Month: October 2025

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Faith Through The Fire!

When the Fire Comes

Have you ever faced a season so challenging, so hot with pressure, so overwhelming that it felt like you were walking through fire?

Let me start with a story. Several years ago, wildfires ravaged vast areas in California. One elderly couple, returning to the charred remains of what was once their home, walked through the ash and debris with heavy hearts. But amid the total devastation, they found something remarkable—an old, fire-baked ceramic plaque still sitting on the fireplace. It read, “God is faithful.”

And He is.

You see, the fires of life—those spiritual, emotional, financial, or physical trials—threaten to consume us. But they also reveal to us something invaluable: God is not absent in the fire. In fact, God is there like He has always promised.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NKJV)

Notice it doesn’t say IF you pass through deep waters—it says WHEN. Every believer must walk through difficulty. But here’s the promise: you won’t walk through it alone.

Let’s explore four truths about trusting God through the trials we face.

I. God’s Promise: He Is With Us in Trials

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah 43:2 NKJV)  

“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NKJV)

Let’s be real—when you’re in the middle of hardship, you may feel like God’s a million miles away. But that feeling is not the fact.

According to Isaiah and Psalms, God is not distant in our trials—He is near. In fact, He’s often more evident during our suffering than in our smooth sailing.

Think about your own life. When did you feel you grew closest to God? It wasn’t when everything was easy. It was when everything seemed to fall apart—and you found He was holding everything together.

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego comes to mind. Thrown into the fiery furnace because they wouldn’t bow to an idol, they should have perished. But what did King Nebuchadnezzar see?

He said, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24–25 NKJV)

In the fire, they met Jesus.

Think about that. The fire that was meant to destroy them became the place where they encountered the very presence of God.

Let that sink in. The place designed to burn you down might just be the place where God shows up and walks with you.

II. God Shapes Our Faith in the Fire

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2–3 NKJV)  

Let me make a confession—my first reaction in trials is rarely joy. I doubt I’m alone. But James says we are to count it all joy when we fall into trials?

Why? Because God is not just protecting us—He’s perfecting us.

“…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory…” (1 Peter 1:7 NKJV)

Think about gold. It’s purified through fire. Gold doesn’t fear the fire—it needs it. The fire doesn’t change the gold—it reveals it.

Your faith is the same. Trials don’t create your faith; they show the quality of your faith. And in fire, impurities rise to the surface—fear, doubt, pride—and God refines us.

A quote from A.W. Tozer puts it this way:  

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”  

That sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But what Tozer is getting at is the truth that deeply tested faith becomes deeply rooted trust.

Sometimes we pray, “Lord, make me more like You.” But then we freak out when fiery trials come. Scripture assures us: the fire is doing just that—it’s shaping us.

What if we stopped seeing fire as punishment and started seeing it as preparation?

III. God Has Purpose in Every Trial

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV)  

I know it’s hard to hear when you’re in pain, but it’s true: God has a purpose for your trial.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things—yes, even the bad ones—are ingredients in God’s mixing bowl to bring about good.

“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NKJV)

Not all things are good. Cancer isn’t good. Divorce isn’t good. Abuse isn’t good. But our God is a Redeemer. He can take broken pieces and create something beautiful.

Job understood this at a gut level. After losing his children, his health, his wealth, and even the support of his wife and friends, Job declared—

 “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NKJV)

Imagine watching someone make a cake. Would you want to taste a raw egg by itself? Probably not. What about a spoonful of flour? Gross, right? But when the ingredients are mixed together and placed in the oven—they become something sweet.

Your life is the same. God is mixing the good, the bad, the ugly—and yes, the heat is necessary—to produce something that will nourish others and glorify Him. We have to realize life isn’t always about us. Our lives can minister to others. 

He is not a careless chef. He is the Master Baker. Trust the hands you’re in.

IV. Responding to Trials with Trust

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)  

So… how do we respond when life gets hard? Do we panic, try to fix everything, control people, stay up all night, overthink? Or do we lean in to trust?

Trusting is hard when we don’t understand. But Scripture tells us—we’re not meant to understand; we’re meant to believe.

It doesn’t say, “Understand all His ways.” It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”  (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)

Did you know that the first thing swimmers are told when drowning is to stop flailing? The struggle makes them sink faster. But the moment they stop fighting and learn to float—it saves them.

Maybe that’s a word for someone today. Stop flailing. Be still.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)

Stillness doesn’t mean pretending it doesn’t hurt. Stillness means we choose surrender. We say, “God, even when I don’t see a way—I know You are the Way.”

Let your trials draw you closer, not harden your heart. Trust the God who walks beside you.

Faith That Endures the Fire

Let’s return to where we started:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… the rivers shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NKJV)

No matter what fire you’ve walked through—or are walking through now—you are not walking alone. He is with you.

Not only that, but you are being shaped, refined, and renewed.

And if you wonder whether God really sees you, listen to what He says just one verse earlier:

“But now, thus says the LORD… ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.’” (Isaiah 43:1 NKJV)

You are His. That’s your identity. That’s your security. And that’s where your faith can stand—even through the fire.

Call to Action

If you’re in a fire today—don’t walk through it alone.

Let the fire forge faith. Let it refine your hope. Let it bring you deeper into the presence of the One who never leaves your side.

Closing Prayer

Father,  

Thank You that fires don’t intimidate You. In fact, You move right into the center of them with us. For every broken heart, every wounded soul, every uncertain step—we ask for Your comfort, Your presence, and Your refining work. Teach us to trust You. Let our faith deepen as we walk through the fire—knowing You walk right beside us. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Your Sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

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Waiting Well: Trusting God in Delay

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

I. Introduction: The Challenge of Delay

If you’ve ever had to stand in a long DMV line, wait for a table when you’re starving, or sat in traffic with your gas light on, then I can tell—you already know the agony of waiting.

Let’s be real. Waiting is not something we’re naturally good at. We live in a culture of Amazon Prime, microwave meals, and Wi-Fi that better not buffer for more than one second. 

We want things now. 

We want our healing now. 

Our breakthrough now. 

Our spouse now. 

Our promotion now. 

But here’s the truth: God’s timeline is not our timeline, and His ways are not our ways.

Have you ever prayed for something only to wait…and wait…and wait some more?

We find ourselves asking, “God, why are You taking so long?” Or maybe, “God, have You forgotten about me?” But I want to encourage you today with this truth: Waiting is not wasting. When we wait in faith, we grow in strength. God often does His deepest work in us during the delay.

Let’s let Isaiah 40:31 serve as our foundation for this message: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

There is promise in the pause. There is purpose in the delay. God does some of His deepest work in the waiting. But there is also a right way to wait—waiting well.

II. Waiting Is Not Passive – It’s Active Faith

Waiting on God doesn’t mean sitting back in despair or folding our arms in bitterness. Waiting, in a biblical sense, is about moving forward with trust and expectation that God is doing something—even when we can’t see it.

Psalm 27:14 NKJV

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

David, the man after God’s own heart, reminds us that waiting is an act of courage. It doesn’t look passive—it looks brave. So what does active waiting actually look like?

A. Active Waiting Involves:

I. Prayerful Expectation  

We don’t wait in silence; we wait in prayer. Not just pleading, but listening. Not just asking for outcomes, but inviting God’s perspective.

Colossians 4:2 NKJV

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”

Prayer changes us. It realigns our hearts with God’s heart. In prayer, we move from “God change my situation” to “God change me.”

2. Obedience in the Present  

Waiting well means staying faithful to what God has last told you. Maybe God called you to serve, to stay, or to give—and you haven’t seen fruit yet. Obedience is the plow that tills the soil of blessing. Sometimes the next step comes after continued obedience in the current one.

3. Cultivating Trust Over Time  

Trust isn’t built in seconds; it’s forged over long seasons. To wait well means you let go of control and surrender the timeline to God.

Let me ask you: Are you waiting with frustration or with faith? Because waiting with faith is what activates strength in the spirit.

III. God’s Timing Is Perfect

God’s clock operates on a sovereign schedule. Sometimes we feel late. Other times we feel like God is late. But hear me: God may be slow by human standards, but He is never late by heavenly design.

God observes from a divine aerial view, while we only see what’s ten feet ahead.

Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) 

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” 

There’s a blessing in the waiting, not because we love the delay, but because we learn to trust the One who holds time in His hands.

A. God’s Delays Are Often for Our Development

I. To Refine Our Character  

Have you ever noticed that some of the strongest people you know have also gone through some of the longest waits?

James 1:3 NKJV 

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Waiting reveals what’s in us. It reveals our idols, our impulses, and our priorities. But it also builds spiritual muscle—patience, humility, perseverance.

2. To Prepare Circumstances

God isn’t just working in you; He’s working around you. That delay may mean He’s preparing a person, a place, or a purpose behind the scenes. What you call a “setback” may actually be a set up.

Think of a symphony. Every instrument must come in at just the right moment. If any section starts too early, it ruins the beauty. God is composing a masterpiece in your life, and He will cue your moment at the perfect time.

B. Delay Is Never Denial

Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come…”

God has not said “no”—He has said “not yet.” And if God gave you the dream, you better believe He’ll bring it to fulfillment.

IV. Promise of Strength and Renewal in the Wait

There’s a beautiful truth tucked inside Isaiah 40:31. The word “renew” doesn’t just mean restore. In Hebrew, it implies exchange. When we wait, we exchange our weakness for His strength.

Let that sink in.

When we’re exhausted, anxious, and tired of waiting, God doesn’t just pat us on the back—He gives us His strength.

A. Levels of Strength in Isaiah 40:31:

I. “Mount up with wings like eagles” – Supernatural breakthroughs  

This is the moment when God moves suddenly and you soar. These are the divine accelerations.

2. “Run and not be weary” – Sustained momentum  

We don’t always get the mountaintop, but God gives us grace to endure the race.

3. “Walk and not faint” – Daily faithfulness in the mundane  

Sometimes the miracle is just making it through another Monday with your peace intact. Faithfulness isn’t always flashy—it’s consistent.

And all three aspects of strength come not before the wait, but through the wait.

V. How to Wait Well

So what can we do right now to make sure we’re waiting well?

A. Be Anchored in Word and Worship

Get in your Bible. Find Scriptures that speak to God’s promises and speak them over your circumstances. Did you know that our Worship shifts atmospheres. Even in silence, your song becomes a weapon.

B. Build Community Support

Waiting can feel isolating. The enemy loves to whisper lies when you’re alone. Surround yourself with people who remind you of God’s faithfulness. Find a Life Group. Stay connected. That’s why coming to church is so important.

C. Watch for God’s Hand in the Small Things

Sometimes we miss God because we’re expecting Him to shout, but often times He comes in a whisper. It’s in the text from a friend, the song on the radio, or the sunrise you didn’t deserve to see.

Elijah waited for a dramatic display—and God didn’t come in fire, wind, or earthquake. He came in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). Sometimes the whisper is the wonder.

VI. Conclusion: The Reward of Those Who Wait

Let’s land the plane right where we started:

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”

Waiting doesn’t have to deplete you—it can deepen you. Waiting doesn’t mean punishment—it points to preparation. And waiting doesn’t mean you’re forgotten—it means you’re being formed.

What if the waiting is where the blessing begins? May we be a church that doesn’t just wait… but waits well.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

There is beauty in divine timing. I encourage you to lean into the wait with faith. It’s not wasted time; it’s a sacred space where God molds your heart, sharpens your purpose, and strengthens your spirit. The door will open in His perfect timing. Let us choose to wait well. 

Your Sister In Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

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Trusting God In Every Season – When The Way Isn’t Clear

Have you ever driven through heavy fog? The kind of fog where turning on your high beams only makes it harder to see? You grip the steering wheel a little tighter, slow down, maybe even lean forward as if that will somehow help you keep your eyes on the road. In those moments, your headlights don’t show you five miles ahead—but they’re enough to show you what’s immediately in front of you. Each foot forward reveals the next.

Life can feel a lot like that—foggy, uncertain, hard to navigate. And in those seasons, you don’t need the full five-mile view. You need the assurance that the next step is lit. God doesn’t promise to show us the whole journey, but He promises His presence in every step. As we open the Word today, God wants to remind us that when the way isn’t clear—His Word is.

I. God’s Word Brings Clarity in Confusion

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)

This verse doesn’t say God’s word is a sun to my whole journey. It says it’s a lamp to my feet. A lamp doesn’t flood the entire forest with light—it only helps you see enough not to trip over what’s immediately in front of you.

God’s Word won’t always spell out the five-year plan or tell you where every turn is going, but it will anchor your next step. Like a lantern on a dark trail, Scripture helps guide us—one obedient moment at a time.

Remember the Israelites in the wilderness? They didn’t receive a GPS with a predefined route from Egypt to Canaan. What they got was just enough direction for each day. 

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.” (Exodus 13:21 NKJV)

God gave daily direction—not the itinerary. And He does the same with us. So when confusion rattles your heart and the road ahead looks dim—don’t panic. Don’t demand the five-year plan. Trust His light for the next faithful step.

We will never know the joy of true freedom until we understand we cannot take a single step without His help.

What is the one “next step” God has clearly shown you—even if you don’t yet see why?

II. Fear and Faith Cannot Share the Same Space

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV)

Faith does not require full sight—it requires steady trust. But uncertainty can be a breeding ground for fear. Fear says, “What if God doesn’t show up?” Faith says, “God already has, and He will again.”

You can’t simultaneously give your heart to fear and to faith. One has to quiet the other. When we trust God in the unknowns, we’re not denying reality—we’re leaning into a greater one. 

Trust doesn’t eliminate questions, but it tells us who holds the answers.

Peter walked on water toward Jesus. As long as his gaze stayed fixed on Christ, the waves didn’t matter. But as soon as his focus shifted to fear, he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). The storm didn’t change—only his focus did.

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

What voices are louder in your life right now—fear’s whispers or faith’s promises?

Speak God’s Word into what you fear. Don’t let fear have the final word.

III. Remember What God Has Done

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2 NKJV)

When you’re unsure of the present, recall the past.

God has a track record in your life—and it’s good. But trouble has a way of giving us spiritual amnesia. That’s why Scripture repeatedly reminds us: don’t forget.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to build altars of remembrance—markers of moments when God intervened, provided, protected, or delivered.

Imagine flipping through a photo album of moments when God was faithful to you. Maybe it was the job He provided, the healing you experienced, the unexpected peace during grief. When you remember those moments, it changes your outlook. Even if you can’t see the next step, you know who’s led every previous one.

Start a spiritual journal. Write down answered prayers, moments of provision, hard seasons where God sustained you. These become landmarks of faith when you feel lost in the fog.

IV. Seek God, Not Just Answers

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)

Can we be honest? Most of our prayers in uncertainty sound like, “Lord, tell me what to DO.” But God is often saying, “Come close and know who I AM.” God is more interested in us knowing Him than in us knowing the plan!

Sometimes, God’s direction isn’t about the answer—it’s about intimacy. He doesn’t just want to give instructions; He wants to be with you in the questions.

When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, and Martha was busy working, Jesus said Mary had chosen the good part (Luke 10:42). Mary wasn’t seeking solutions. She was seeking proximity, closeness, and getting to know Jesus, And that was the better choice.

Set aside time not just for seeking answers but for worship, prayer, fasting, and listening. Your most powerful prayer during an unclear season might simply be: “Lord, align my heart with Yours.”

Ask yourself, “Am I more concerned with what God wants me to do—or who He is shaping me to become?”

V. Obedience Today Prepares the Way for Tomorrow

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NKJV)

Sometimes the clearest path into an unclear future is simple obedience today.

If you’re waiting to know what comes next, ask: What has God already asked of me that I haven’t yet done?

Obedience doesn’t require full clarity. It requires full surrender.

-Noah didn’t know when the rain was coming. He just knew he had to build the ark (Genesis 6:22). 

-Abraham didn’t know where he was going—he just knew God said “Go” (Hebrews 11:8). 

Scripture is filled with people who embraced a foggy future because they trusted the One sending them.

Think of how a GPS works. It doesn’t give you every instruction at once. It waits—sometimes until the very last second—to give the next command. Why? Because if it told you too early, you might forget. It gives you what you need exactly when you need it.

God’s guidance is often the same. He isn’t withholding; He’s timing.

What step of obedience have I delayed because I’m waiting for more clarity?

Conclusion: The Light for the Next Step

The still, quiet voice of God speaks best in the unknown.

When the path is unclear, choose the lamp. When the answers are hidden, trust the Guide. God may not show you the full map, but He promises never to leave your side.

Our job is not to guess the distance, but to walk obediently, step by step, one step at a time, in the light He provides. His word is a lamp. His Spirit is a comforter. His history is trustworthy.

So, when the way isn’t clear—hold onto what is:  

– God is with you.  

– God is for you.  

– God’s Word is enough for your next step.

Be the kind of person who says: “I don’t see the whole road, but I trust the One holding the lamp.”

Prayer  

“Lord, when I cannot see the full path, help me to trust the light You’ve given me. Let Your Word continue to guide my next step, and may I follow You with faithful obedience even in the uncertainty. May I choose faith over fear, Your presence over answers, and obedience over delay. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Your Sister In Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

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Fear Not: Trusting God In Uncertain Times

Let me start with a little confession—I am not a big fan of roller coasters. One time, on a youth group trip, I got talked into riding one of those sky-high looping monsters. As we were slowly climbing to the top—click, click, click—I could feel fear creeping in. My stomach was in knots. My mind raced. And despite being surrounded by friends, I felt utterly ALONE in that moment. Ever been there?

Now, roller coasters are one thing—but life has its own terrifying heights: job loss, doctor reports, broken relationships, financial uncertainty, or global crises. Fear, in all its forms, is one of the most universal human experiences. And yet, over and over again, Scripture tells us, “Do not be afraid.” In fact, it’s one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. One theologian said, “Fear not” appears in the Bible 365 times—one for every day of the year.

But here’s the tension: How do we “fear not” when we live in a world filled with things that seem fear-worthy?

Today, we’re going to walk word by word through Isaiah 41:10 and discover how to move from fear to faith—how to live grounded, even in uncertain times. If you have your Bibles or Bible apps, would you turn with me to Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)?

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) —  

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  

I. God’s Command: “Don’t Be Afraid”  

Isaiah 41:10a – “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you…”

I want you to notice something powerful: “Don’t be afraid” is not a soft suggestion—it’s a direct command from the Almighty God. This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a command wrapped in a promise.

Why does God command us not to fear? Because He knows how easily our hearts drift into fear, especially when we feel alone, uncertain, or overwhelmed.

Fear feeds on isolation. It tells us lies like “You’re by yourself in this,” or “No one understands,” or “You’re in too deep.” And this is where God counters that lie:

“Don’t be afraid, FOR I AM WITH YOU.” 

The presence of God is the antidote to the power of fear.

King David knew this well. In Psalm 23:4 (NLT), he writes:  

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”

Not if I walk through the valley—but when.  

Fear is not about circumstances—it’s about focus. []Are we focused on the darkness of the valley, or the presence of the Shepherd?

God never promised we wouldn’t have valleys—He promised we wouldn’t walk through them alone.

Let’s pause and reflect: What valley are you walking through right now? Does fear have a grip on your heart? Have you forgotten who is walking with you?

II. God’s Identity: “I Am Your God”  

Isaiah 41:10b – “Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God…” Some translations state “Dismayed.”

Discouragement is the natural next step after fear has taken root. When we fear long enough, we start to lose hope. We become emotionally drained. Spiritually depleted.

But God inserts a personal declaration right here:  

“I am YOUR God.”

He is not just a God. He is not just the God of Abraham or Moses or the prophets. He says to YOU: “I AM YOUR GOD.”

This personal belonging reminds us that our identity is not rooted in our problems—it’s rooted in God’s promises.

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT) reminds us who is speaking here.  

“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”

Let that sink in. The Creator of the cosmos—the One who spoke galaxies into existence—says, “I am your God.” And then He asks, “Is anything too hard for me?”

Let me tell you about a woman named Maria who was diagnosed with cancer. At first, fear rushed in like a flood. But one of the things she clung to was this truth: “I am your God.” She said, “If this God carried Daniel through the lion’s den, and carried Paul through prison, He can carry me through chemo.” Her faith can remind all of us that our God is not distant and impersonal—He is close and relentlessly personal.

So let’s ask ourselves honestly: Who or what have we allowed to become our god in difficulty? Anxiety? Control? Our own efforts?  

God is saying, “Put your trust in Me—I am YOUR God.”

III. God’s Provision: Strength, Help, and Support  

Isaiah 41:10c – “I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

This verse moves from command to identity to provision. It’s not just “Don’t be afraid” and “I’m God”—but it’s this: “I am WITH you and I’m WORKING for you.”

Let’s break down these three divine assurances.

a. “I will strengthen you”  

This isn’t just physical strength—it’s emotional resilience, spiritual energy, courage to take another step.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), Jesus tells Paul:  

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  

So Paul responds, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b NLT)

God gives you boldness in the moments you feel most broken.

b. “I will help you”  

This promise is active. God is not passive. He doesn’t sit on the sidelines of your life.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT) says:  

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Always ready. Not sometimes. Not maybe. Not if you earn it. Always.

c. “I will hold you up with my victorious right hand”  

This is not just about surviving the storm—it’s about overcoming it with His strength.

Romans 8:37 (NLT) declares:  

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

God is not offering you just a hand-up—He’s offering His victorious right hand. The same hand that raised Jesus from death is the hand holding you.

Conclusion: Will We Trust…?

Fear is real. We’ve all felt its icy grip.

But here’s the hope: God is greater than our fears.

• His presence extinguishes fear.

– His identity strengthens courage.

– His provision guarantees victory.

So here’s the question:  

Will we choose fear, or will we trust the One who commands us, “Fear not”?

Let me finish with a beautiful call from Isaiah 43:1 (NLT):  

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’”

You are not abandoned. You are ransomed. You are named. You are His.

• Invitation to Trust

Right now, I want you to take a moment in God’s presence. With open hands and bowed heads, identify where fear has taken root in your life.

Is it your health? Your future? Your marriage? A dream that feels dead?

Then hear God’s whisper to your heart today:  

Isaiah 41:10 –

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up.”

Let’s respond to that promise. Let’s lean into His presence instead of our panic.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word today. Thank You for reminding us that You are greater than fear. For every heart that’s burdened today, would You lift it? For every weary soul—would You strengthen? For every discouraged person—would You hold them up with Your victorious right hand? We choose to trust You… not our fears. You are our God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils