When Things Are Spiraling Out of Control

 

We watch news headlines, monitor bank accounts, track health symptoms, and feel the weight of all the variables we can't manage. The illusion of control slips through our fingers daily, leaving us exhausted from trying to hold it all together.

Sound familiar? If you're nodding your head right now, you're not alone. Anxiety has become the background noise of modern life, humming constantly in the back of our minds. We check our phones obsessively. We replay conversations, wondering if we said the wrong thing. We lie awake at night running through worst-case scenarios, trying to prepare for every possible outcome. Embracing God's sovereignty can help us find peace amid this chaos because it shifts our focus from control to trust in His plan.

The truth is, anxiety feeds on this exact feeling—the sense that everything is spinning out of control and it's somehow our job to hold it all together. But what if we're operating under a false assumption? What if the problem isn't that things are out of control, but that we've convinced ourselves they need to be under our control?

All Things—Not Just the Good Things

Consider Paul's remarkable confidence in Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Read that again, slowly. Not "some things" or "the things we understand"—ALL things. Even the hard stuff. Even the confusing things. Even the things that hurt.

This isn't toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing. Paul isn't suggesting we slap a happy face sticker on genuine suffering. He wrote this letter while facing persecution, imprisonment, and constant danger. He knew hardship intimately. Yet he could say with confidence that God was working through it all—not despite the chaos, but because of His love and sovereignty, which are always working for our good.

Think about the stories in Scripture. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. Moses is leading a grumbling nation through the wilderness. David hid in caves while running from Saul. Esther is facing potential death to save her people. None of these situations felt "under control" in the moment. But looking back, we can see God's hand weaving every thread into a bigger tapestry than any of them could have imagined.

Trading Control for Trust

Here's where the freedom comes: The circumstances may feel out of control. But they're not out of HIS control, which should fill you with reassurance and peace. And that changes everything. Pastor and Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll stated, "Anything under God’s control is never out of control.”

When we recognize that God is sovereign—not just theoretically, but actually at work in the chaos of our daily lives—we can finally exhale. We don't have to white-knuckle our way through life anymore. We don't need contingency plans for our contingency plans. We can let go because we trust whose hands are actually holding everything together.

This doesn't mean we become passive or irresponsible. We still do our part—we still work hard, make wise decisions, and steward what God has entrusted to us. But we do it from a place of rest instead of panic. We act with intention instead of anxiety. We plan with wisdom instead of worry.

The difference is where our confidence lies. Are we trusting in our ability to manage every variable? Or are we trusting in God's promise that He's working all things together for our good? Trusting in His plan can bring hope and peace to your heart.

Today, whatever feels out of control in your life—the relationship that's strained, the uncertain job situation, the health concern that's worrying you—remember this: it may be beyond your control, but it's not beyond His. And the God who promises to work all things together for good is the same God who loved you enough to send His Son. That should inspire love and gratitude, making Him worth trusting.

You can let go now. He got this. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

LIVING WITH URGENCY: SOWING TOGETHER FOR HARVEST

 

John 4:35-38

Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now, the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus, the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (NIV)

God has an intense longing for us to experience the blessings of teamwork. He knows we won't lead fulfilled lives if we work only for ourselves. Each of us is made for something bigger—God created us for teamwork. Many people never realize the value of this concept, and that's truly sad because they miss out on one of life's great privileges. By following God's instructions, each one of us can be an effective team player in His kingdom work.

God wants to do far greater things in our lives than we could ever imagine if we fully surrender to Him. I've been thinking about and praying that God would give me the courage to pursue people for Christ. He has called me to live with urgency. When we settle for safety and security rather than chasing our God-given passions and pursuing the people He's calling us to reach, we stall the maximum impact God wants to have in us. Our stubbornness, lack of surrender, and limited view of God often hinder His power from having its full impact on our lives. When we prevent God from having total control, we end up settling for the good while God is urging us to pursue greatness.

OPENING OUR EYES TO THE HARVEST

Living with urgency—sowing together for harvest—is what God is calling us to do. God has placed passions inside each of us. Going after the unchurched will require us to step outside our comfort zones, take risks like sharing our faith despite our fears, and at times look like fools. We must stop spending the majority of our time making plans for God and start seeking Him. Too often, we make God's will seem too complicated for our lives and neglect to see Him in the obvious. Instead of going with God and allowing Him to teach us on the journey, we want everything to be perfect and end up doing nothing.

Living with urgency requires us to submit ourselves fully to God. When we do, we can feel hopeful and confident that God's glory will be revealed through our obedience, even in challenging circumstances. Jesus said, "Open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for the harvest" (v. 35). What did He want them to see? The fields! And what were the fields? The multitude of people waiting to be reached.

Listen, the problem is still the same today. While we enjoy the fellowship, teaching, and preaching, the fields are waiting to be harvested. This is not a problem only for our associational work. It is not merely a problem for our missionaries. It is our problem—it is our harvest, those are our fields, and this is our work.

LIFTING OUR EYES TO OUR COMMUNITY

When it comes to the unchurched in our community, we can seek to understand who they are, or we can continue to dismiss them as the disciples did. You may need to begin by repenting of your own sinful thinking toward some of the fields. Ask God to forgive you for dismissing parts of the harvest because they are not like you. We know what we should do: lift our eyes to our field, and see the harvest awaiting our laboring hands. Do you see the fields?Let the change begin with you. Live with urgency.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and may the Lord used these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

Trusting God's Path for Your Journey

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

As we step into a new year, many of us arrive with carefully crafted resolutions and ambitious plans we hope to accomplish in the months ahead. We outline our goals, map our strategies, and envision the victories we'll celebrate by year's end. Yet there's something profoundly humbling we must acknowledge: we cannot see the future. Without God's direction and wisdom guiding our steps, we may feel uncertain, but trusting in His guidance can bring reassurance and peace for our journey.

The truth is, the most we can anticipate is a limited horizon. Beyond our immediate view lie mountains we didn't expect to climb—challenges that will test our faith, trials that will stretch our patience. These circumstances will examine our commitment, and seasons that will either strengthen or expose the actual condition of our relationship with God. Our carefully drawn maps cannot account for every detour, every steep ascent, or every valley of shadows we'll traverse.

This is precisely why Proverbs 3:5-6 offers such timeless wisdom for our journey. These verses aren't merely inspirational words to hang on our walls; they can become the guiding theme that shapes how we live every single day this year. When fear or uncertainty about the future clouds our judgment, these truths offer comfort and encouragement that transcend our circumstances, helping us trust God's plan even when we can't see the whole picture.

These words become our substitute for any map we've drawn for our lives, especially when our eyes cannot discern the curves ahead, when we don't know where to stop or proceed, when difficulties seem impossible, and when mountains block our view of what's beyond. God's promise to make our paths straight doesn't mean He removes every obstacle; instead, He provides clarity, purpose, and direction even through the most winding roads.

Here's the beautiful reality: God wants to be our guide. He intimately knows our needs and fully recognizes that without Him walking beside us, we will ultimately fail. Our human wisdom, however impressive it may seem, cannot compare to His divine perspective. God has a unique, purposeful plan for each of us—not a generic template, but a custom-designed path that reflects His love and purposes for our individual lives.

Yet God is waiting. He waits for each of us to pay attention to His voice, to trust in Him with all our hearts rather than partial devotion, and to reject our stubborn reliance on our own abilities to guide ourselves through life. The invitation stands: He can and wants to guide us every day—not occasionally, not just in crises, but in every decision, every relationship, every challenge we face—if we are willing to surrender complete control of our lives to Him. Embracing this can fill us with hope and confidence in His loving guidance.

May God bless you richly this year, and may these words help you continually renew your spirit as you walk the path He has prepared for you.

Pastor Dimas

Walking Through Life with God

 

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one”. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Every season of life has both ups and downs, positive and negative situations. We experience moments of joy and celebration, but we also face seasons of difficulty, disappointment, and pain. On top of the natural challenges that come with living in a broken world, there are spiritual powers actively working against us, trying to get us to lose hope and abandon our faith.

In the midst of difficult seasons—or even outright persecution—it can be easy to forget that God is still present with us. When circumstances overwhelm us, and the darkness seems impenetrable, we may wonder if God has forgotten us or turned away. But Scripture consistently reminds us of a powerful truth: He does not abandon us in the midst of suffering. Rather, He strengthens us and walks with us through the pain. We are never alone, even when we feel most isolated.

The church in Thessalonica experienced a very similar situation. As they earnestly prayed for the gospel to spread across their region and transform their communities, they endured severe suffering and fierce opposition. The message of Christ threatened the existing power structures and cultural norms, and the early believers paid a price for their faithfulness. Understanding their struggle, Paul writes to the members of these churches not only to encourage them in their present trials but to remind them of God's unchanging character—the foundation upon which they could anchor their hope.

He tells them first that the Lord is faithful. This declaration should inspire confidence in God's unwavering faithfulness, reassuring believers that His consistency provides a firm foundation during life's challenges. God's faithfulness also means that He fulfills His promises. Reminding believers that God's promises are sure can strengthen their hope and motivate them to persevere through hardships.

Second, Paul tells these believers that God will strengthen them and protect them in the midst of what they're experiencing. Emphasizing God's constant presence can help believers feel secure and comforted amid their struggles.

Because God never changes —because His character is eternally consistent —He can strengthen and protect us through every experience in life—whether we're walking through valleys or standing on mountaintops. His faithfulness isn't circumstantial; it's eternal.

So take some time today to thank God for His strength and faithfulness. Reflect on how He has walked with you through past difficulties. Ask Him to help you in your current circumstances, and to give you confidence in His power and presence. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord used these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

Come and See, Go and Tell,

 

What we hear shapes what we know. What we know influences what we believe. What we believe determines what we do. This progression reveals why listening to God's truth isn't just important—it's transformative. "So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ." (Romans 10:17 NLT)

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus extends a recurring invitation to His followers: "Come and see." He signals them closer, inviting them into direct encounter with divine truth. But the invitation doesn't stop there. Jesus also commissions them to "go and tell" and to "listen and understand." This rhythm of receiving and sharing becomes the heartbeat of authentic faith.

The apostle Paul unpacks why this pattern matters so strongly in his letter to the Romans. He presents a beautiful chain of questions that reveals God's rescue plan:

"For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:13-15 NLT)

Notice the progression: from sending leads to telling, from telling leads to hearing, from hearing leads to believing, and from believing leads to calling out for salvation. Each link in this chain matters. Someone's eternity may depend on your willingness to be part of it.

But what exactly is this "Good News" we're called to share?

First, we must acknowledge the bad news: every person has sinned and fallen short of God's perfect standard. Our rebellion has created a rift between us and our holy Creator and us, a gap we're powerless to bridge through our own efforts, good intentions, or religious activity.

Now for the breathtaking good news: God loves us so excessively that He refused to leave us stranded in our brokenness. The eternal Word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood. Jesus, fully God and fully man, lived the perfect life we couldn't live. He then died the criminal's death we deserved, though He was completely innocent. But death couldn't hold Him. He shattered the grave through resurrection, conquering sin and death forever. Through His sacrifice, He has granted us the unimaginable privilege of becoming children of God.

This is why "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Not because we've earned it, but because Christ has accomplished it.

Today, pause and thank God for the gift of His Word and your capacity to receive this Good News. Then ask Him to deepen your faith and embolden your witness. Who in your life needs to hear? Let God make your feet beautiful as you go and tell.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord used these words to renew your faith.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 Day 17: The Only Begotten God

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Focus: Jesus’ Perfect Deity

Scripture Reading

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18, ESV)

Additional Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

Devotional Reflection

Jesus is not just a good teacher, a moral example, or a prophet. John declares Him to be the only God, eternally begotten of the Father, sharing the same divine essence. This is the man who walked the dusty roads of Galilee, the child cradled in Mary’s arms, and the one nailed to a Roman cross. He is the Lord of glory.

What does it mean that Jesus is eternally begotten? Unlike us, who were created and born in time, Jesus has always existed as the Son in perfect communion with the Father and the Spirit. He dwells in the bosom of the Father—heart to heart, sharing divine glory and majesty. The baby in Bethlehem is the Ancient of Days. The suffering servant is the sovereign King.

This truth changes everything. Jesus is not just someone to admire from afar. He is God Himself, deserving of your worship, obedience, and life. When you bow before Him, you bow before the Creator of heaven and earth. When you trust Him, you trust the one who holds all authority in His hands.

Questions for Reflection

•          Do you worship Jesus as God, or do you merely admire Him as a great man?

•          What would it look like to bow before Jesus with more profound reverence today?

•          How does knowing that Jesus is fully God affect your confidence in following Him?

Prayer

Almighty God, I worship You, Lord Jesus, as the only begotten Son of the Father. You are not just a teacher or prophet—You are God Himself. Forgive me for the times I have treated You casually. Teach me to approach You with the awe and reverence You deserve. I bow before You today. Amen.

The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 Day 14: Walking in the Light

By Dr. Dimas Castillo

Scripture Reading: John 8:12; 1 John 1:5-7; Ephesians 5:8-14

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Reflection

You have been brought from darkness into light. You have been born again. You are a child of God. The Light has shone on you, and He continues to shine. Now comes the daily choice: will you walk in that light?

Walking in the light means living in honesty before God, refusing to hide sin in the shadows. It means following Jesus wherever He leads, trusting that His path is better than any we could choose in darkness. It means reflecting His light to others, becoming small lights that point to the great Light.

The darkness has not overcome the Light, and it will not overcome you either. No shadow in your past is too dark. No habit is too entrenched. No sin is too great. The Light dwells in you, and He is faithful to complete the work He began.

Consider

- What does it practically mean for you to “walk in the light” today?

- Are there areas where you’re still trying to hide in darkness rather than bringing them into the light?

- How can you reflect Christ’s light to someone in your life who is still walking in darkness?

Application

Make this your daily prayer this week: “Lord, search me and know me. Shine Your light in every corner of my heart. Show me where I’m hiding in darkness and give me courage to walk in Your light.” Choose one specific way you will reflect Christ’s light to someone else this week—a word of encouragement, an act of service, or sharing your testimony of how the Light broke into your darkness. 

Prayer

Jesus, Light of the world, thank You for shining into my darkness. Help me to walk in Your light each day. Expose any shadows where I’m still hiding from You. Make me a reflection of Your light to others who desperately need to see You. I am Yours—guide me, transform me, use me. For Your glory and in Your name I pray. Amen.