Finding Courage When Fear Takes Hold

 

Scripture Reading: Psalm 27

Fear is real. Whether it's the anxiety that keeps you awake at 3 a.m., the apprehension before a difficult conversation, or the dread of an uncertain future, fear has a way of sucking the life right out of us. We all know what it feels like when fear compromises our ability to think clearly, function normally, or move forward with confidence.

But what if our fear isn't a sign of weak faith? What if it's actually an invitation, a divine opportunity to turn our eyes from the threat to the Threat-Tamer?

In Psalm 27, David asks two piercing questions: "Why should I be afraid?" and "Why should I tremble?" His answer provides a prescription for conquering the fears that plague us.

Shift Your Gaze

David's first move is brilliant in its simplicity: he reminds himself who God is. "The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?" God is his light in times of confusion, his salvation when he feels overwhelmed, and his fortress when danger threatens.

When fear grips you, don't focus on your inadequacy—focus on God's sufficiency. Recall His character: He is present, strong, wise, loving, and more than enough for any need. Remember His promises: nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8), He can do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), and He will never leave you (Isaiah 41:10). Review His track record: think of the ways He's shown up in your life before.

Run Toward, Not Away

David's instinct in fearful times was to run to God's presence. "The one thing I ask of the Lord," he writes, "is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." He understood that what we need most isn't easy circumstances, but intimacy with the One who controls all circumstances.

Missionary Hudson Taylor put it this way: "It does not matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies—whether it comes between you and God, or whether it presses you nearer to His heart."

Fear should drive us to worship, to prayer, to God's Word. Don't isolate yourself when anxiety rises—gather with other believers, open your Bible, and tell God exactly what terrifies you.

Keep Moving Forward

David refused to let fear paralyze him. He asked God to "teach me how to live" and "lead me along the right path" even while enemies surrounded him. He knew the only way through the minefield was to follow the One who had already navigated it.

Yes, sharing your faith is scary. Yes, having difficult conversations takes courage. Yes, stepping into a new ministry feels daunting. But the best course is always to do what God calls you to do and trust Him for the strength you need.

Wait with Confidence

David's final words seem almost too simple: "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous." But this isn't empty optimism. As believers, we know how the story ends. The Lord will reign supreme. We will be protected and vindicated. This life is only the title page to the real life that begins in His Kingdom.

So, ask yourself: Do I trust God, or don't I? Keep asking until you can answer with confidence: Yes. Yes, I do. Your fears may be real, but your God is bigger.

May the Lord bless you, and may the Lord keep you, and may the Lord use these words to help you renew your Spirit.

 Dr. Dimas Castillo

The Mark That Changes EverythingA Personal Devotion on Love

Scripture Focus: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." — John 13:34-35

Take a moment and think about your name. What does it represent? What expectations come with it? Now consider this: you carry the name "Christian"—literally, "follower of Christ." What does that name demand of you?

Jesus made it remarkably clear. On the night He would be betrayed, surrounded by His closest friends, He didn't give them a complex theological framework or an elaborate strategic plan. He gave them something deeply simple yet extremely difficult: love one another.

This wasn't a suggestion. It was a command—as binding as any other directive in Scripture. And the qualifier makes it even more challenging: love "as I have loved you." Not as the world loves, with conditions and prerequisites, but with the sacrificial, prejudice-free, transformative love that Christ demonstrated.

Here's the uncomfortable truth many of us over 25 must face: we've become experts at justifying our lack of love. We've learned to dress up our gossip as "concern," our judgment as "discernment," our indifference as "boundaries." We tear down church leaders over coffee, compete with fellow believers for recognition, and secretly delight when someone we envy stumbles. We excuse it all with, "We don't mean anything by it."

But we do mean something. We're sinning. And in doing so, we're invalidating the very message we claim to believe.

The world isn't watching to see if we have perfect doctrine or impressive programs. They're watching to see if this Jesus we claim has actually changed us. Can we say "I'm sorry" when we're wrong? Can we forgive when we're hurt? Can we love the fellow believer who votes differently, worships differently, or sees theology differently than we do?

Theologian and Pastor Francis Schaeffer's wisdom cuts deep here: Christian love is demonstrated most powerfully in two simple acts—apologizing when we've wronged someone and forgiving when we've been wronged. If you're like me, you've discovered these are anything but simple. Pride makes "I'm sorry" stick in our throats. Bitterness makes forgiveness feel impossible.

Yet this is precisely where transformation happens. This is where the world sees something different. Not in our eloquent prayers or theological debates, but in our willingness to humble ourselves before each other.

Today, be honest with God about the state of your heart. Confess the jealousy, the bitterness, the competition. Admit where you've used people instead of loved them. Then be honest with yourself, stop making excuses for unloving behavior.

The Spirit can produce this love in you, but you must cooperate. Is there someone you need to apologize to today? Someone you need to forgive? A fellow believer you've been judging or avoiding?

The world is desperate to see if Christ actually makes a difference. Let them see it in you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You loved me when I was unlovable. Forgive me for the ways I've failed to love my brothers and sisters in Christ. Change my selfish heart. Give me the courage to apologize, the grace to forgive, and the humility to love as You have loved me. Let my life bear Your mark. Amen.

The Narrow Road

 

Tolerance. It's the watchword of our age. Everywhere we turn, we're urged to be more tolerant—to use inclusive language, avoid offensive stereotypes, and confront our prejudices. We're cautioned about religious intolerance and told to respect people of other faiths and affirm everyone's right to believe what they choose. As Christians, we have no problem with this. Religious freedom is a constitutional guarantee we cherish.

But here's where the conversation shifts. We're not just being asked to respect others' right to believe—we're being urged to proclaim that every religion is equally valid, that if something "works for you," then it must be true for you.

This is where Christians find themselves in controversy.

Why We Cannot Stay Silent

We cannot state that we view every religion as equally valid. This brings critics to our door with accusations of narrow-mindedness and intolerance. "How dare you claim Christianity is the only true way to God?" they ask.

We dare not because we enjoy swimming against the tide, but because we are bound by the truth as presented in Scripture. Jesus Himself declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

This is not one option among many. This is a universal claim. Not one person—not a single soul—will reach the Father apart from Christ. The road is narrow, yes, but it is also abundantly gracious and sufficient.

What This Means for Us

Jesus is the Way. For those who are lost, there is a way home.

Jesus is the Truth. He gives us a foundation to build our lives upon. In a world constantly tossed about by every imaginable wind of doctrine and opinion, Jesus shows us how to stand firm. He reveals the absolutes, the anchors, the non-negotiables of life.

Jesus is the Life. For those who are confused, He puts the mixed-up pieces together. For those who feel hopeless, He offers real hope. For those who are beaten down, He brings healing and renewal. For those who have messed up their lives, He extends forgiveness.

Other roads may look attractive. Other paths may seem like shortcuts. But only one road leads to where you truly want to go.

That road is Jesus.

May God bless you and keep you always.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

Seeing the Harvest

 

"Lift your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest" (John 4:35).

Many of us are familiar with this powerful story where we find these transformative verses. Jesus had been talking with a woman at a well in the region of Samaria—a divine appointment that would change everything. This woman responded so positively to Jesus' message that she couldn't contain her joy. She ran out to tell the whole town about the radical change that had taken place in her life, becoming one of the first evangelists in the New Testament.

The story tells us that the disciples had gone out to get lunch, leaving Jesus alone at the well. When they returned, they found Jesus doing something that shocked them to their core: talking with a woman of not-so-good reputation. But to add insult to injury in the disciples' eyes, not only was she a woman—which broke social conventions—but she was also a Samaritan, a member of a group of people deeply hated by the Jews. The centuries-old animosity between these two peoples ran deep, and the disciples could not comprehend why their Master would waste time with such a person.

Sadly, even today, there are followers of Christ who struggle with this same narrow perspective. We cannot accept those who are not like us—whether they differ in background, culture, past mistakes, or social standing. We create invisible boundaries around who deserves to hear the gospel message.

Although the Scripture does not explicitly say that the disciples spoke with Jesus about what had happened, Jesus knew their hearts. He understood their confusion, their prejudice, their discomfort. They liked the company of Jesus, the miracles Jesus performed, and his profound teachings, but they still had trouble accepting Jesus' main mission, which was to seek and save the lost—all the lost, not just the respectable ones.

Jesus seized this teachable moment to help them understand the reason they were there. But Jesus didn't just want them to understand his mission intellectually; he wanted them to embrace it personally and make it a part of their own lives as well. That's why Jesus tells them with urgency, "Lift your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest."

What did Jesus want them to see? Not just agricultural fields swaying in the breeze, but something far more significant. He wanted them to see the spiritual fields—the multitude of people waiting to be reached with the life-changing message of God's love. The Samaritan woman had already gone into town, and soon crowds would be coming to meet Jesus. The harvest was literally walking toward them.

You know, the problem is the same today. While we enjoy our comfortable fellowship, our inspiring worship services, our Bible studies, and our potluck dinners, the fields outside our church walls are waiting to be cultivated. People are searching for hope, meaning, and purpose. They're struggling with addiction, loneliness, depression, and despair. And many have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. This isn't a problem for just one person or one pastor—it's a challenge for all of us. This is our harvest, these are our fields, and this is our mission.

So how can we reach the lost in our generation?

First, we must live with urgency and understand that our success depends entirely on whether we are walking closely with God. Everything revolves around our relationship with Him. We cannot give away what we don't possess. If we're not abiding in Christ, spending time in His Word and prayer, we'll have nothing of eternal value to offer others.

Second, we must live with urgency, recognizing that we are called to do God's work right where we are. We are called to use all the talents, gifts, and opportunities God has given us. Whether you're a teacher, a mechanic, a parent, a student, or retired, your field is wherever God has planted you. You don't need a seminary degree to share what Christ has done in your life.

And finally, we must live with urgency, recognizing that our strength comes from God alone. We know the work is hard and demanding. We get tired, discouraged, and sometimes want to give up. But grounded in God's promises, we know we will have the strength to fulfill our mission. His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Do you see the fields today? Look around you. You see the neighbors who need the Lord. You see the coworkers, the family members, the people in the grocery store checkout line. Let God open your eyes and heart to see beyond the doors of your home and church. The harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few. But you are called, equipped, and empowered to make a difference.

May God bless you and keep you, and may these words help renew your spirit for the mission that lies before us all.