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.

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.

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

This verse is often quoted when we talk to others about fear. It’s prayed over us when we humbly confess our anxieties. Yes, there’s hope when God talks about love, power and a sound mind. But I must confess, I did not like this scripture.

Here’s why?

When I did eventually let my guard down and share my “condition” with other Christians, their canned response would inevitably be: “But God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear.” Their eyes would squint and their head would tilt as they stared at me with confused looks on their faces.

Even though they didn’t say it, here’s what I heard, “You’re a Christian, but apparently you’re not walking with God. What have you done wrong?”

I know they meant well, but most people just don’t understand this condition. How could they? They have never experienced the terror and torment.

So, for a long time, whenever I heard that scripture quoted, my skin would crawl. I would play back those piercing, painful words and looks from people. Even with God, I would cry out, “Well if you haven’t given me a spirit of fear, then why do I feel so afraid?”

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I began to understand this verse. A pastor said to me, “Russ, God hasn’t given you this spirit of fear. Yes, the enemy may have, but God hasn’t. God wants you to have love and power and a sound mind. That’s his desire for you.”

It’s true. God has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans do not include fear, torment or bondage. Your Father’s plans are peace, power and purpose.

He has not given you a spirit of fear–a spirit that binds you and holds you back. He has given you his Holy Spirit–the Spirit of comfort and counsel. The Spirit of peace, power and purpose.

Prayer: Father, thank you that you understand me even when others don’t. I believe that you want what is best for me–power and love and a sound mind. I claim these gifts and resist every “spirit of fear” by the power of your Holy Spirit.

Surrounding the deep blue water was a range of beautiful mountains. The elderly gentleman paddled throughout most of the morning as he traveled out into the lake. Then, a strange thing happened. A dense fog began rolling in over the mountains on to the lake. Before long this man was completely surrounded by this fog. He panicked and began paddling back to shore, but he didn’t have any sense of direction. He paddled one way for a while and then stopped. Then, he paddled another way and stopped. He had no sense of direction. He was lost.

By now, this man was scared and confused. All energy was zapped. All strength was gone. Then, he heard someone calling from the shore. He couldn’t see them, but he could hear their faint voice. He paddled and paddled towards the voice. Eventually, he made it to shore safely.

How many times do you feel dazed and confused, like you are paddling in circles? You can’t see your boundaries. You can’t figure out which way to paddle. Your strength is gone. Your hope is dwindling.

Elijah knew hopelessness. Jezebel’s death sentence had him fleeing for his life. Alone and afraid, Elijah sought God and God answered:

“A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11b-12).

Let me encourage you to listen. Listen carefully. There’s a still, small whisper calling your name. Each time you cry out in desperation, each time you cry out for a boundary, some place to grab hold of, God hears you. Not only does God hear, he speaks.

Listen carefully for your Father’s faint voice as he gives you direction in the fog of fear and anxiety. When you start paddling towards his voice, the darkness will begin to fade.

Prayer: Father, help me out of this dense fog of fear. Speak clearly so that I may know which way to paddle in life. Give me clear direction. Guide me by the power of your Holy Spirit.

Is time travel really possible? Physically, no. But traveling back and forth through time mentally is a common experience for many of us.

The past haunts many. For some, the past holds memories of wounds that have yet to heal. For others, it may be full of guilt and shame. The past can be a closet full of uninvited thoughts. When you open the door to that closet, you focus your attention on the “should have’s” and “could have’s.”

The future can be a fearful place to live, as well. The bombardment of “what if’s” wreaks havoc in your mind when you live for tomorrow. No one knows what will happen tomorrow or the next day, or the next. The future is a dark tunnel, never allowing you to see what lies ahead.

We can only truly live in the present. There is no way to physically escape it. No matter where you are or what time it is, it is always “now.” The only time, the only breath, the only heartbeat you are guaranteed is the one you have right this instant.

God calls us to live in the present–physically and mentally. He does not want our minds drifting off into our forgiven past or wandering away into our unknown future. He wants us to focus on today. He wants us to listen to his voice today.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has trouble enough of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

Prayer: Father, cleanse me from the sins and heal me from the wounds of my past. Rescue me from the worries of the future, that I may take one day at a time, saying, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

The children of Israel had just defeated Jericho miraculously. Confidence was high. Morale was peaking. This new generation of warriors just experienced their first victory through God’s wall-crumbling power.

The next battle in their path was the small city of Ai. After their reconnaissance, the spies advised Joshua to send out only a few men. It was an easy victory… or so they thought.

However, when they attacked the city, the Israelites were chased into retreat and defeated. The soldiers came back to Joshua beaten and bloodied. They couldn’t overtake Ai. God was not with them.

Israel lost courage. Confusion and doubts began to rise up in their minds. Confidence hit an all time low.

What Joshua didn’t realize was that someone in the camp had disobeyed God. Against God’s command, Achan kept some of the spoil from the Jericho victory for himself and buried it under his tent. That disobedience kept the mighty men of Israel from defeating the small city of Ai.

After dealing with the sin, the Lord gave Joshua a new plan to defeat the small, but powerful city. With God’s help, the Israelites destroyed Ai.

When I read this story, it reminds me of my own journey into the Promised Land of peace. One day, I experienced a miraculous victory over panic attacks. I trusted the Lord and rested through the attack. My confidence ran high. I was walking proud.

Like Joshua, though, I headed out presumptuously into the next day. Panic again pounced on my mind. Dismay and doubts came crashing in. Where’s God? I thought. Why isn’t this working like it did yesterday?

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God should be our guide through each battle we face regarding panic and fear. If we remove all sin from our lives, seek his guidance and obey his instructions, we will be victorious. We will take the Promised Land of peace.

“Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalm 60:11-12).

Prayer: Father, thank you for every victory I have experienced in the past because I know they came only through you. Reveal to me the times when I “went out on my own strength” and failed. Teach me how to seek your guidance and direction each morning as I face the battlefield for that day.

It was dinosaur day at the local mall. The giant robots were so realistic. The mammoth models would move and growl like real dinosaurs. It was an exciting time for the kids.

When Caleb was 3 years old, he was fascinated with dinosaurs We figured he would love to see the exhibit. As we walked into the mall, his eyes lit up when he saw the figures from afar.

As we came closer to the largest one, the T Rex, the growl grew louder and the eyes more fierce. Caleb was filled with excitement…and fear. His voice quivered when he pointed to the giant that hovered over us.

I tried reassuring him that it was only a model and that dinosaurs don’t live anymore, but he was still consumed with the lifelike figures.

“Caleb? Hold my hand and I will help you. There’s no need to be afraid.” As we walked through the mall, his hand gripping mine, he began to enjoy the displays.

“Daddy! Daddy! Look at that one!” he shouted with excitement. “Over there! Look over there!” From fear to excitement, Caleb enjoyed the exhibit. Most of the time, he held firmly to my hand. Other times he gripped tightly around my neck.

He felt secure. He felt safe. His fear turned to joy when he walked with his father.

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).

From a dinosaur model to the realities of life, fear takes on many forms. Although the reasons for the fear, in many cases, may only be perceived, our response is very real.

Let me encourage you to take hold of your Father’s hand. Heed his words, “Do not fear.” When you take your Father’s hand and start walking, what once seemed fearful will become exciting. You can walk past the “dinosaurs” of life with a new confidence, a new peace, a new perspective, holding your Father’s hand.

Prayer: Father, take my hand in yours and lead me through the crises of life, turning my doubt into excitement, my fear into anticipation. Help me to trust you, hold on to you, in every situation.

It was dark that night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus told his disciples to take the boat out. Then, Jesus came to them walking on the water. At first, they were frightened. But Jesus spoke to them and calmed their fears.

As soon as Peter saw that it was Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). So Jesus called Peter to come to him. Peter’s faith must have been soaring. He climbed out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus.

Can you imagine what must have been going through his mind? “I’m walking on water! This is incredible! I can’t wait to tell my friends about this. Who will believe me?” The joy and excitement of experiencing this miracle must have been overwhelming.

Then, something happened. His focused shifted. As he walked towards Jesus, something else caught his attention. The wind and waves churned around him. A storm was brewing. Peter started to worry. “Oh no. This is getting a little unstable. I don’t think I can do this anymore.” His water-walking faith quickly succumbed to water-walking fear.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:30).

When those fearful thoughts came crashing in, Peter did something very important: he cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus reached down and pulled him up, and they walked back to the boat.

The next time you step out of your comfort zone, remember two things: don’t take your eyes off Jesus. If you do, you will only see the wind and waves of unstable circumstances, and your faith will falter.
Secondly, if you do start to sink, simply cry out, “Lord Jesus, save me!” He will reach down from heaven, pick you up and walk with you back to the safety of your boat. He will not let you drown.

Prayer: Father, help me to keep my eyes always on you, unshaken by the storms surrounding me. Thank you that when I do take my eyes off you and feel myself sinking, all I have to do is call on you and you will save me from my fears.