Category Archives: Trust

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Do you love Me?

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Jesus said that the two great commandments are to “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 22:37-40). Love is the foundation for living like Jesus.

However, recently I was challenged to answer the question that Jesus asked Peter: “Do you love me?”  Of course, like most believers, I answered yes.  I know I love Him, but the more I thought about this question and my response, the more I began wonder about how I showed Him my love.  I soon realized that I really didn’t know.  Was this just empty words?  It never occurred to me how to show Jesus just how much I love Him.  I didn’t know how to do the very thing that is the basis of my whole life in Jesus – I was undone!

This began my journey into learning how to love Jesus.  Here is what the Lord told me about loving Him.

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Defeating Fear and Worry

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We all face challenges from the difficult situations that confront us.  How do we respond to scary news like losing a job, a family member being in a major accident, a loved one being diagnosed with a serious medical condition, an unexpected financial problem, or anything facing us that is out of our control?  How we respond in the midst of crisis is crucial to being an overcomer.

I remember the day my doctor told me I had multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer.  Knowing someone who had recently died from myeloma made this news even more of a shock and a definite spiritual battle for me.  How was I supposed to respond?  My first response was to get anxious and to worry – not a very overcoming attitude! However, I knew that this was not the response that God desired from me.  As I walked with Jesus through my disease and ultimate healing, the Lord taught me about the uselessness of worrying.  Some of the wisdom the Lord shared with me is given below.

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Trusting in Tough Times

Personal Communion Produces Intimate Trust

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I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).  Ever been there?  This is just what we so often feel when life throws trials our way.

My wife and I faced a long series of major health and family challenges starting in 2011. There were times when trusting the Lord was not easy, but  I found that having regular times of personal communion helped me a lot.  During those intimate times I wrote out what the Lord said to me.  (His words are in blue).

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Why are Answers to My Prayers Sometimes Delayed?

Persevering Through Challenges and Trials Increases our Faith

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We all face challenges in our lives.  Right now I know a number of people who are going through very serious health concerns, major family issues, or significant financial problems.  In many cases these situations are long-term and prayer can seem unproductive and even futile.  The weight of their problems is often overwhelming and discouraging.

I too have faced similar challenges where my prayers seem to be ineffective.  When they are not answered quickly or the way I desire, I begin to question.  Why is it so hard and taking so long?  Where are you, Lord?  In these times my faith in God’s truths becomes challenged.  Promises like: “He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) seem to be just words.  Sometimes, I get discouraged and even angry.  Here is what the Lord said to encourage me when I talked to him about this (His words are in blue).

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What to do in times of hardship and stress

The Power of choosing to trust God

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What do you do when life gets tough, when the daily challenges seem overwhelming, and when you feel things are out of your control?

I know the feelings that rise up in such circumstances, I’ve been there!  I’ve had to face major challenges in my own life, where the outcomes looked horrible. In these times, when my thoughts and the lies began to become overwhelming, I was forced to make important choices.  How should I respond? Where can I turn? Will I become fearful, have a “pity party,” or will I choose to trust the Lord?

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Learning how to trust God in the school of life

How you know your trust is increasing

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My wife’s unexpected diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer several months ago has challenged my faith like never before.  Over a three week period we went from normal life to hospital tests and diagnosis, major surgery, and chemotherapy.  What an opportunity for the devil to attack our trust in God! It has been a difficult trial, a huge test, and an incredible time for learning to trust God in new and deeper ways.