The phrase “Help my unbelief” comes from Mark 9:24, where a desperate father pleads with Jesus to heal his son, saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”. This powerful request acknowledges the human struggle with doubt, while expressing a desire to be faithful.
How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives in him should be psalms of irrepressible, triumphant belief. –Oswald Chambers
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. –Galatians 2:20*
So how does a Christian live by faith in Jesus? I’ve often asked myself this question as I ponder life. I think I might be getting closer to finding the answer.
“Keep the faith baby!” We’ve all heard this or something similar. So how much faith is enough? In Matthew 17, Jesus tells us that faith “the size of a mustard seed” is enough to move a mountain. Hmmm, I have a couple of pretty big mountains in my life that I want to move, but so far, they’re still there to greet me every morning when I awake. Apparently, I lack the ability to muster even a tiny mustard seed worth of faith—and this frustrates and disappoints me.
Happily, I believe I might have found the root cause of my failure. My faith lacks persistence. Paul points to persistence in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, which exhorts us to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” If one meditates on this short passage, I believe they’ll find that it contains some pretty tough marching orders.
Persistent faith is surrendering one’s will to God’s will, not a product of personal willpower, but a result of trusting His plan for your life, even when it’s unclear to you. This act of surrender means relinquishing personal control and aligning one’s life with a higher purpose, leading to strength and peace found in God’s wisdom rather than one’s own. It is an ongoing process of daily submission, acknowledging one’s own limitations and trusting in God’s provision.
Matthew 14:29-31 is a wonderful example of impersistent faith. As Jesus is walking on the water in the Sea of Galilee, he approaches the boat where his disciples are struggling in a violent storm. “Come,” he said (to Peter). Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
In this lesson, Peter was doing fine while he focused on Jesus, but when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the great wind of the storm he began to doubt. Like a new military recruit struggling to qualify with his weapon on a rifle range, Peter failed because he took his eye off the target, Jesus.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James1:2-3
As I’ve noted before, Jesus was and remains the God of the Impossible for those who come to him as their Lord and Savior. I believe this in my heart. Believing is easy when things are going my way. I’m trying hard to learn how to put this into action when the going gets too tough for me to handle. Every day I try to meditate on Psalm 143 as part of my daily devotions. I find verses 8 – 10 to be a great source of encouragement and comfort, especially when I feel overwhelmed by life. I hope you might find them equally useful.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
On this national holiday dedicated to giving thanks, let us give thanks to the Lord our God for all his blessings and provision in the past year and in the years to come. May He lead us all on level ground.
In case you missed me, I’ve been on a health dictated hiatus from writing for about four months. This came in the wake of a medical diagnosis of a progressive condition that will impact me for the remainder of my days. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments to my life. It also came at a time when my wife and I are in the midst of making a move back to the east coast. In a few weeks we will depart South Dakota, our home for nearly 10 years, for a new life in Maryland. By the end of the month I hope to resume writing. In the meantime I would appreciate your prayers. See you soon!
Zack
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
On January 20th Donald Trump was sworn in (again) as President of the United States. For some Americans it was a day of celebration, while for others it was a day of dread and fear. This is not uncommon when the political pendulum makes a big swing to the left or right in this country. The media circus on both left and right during the presidential campaign and since has been enough to depress just about anyone who listens or reads too much news.
Just in case the noise of partisan politics hasn’t depressed you, we’ve been bombarded lately with news of torrential rains, mudslides, hail storms, wildfires in LA, tornados and hurricanes in places they don’t belong, and snow on our Gulf coast beaches. Then there are wars and rumors of war around the globe, like in Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Somalia, Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, and elsewhere.
These are indeed fear-provoking times. Sometimes it looks like no one is in charge. The good news is that there’s one great master plan in motion for all mankind, and neither Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping or any other man is in control. God is still in control of everything in creation and always will be.
Not long before he died, the Rev. Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, recorded a homily titled, A Comforting Message in Fearful Times. Just as the Apostle Paul encourages believers to “put on the full armor of God” in Ephesians 6, Dr. Stanley’s message encourages us to “soak” our minds and hearts in the word of God, where believers can find peace, comfort, and courage in the midst of the spiritual warfare surrounding our daily lives. Dr. Stanley cites a treasure trove of scripture during the homily, which I have listed below. I encourage you to read through the entire list, then go back and look at each passage in the context of the full chapter it comes from.
Philippians 4:6-7 — “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”.
Psalm 16:7-8 — “I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken”.
Psalm 4:8 — “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety”.
Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread”?
Psalm 139:23 — “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there’s any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way”.
Psalm 138:7 — “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me”.
Psalm 138:8 — “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting”.
Psalm 138:3 — “On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul”.
Philippians 4:19 — “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.
Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you with my righteous right hand”.
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”.
1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Psalm 121:1-8 — “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He will keep you and He will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever”.
Isaiah 54:17 — “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment, you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me”, declares the Lord.
Psalm 32:7 — “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble. You surround me with songs of deliverance”.
Psalm 94:19 — “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delights my soul”.
Psalm 23:4 — “Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff they comfort me”.
Psalm 139:3 — “You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways”.
All in all, the difference between the believers and non-believers is this: in tough situations the believer accepts God’s wisdom and control. His prayer is for patience and to say as Jesus said, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42b). On the other hand, the non-believer challenges God, neglecting to believe in Him unless he has proof. (Based on a sermon by Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour).
Our nation has endured an extraordinary series of natural disasters over the past few months, including hurricanes, tornados, torrential rains, devastating floods, and enormous wildfires. If you’ve tuned in to the evening news lately you’ve probably seen disaster victims who have lost nearly all of their material possessions. Despite suffering tremendously, many of these people express gratitude for the simple fact that they are alive and still have their family and friends. They get it!
As I grow older, the things that truly matter in my life have become crystal clear. These are Faith, Family, Friends, and Freedom. I call them the 4Fs and I’ve written about them several times over the decade that I’ve written this blog.
Today, as we mark the annual Thanksgiving holiday, I’m offering a special thanks for my friends. I’ve heard it said that families are issued to you, but you choose your friends. This is just one of the many things that makes true friends so special.
So, what is a true friend? I don’t have all the answers, but here are some characteristics of my true friends that I’ve observed over the years:
They are there for you when others walk away.
They meet you where you are, warts, wrinkles, and all.
They are forgiving.
They will make time for you, even when they haven’t the time to spare.
They expect nothing in return and do not keep score.
They are good listeners.
They respect confidentiality.
They tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
They say, “Wow, you really made a mess of this! Now how can I help you fix it?”
They walk beside you in the demon filled valleys, propping you up.
They are at their best when you are at your worst.
A number of my dear friends are currently struggling with serious life challenges. These include the early onset of dementia, the death of a spouse, a spouse developing dementia, a spouse with cancer, a child abusing alcohol, and a child suffering with seizures. The longer one lives the more frequently such challenges seem to occur. So now I lift them up to the Lord.
Lord, hear my prayer. Father God, I pray for my friends who are struggling. I pray that you will grant them mercy and peace. You know exactly what they need at this moment. Draw near to them and let them feel your presence. Open their eyes, ears, and hearts to you. Protect them from the attacks of the evil one and shelter them in your loving arms. I pray this in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sirach 6:14-16 (RSV)
Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them.
Afghan woman proudly displaying her purple forefinger, dipped in indelible ink at a voting station where she cast her vote in the national election. This was a way of ensuring voters voted only once.
It was sunny and warm in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, June 28, 1975. That’s the day I boarded a bright yellow school bus at an Army recruiting station for a short journey to Fort Knox, where I was scheduled to undergo Army basic training or boot camp as it’s often called. Only a few weeks earlier I’d been a bright-eyed college student receiving his associate degree in Munich, Germany. My mother Phyllis and stepfather Ray were still in Germany—Ray was an Army officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel, assigned to the U.S. Army Europe headquarters in Heidelberg.
After what seemed like hours, the bus turned into the main gate of Fort Knox. Entering the post felt very familiar, as I’d lived there during my freshman and sophomore years of high school while Ray worked at the Armor School. About ten minutes after entering the post, the bus turned down a side street and then swung into the parking lot of Delta Company, 13th Training Battalion, 4th Training Brigade, home of the Delta Demons. Delta Company would be our home for the next several weeks.
Peering out the bus window I could see two tough looking fellows wearing olive drab fatigues and the iconic Smokey Bear hats that identified them as drill sergeants. Their fatigues were starched stiff with creases that looked sharp enough to slice an apple. Their uniforms fit like gloves. Their boots were polished to a mirror finish. Not a hair was out of place. All you needed was one look at these impressive gentlemen to know that they were pure badass!
The driver opened the bus door and we were greeted by a booming voice. “Off the bus and line up. Move it ladies!” After a clumsy exit, fumbling with our bags and bumping into each other, we school boys managed to get into something resembling a line. The empty bus quickly pulled away, leaving us feeling isolated and helpless. It was then that we were introduced to the two gentlemen who would fill the roles of father, mother, confessor, and mentor for all of us in the coming weeks, as our Drill Sergeants turned a bus full of boys into men.
Thus began my 26-year career in the United States Army, an adventure that ended in 2001 with my retirement from our nation’s “Big Green Fighting Machine.” My career led me to assignments in the United States, Western Europe, the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East. Looking back, those were good years all in all. Sure, the hardships were many, but the adventures, excitement and camaraderie far outweighed the hardships. I can’t help growing a bit nostalgic every time I think about it.
I wish the United States still had a military draft. Even better would be three years of mandatory military service for every American girl and boy, starting at age 18. At least one year would be spent overseas, being exposed to other cultures and languages. It would be a better education than pursuing a four-year degree. It would also strengthen our nation by showing college age citizens how blessed they are to live in America.
Today’s world is full of danger. Look no farther than Ukraine or the Middle East for proof. Unfortunately, few of those in Congress have military experience as a frame of reference to help guide them when making decisions that could draw our nation into war.
The presidential election is only weeks away and the ugly political slurs are flying like bullets in a drive by shooting. Politicians from both side of the aisle are quick to tell us how bad we’ve got it and how it’s all the other side’s fault. Don’t believe it. One thing my time in the military taught me is that, despite what shifty politicians might say to the contrary, we Americans have much to be thankful for.
James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Here are just a few gifts Americans should thank God for. Remember them when you lie down to go to sleep tonight.
Across the land we enjoy relative safety from the government and other people.
We enjoy the freedom to worship as we choose.
Our leaders are elected by the people.
Access to free, basic education is widely available.
Safe drinking water is usually readily available.
Sanitation services are available to help prevent sickness and disease.
We grow enough food to feed our population and have extra to export.
We have a robust transportation infrastructure to distribute the commodities we need.
We enjoy abundant natural resources to produce energy.
Electricity is generally available across the land.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. –Numbers 6:24-26
I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. —Isaiah 41:13
Many people today fear a wide variety of things they see and hear around them. Fear is running rampant right here in America. Polls indicate that the majority of Americans now believe that their children’s lives will be harder than their own. They worry about unemployment and the economy. Many fear illegal immigration. Others are afraid to gather in public places for fear of violence. We see campus protests turn violent. School shootings don’t surprise us anymore.
On a cosmic scale we hear about giant solar flares that could destroy technology, pushing humankind back into the Stone Age. A large meteor or asteroid collision could destroy life on Earth.
In the natural world, we hear that a major eruption of a super volcano, like the one beneath Yellowstone National Park, could cause destruction and death on a planetary scale. Earthquakes and tsunamis in diverse places threaten millions of people. Climate change is blamed for killer storms, droughts, melting polar ice, coastal flooding, wildfires and more.
On the human plane, we read and hear about flesh eating bacteria, brain eating amoebas, and drug resistant bacteria and viruses. Abortion rights are a hot button topic that can trigger anger and rage. Some people hunker down in their homes, worried about riots, violence by and against the police, and other street violence. Others fear that computer hackers or scammers will steal their identities and wealth.
There are wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and rumors of a global war that’s coming. Religious persecution is increasing around the globe. There is a growing wave of antisemitism right here in America. There are ample reasons for fear.
The Bible mentions two very different types of fear. The first is fear of the Lord. This fear is not associated with being scared. It is an awe and reverence of God and is to be encouraged. According to Psalm 111, fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and leads to rest and peace.
The second type of fear is detrimental. In the first chapter of 2 Timothy it is described as a “spirit of fear.” A person can be completely overcome by a spirit of fear, virtually frozen and unable to function. Such fear weighs a person down physically, emotionally and/or mentally.
Unfortunately, many Christians have succumbed to living with a spirit of fear. Some fear those of other religions and are reluctant to reach out to them in Christian love. Some fear those who are different from them culturally or racially. Others are hesitant to invite those in need into their lives for fear they might lose something or it might cost something. Some are afraid to leave the comfort of their homes and familiar surroundings in order to reach out to the needy. Others are hesitant to give of their wealth for fear they might later find themselves in need.
Many Christian fears boil down to a fear of losing something—possessions, comfort, safety, security. In Philippians chapter 3, verses 7-8, Paul describes how he has let go of the things of this world in order to focus on what is truly important:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
One can’t grasp Christ’s outstretched hand while clinging to things of this world. As David tells us in Psalm 34, verses 4-7:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
You may be facing a health crisis, unemployment, divorce, a call to Christian service, or other difficult challenges. Don’t live in fear. Take the fears you struggle with today and give them to the Lord in prayer. Make this a habit. I will not tell you to “let go and let God” because it makes letting go of fear sound so simple. Instead, I encourage you to explore the Bible and learn what it says about fear. Read and believe!
Begin with Psalm 23. Then read Psalm 118. Other relevant Psalms include 27, 34, 46, 61, 91, 103, and 121. Once you have read these Psalms, locate a red letter edition New Testament and read every word spoken by Jesus. Then read Paul’s epistles. Become steeped in scripture. Do this and you will be well on the way to giving your fears to the Lord.
The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. —Oswald Chambers
During this church season of Advent, Christians anxiously await the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We commemorate His arrival in this world on December 25, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we await the arrival of the Christ child, my wife and I recently said goodbye to a departing friend who moved to another state to be near family. I’ll call him John for the sake of privacy. John was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) about two years ago, but has displayed ASD symptoms most of his life. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 5,437,988 (2.21%) adults in the United States have ASD.
For the past three and a half years my wife and I walked alongside John, providing him companionship, counsel, and a small lifeboat to climb into during frequent storms he encountered. John first came into our lives by means of our church. One day our priest asked us if we would be willing to help a single man who had recently arrived in our community. We said yes without really knowing what to expect. I share the details below not to glorify my wife and me; give all the glory to God! I share this to make a point which I’ve discussed before—being a follower of Jesus Christ can be messy.
We answered 2 a.m. phone calls so John could rant about whatever was bothering him at the time. We shared meals with him and checked periodically on his welfare and the state of his small apartment. We tried to help smooth the situation when John irritated his neighbors. We helped him move to a new apartment.
We drove him to appointments and to help him tend to his local business affairs when something needed fixing. We provided in-person support when John’ family could not contact him because his phone was (frequently) broken or lost, or when he was simply not answering calls or emails.
We invested many conversations with some of his family members who are active stakeholders in John’s life–over lunch, dinner, coffee, phone calls, and Zoom meetings. We supported John and these same family members during the complex endeavor to have him evaluated for ASD. We coordinated the dedication of funds from our church’s rummage sale to help defer the costs of the evaluation; printed forms and obtained John’s signatures; and prayed for the process. We coordinated with our church members to provide overnight accommodations for John’s family members when they periodically visited the area to check on his welfare.
Walking with John was not easy, but it was very spiritually rewarding and has made us three new friends, including John and two very special members of his family—they know who I mean. As we anxiously await the Feast of the Nativity and the celebration of the Christ child’s birth, Christians should recall that following Christ can get messy—Just read the book of Acts and see.
Divine Simplicity 
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