Loneliness is one of the most common human emotions, yet it can be one of the most difficult to overcome. Even as Christians who know God is always present, we can still experience deep feelings of isolation. Dr. Gary Oliver, a Christian counselor, has offered five practical steps to help conquer loneliness: [see Real Men Have Feelings Too (Chicago, Ill: Moody, 1993), 153-162.]1. Look Up: Develop ...  Read More

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." —Philippians 1:3, 5 (NKJV)There’s something special about working together to accomplish a shared purpose. Think of the friendships that form on a sports team or in a workplace. Paul described this kind of bond with the Philippian church. Even while in prison, he felt connected to them be...  Read More

"Be diligent to come to me quickly… Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry." —2 Timothy 4:9–11 (NKJV)The apostle Paul, nearing the end of his life, writes with vulnerability in 2 Timothy 4. He mentions that Demas has abandoned him, others have departed to fulfill their own callings, and only Luke remains by his side. Paul, the great missionary an...  Read More

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." —Psalm 25:16 (ESV)A pastor once shared the pain of loneliness during one of the busiest times of the year: Christmas Eve. He had gone through the heartbreak of a divorce after his wife left him for another man. While the church leadership supported him and he sought counseling, the sting of loneliness remained.That Christmas Eve, h...  Read More

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." —Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)Mother Theresa once said, “The world’s greatest tragedy is unwantedness; the world’s greatest disease is loneliness.”[1]Philip Zimbardo, writing in Psychology Today, has said, “There is no more destructive influence on ...  Read More

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" — Psalm 27:1 (NIV) Sometimes, despite our best efforts, fear doesn't completely disappear before we need to act. In these moments, we can learn from Elizabeth Elliot, whose husband, Jim, was murdered by the very people he was trying to reach with the Gospel. She shared about ...  Read More

"The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." - Proverbs 29:25One of the most common fears that holds believers back is the fear of what others will think or do. This fear of man can prevent us from following God's direction, speaking truth, or stepping out in faith. Proverbs directly addresses this, warning that the fear of man is a snare - a trap that catches us...  Read More

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." — 1 John 4:18 (NIV)Fear and love have an interesting relationship. When perfect love enters, fear must leave. They simply cannot coexist in their fullest forms. This is why understanding God's love for us is essential to overcoming fear. God’s love is...  Read More

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." — Psalm 56:3 (ESV)The dictionary lists about 700 kinds of phobias:Acrophobia: fear of high places.Claustrophobia: fear of closed places.Agoraphobia: fear of open places.Pathophobia: fear of disease.Ergophobia: fear of work.Photophobia: fear of light.Phobophobia: fear of fear. You don’t have to be a weak person to be a fearful person. Strong people are, so...  Read More

In 1 Peter 3, we see God’s guidance for how this relationship works. Someone once described marriage as being like a dance. In a dance, there is a leader and a follower. The leader guides and sets the direction, and the follower complements that leadership, creating beauty and harmony in motion. There was a story about a championship dance team—a man and a woman—who were asked about their roles du...  Read More

Christians today are living in a culture that is moving in a completely different direction than the one God calls us to. The culture says to go one way, but we, as God’s people, live under the lordship of Jesus Christ, following the truths found in His Word. If Jesus Christ is truly Lord, that truth should be demonstrated in how we treat His Word and how we live our lives. As Christians, we are g...  Read More

We know the nativity story—Jesus, the babe born in Bethlehem; the manger; the wise men; the shepherds. But it’s vital to move beyond the imagery and recognize the truth: God came in human form. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” These verses are clearly proclaiming that Jesus...  Read More