will trigger fear. We have to be on guard always. When we get the sense of fear, we must be deliberate and take that thought captive and replace it with truth: “My God is bigger”; “He is my protector and comforter”; “This thought is not coming from him”. Fear does not sit on the throne, God does. Fear, by definition, is limited, God is infinite. Fear is merely a tool, God is the creator of everything, including us who are made in gis image. Only God can break through the paralysis fear brings and can heal us. Does that mean those things I fear will never happen? No. They likely will. But however the upcoming years pan out, he is with you, with me. And whatever the future brings, God is God. And he is good.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional A Wrinkled Wardrobe By Deborah Shaffer August 21st, 2026 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 I have a love-hate relationship with my spring and summer wardrobes. I’m always excited to pack up my heavy winter garments and replace them with the light colorful fabrics of springtime. However, what I don’t like are the wrinkles. It doesn’t seem to matter how carefully I fold or hang them after washing, my wardrobe is plagued by ugly wrinkles—and that’s when I have to reach for that dreaded iron. It is one of my most hated chores! However, I know that without the pressure of this heated tool, those wrinkles will remain. The article of clothing will stay in its unsightly condition and will not be worn, rendering itself useless. That’s how it is for Christians, too. Even though we’re heaven-bound, we live in a world damaged by sin; and, at times, we allow it to contaminate our lives, causing ugly “wrinkles.” It’s at those times that the application of heat may be needed! Our Father knows exactly what it takes to get our wrinkles out. Pressure from the heat of trials—so unbearable when we’re going through them—may just be the exact thing needed to perfect us. The heat is not meant as punishment. The heat is a tool. Maybe we’re going through a time in our lives when we’re feeling the heat. We know we are God’s children, we have called upon Jesus for salvation, we follow after Him; but life is hard. Let’s not get discouraged. After the ironing is finished, we will be a beautiful garment—unwrinkled and pleasant to those around us.

THROWBACK THURSDAY - In 2000, I visited Calvary Campground in Ashland, Virginia for the first time. This screenshot is from a video of the opening session of Winter Campmeeting. Except for 2011, I’ve made a stopover there every year since.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 20) 1. Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3. It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4. The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7. The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. 8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 9. Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11. Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14. “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15. There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18. Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20. Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21. An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. 22. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24. A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29. The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 20) 1. Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3. It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4. The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7. The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. 8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 9. Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11. Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14. “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15. There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18. Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20. Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21. An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. 22. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24. A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29. The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

Acts 27: "1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. 4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; 8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. 9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land."

Daily Devotional Save myself, by Saving other's Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16 I have read of a man who, journeying on a winter’s day through deep drifts of snow, became benumbed by the cold, which was almost imperceptibly freezing his vital powers. He was nearly chilled to death, and was about to give up the struggle for life, when he heard the moans of a fellow traveler who was also perishing with cold. His sympathy was aroused, and he determined to rescue him. He chafed the ice-cold limbs of the unfortunate man, and after considerable effort raised him to his feet. As the sufferer could not stand, he bore him in sympathizing arms through the very drifts he had thought he could never get through alone. When he had carried his fellow traveler to a place of safety, the truth flashed home to him that in saving his neighbor he had also saved himself. His earnest efforts to help another had quickened the blood that was freezing in his own veins and sent a healthy warmth to the extremities of his body. The lesson that in helping others we ourselves receive help must be urged upon young believers continually, by precept and example, that in their Christian experience they may gain the best results. Let the desponding ones, those disposed to think that the way to eternal life is trying and difficult, go to work to help others. Such efforts, united with prayer for divine light, will cause their own hearts to throb with the quickening influence of the grace of God, their own affections to glow with more divine fervor. Their whole Christian life will be more of a reality, more earnest, more prayerful.... The testimonies borne by them in the Sabbath services will be filled with power. With joy they will bear witness to the preciousness of the experience they have gained in working for others. [235]

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Guidelines for living. August 17th, 2026 Will You Choose a Simpler Life? You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does—look how rich he is! No wonder he “worships” you! But just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face!” (Job 1:10-11, Living Bible How much do you really need? If everything you own was suddenly wiped out by a fire or a devastating storm, would you thank God that your life was spared, or curse because of your loss? I asked myself that question one day when a friend and I noticed that smoke was coming out of the window of a house. For a moment we sat there, not believing what we saw. Then we realized the house was on fire. I ran to a phone and called the fire department, but it was too late. An oil stove had exploded and showered the fuel throughout the house. By the time we got the fire department there and ran to the house, the entire home was one blazing inferno. There was no loss of life, but outside the flaming house stood a father and mother and a little girl about six years of age. The parents were almost beside themselves with grief. How do you console someone in an hour like that? The young father cried out, “My God—all is lost!” The little girl put her hand on her daddy’s as her mother held her tightly in her arms, and she said, “Daddy, you got mommy and me … .” If that should happen to you, would you feel like giving up? Or would you realize that with no loss of life or limb, that what really counts is not what you have but rather what you are? A Christian friend who did lose everything he owned in a fire, and could speak from personal experience, talks freely about the lessons God taught him through that. The biggest one was the tragedy of building your life around what you have. No one enjoys living in poverty. I’ve traveled too much in the world ever to buy that people who live in poverty are not bothered by what they don’t have, since they’ve never known some of the things that you have in your home. They hurt when their baby is sick, and there is no agency to provide medicine and there is no money. They hurt when the cold of winter presses through the cardboard of a squatter’s shack. In recent years the affluence of some, yes, many, has become a sharper and more noticeable contrast to the poverty of others. How much do you really need? This, of course, is a question that has no pat answer, but it has readily become apparent that no one is so affluent that he can afford to disregard the needs of others today. Evangelist Leighton Ford believes that the simple life which pleases God today is one that gets its priorities straight. “We are going to have to lead simpler lives in the future,” said Ford. No question about that. The question is, “Will it be because we are forced to, or because we choose to?” Every sincere individual must come to grips with the responsibility that we have to God in areas of our stewardship. And “what is stewardship?” you might ask. It’s an old English word that originally meant the supervision of another’s wealth or possessions. Literally, a steward was a “house warden.” He was the person to whom the master had entrusted his possessions; the steward was directly responsible to the owner. If you can begin to think of your possessions as a stewardship, given to you by God, who will someday demand an accounting, you will begin to think of material goods and possessions in a different light. With the changing world scene today, it’s become apparent that everyone will have to change some of the ways we have done things; the big question is, “Will it be because we are forced to, or because we choose to, as God’s direction for our lives?” Resource Reading: Job 1:1-22

✝️ TO THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS READY TO QUIT Please don't scroll past this. This may be for you. This is for the Christian who is tired of pretending. The one who still believes Jesus is Lord, yet secretly wonders, “Why is my heart so cold?” The one who has prayed thousands of prayers and feels like heaven has been silent. The one who reads the Bible but struggles to feel anything. The one who battles temptation, grief, anxiety, disappointment, or loneliness and thinks, “Maybe I'm just a terrible Christian.” If that's you… You are not alone. And more importantly: Jesus has not abandoned you. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Notice that Scripture does not say God is only near to the joyful or the victorious. He is especially near to the brokenhearted. Even God's greatest servants wanted to quit Sometimes we imagine that real Christians never struggle. The Bible tells a very different story. David cried until his tears became his food. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:11 Elijah called down fire from heaven, yet afterward he became so discouraged that he asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19). God didn't rebuke him first—He gave him rest, food, and His gentle presence. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Paul admitted he was under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. The strongest believers are not those who never struggle. They are the ones who keep returning to Christ. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be “good enough” Many Christians live as though God's love depends on today's performance. We fail. We feel ashamed. We hide. We try harder. We fail again. But listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Jesus did not say: Come when you've fixed yourself. He said: Come while you're weary. That changes everything. God is not asking you to carry yourself Some of you are carrying burdens you were never meant to carry. The grief of losing someone you love. Financial pressure. Health problems. Depression. Spiritual dryness. Regret over past sins. Fear about the future. Hear the Word of God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 Not some of it. All of it. Every fear. Every question. Every sleepless night. Every tear you've cried when nobody else knew. When you feel like God is far away Feelings can be powerful. But they are not always truthful. God's promise is greater than our emotions. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 You may not feel His presence. You may not understand His timing. But His promise has not changed. He is faithful even when our feelings rise and fall. Your failures do not have the final word Perhaps you've fallen into the same sin again. Perhaps you've made promises to God that you've broken. Perhaps you're ashamed. Listen carefully. Satan says, “Hide from God.” Jesus says, “Come to Me.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 The cross is not permission to continue in sin. The cross is proof that forgiveness is available for the repentant heart. There is mercy for those who return. Don't confuse a difficult season with a defeated life Winter is not the end of the tree. Night is not the end of the day. Friday was not the end of Jesus. Resurrection came. Your story is still being written by God. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 Morning does come. Sometimes slowly. But it comes. When your faith feels like a tiny ember Maybe you used to burn with passion. Now you barely have enough strength to whisper a prayer. Take hope from this beautiful promise: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” — Isaiah 42:3 Jesus specializes in restoring smoldering hearts. He does not crush weak believers. He restores them. If today is all you have… Then don't worry about surviving the next ten years. Walk with Jesus today. If you can't run… Walk. If you can't walk… Stand. If you can't stand… Kneel. If all you can pray is one sentence, let it be: “Jesus, hold on to me because I'm struggling to hold on to You.” That prayer is precious to God. God's grace is greater than your weakness Paul pleaded for his hardship to be removed. God answered him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Notice this: God did not say, “Your strength is enough.” He said, “My grace is enough.” Your weakness is not the end of God's work. It is often where His power becomes most visible. Hold tightly to these promises “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts. He has not given up on you. 🙏 A Prayer for Every Weary Christian Heavenly Father, I pray for every brother and sister in Christ who is reading this with tears in their eyes. Some are exhausted. Some are grieving. Some feel spiritually numb. Some are secretly ready to walk away from the faith. Lord Jesus, draw near to them exactly as You promised. Let the brokenhearted feel Your presence. Replace despair with hope, shame with forgiveness, fear with peace, and weariness with renewed strength. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into hearts that have grown cold. Restore the joy of salvation. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a love for prayer, and the courage to keep following Jesus one day at a time. Teach us to trust Your promises more than our feelings. Keep our eyes fixed upon Christ until the day we see Him face to face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ❤️ BEFORE YOU QUIT… REMEMBER THIS God still loves you. Christ still intercedes for you. The Holy Spirit has not stopped working in you. Your story is not over. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 ✝️ DON'T QUIT. KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS. He is still the Good Shepherd. He is still the Savior. He is still enough. I can totally relate to those who are hurting, angry, frustrated towards God Especially after losing someone precious to death, despite you prayed your heart out and yet if feels like your prayers fell on deaf ears up there! I really was ready to walk away from God myself last year. But after much soul searching. No matter what. I just can't live without Father Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Plus I don't want the Devil the Satisfaction of quitting on God. I have permanently decided to stick with God & Jesus Christ no matter what happens in my life. Jesus is the anchor of my heart and soul, and my true peace! Very Sincerely, Markus Klinger Markus4Jesus@yahoo.ca London, Ontario, Canada ===================================================================== ✝️ TO THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS READY TO QUIT Please don't scroll past this. This may be for you. This is for the Christian who is tired of pretending. The one who still believes Jesus is Lord, yet secretly wonders, “Why is my heart so cold?” The one who has prayed thousands of prayers and feels like heaven has been silent. The one who reads the Bible but struggles to feel anything. The one who battles temptation, grief, anxiety, disappointment, or loneliness and thinks, “Maybe I'm just a terrible Christian.” If that's you… You are not alone. And more importantly: Jesus has not abandoned you. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Notice that Scripture does not say God is only near to the joyful or the victorious. He is especially near to the brokenhearted. Even God's greatest servants wanted to quit Sometimes we imagine that real Christians never struggle. The Bible tells a very different story. David cried until his tears became his food. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:11 Elijah called down fire from heaven, yet afterward he became so discouraged that he asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19). God didn't rebuke him first—He gave him rest, food, and His gentle presence. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Paul admitted he was under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. The strongest believers are not those who never struggle. They are the ones who keep returning to Christ. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to be “good enough” Many Christians live as though God's love depends on today's performance. We fail. We feel ashamed. We hide. We try harder. We fail again. But listen to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Jesus did not say: Come when you've fixed yourself. He said: Come while you're weary. That changes everything. God is not asking you to carry yourself Some of you are carrying burdens you were never meant to carry. The grief of losing someone you love. Financial pressure. Health problems. Depression. Spiritual dryness. Regret over past sins. Fear about the future. Hear the Word of God: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 Not some of it. All of it. Every fear. Every question. Every sleepless night. Every tear you've cried when nobody else knew. When you feel like God is far away Feelings can be powerful. But they are not always truthful. God's promise is greater than our emotions. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 You may not feel His presence. You may not understand His timing. But His promise has not changed. He is faithful even when our feelings rise and fall. Your failures do not have the final word Perhaps you've fallen into the same sin again. Perhaps you've made promises to God that you've broken. Perhaps you're ashamed. Listen carefully. Satan says, “Hide from God.” Jesus says, “Come to Me.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 The cross is not permission to continue in sin. The cross is proof that forgiveness is available for the repentant heart. There is mercy for those who return. Don't confuse a difficult season with a defeated life Winter is not the end of the tree. Night is not the end of the day. Friday was not the end of Jesus. Resurrection came. Your story is still being written by God. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 Morning does come. Sometimes slowly. But it comes. When your faith feels like a tiny ember Maybe you used to burn with passion. Now you barely have enough strength to whisper a prayer. Take hope from this beautiful promise: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” — Isaiah 42:3 Jesus specializes in restoring smoldering hearts. He does not crush weak believers. He restores them. If today is all you have… Then don't worry about surviving the next ten years. Walk with Jesus today. If you can't run… Walk. If you can't walk… Stand. If you can't stand… Kneel. If all you can pray is one sentence, let it be: “Jesus, hold on to me because I'm struggling to hold on to You.” That prayer is precious to God. God's grace is greater than your weakness Paul pleaded for his hardship to be removed. God answered him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 Notice this: God did not say, “Your strength is enough.” He said, “My grace is enough.” Your weakness is not the end of God's work. It is often where His power becomes most visible. Hold tightly to these promises “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts. He has not given up on you. 🙏 A Prayer for Every Weary Christian Heavenly Father, I pray for every brother and sister in Christ who is reading this with tears in their eyes. Some are exhausted. Some are grieving. Some feel spiritually numb. Some are secretly ready to walk away from the faith. Lord Jesus, draw near to them exactly as You promised. Let the brokenhearted feel Your presence. Replace despair with hope, shame with forgiveness, fear with peace, and weariness with renewed strength. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into hearts that have grown cold. Restore the joy of salvation. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a love for prayer, and the courage to keep following Jesus one day at a time. Teach us to trust Your promises more than our feelings. Keep our eyes fixed upon Christ until the day we see Him face to face. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ❤️ BEFORE YOU QUIT… REMEMBER THIS God still loves you. Christ still intercedes for you. The Holy Spirit has not stopped working in you. Your story is not over. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 ✝️ DON'T QUIT. KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS. He is still the Good Shepherd. He is still the Savior. He is still enough. ======================================================================= I can totally relate to those who are hurting, angry, frustrated towards God Especially after losing someone precious to death, despite you prayed your heart out and yet if feels like your prayers fell on deaf ears up there! I really was ready to walk away from God myself last year. But after much soul searching. No matter what. I just can't live without Father Jehovah God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Plus I don't want the Devil the Satisfaction of quitting on God. I have permanently decided to stick with God & Jesus Christ no matter what happens in my life. Jesus is the anchor of my heart and soul, and my true peace! Very Sincerely, Markus Klinger Markus4Jesus@yahoo.ca London, Ontario, Canada