Category Archives: Suffering / Adversity

Depression / Discouragement, Learning To Pray Effectively, Peace / Rest, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Tribulation

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield (Psalm 28)

When God feels silent, prayer reminds us that His hearing never stops.

Have you ever cried out to God and wondered if He was listening?

Key Verse:
“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” —Psalm 28:6–7 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 28 is one of David’s heartfelt prayers for deliverance. Surrounded by trouble and injustice, he cries out to God for mercy and protection. It opens with desperation — “To You, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not be deaf to me” — and ends in triumph, as David moves from pleading to praising. This psalm mirrors the rhythm of many of our prayers: fear turns to faith, and silence gives way to assurance. Through the experience, David learns that God’s strength and faithfulness remain constant, even when His timing feels slow.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 28

A Prayer for Help, and Praise for Its Answer.

A Psalm of David.

 1To You, O LORD, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.

2Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,
When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who work iniquity,
Who speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.

4Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Requite them according to the deeds of their hands;
Repay them their recompense.

5Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.

6Blessed be the LORD,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.

7The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.

8The LORD is their strength,
And He is a saving defense to His anointed.

9Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

Reflection on Psalm 28:
David begins this psalm from a place of desperation. He feels unheard, unseen — afraid that if God remains silent, he will be “like those who go down to the pit.” His cry is raw and real. But even in that fear, David turns to God rather than away from Him. He models what it looks like to bring our pain honestly into prayer instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.

In verses 6–7, everything shifts. David declares, “Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication.” What changed? Not his circumstances — but his confidence. In faith, he moves from pleading to praising before the answer even arrives. His trust becomes his protection: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.”

That’s the power of prayer — it transforms fear into faith. When we remember who God is, we regain strength even in the waiting. David’s words remind us that God is never deaf to our cries. His silence is not absence; it’s preparation. When the answer comes, we often realize He was working all along.

In the final verses, David widens his prayer beyond himself: “Save Your people and bless Your inheritance.” A true heart of faith not only finds peace in personal deliverance but intercedes for others as well.

Application:
If you’re waiting on God and feel like your prayers are unheard, take heart — He still listens. Like David, pour out your heart honestly before Him. Don’t let silence discourage you; let it drive you deeper into trust. As you wait, begin to thank Him in advance for hearing and helping you. Praise is the language of faith that believes before it sees.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for hearing my prayers even when You seem silent. Teach me to trust You in the waiting and to find peace in Your presence. Help me to remember that You are my strength and my shield. Turn my fear into faith, and my pleading into praise. I lift up not only my needs but also those of Your people. Be our Shepherd and carry us forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Depression / Discouragement, Faith / Trusting God, Psalms, Tribulation

Confidence in the Face of Fear (Psalm 27)

When fear surrounds you, faith reminds you who stands with you.

Have you ever faced something so overwhelming that your only option was to trust God completely?

Key Verse:
“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 27:1 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 27, written by David, beautifully weaves together courage, worship, and trust. It opens with a bold declaration of confidence in God’s protection and closes with a patient plea for His presence and deliverance. David, a man familiar with danger and betrayal, expresses unshakable faith even while acknowledging his trials. His desire is not merely for safety but for closeness with God — to dwell in His presence and behold His beauty. In the second half, the psalm turns from declaration to prayer, revealing that true strength is found not in self-assurance but in dependence on the Lord.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

3Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.

4One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.

5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.

6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.

8When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”

9Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!

10For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the LORD will take me up.

11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.

12Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.

13I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.

Reflection on Psalm 27:
David begins this psalm with a truth that conquers fear: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Light dispels darkness; salvation removes danger; and the Lord Himself is our refuge. By focusing on who God is, David redefines his reality — the threats around him shrink in the presence of the Almighty.

But courage in faith is not denial of fear — it’s confidence in spite of it. David doesn’t pretend his enemies are gone; instead, he fixes his heart on the One who is greater. He longs for more than victory — he longs for communion: “One thing I have asked from the Lord… to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

Even when he feels abandoned or uncertain, David rests in a God who never forsakes His children. His closing exhortation — “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord” — reminds us that waiting is not weakness. It’s the posture of trust.

Psalm 27 shows us that faith is not the absence of fear, but the choice to look toward the Light in the midst of it.

Application:
Whatever trial or fear you’re facing, speak David’s words aloud today. Let them anchor your heart. Replace anxiety with worship and impatience with trust. Take time to pray and wait on the Lord — not passively, but with confidence that He is working even when you can’t yet see it.

Closing Prayer:
Father, You are my light, my salvation, and my defender. When fear rises, remind me of who You are and who I am in You. Help me to wait patiently for Your timing and to trust Your goodness in every season. Teach me to seek Your presence above all else and to walk in courage born of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kindness / Gentleness, Love, Tribulation

Love in the Midst of Suffering (John 19:17-27)

Even in His agony, Jesus’ love never stopped caring for others.

Have you ever noticed how love can shine brightest in moments of pain?

Key Verse:
“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” —John 19:26–27 NASB

Background Context:
After Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified, He carried His cross to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. There, soldiers nailed Him to the cross between two others and cast lots for His garments, unknowingly fulfilling Scripture (Psalm 22:18). Above Him hung a sign reading “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.” The chief priests objected, but Pilate refused to change it. Amid the crowd and the mocking voices, several faithful followers stood near the cross — among them, Jesus’ mother Mary, her sister, Mary Magdalene, and the disciple John.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 19:17-27

     17They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

      23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.” 25Therefore the soldiers did these things.
But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

Reflection on John 19:17–27:
In His final hours, Jesus displayed a love that transcended suffering. Though enduring unbearable pain, He looked down from the cross and cared for His mother, entrusting her to John’s care. In doing so, He fulfilled not only His role as Savior but also as a loving Son.

This tender moment reveals the heart of God — personal, compassionate, and attentive even amid cosmic redemption. The One bearing the sins of the world still paused to meet the needs of an individual heart. The cross was not only the place where salvation was accomplished but also where love was expressed most personally.

At the foot of the cross, the ground is level. Whether we come in grief, guilt, or gratitude, we find the same love that embraced Mary and John — a love that sees us even in our pain and draws us into family with one another through Christ.

Application:
Spend time reflecting on Jesus’ compassion at the cross. Who around you needs that same selfless love today — someone hurting, lonely, or overlooked? Ask God to show you how to extend care even in your own moments of difficulty, remembering that when we love others sacrificially, we reflect the heart of our Savior.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing perfect love even in the midst of Your suffering. Help me to see others through Your eyes and to extend compassion even when life feels heavy. Teach me to care for those You’ve placed in my life and to reflect the same faithful love You showed from the cross. In Your holy name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Bitterness / Resentment, Blessed, Depression / Discouragement, Repenting from Sin

Bitterness or Repentance? (Genesis 27:30-46)

Without repentance, sorrow turns into bitterness—and bitterness into sin.

Key Verse:
“Esau said to his father, ‘Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.’ So Esau lifted his voice and wept.” —Genesis 27:38 NASB

Background Context:
After Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing through deception, Esau returns and discovers what has happened. Isaac trembles, realizing God’s will has been accomplished despite his own intentions. Esau cries out for a blessing but receives only a word of hardship and servitude. Instead of repenting for despising his birthright earlier (Genesis 25) and his ungodly choices (Genesis 26), Esau hardens his heart. His grief turns to anger, and he plots to kill Jacob. Rebekah, fearful for Jacob’s life, urges him to flee to her brother Laban.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 27:30-46

The Stolen Blessing

      30Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31Then he also made savory food, and brought it to his father; and he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” 32Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” And he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35And he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing.” 36Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37But Isaac replied to Esau, “Behold, I have made him your master, and all his relatives I have given to him as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him. Now as for you then, what can I do, my son?” 38Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” So Esau lifted his voice and wept.

      39Then Isaac his father answered and said to him,
“Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling,
And away from the dew of heaven from above.

      40“By your sword you shall live,
And your brother you shall serve;
But it shall come about when you become restless,
That you will break his yoke from your neck.”

      41So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42Now when the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, “Behold your brother Esau is consoling himself concerning you by planning to kill you. 43“Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise, flee to Haran, to my brother Laban! 44“Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury subsides, 45until your brother’s anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”

      46Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Reflection on Genesis 27:30–46:
This passage shows the devastating ripple effects of sin within a family. Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau each contributed: favoritism, scheming, deception, and contempt for God’s ways. The result is division and heartbreak.

Esau’s response is especially telling. He weeps bitterly, but his sorrow is not repentance. Hebrews 12:16–17 later warns that Esau, though he sought the blessing with tears, found no place for true repentance. His heart remained fixed on blaming Jacob, not acknowledging his own rejection of God’s covenant. Instead of humbling himself, he nurtured hatred and planned murder.

Isaac, however, trembled greatly—not because he was fooled, but because he realized that God’s sovereign will had been carried out despite his own desire to bless Esau. In that moment, Isaac stopped resisting and confirmed Jacob’s blessing (v. 33).

The weight of this scene reminds us that God’s blessings are not casual. To despise them is to despise Him. And without repentance, bitterness consumes us and leads only to more sin.

Application:
When you experience loss or disappointment, do you respond like Esau with blame and bitterness, or like Isaac with surrender to God’s will? True repentance requires us to take responsibility for our choices and turn back to God. Let Esau’s tears be a warning—sorrow without repentance produces only more sin. Choose instead to humble yourself and trust God’s purposes, even when they overturn your own plans.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, protect me from bitterness when things do not go my way. Help me to recognize and repent of my own sins rather than shifting blame to others. Give me the humility to accept Your will, even when it differs from my desires. Teach me to trust in Your sovereignty and to walk in faith, not resentment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Depression / Discouragement, Faith / Trusting God, Hope, Psalms

From Despair to Deliverance (Psalm 22)

Even in the darkest hour, God is faithful to redeem and restore.

Key Verse:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” —Psalm 22:1 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 22 is a psalm of David, but it is most well-known as a prophetic description of Messiah’s suffering. Yeshua quoted its opening words from the cross (Matthew 27:46). The psalm begins with deep anguish and a cry of apparent abandonment but moves toward trust in God’s faithfulness and ultimate deliverance. Many details in the psalm—mocking by enemies, pierced hands and feet, casting lots for garments—are fulfilled directly in Yeshua’s crucifixion. The psalm closes with hope, declaring that all nations will one day worship the Lord.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 22

For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

      2O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.

      3Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

      4In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.

      5To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

      6But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.

      7All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

      8“Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

      9Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.

      10Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

      11Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.

      12Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

      13They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.

      14I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.

      15My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.

      16For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.

      17I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;

      18They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.

      19But You, O LORD, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.

      20Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.

      21Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

      22I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

      23You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

      24For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

      25From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.

      26The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!

      27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.

      28For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over the nations.

      29All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

      30Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.

      31They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Reflection on Psalm 22:
This psalm gives voice to the raw cry of despair: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” It reflects the depth of suffering, when God feels distant and enemies seem victorious. Yet even in this anguish, David anchors himself in God’s past faithfulness: “In You our fathers trusted, and You delivered them” (v.4).

Yeshua’s use of this psalm on the cross reminds us that He fully entered into human suffering, bearing not only physical pain but the weight of sin and separation. The detailed descriptions of mocking, pierced hands and feet, and divided garments foreshadow the crucifixion centuries before it occurred. But the psalm does not end in despair—it moves toward hope and praise. David looks forward to the day when the Lord will be vindicated, and all nations will bow before Him.

Application:
When you feel abandoned or crushed by suffering, remember Psalm 22. You are not alone—Messiah Himself cried out these words. Like David, remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness and hold fast to His promises of future deliverance. Suffering is real, but it is not the end. In Christ, despair is transformed into hope, and what looks like defeat becomes victory.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You that You are faithful even when I feel forsaken. Thank You for sending Yeshua, who bore the weight of suffering and sin on the cross. Help me to trust Your past faithfulness and cling to Your promises in times of trouble. Turn my despair into hope and my cries into praise, for You are the God who redeems. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Patience, Purposeful / Intentional, Tribulation

Blessed Even in Conflict (Genesis 26:12-25)

When you walk with God, no amount of opposition can block His blessing.

Key Verse:
“He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, ‘At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.’” —Genesis 26:22 NASB

Background Context:
After remaining in Gerar, Isaac sowed crops and received a hundredfold harvest in one year—clear evidence of God’s blessing. His growing prosperity stirred envy among the Philistines, who stopped up the wells Abraham had dug. When Isaac dug new wells, the locals quarreled with him, forcing him to move on repeatedly. Finally, he dug a well at Rehoboth where there was no dispute, and he recognized God had made room for him. Later, God appeared to Isaac at Beersheba, reaffirming His covenant promise and encouraging Isaac not to fear. Isaac responded by building an altar and calling on the Lord’s name.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 26:12-25

      12Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, 13and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; 14for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. 15Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. 16Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” 17And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there.

Quarrel over the Wells

18Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. 19But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, 20the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. 22He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

      23Then he went up from there to Beersheba.

24The LORD appeared to him the same night and said,
“I am the God of your father Abraham;
Do not fear, for I am with you.
I will bless you, and multiply your descendants,
For the sake of My servant Abraham.”

25So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Reflection on Genesis 26:12–25:
This passage is a vivid picture of God’s blessing in the face of opposition. Isaac prospered, not because of his own ability, but because the Lord was with him. Yet that blessing stirred up jealousy and conflict. Each time Isaac’s wells were taken, he did not fight back but moved on, trusting that God would provide. His patience and perseverance eventually led to Rehoboth—“room”—where he recognized God’s hand in giving him peace.

Isaac’s story reminds us that following God doesn’t mean a life without conflict. Sometimes others will envy, oppose, or even try to take what God has given. But when we respond with faith and humility rather than strife, we position ourselves to see God provide in ways that bring Him glory. The reaffirmation at Beersheba shows that God’s promises remain sure: He is with His people, blessing them and calling them not to fear.

Application:
When you face opposition or envy because of God’s blessings in your life, resist the urge to fight for control. Instead, trust God to make room for you. Like Isaac, keep moving forward in faith, knowing that the Lord’s provision cannot be blocked by human hands. And when He provides peace, take time to give thanks and call upon His name.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You that Your blessing is not limited by human opposition. Teach me to respond with humility and faith when I face conflict, trusting You to provide and make room for me. Strengthen me to walk without fear, remembering that You are with me and Your promises never fail. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Peace / Rest, Protector / Deliverer, Seeking God, Strong in Our Weakness, Tribulation

Be of Good Courage, I Have Overcome (John 16:16-33)

The world brings sorrow and tribulation, but Yeshua brings joy and peace that no one can take away.

Key Verse:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33 NASB

Background Context:
In this passage, Yeshua tells His disciples that soon they would see Him no longer, and then they would see Him again. They struggled to understand, but He explained that His departure and death would bring sorrow, much like the pain of a woman in labor. Yet that sorrow would turn to joy when He rose again, a joy no one could steal. Yeshua reassured them of the Father’s love, of the power of prayer in His name, and of the peace that comes from trusting Him—even in the midst of persecution.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 16:16-33

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

      16“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 21“Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 22“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises

23“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

      25“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26“In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”

      29His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 30“Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32“Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Reflection on John 16:16–33:
The disciples were about to face the darkest moment of their lives—seeing their beloved Teacher crucified. But Yeshua prepared them: sorrow was not the end. Like labor pains that give way to new life, their grief would turn into lasting joy through His resurrection.

This promise extends to us as well. Life in this world includes sorrow, loss, and tribulation. But Yeshua tells us to “take courage,” because His victory is already won. Our peace is not found in avoiding trouble but in resting in Him who has overcome the world.

Notice, too, how He points them to prayer: they would be able to ask the Father directly in His name, with confidence that He hears and loves them. Joy, peace, and answered prayer—all are fruits of living in relationship with Messiah.

Application:
When sorrow weighs heavy or trials press in, remember Yeshua’s promise: your sorrow can be turned to joy, and your heart can rest in peace because He has overcome the world. Take courage by anchoring yourself not in circumstances, but in His victory. Pray in His name with confidence, knowing the Father loves you, and cling to the joy no one can take away.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Yeshua, thank You that You have overcome the world. Help me to find courage in You when I face sorrow and tribulation. Fill my heart with Your peace, and remind me that my joy is secure in Your resurrection. Teach me to pray with confidence, trusting in the Father’s love. In Your name I pray, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Obeying God, Salvation

Eyes Opened, Relationship Broken (Genesis 3)

What they gained in knowledge, they lost in intimacy.

Key Verse:
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.” —Genesis 3:7 NASB

Background Context:
Genesis 3 recounts the tragic turning point in humanity’s story—the fall. God had created Adam and Eve in His image, placed them in a perfect garden, and given them freedom with only one boundary: not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Tempted by the serpent, Eve and Adam disobeyed, and with that choice came a flood of consequences: shame, fear, separation, and death. The intimate fellowship they had with God was fractured.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 3

The Fall of Man

      1Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

      8They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14The LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life;

      15And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

16To the woman He said,
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.”

17Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.

      18“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;

      19By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”

      20Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

      22Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Reflection on Genesis 3:
Satan didn’t force Adam and Eve to sin—he simply twisted God’s words and cast doubt on God’s goodness. He offered knowledge, but what they received was shame. Their eyes were opened, but not in the way they had hoped. Instead of enlightenment, they saw their own nakedness, and for the first time, they felt the sting of guilt and fear.

God had walked with them in the garden, but now they hid. Sin doesn’t just violate God’s law—it breaks relationship. And yet, even in judgment, God showed mercy. He sought them out with the question, “Where are you?” He clothed them Himself, showing that while sin brings separation, God’s desire is still to cover and restore.

This chapter also contains the first prophetic glimpse of redemption—Genesis 3:15 speaks of the offspring of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head. Even in the beginning, God was already planning to bring us back through Yeshua, the promised Messiah.

Application:
We all have “fig leaves”—ways we try to cover our shame or justify our disobedience. But only God can truly cover us. Instead of hiding from Him in guilt, we must run to Him in repentance. He’s not looking to condemn, but to restore.

Take time today to examine your heart. Is there a boundary God has set that you’ve crossed or are tempted to cross? Don’t be deceived by half-truths or cultural justifications. God’s ways are for our protection and relationship with Him. And if you have failed, know this: His mercy began in the garden and is fulfilled at the cross.

Closing Prayer:
Father, I thank You for Your mercy that pursues me even when I sin. Forgive me for the times I’ve doubted Your Word or chosen my way over Yours. Cover me with Your grace and restore the intimacy that sin tries to steal. Teach me to trust Your boundaries and walk humbly with You. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Grace / Forgiveness, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Traditions / Holidays

The Ultimate Act of Love: Reflections on Memorial Day

As we recognize Memorial Day, it is a good time to reflect on and appreciate those who have laid down their lives for the rest of us to be able to live free in the United States of America. It is a good time to pray for those who are actively serving, have served, or are surviving family of those who have died in service to our country. God gave us this unique nation based on Judeo-Christian values and heritage. Many have served and died protecting it.

Yeshua demonstrated and taught that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends. He laid down His life for all those who choose to follow Him and submit to Him. We can be thankful for sure that our sins can be forgiven because of Him. We could never pay that debt.

Yeshua also encouraged His disciples to show this kind of love for one another as well… to lay down their life for one another. So, too, are we encouraged to lay down our lives for one another. At times, we may face a situation where we literally must make that choice in an instant. Other times we lay down our lives by how we live for others rather than living for ourselves.

As we read, we should not overlook that Yeshua said that “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” This is clearly important, but a different context in our relationship with Him vs. relationships with each other that we may consider friends. We should obey Yeshua to be His “friend”. We do not need to obey each other to be friends.

John 15:12-17

Disciples’ Relation to Each Other

12“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14“You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17“This I command you, that you love one another.

Take time to pray for those who risk their lives or lose them for others. Pray also for their families. Of course, not everyone in uniform is righteous or acts with righteous motives, but many have sacrificed none the less to protect our country and our freedom. Pray also for the leadership in our government so that they would lead well and not recklessly. Further, pray for the people of our nation that they would hold in high regard those that serve to protect our nation and risk their lives to do so.

Take time to also pause and reflect on our Savior, Yeshua, who laid down his life for us so we could be forgiven and reconciled with the Father. Give thanks to him. Do not let that offer be wasted. Rather, submit to him, turn from your sin, and seek him. Let him be Lord of your life. You will find greater joy and peace in this world and after.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You that You sent Yeshua to lay down His life for me, so that I could be forgiven and reconciled to You. Thank You for the people that have sacrificed personally to protect and build up our nation as a free nation built on individual liberty and not dominated by tyrants or a ruling class that controls the people. Please help protect and maintain that nation based on Your principles and ideals from those who would change it for something else, like socialism or simply giving up more and more individual freedom to government control. Please raise up the righteous and bring restoration to the land that we would be a light for the world to bring You glory. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Eternal, Faith / Trusting God, Protector / Deliverer, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Worry/Anxiety

Serving God with Humility and Strength (1 Peter 5)

Are you serving God willingly, with humility and trust?

1 Peter 5 offers wisdom on how to lead, serve, and stand firm in faith. Peter exhorts leaders to shepherd God’s people with willingness, calls believers to humility, and warns of the enemy’s schemes. Above all, he reminds us that after suffering, God Himself will strengthen and establish us.

Key Verse:
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)

Background Context:
Peter closes his letter with instructions for both leaders and the church, encouraging them to live with humility, vigilance, and steadfast faith. He acknowledges the suffering believers face but reminds them that God will restore them. This passage is both a call to service and a promise of hope for all who remain faithful in Christ.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

1 Peter 5

Serve God Willingly

      1Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

      6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

      12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

Reflection on 1 Peter 5:

Serve God with Willingness and Humility (1 Peter 5:1-5)

  • Shepherd God’s People with a Willing Heart
    Peter exhorts leaders to care for God’s flock, not out of obligation but with eagerness (1 Peter 5:2). Leadership in God’s kingdom is not about power but about serving as Christ did. Are you serving God and others willingly, or out of duty?

  • Lead by Example, Not by Force
    True spiritual leaders influence others through example, not control (1 Peter 5:3). Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, will reward those who serve faithfully (1 Peter 5:4). Are you leading others with humility and grace?

  • Clothe Yourself in Humility
    Peter instructs both young and old to be humble toward one another, for “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Pride distances us from God, but humility draws us closer. Are you embracing humility in your interactions with others?

Trust in God’s Care and Resist the Enemy (1 Peter 5:6-9)

  • Cast Your Anxiety on Him
    Humility also means trusting God with our burdens (1 Peter 5:6-7). He cares deeply for us, and we do not have to carry our worries alone. Are you giving your anxieties to God or trying to handle them yourself?

  • Be Alert to the Enemy’s Attacks
    Peter warns that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We must stay spiritually sober and vigilant. Are you guarding your heart and mind against the enemy’s deception?

  • Stand Firm in Your Faith
    Suffering is not unique to us; believers around the world endure the same trials (1 Peter 5:9). Knowing we are not alone helps us stand firm. Are you persevering in faith despite difficulties?

God’s Promise to Restore and Strengthen (1 Peter 5:10-11)

  • God Himself Will Restore You
    After a season of suffering, “the God of all grace” will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us (1 Peter 5:10). Trials are temporary, but God’s restoration is eternal. Do you trust that God is working in your trials to strengthen you?

  • God’s Dominion Is Forever
    Peter ends with a declaration of God’s eternal reign (1 Peter 5:11). No matter what we face, He is sovereign. Are you resting in the knowledge that He is in control?

Summary Key Points:

  • Serve God with willingness and humility: Leadership is about serving, not ruling.
  • Cast your burdens on Him: Trust that God cares for you.
  • Be alert and resist the enemy: Stay firm in faith and do not be deceived.
  • Suffering is temporary, but God’s restoration is eternal: He will strengthen and establish you.
  • God reigns forever: Trust in His sovereignty over all things.

Application:

  • Examine your heart—are you serving God with a willing spirit?
  • Humble yourself before God, casting your worries on Him instead of carrying them alone.
  • Stay spiritually alert, recognizing the enemy’s schemes, and stand firm in faith.
  • Trust that God’s grace will sustain you through trials and that He will strengthen and restore you.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to serve You with humility and faithfulness. Help me to cast my burdens on You, knowing that You care for me. Strengthen me to resist the enemy’s attacks and to stand firm in faith. I trust that You will restore, confirm, and establish me in Your perfect timing. To You be the glory forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.