Month: May 2019

THE MELTDOWN OF THE HUMAN MIND

A meltdown is often born from our deep need to know everything in advance; to have all the facts, all the answers, and complete control at every moment. We fear uncertainty. We worry that things won’t turn out the way we planned. And sometimes, we go so far as to create backup plans just in case God doesn’t come through for us.

But let me ask you this:
When you put your money in the bank, do you stay up all night worrying whether it’s safe? Do you constantly call the bank to make sure your funds are still there?

No. You trust that what you placed in their care is secure.

So why is it easier to trust a financial institution with our money than to trust God with our lives?

The same faith you place in the bank to protect what belongs to you can be placed in God who formed you, knows you, and holds your future far more securely than any system ever could.

When you feel a meltdown rising, when your heart is racing, your thoughts are spiraling; and you feel as though you’re about to go over the edge… God offers an invitation not a rebuke. He says in the Gospel of Matthew 11:28–30:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Learn from Me… for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Rest is not found in control.
Rest is found in surrender.

So often, in moments of overwhelm, we ask ourselves, “What can I do?” And then the spiral begins; HOW? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?
These questions multiply, tighten their grip, and fuel the meltdown.

That is the moment to stop and cast your burdens onto God.

Hand it over to the One who asks in the Book of Genesis 18:14:
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Meltdowns reveal something important about us. They show us that the real issue is not the situation, it’s that we do not yet know God deeply enough to fully trust Him in it.

Always remember this truth: God knows you better than you know yourself. You are engraved on the palms of His hands. You are never out of His sight, never out of His thoughts, and never beyond His care. There is not a single moment when His attention is distracted or His love falters toward you.

That is why we are reminded in the Book of Proverbs 3:5:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

You were never meant to figure everything out on your own.
You were meant to trust the One who already has.

So when the meltdown comes, and it will at times. Pause. Breathe. Release control. And remember: God is watching over you, holding you, and carrying what you no longer need to carry.

God bless.

LOVE NEVER FAILS

When Scripture declares that “Love never fails,” we must pause and ask an important question: What kind of love is being spoken of here?
Over time, I’ve come to understand that the word love in Scripture is not shallow or singular. It carries depth, intention, and distinction. In the Greek language, two words help us understand this clearly: Phileo and Agape.
Phileo flows from the human side of life. Agape flows from the divine side of life. And the difference between them explains much of what we see unfolding in our relationships and in the world today.
Understanding the Difference
1) Phileo love requires mutual appreciation. It thrives when both people feel valued and affirmed. Agape love does not depend on mutuality. Appreciation can be completely one-sided, yet love remains.
2) Phileo love is conditional. When expectations are unmet, the relationship often ends. Agape love carries no strings, no hidden contracts, and no demands for repayment.
3) Phileo needs emotional reward to survive. Without it, the love fades. Agape flourishes regardless of reward. If anything good comes back, it is simply a bonus not the source.
So now comes the honest question we must all ask ourselves: Which kind of love are we operating in?
When we look around today, we see broken marriages, shattered relationships, and increasing cruelty. Too often, love is offered only after it is received “I will love you if you love me first.” That mindset creates fragile bonds and conditional commitments. This is not the love Jesus spoke of when He said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another,” He was not speaking of Phileo love. He was speaking of Agape love (see the Gospel of John 13:34). Jesus loved first. He loved fully. He loved sacrificially without waiting to be loved in return.
That is why Scripture also tells us in First Epistle to the Corinthians 13:8 that “Love never fails.” Agape never fails because it is not built on human performance, but on divine choice.
A Picture of Agape in marriage is from the writer Ruth Calkin beautifully captures this kind of love, she wrote:
Marriage means putting up with personality weaknesses, accepting criticism, and giving each other the freedom to fail without judgment. It means sharing deep fears, turning self-pity into laughter, and taking a walk together to regain control. Marriage means gentleness and joy, toughness and endurance, fairness/forgiveness and a staggering amount of sacrifice. Marriage means learning when to say nothing, when to keep talking, and when to step back. It means admitting, “I can’t be God to you, I need Him too.” Marriage means you are the other part of me, and I am the other part of you. We will face everything together and never consider walking away. Marriage means… us.
Agape love is a choice.
It is not passive.
It is not weak.
It is powerful, deliberate, and transforming.
So love everyone with an open heart, not because they deserve it but because love given freely never fails the one who gives it.
God bless.