Trusting God Through Every Trial (Psalm 3)

When fear surrounds you, will you lift your eyes to the One who saves?

Key Verse:
“But You, Lord, are a shield around me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.” —Psalm 3:3 (NASB)

Background Context:
Psalm 3 was written by David when he fled from his son Absalom, who had conspired against him. Imagine the heartbreak: not only was David’s life in danger, but the betrayal came from his own family. His enemies were many, and they were convinced that even God would not save him. Yet David models incredible faith in this psalm. He acknowledges the threat but immediately shifts his focus to the Lord—his shield, his protector, and the lifter of his head.

David’s prayer reflects a raw but steady trust in God’s power to sustain, deliver, and defend him. Rather than surrender to despair, David cries out to God and rests confidently, knowing that the Lord hears and answers.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 3

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” (Interlude)[a]

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. (Interlude)

I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

Arise, O Lord!
Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord.
May you bless your people. (Interlude)

Reflection on Psalm 3:
Life’s trials often feel overwhelming, especially when betrayal, fear, or slander is involved. It is easy to let fear dominate our hearts and to wonder if deliverance will come. But Psalm 3 teaches us that even when thousands rise against us, God is greater still.

Notice David’s progression: he starts by laying out his troubles, but he doesn’t stay there. His prayer turns quickly to praising God’s protection and salvation. He trusts not in his armies, his wisdom, or his strategies—but in God alone.

The phrase “the One who lifts my head” is deeply encouraging. It suggests restoration, dignity, and encouragement. God is not just defending David physically but also healing him emotionally and spiritually.

Application:
When you face overwhelming circumstances, where do you turn first? Follow David’s example: pour out your heart to God, but don’t let fear dominate your mind. Trust in the Lord’s shield around you, His power to save, and His promise to lift your head.

Spend time in prayer today giving God your fears and asking Him to fill you with the peace and confidence that comes from trusting Him fully.

Closing Prayer:
Father, when fear threatens to overwhelm me, remind me that You are my shield and my salvation. Help me to lift my eyes to You and not to the circumstances around me. Teach me to trust You deeply, to rest in Your promises, and to find my strength and dignity in You alone. Thank You for always being faithful. 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.

The Flying Scroll: A Warning Against Sin (Zechariah 5)

Sin will not go unnoticed or unpunished in the eyes of the Lord.

Key Verse:
“Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the whole land; surely everyone who steals will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be purged away according to the writing on the other side.’” —Zechariah 5:3 (NASB)

Background Context:
Zechariah 5 presents two powerful visions: a flying scroll and a woman in a basket. These visions emphasize God’s coming judgment against sin among His people. The flying scroll represents a curse against those who commit two specific offenses: stealing and bearing false witness—both direct violations of God’s commandments. The imagery underscores that sin corrupts the land and its people, and God will not allow it to remain.

The second vision shows wickedness being personified and sealed inside a basket, carried away to a distant land—likely symbolizing Babylon—showing that sin will ultimately be removed from among God’s people and dealt with according to His perfect justice.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Zechariah 5

The Flying Scroll

      1Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll. 2And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” 3Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the whole land; surely everyone who steals will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears will be purged away according to the writing on the other side. 4“I will make it go forth,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones.”

      5Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.” 6I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land 7(and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” 8Then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening. 9Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens. 10I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?” 11Then he said to me, “To build a temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.”

Reflection on Zechariah 5:
This chapter reminds us that sin is not a small thing to be ignored or tolerated. YHWH sees all and will bring judgment upon unrepentant sin. Even among His people, God calls for righteousness, honesty, and faithfulness.

While we are saved by grace through Yeshua, we are still called to live holy lives, demonstrating obedience to God’s ways. This vision should stir in us a healthy fear of the Lord and a deep commitment to repent of any sin we are tolerating in our lives. It should also encourage us that God will not allow wickedness to flourish forever. He will purify His people.

Application:
Examine your heart honestly. Are there areas where sin has crept in—perhaps through dishonesty, selfishness, or compromised integrity? Bring these before the Lord in repentance. Ask for His cleansing and strength to walk uprightly. Be diligent to remove sin from your life rather than making excuses for it. Trust that God’s refining work is for your good and His glory.

Closing Prayer:
Father, I acknowledge that nothing is hidden from Your sight. I ask You to reveal any hidden sin in my heart and help me to repent fully. Cleanse me by Your Spirit and make me holy as You are holy. Strengthen me to walk in truth and righteousness, reflecting Your light to the world around me. 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.

Faith That Takes Jesus at His Word (John 4:46-54)

What if your miracle comes not by what you see, but by whom you trust?

Key Verse:
“Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son lives.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.” —John 4:50 (NASB)

Background Context:
Jesus returns to Cana, where He had previously performed His first miracle at the wedding feast. This time, He’s approached by a royal official whose son is on the brink of death in Capernaum. Desperation brings the man to Jesus, pleading for Him to come and heal the boy. Rather than going with him, Jesus simply speaks a word: “Go; your son lives.”

This moment is profound. The man does not see a miracle immediately. He doesn’t get the assurance of watching Jesus lay hands on his son. What he gets is a word—and he believes it. He takes Jesus at His word and returns home. On the way, his servants meet him with the good news: his son recovered at the very hour Jesus spoke.

This becomes the second miraculous sign recorded in John’s Gospel, showing the power of Christ not only to heal but to do so from afar—demonstrating His divine authority.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 4:46-54

Healing a Nobleman’s Son

      46Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” 49The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. 54This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Reflection on John 4:46–54:
There’s a deep lesson in the way this official responds. His faith is not based on what he sees but on what he hears from Yeshua. So often, we want God to show up in visible, tangible ways—to “come down” and fix our situation immediately and in the way we expect. But sometimes, God’s response is simply a word. And the question is: do we trust Him enough to act on it?

Jesus gently rebukes the crowd’s need for signs and wonders to believe. But in contrast, the official chooses to believe—and that belief blesses not just him but his entire household. When we trust God in uncertainty, it can become a testimony that draws others into faith.

This passage also reminds us that Jesus is not bound by distance or time. He didn’t need to physically go to the boy. His authority reaches beyond what we can comprehend. When He speaks, it is done.

Application:
What promises of God are you holding onto? Are you waiting to “see it” before you believe it? Or are you willing to trust His word, even when the evidence hasn’t arrived yet?

Faith sometimes means moving forward on a promise, not proof. Like the royal official, take Jesus at His word. Trust that His power is not limited by your expectations.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Yeshua, I thank You for the power of Your word. Help me to trust You even when I cannot see the outcome. Grow in me a faith that moves forward in obedience, confident that You are at work beyond what I can see. Let my life and my trust in You be a testimony to others in my household and community. In Your 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.

From Testimony to Truth (John 4:39-45)

A personal testimony can open hearts—but it’s encountering Yeshua directly that transforms them forever.

Key Verse:
“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” —John 4:42 (NASB)

Background Context:
The story of the Samaritan woman at the well doesn’t end with her conversation with Yeshua. Transformed by her encounter, she runs back to her city, boldly proclaiming what He revealed to her. Her simple testimony—“He told me all the things that I have done”—is enough to stir curiosity and spark belief among many.

But something deeper happens when the Samaritans hear Yeshua for themselves. They invite Him to stay, and He does—two full days. During that time, many more believe, not just because of the woman’s words, but because they encounter the Word Himself. Her witness brought them to the door, but it was the voice of the Messiah that truly opened their hearts.

Meanwhile, Yeshua travels to Galilee, where He notes that “a prophet has no honor in his own country.” The contrast is striking—foreigners welcome Him with openness, while those who should have honored Him often respond with skepticism. Even still, the Galileans, having seen His signs in Jerusalem, receive Him—though it seems their welcome is based more on miracles than on understanding who He really is.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 4:39-45

The Samaritans

      39From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41Many more believed because of His word; 42and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

      43After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. 44For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.

Reflection on John 4:39–45:
This passage shows the power of a changed life and a bold testimony. One woman’s transformation leads to an entire community encountering the Messiah. Never underestimate how your story of redemption—no matter how simple—can draw others to seek Yeshua.

Yet it also reminds us that true belief is not secondhand. People may come to faith through someone else’s testimony, but lasting faith is built on a personal relationship with Yeshua. The Samaritans believed first because of her words, but they stayed and listened to Him, and then they knew He was the Savior.

Notice also the reality of rejection: Jesus, the Son of God, was not honored by His own people. This shows us that acceptance and praise are not always signs of truth being received deeply. And rejection is not necessarily a sign that we’ve failed in our witness. If they rejected the perfect One, we shouldn’t be surprised when some reject us too.

Application:
Are you sharing your testimony with others—even if it feels simple? Are you encouraging those around you not just to hear about Jesus but to seek Him personally?

Don’t be discouraged if others reject the message at first. Keep planting seeds. And make sure your own faith rests not only on what others have said but on what you have experienced in relationship with Yeshua yourself.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the power of a transformed life and the boldness to share what You’ve done. Help me to speak truthfully and clearly about my testimony, pointing others to Your Son. May those who hear not stop at my words but go on to hear Your voice and follow You. Strengthen my faith as I listen to You daily, and help me never grow weary of proclaiming the hope found in Yeshua. 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.

Living Water for a Thirsty Soul (John 4:1-30)

What if the very thing you’ve been searching for is standing right in front of you?

Key Verse:
“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” —John 4:14 (NASB)

Background Context:
John 4 opens with Jesus traveling through Samaria—an unusual choice for a Jewish teacher, as Jews and Samaritans traditionally avoided each other. Tired from the journey, Yeshua stops at a well and initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman who comes alone to draw water, a detail suggesting social rejection. He asks her for a drink, then quickly shifts the conversation from physical thirst to spiritual need.

Jesus offers her “living water,” a gift that satisfies deeper than any physical source. She doesn’t understand at first, so He lovingly reveals her hidden sin and brokenness—not to condemn, but to awaken her need for Him. He speaks of worship not bound by place but in spirit and truth. The woman, amazed, runs to tell others about the man who “told me all the things that I have done.” She came for water but left with salvation.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 4:1-30

Jesus Goes to Galilee

      1Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), 3He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. 4And He had to pass through Samaria. 5So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; 6and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

The Woman of Samaria

      7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.9Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? 12“You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” 13Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

      15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” 16He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” 19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22“You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.

      27At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” 28So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29“Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” 30They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.

Reflection on John 4:1–30:
This passage reveals Yeshua’s heart to meet us where we are, even in our brokenness. He crossed cultural, gender, and moral boundaries to speak truth and extend grace. He didn’t wait for the woman to clean up her life—He offered living water right there at the well.

Each of us has our own “well”—places we return to seeking purpose, identity, or healing, but never quite finding satisfaction. The Messiah calls us to stop striving and come to Him. His living water quenches the deepest thirsts of our soul.

Notice also the woman’s response: she left her water jar behind. The thing that brought her to the well no longer mattered once she met Yeshua. She was so transformed that she immediately began to share the good news, inviting others to come and see.

Application:
Are you still drawing from dry wells—relationships, achievements, distractions—that can’t satisfy? Yeshua offers you living water today. Will you receive it?

Take time to reflect on areas where you are spiritually thirsty. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal what you may need to leave behind—like the woman’s water jar—to follow Yeshua fully. And like her, don’t keep the good news to yourself. Go and tell others what He’s done for you.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Yeshua, thank You for meeting me in my brokenness and offering living water. I confess the ways I’ve looked elsewhere for what only You can provide. Fill me with Your Spirit and satisfy my soul. Help me to worship You in spirit and truth, and to boldly share with others what You’ve done in my life. 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.

Trusting God in All Things (Proverbs 3)

What happens when we surrender our ways and trust the Lord wholeheartedly?

Key Verse:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5–6 (NASB)

Background Context:
Proverbs 3 continues the voice of wisdom calling out to the reader like a parent to a child. Solomon urges his son to remember the teachings and commandments of the Lord—not as burdens, but as a source of life, peace, and favor. The heart of the chapter lies in learning to fully trust YHWH and reject self-reliance. True wisdom begins with acknowledging God in every area of life—not just when things get difficult, but continually, daily, in all decisions.

The chapter includes encouragements to be humble, generous, and faithful. It addresses discipline as a sign of God’s love and correction. It praises the value of wisdom above riches, and concludes with promises of security, peace, and the Lord’s blessing for those who walk in righteousness.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Proverbs 3

The Rewards of Wisdom

1My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

      2For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.

      3Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

      4So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.

      5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

      6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

      7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

      8It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.

      9Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;

      10So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

      11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
Or loathe His reproof,

      12For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

      13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.

      14For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.

      15She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.

      16Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.

      17Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.

      18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.

      19The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.

      20By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.

      21My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

      22So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.

      23Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.

      24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

      25Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

      26For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.

      27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.

      28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,
When you have it with you.

      29Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.

      30Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.

      31Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.

      32For the devious are an abomination to the LORD;
But He is intimate with the upright.

      33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

      34Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

      35The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.

Reflection on Proverbs 3:
Many people quote verses 5 and 6, but to truly live them requires submission. Trusting God with all your heart is not partial—it means we release our need to control outcomes and stop relying on what makes sense to us. His wisdom far exceeds ours.

We are also called to honor the Lord with our wealth (v. 9), to not despise His discipline (v. 11), and to embrace wisdom as the source of happiness and blessing (vv. 13–18). These aren’t disconnected thoughts—they paint a full picture of a life built on fearing the Lord and walking in His ways.

YHWH’s promises in this chapter include long life, peace, favor with God and man, straight paths, healing, provision, and safety. But these blessings are not the goal—they are the fruit of a life submitted in obedience and trust.

Application:
Examine your life—are there areas where you are still leaning on your own understanding? Are there decisions, relationships, finances, or plans you haven’t surrendered to God?

Commit today to acknowledge Him in all your ways. Trust that He will make your path straight as you walk in obedience. Take time to read the full chapter and pray through each section, allowing the Spirit to speak into your heart.

Closing Prayer:
Father, I confess that I often try to handle things in my own strength. Teach me to trust You fully, with all my heart. Help me to acknowledge You in every decision, every plan, and every step I take. Thank You for Your wisdom, discipline, and the peace You promise to those who walk with You. May I seek Your ways above my own and live a life that brings You glory. 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.

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