God has a simple message for you today: Every hero of faith faced real struggles.
David stumbled into adultery. Samson wrestled with lust and compromise. Noah fell into drunkenness after the flood.
Yet Scripture affirms that they died in faith. Their stories remind us that being a Christian does not mean a life without failure or pain, it means walking with God in a broken world and learning to trust Him through weakness as well as strength.
Faith is not the absence of struggle. Faith is choosing God in the midst of it.
Consider the woman with the issue of blood. For years she suffered not only from her condition, but from those who were supposed to help her. She spent everything she had and grew worse instead of better. There is a profound difference between having a problem and suffering at the hands of those meant to solve it.
Her story teaches us to be discerning about where we seek healing. Not every voice that promises help can restore the soul. Not every solution leads to wholeness.
When she finally reached Jesus, everything changed. Just one touch at the hem of His garment, brought healing she could not find anywhere else (see the Gospel of Mark 5:25–34).
If you desire true restoration, go to the One who can give it.
Go to Jesus your Problem-Solver, Direction-Giver, Burden-Bearer, and Way-Maker. One touch from Him brings wholeness where striving never could. One encounter with Him restores what years of pain tried to steal.
You are not disqualified by your struggle. You are not forgotten in your waiting. You are not beyond healing.
Many people have asked an honest question: Did God not instruct us to obey governing authorities, since He is the One who allows them to exist? Scripture does say this in Epistle to the Romans 13:1. So why, then, has the issue surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine become so divisive for so many?
The answer requires discernment not fear, and love not confusion.
Yes, Scripture teaches respect for authority and order. But the same God who establishes order also grants free will. From the beginning, God has never forced obedience. Adam and Eve were given a choice. Israel was given a choice. Even belief itself is a choice. God does not coerce hearts, He invites them.
God is not the author of confusion. Confusion breeds fear, panic, division and Scripture consistently teaches that these do not come from Him.
When we look at the world today, many people feel unsettled. There is disagreement everywhere; among scientists, media outlets, governments, families, friends, and even within churches. Conversations that once allowed room for compassion now quickly turn into conflict. That alone should cause us to pause.
In the same chapter that speaks about authority, Paul reminds us of something equally important in Epistle to the Romans 13:8: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”
This command applies to everyone; individuals, families, leaders, institutions, and governments alike.
Love means: refusing to dehumanize those who disagree with us, choosing compassion over control, seeking understanding rather than dominance, protecting conscience as well as community.
The central issue should never be fear, coercion, or division. Love must remain the focus.
Scripture teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves; not to harm them, exploit them, shame them, or treat them as enemies. That love does not disappear during crisis; it becomes even more essential.
It is also important to remember that faith does not cancel wisdom, and wisdom does not cancel faith. Trusting God means seeking His character, not reacting to pressure. The more time we spend with Him, the more clearly we recognize His voice and His ways.
As Scripture says in the Book of Psalms 103:7: “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel.”
Knowing what God does is different from knowing who He is. And we come to know His character through relationship by loving Him, trusting Him, and spending time with Him.
When we live from that place, even chaotic seasons begin to carry purpose. Fear loosens its grip. Confusion fades. Division loses power.
So let love guide your words. Let grace shape your decisions. Help those in need, even when you gain nothing in return. Extend compassion, even when it is not reciprocated.
And trust God to govern the world according to His eternal plan; one He set in motion long before any of us were born.
When you reflect on the topic of the end times, what are your first thoughts? For many, images immediately come to mind: the beginning of sorrows, the rise of the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, the battle of Armageddon. These are not new ideas. They are ancient prophecies written long ago, yet they continue to stir deep questions in every generation.
For years, messages about the end times have felt distant, abstract, or symbolic. But in the world we are living in today, many feel that these warnings no longer seem far off. The pace of life is accelerating. The pressure is intensifying. And the sense that something is building feels stronger than ever.
The Book of Revelation is often avoided or briefly touched on in many churches not because it lacks importance, but because of its weight. Yet Revelation was never written to confuse believers; it was written to reveal, to prepare, and to call hearts back to God.
The Book of Daniel, particularly chapter 12, helps us understand why Revelation matters. Daniel was told to seal the words of the prophecy until a future time; a time when knowledge would increase and many would travel to and fro. That statement alone invites sober reflection on the age we are living in.
We are living in a time of unprecedented movement, information, and education. Technology advances by the second. Borders feel smaller. Knowledge is instant. Whether one believes we are the final generation or simply approaching a critical turning point in history, it is difficult to deny that the world is changing rapidly and not always for the better.
Jesus described these seasons as birth pains; early signs, not the end itself, but indicators that something greater is approaching. What we see today may feel mild compared to what Scripture describes as coming later, yet even now, moral confusion is widespread. Discipline is mocked. Good is often called evil, and evil is defended as good.
Consider how values have shifted. Where correction once shaped character, entitlement now demands affirmation at all costs. We wonder why society feels fractured, yet scripture reminds us that goodness must be taught, it does not come naturally. If humanity were born inherently good, there would have been no need for Christ to come at all.
The Bible tells us that only Jesus was without sin. That truth alone explains why grace is necessary and why redemption matters.
Many believe that some prophetic markers in Revelation have already begun to unfold, while others remain future events. Interpretations differ, but the central message remains unchanged: time is precious, hearts matter, and eternity is real.
End-time prophecy was never meant to paralyze us with fear. It was meant to awaken us to urgency, humility, and hope.
Jesus Himself warned that those days would come so severe that, if they were not shortened, no one would survive. Scripture paints a sobering picture of a world marked by loss of freedom, scarcity, suffering, and spiritual deception. Whether one believes these events are imminent or unfolding gradually, the call is the same:
Be ready. Stay grounded. Choose Christ.
The greatest preparation for any future; tribulation or otherwise is not speculation, but a relationship with God. Opening your heart to Him brings peace that circumstances cannot steal. Faith in Christ anchors you, no matter what lies ahead.
So take a stand, not out of fear but out of wisdom. Not because the message is terrifying, but because hope is still available. Not because time is running out, but because grace is still extended.
Revelation does not close with despair. It ends with restoration.
Are you feeling overwhelmed or under constant pressure? If so, it doesn’t automatically mean that something is wrong. In fact, it may mean the opposite. You could be standing right on the edge of a breakthrough, about to cross a new faith barrier. We rarely move from one level to another without being tested. Growth almost always comes wrapped in pressure. Every step forward spiritually, emotionally, or even in life’s practical matters passes through a season that stretches us.
So when pressure shows up, let your next question be this: “God, what’s next?”
That question shifts your focus from fear to trust. It opens the door for God to direct your path instead of leaving you trapped in anxiety. His Word assures us that He will never leave us nor forsake us (see the Book of Hebrews 13:5). It also assures us that God delights in showing kindness to His people even in difficult seasons.
When you feel like you are about to unravel, that is not the moment to give up. That is the moment to hold tightly to God’s promises.
The apostle Paul understood pressure deeply. He experienced both lack and abundance, stability and uncertainty. Yet he writes with confidence in Epistle to the Philippians 4:12–13:
“I know what it means to be in need, and what it is to have plenty. I have learnt the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.“
If you have time to pray, God has time to listen. No matter the situation you find yourself in, remember this truth: you are never alone. Pressure may surround you right now, but pressure does not define you. It does not make you useless, abandoned, hated, or unworthy. Those thoughts are not from God, they are attempts to condemn you and pull you away from hope.
God does not see you through the lens of fear or failure. In His eyes, you are cleansed, loved, and complete. What often needs to change is not how God sees you but how you see yourself.
And the way that vision changes is simple: spend time with Him.
You don’t have to be a “prayer warrior.” You don’t need perfect words, long speeches, or spiritual language. God is not impressed by performance, He responds to honesty.
Speak to Him as you are, where you are. In that place, peace begins to grow, clarity slowly comes, and condemnation loses its grip.
So take a moment. Breathe. Pray. You are seen. You are heard. You are held.
If we were all given the choice to be “weak” or “strong,” most of us would choose strength without hesitation. Strength feels safe. Strength feels admirable. Strength feels like proof that we are doing something right.
Often, knowingly or unknowingly we expect God to perfect our shortcomings as a reward for serving Him. We assume faith should remove weakness. But Scripture teaches us something far more humbling and far more powerful: God’s power is displayed best in weakness.
There is a reason for this. God alone searches the deepest parts of the human heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He understands what unchecked strength can do to us. How quickly it can turn into pride, self-reliance, and spiritual blindness.
The life of Apostle Paul makes this truth unmistakably clear.
Paul was used mightily by God. Through him came miracles, revelations, healings, and deep spiritual insight. But God also knew that such extraordinary experiences could quietly inflate pride. So God allowed weakness to remain.
Paul tells us that he was given a thorn in the flesh. A persistent affliction he described as a messenger of Satan sent to torment him and keep pride in check. Three different times Paul pleaded with God to remove it. Three times God refused.
Instead, God answered him with words that have echoed through generations, recorded in Second Epistle to the Corinthians 12:7–9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
In other words: No, I will not remove it, but I will remain with you. And that is enough.
Paul eventually understood what many of us struggle to accept; that weakness was not a curse, but a safeguard. It kept him humble. It reminded him that he was still growing. It forced him to rely on God rather than his own gifting or success.
Our weaknesses do the same for us.
They keep us from living entirely in pride. They remind us that we are still a work in progress. They teach us to lean more on God and less on ourselves.
Strength may impress people, but dependence pleases God.
There is a difference between being a Christian and depending on God. Being a Christian can become a label, a moment, or even a habit. But depending on God is a daily posture, a lifetime choice to trust Him in both strength and weakness.
Being a Christian may work for a moment. Depending on God works for a lifetime.
Deuteronomy 6:12 gives us a sober warning: be careful that you do not forget the Lord. If we’re honest, many of us do exactly that.
We remember God passionately in times of crisis when the pressure is heavy, the pain is real, and the answers seem far away. We pray, we fast, we cry out. But once the breakthrough comes; once the job is secured, the bills are paid, the storm passes we quietly move on, often forgetting the very One who brought us through.
God understood this human tendency, which is why He warned the Israelites long before they entered the Promised Land. He said, in essence: When you are full and satisfied, when you have built fine houses, when your flocks and herds multiply and life becomes comfortable, watch out. That is the moment pride can creep in and gratitude can fade. That is the moment you are most at risk of forgetting the Lord (see the Book of Deuteronomy 6:12).
Success can be more dangerous than struggle.
When things start going our way, we can begin to feel self-sufficient. We tell ourselves we don’t need God as much anymore. We forget that it was not by our own strength that things changed for the better. It was not by our power that provision came, that doors opened, that peace replaced chaos, or that grace covered our failures.
God addresses this directly in the Book of Deuteronomy 8:17–18, reminding His people not to say in their hearts, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me,” but to remember that it is God who gives the ability to succeed.
The story of the Israelites is a powerful lesson for all of us. They cried out to God in Egypt when they were enslaved and oppressed. God heard them. He rescued them with mighty acts. He led them out of bondage. Yet, just as they were about to enter the Promised Land, they stood in danger, not because of their enemies but because they forgot where they came from and who brought them out.
Forgetting God doesn’t always look like rebellion. Sometimes it looks like comfort. Sometimes it looks like confidence without gratitude. Sometimes it looks like success without humility.
So the reminder for us today is simple, but vital: do not forget the Lord. Remember Him in the waiting and in the winning. Remember Him in lack and in abundance. Let humility guard your heart when life is good, and let gratitude keep you grounded.
Blessings are safest in the hands of the humble.
Remain humble. Remain thankful. Remain mindful of the One who carried you through.
So many of us believe that in order to discover who we are in Christ, we must first become perfect. We set goals every year, sometimes every month, every week, even every minute determined to finally become all that God wants us to be. But if we’re honest, our own track records tell us how long those goals usually last.
The truth is this: perfection is not the doorway to discovering your identity in Christ.
If perfection were required, none of us would qualify. And if people were capable of being perfect on their own, there would have been no need for Christ to come and stand in the gap for us. The only truly perfect One (Jesus) came, fulfilled His purpose, and will return again at the appointed time.
You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to fall, learn, and grow. You are allowed to be human.
Growth was never meant to come through flawlessness, it comes through grace.
Even the apostle Paul understood this deeply. He openly acknowledged his imperfection while pressing forward in faith. As he wrote in Epistle to the Philippians 3:12: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
Paul didn’t wait until he felt complete to move forward. He kept walking, learning, and trusting God in the process.
So when you are ready to truly discover who you are in Christ, it begins with honesty not excuses.
Stop hiding behind statements like: “Everybody does it.”“That’s impossible.”“I was born this way.”“That’s just how I am.”
These words may feel protective, but they quietly keep us stuck.
Instead, choose to believe that with God’s help, change is possible. Believe that your past does not imprison your future. Believe that God’s power is greater than your weaknesses.
As Scripture reminds us in Epistle to the Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Change is not easy. It can be uncomfortable, stretching, and even painful. But refusing to change, to remain trapped in old patterns, fears, or excuses is far more painful in the long run.
So keep working toward discovering who you truly are, not with condemnation but with hope. Hold on to grace as you grow. Trust God as He shapes you. And remember, your journey is not about perfection, it’s about progress with purpose.
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.
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.
For the purpose of God in our lives to be fulfilled, certain relationships are placed strategically along our journey. Not every connection is meant to comfort us, some are meant to shape us.
If we pay close attention, we begin to see a pattern: We learn perseverance through problems. We learn forgiveness through betrayal.
God uses people both kind and difficult to mature us, refine our discernment, and move us toward our destiny.
Consider Jesus and Judas. When Jesus called Judas, He knew exactly who he was. When He entrusted him with the money, He already knew Judas was a traitor. Yet Judas was still chosen. Why? Because the purpose of God unfolding in Jesus life required certain relationships to be present, even painful ones.
We see this clearly in the moment when Mary anointed Jesus with costly perfume. Judas, hiding behind a false concern for the poor, revealed his true motive… greed. That moment exposed what had always been in his heart (see the Gospel of John 12:1–6). Time doesn’t create character; it reveals it.
Here is a difficult truth many of us must face: some of the people you sacrifice the most for may be the first to betray you. God does not cause the betrayal, but He allows proximity long enough for motives to surface. This is not to harden your heart, but to sharpen your discernment, so you are not misled by appearances or good words.
But there is a responsibility on our part as well, we must pay attention. When God reveals a person’s true nature, wisdom calls us to acknowledge it rather than explain it away.
Those who shield you from every hardship do you no favors. But those who cause enough discomfort to push you toward God often become instruments (however flawed) in guiding you toward your destiny.
Look at Joseph.
Joseph’s rise did not happen in spite of betrayal, it happened through it.
A successful Joseph was shaped by:
A brother who lied about him
Brothers who sold him into slavery and indirectly into prison
A companion who forgot him when he needed remembrance the most
Yet without these painful chapters, Joseph would never have stood before Pharaoh, never saved nations from famine, and never fulfilled the dream God placed in him as a young man (see the Book of Genesis 37–50).
Here is the principle that changes perspective: Painful relationships often become divine catalysts.
Having a Judas in your life does not mean you are cursed, it often means purpose is near. A Judas points to a cross. And a cross, though painful, always points toward resurrection.
In plain words: your Judas may be the very force that propels you into your destiny.
So do not rejoice in betrayal, but rejoice in what God can produce through it. Stay discerning. Stay humble. Stay close to God. What was meant to break you may be the very thing that positions you.
Grasp this truth, and it will change how you see people, pain, and purpose forever.
LIFE'S TESTS AND TESTIMONIES 