When it comes to hopes and dreams, I love the story of Joseph. He had 10 older brothers and one younger brother. His older brothers were jealous of Joseph, because he was dad’s favorite son.

One night, Joseph had a dream where he saw 11 stacks of wheat bowing down to his stack. And, in a second dream, he saw the sun, moon and 11 stars bowing down to him as well. As Joseph shared his dreams with his brothers, they became even more jealous. “Are we going to serve you little brother?”

Joseph’s dad sent him out one day to check on his brothers. As he approached them, his jealous brothers decided to kill him. But when he arrived, they bound him and threw him into a pit. The next day, the oldest brother talked them out of killing him, and instead, they sold Joseph to some passing traders for 30 pieces of silver.

Joseph spent the next 20 years in prison. Shackled and bound with chains, Joseph served as a slave. Why? Because he shared his dreams.

How many of you have hopes and dreams–things you want to accomplish in your life? Do you feel like you’ve been thrown into a pit of discouragement and despair, only then to be dragged off to a prison of fear where you are bound and shackled–completely limited in the things you can do?

While Joseph was in prison, things began to happen. He found favor with his captors. God was working in Joseph’s life, and through the years, he was elevated in position and authority. Finally, after 20 years in prison, he became second in command over all of Egypt.

Due to a massive famine in the land, predicted by Joseph, his brothers came to Egypt seeking food. But, they didn’t recognize their younger brother. They bowed down to him pleading for food to eat. Joseph’s dream had come to pass.

“[God] called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them–Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true” (Psalms 105:16-19).

Joseph had lots of things to be angry about. He could have fallen deep into despair and depression, because it seemed that his hopes and dreams had been thwarted. Yet, he remained faithful to God, serving him and trusting him, even though he didn’t know why he was in prison and suffering at the hands of the Egyptians. Yet, when his brothers came to him, Joseph said, “What you meant for evil, God has used it for good, to save your lives” (Genesis 50:20).

I don’t know why we go through the fear and anxiety we do. There are probably lots of different reasons why. But, I know that it’s not what we are meant to experience. Yet, God can use it for our good. He can bring those hopes and dreams to life in ways that we may not understand or even agree with. God works in mysterious ways.

I have done so much with my life in the past few years because of the peace God has given me. For the first time in my life, my hopes and dreams are becoming reality. And in your life, I know that God can do that same. I am sure of it.

Prayer: Father, help us to rekindle those hopes and dreams you have birthed in our heart. Give us the strength we need to walk out those dreams. Guide us with your presence through your Holy Spirit.

I heard a really good joke a while back. I want to share it with you:

The rains continued to pour down, and the water was rising fast. Bill refused to leave his house despite all the warnings. There was a knock at his door. The firemen in their orange rescue boat demanded, “Sir, you’ve got to leave.” But Bill refused, “The Lord will save me.”

A few hours later, the water had crept inside the house and was ankle deep. There was another knock on the door. This time the firemen were starting to get worried. “Sir, you need to leave now! The water is rising too fast.” Again, Bill refused, “No, the Lord will save me.”

As the hours passed, the unforgiving water continued to rise. It had pushed Bill up and outside on the roof where he sat precariously on the ledge. The loud noise of the helicopter hovered overhead. The loud speaker crackled, “Sir, grab the rope and we’ll pull you to safety.” Bill shouted as loud as he could, “No, the Lord will save me!”

Within a few minutes the water had risen so rapidly that Bill was swept away and drowned. Standing before God’s throne in heaven, Bill raised his hands and questioned God, “Where were you God? I was waiting for you to save me.” God answered, “Bill, I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What more do you need?”

I enjoy that story so much because it drives home such an important point: God can work in many different ways, through many different means. When we limit God’s help to our expectations of what we think that help should be, we are going to be let down.

Throughout the Bible, God uses natural means through different people to bring about his will. I think of Noah. God could have just zapped him to heaven temporarily until the flood was over, but he didn’t. Rather, he had Noah spend 100 years building a boat to save him, his family and the animal kingdom.

I also think of Jonah in the belly of a whale. God could have just teleported him to Ninevah after he was thrown from the ship. But no. God used a whale to transport Jonah to safety.

Then, I think of Jesus. He came to earth with the good news of Gospel. Yet, he entrusted it to 12 guys, giving them the task of spreading this good news. He could have just sent down an angel with a loud voice to proclaim this message of hope. But he didn’t. He used people to bring about God’s will.

God can use a variety of instruments to touch our lives. Whether it’s a person, a book, a wise doctor or counselor, God can reveal his truth to us in many different ways. We should not restrict him to some magic zap from heaven that will give us peace. We should look for God moving and working all around us. We should look for some boats and helicopters.

Prayer: Father, open my spiritual eyes to see where you are working in my life here on earth. Tune my spiritual ears to hear your voice through others, through your word and in my heart.

Fear of failure has dominated my life for years. The need to succeed has driven the direction of my life. Always wanting to be good at what I do, I placed a high standard of accomplishment upon myself. Other times, people put those expectations on me.

But, fear of failure can have negative consequences. “Well, I can’t really do that, because I might not be able to finish.” Or does this sound familiar: “Even though I want to write a book, drive a car, get married someday, I just don’t want to risk the chance of failure.”

Year ago, I was praying about these expectations that were driving my life. I prayed, “Lord, I hate feeling like I have to accomplish everything and do everything. It’s just too much of a burden. I don’t want to fail these people. I don’t want to fail myself. And most of all, I don’t want to fail you.”

Then, I started thinking about my son. “Can he fail me?” No, he’s my son. He’s young and learning. He’s curious, but transparently honest. Yes, he makes mistakes at times, but he has never failed me. I love him for who he is, not for what he does.

It was at that moment that I felt God say to me the same words, “Russell, you are spiritually young, and you are learning. You are curious, but honest. You make mistakes at times, but you have never failed me. I love you for who you are, not for what you do.”

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39).

Immediately, I felt as if God had released me from all of the expectations he had on me–succeeding, achieving, accomplishing, always moving forward, never failing. I felt like he had given me the opportunity to fail. Now, let me clarify one thing–God was not giving me a license to disobey. God calls us to obedience. But, I felt he was giving me the opportunity to fail.

I encourage you to pray and ask God to show you what he requires of you. I think if you really listen and read the Bible, you will find that God loves you for who you are, not for what you accomplish. Jesus explains the only two requirements that are required of us: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

This week, find some way to invest your “talents”, take some Godly risks and don’t be afraid of failing. God loves you for who you are.

Prayer: Father, please reveal to me any unhealthy expectations. Show me your expectations. Show me how to release those things that are not of you. Open up my heart to receive your love.

You step on something sharp. “Ouch!” You lean against a hot curling iron. “Hey!” You get a blister from raking leaves all day. “Ooh!”

Pain. I’ve sometimes wondered why God created us with an ability to feel pain. It really hurts. Pain is not a pleasant experience.

Yet, the more I learn, the more I realize that pain is a gift. It’s a God-given mechanism that alerts our body to something that is wrong. The “pain sensors” all over our body provide a type of feedback system to our brain, alerting us to sensitive areas that have been damaged or injured.

Does pain have a purpose? Did God goof up when he created us to feel pain?

Take a look at Leprosy, known today as Hansen’s disease. This condition attacks the nervous system, disabling the body’s ability to feel pain. “Great,” you would think. “No more pain. No more back aches.” The problem with this condition is that a person cannot feel the pain of an injury and, therefore, they become susceptible to further damaging a hand, a foot, a finger, a leg or an arm. The damage is worsened because the injured person can’t feel how injured they are.

Pain is part of the healing process. We guard a scrape on our leg, limp to avoid stepping on an injured ankle, bandage an infected finger that is tender to the touch. Our pain sensors are screaming for time to heal. Yet, a person who can’t feel pain complicates their injury by not allowing it to heal properly. Without pain, the damage only gets worse.

Panic attacks involve pain–emotional, spiritual and physical. For some, there is a physical chemical imbalance causing these attacks. For others, the pain is rooted deep in a past full of hurts and haunts. Yet for others, the pain may be spiritual, directly related to the unseen world around us. The pain of panic, like an injured hand, should force us to look at what is causing the pain, so that we can take the proper steps towards healing.

This week, I encourage you to find the purpose for your pain. God desires that you walk in freedom and peace. Pain is one of God’s ways of pushing us to that place of healing. Call out to God in prayer. Seek him for your pathway to peace. When you call to him in Jesus’ name, he will answer. He is a Father who cares for his children more than you can ever know.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Prayer: Father, I don’t like experiencing pain, but it has a purpose. Lord, reveal to me the cause of my pain that I may dig down into those roots and remove them. Keep me from just numbing the pain. Help me to treat the true source that I may walk in complete healing and peace.

People often write to me saying: “Russell, I wish I had the faith you had, because then I could beat this anxiety.”

I wish I had the faith that everyone thinks I have. You see, faith is not just believing–it’s how you hang on to the truth even when you don’t feel like believing.

Most of the time, people see faith as just believing. “If I can just believe in God more, then surely I can beat this thing.” Or maybe this sounds familiar, “I just don’t feel like God is helping me. If only I had more faith.”

When fear would strike, everything in me went into high gear. My mind would race. My heart would pound. My legs would go numb. I couldn’t catch my breath. I was ready to fight or run. This is a natural reaction to fear.

When that happened, I didn’t feel God’s presence, nor did I feel his peace. My “faith” was gone, and it seemed like God was not real. It was not easy to experience these terrifying thoughts. So how did I respond?

The Bible says that God will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). It also commands me to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and to not lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Even today when everything in me screams Run! or Fight!, I choose not to respond to those cries of fear. Rather, I choose to trust God–even if nothing makes sense. I choose to respond to God.

Faith is how you respond to God even when he doesn’t seem real, or things don’t seem to make sense. It’s how you respond to what the Bible says rather than what your feelings say.

Even if you don’t feel like your faith is strong, I encourage you to respond to God, rather than to fear. When those anxious thoughts come crashing in, don’t lean on your own understanding. Instead, trust God. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Prayer: Father, help me to understand true faith. Show me how to trust you in the darkness, when my mind can’t comprehend all that is happening to me. Show me how to reach up and grab hold of your hand as you guide me through this valley of fear and anxiety.

I like running. Actually, let me rephrase that: I like the benefits of running. I don’t enjoy the actual act of running. It’s tiring. My body aches. My knees throb. I sweat like a horse. There is really nothing fun about it, now that I think about it.

But, I do enjoy the benefits of running: increased endurance, stronger heart, better breathing, reduced stress, lower body weight. (Notice I didn’t say “low” body weight.) Yes, the benefits are good, but the work is not fun.

When I think of what it takes to overcome panic attacks and crippling fear, I think of running a race:

• A lot of work is required.
• You have to push yourself.
• It takes endurance.
• You can’t give up.
• There is a finish line.

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1b).

To run this race, you need to “throw off everything that hinders you.” When it comes to jogging, I wouldn’t go out there in a three-piece suit. I wear my jogging clothes and running shoes. In this race against fear, do you “clothe” yourself with mental hindrances like doubt and hopelessness, or physical hindrances like too much caffeine or poor eating habits?

Throw off everything that hinders you–even sin. According to the Bible, sin can entangle you when you run this race for peace. But, if you confess your sin, God is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin (1 John 1:9). Don’t let sin entangle you. With Jesus at your side, you can be free to run this race.

I believe with all of my heart that a finishing line of peace awaits everyone who runs this race. Not just in death, but also in this life. It will take some work. You will have to push yourself. You will need endurance. You can’t give up. And most of all, you’ve got to focus on the Goal.

Prayer: Father, give me the strength and endurance I need to run this race. Encourage me with your promises and your presence. Strengthen me physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Let’s run this race together.

Does this sound familiar:

“God can’t love me. I’ve done some really bad things.”
“Life is too hard. I am sure I will fail.”
“I don’t deserve his love.”
“How can God forgive me? He knows everything I’ve done.”

As a parent, I have experienced some trying times when it comes to my son. Temper tantrums. Fits of rebellion. Painful words.

Each time my son rebels or disobeys, my love for him does not change. He cannot sway my unconditional love for him. At times, he may provoke some emotions like anger or frustration. But never does he provoke me to hate or to wrath. I love him no matter what he does. My mercy towards him endures.

Now if I can do that as an earthly father, how much more can God do that as a heavenly Father?

When you get a chance this week, read Psalms 136. It’s only 26 verses, and it’ll only take you a few minutes to read. But, you will find something quite interesting about that chapter. Twenty-six times (one of each verse), the following words are repeated:

“For His mercy endures forever.”

You might say, “But God can’t love me. I’ve done some really bad things.” God says, “My mercy endures beyond the bad things you’ve done.”

You might say, “Life is too hard. I am sure I will fail.” But God says, “My mercy endures beyond your future failures.”

You might say, “I don’t deserve his love.” But God says, “My mercy endures beyond your ability to deserve my love.”

You might say, “How can God forgive me? He knows everything I’ve done.” God says, “My mercy endures beyond all that you’ve done. I can forgive you.”

Is there hope for you? God thinks so (Jeremiah 29:11). He has good plans and a good future for you. That’s why his mercy endures forever. In Christ, you are forgiven. You are made clean. You are in right standing with God.

His mercy endures beyond your abilities, your failures, your efforts, your sins, your past, your future. His mercy endures forever.

Prayer: Lord, I know I have messed up things pretty badly. But, your mercy endures forever. Let your mercy wash over me and cleanse me. I put my hope in you.

by Angela Pond

It was Halloween night when my husband and I were awakened by a phone call about midnight. A friend of mine needed some help.

Prior to this night, I had been meditating on this one scripture from Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Knowing that my friend needed my help, I threw on some clothes and headed out the door. It was a crisp, fall night, so I rolled down my windows as I started the half-hour journey to her house.

Suddenly, I had this thought, “You know, it’s Halloween night, and there’s lots of satanic stuff that’s going on right now.” As soon as I had that thought, I was consumed with the most intense fear I have ever experienced. All I could do was quote Isaiah 41:10 over and over. Immediately, the fear left.

As I continued driving, I had another thought, “Well, at least roll up the windows. That will keep you safe.”

Now, I was starting to get mad, “No! I will not give in to fear. I will not obey you, fear!” I kept my windows down and enjoyed the nice, cool air.

I made it to my friend’s house quickly. It became obvious that God was with me the entire time, because during my drive I saw four policemen along the way. It was as if God was saying, “No need to fear my daughter. I am with you. I will protect you.”

I believe God was preparing me by putting his Word into my heart prior to that night. God is so faithful!

Prayer: Lord, when fear starts to shout and command, please strengthen me so that I will not give in to its demands.  Father, I put my trust in you.

The Midianites had been cruel to the Israelites, destroying their crops, their homes, their families. In fact, the Israelites were so afraid of the Midianites that they fled to the mountains and hid in caves.

Yet, when Gideon was preparing to attack thousands upon thousands of Midianites, God spoke some specific instructions: “You have too many warriors with you” (Judges 7:2a).

What? Too many warriors? Why does that matter?

“If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own,” (7.2b) God explained.

God gave Gideon one basic command: “Trust me.” He was asking Gideon not to fight as he would naturally; rather, he was calling him to a supernatural battle–a battle fought by God, not by man.

After a couple of God-ordained tests, Gideon’s army, which started out as 32,000 soldiers, stood at 300 men. Though his physical army seemed small, his heavenly army more than made up the difference.

With a trumpet in one hand and a glass jar in the other, Gideon’s army of 300 surrounded the Midianite camp.

What? Glass jars and trumpets? Where were the swords and armor? Where were the archers to fire arrows into the camp? The chariots and horses to trample the enemy?

Again, God had other plans. He had selected Gideon and his small band of warriors as instruments to bring forth a supernatural victory–a victory for which only God could get the credit.

I have learned that my battle with fear and panic is similar in many ways. I can gather an army of psychiatrists, psychologists, medication, meditation, self-help books, support groups, breathing techniques, relaxation tapes and more. I might amass enough resources to beat this thing. But who gets the credit?

I believe God desires to instruct each person on which resources he wants to use in your battle. Maybe it’s medication or a good counselor, or maybe it’s a combination of both. Maybe it’s something odd like glass jars and trumpets. Maybe God wants you to fight this battle alone. Whatever God instructs you to do, do it. After all, this is his battle.

Each one of the resources I listed are powerful tools for healing and recovery when God works through them. However, you can’t place your trust in your resources–your personal army against anxiety. Call upon God for guidance. Let him show you what he wants you to do.

Prayer: Father, show me which “weapons,” if any, you would have me carry. I praise you for past and future victories, because I know that only through your Son will I win this battle.

It was a cheap toy. I’m still not quite sure where we got it, but this little, lime-green spinning top was Caleb’s favorite toy.

At three years old, he couldn’t spin it. Every now and then, he’d ask us to spin it for him. He enjoyed watching it balance and spin almost miraculously on its tip. You could tell from the expression of his face that he really wanted to know how that thing worked. Even more, he wanted to learn to spin it himself one day.

It was early in the morning when Caleb came running into my office. “Daddy?” he asked. “Will you spin it for me?”

I stopped what I was doing and spun the cheap toy a few times. As before, his eyes were glued to this spinning object. Occasionally, he would turn to me and smile and giggle.

“I wanna spin it,” asked the curious three-year-old. I took his hand in mine and showed him how to snap his fingers. With my hand over his, I went through the motions of grasping the top’s handle between the fingers.

Then, I sat back and watched him try.

He fumbled around with the top a few times. Then, with one smooth motion, he spun the top. I was surprised! He was surprised! We both started shouting, “Yeah!” It was an exciting time.

For most, it may have been no big deal. For my son and me, it was a special time. A time of teaching, a time of learning. Most of all, it was a time of rejoicing.

Life is very similar. We have so many things we fumble around with, unable to do because of inexperience or even fear. Yet, our Father takes our hands and our heart and gently goes through the motions with us. He shows us how to do those things we kept telling ourselves we can’t do. He shows us how to spin those tops.

But, God doesn’t stop there. Just as me and my son shouted with excitement, your Father rejoices with you in your victories. His heart leaps with yours as you put into motion what your Father has taught you.

“Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD…” (Ps 94:12a).

Prayer:  Father, I’ve been fumbling too long with the things of my life.  Please take my hands into your hands, my heart into your heart, and let’s spin the things of life together.  I will trust you.