God’s forgiveness

God’s faithfulness is never clearer than in the forgiveness of our sins. 1 John 1:9 [ESV] states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We can be certain that Jesus offers full forgiveness of sin through repentance because “He who promised is faithful” [Hebrews 10:23, NIV]. God keeps His promises, and He promises the assurance of forgiveness.

Even in our struggles with sin, God is faithful in giving us a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 [NIV] says, “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

How can we show ourselves faithful

1 Samuel 12:24 [ESV] simply and beautifully explains how to be faithful to God: “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.”

In a world plagued by heartache, struggles, contention, and uncertainty, we know we can find certainty in a perfect God who keeps His promises, provides, and forgives our sins. Just think of the promises that are yet to come! 1 Corinthians 2:9 states, “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

So as we faithfully step forward in a broken world, let us stand firm in confidence and look to God’s nature and His promises. For as Romans 8:18 puts it, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

God’s heart is to restore us to wholeness. When we need healing for our bodies, minds, or spirits, God’s Word provides answers for our afflictions. Scriptures on healing give us a new perspective of hope and comfort. Rest and read God’s Word, knowing that it will speak into your situation today. Let’s look at Isaiah 9:6.

As we step into the Christmas season, we reflect on and celebrate the birth of Jesus. While it’s easy to get swept away in the beautiful lights, glittering snow, smell of fresh-baked goods, and gift-giving, we mustn’t lose sight of the celebration’s purpose.

Jesus’ birth changed everything. He lived a perfect life, took on our sin, died in our place, rose back to life, freeing us from the curse of the law.

Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy, talking about the coming of Jesus. In this verse, Jesus is referred to as a wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

Wonderful Counselor

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can now go before God with our praises, our sorrows, and our requests. Before Jesus, we didn’t have that sort of direct access to God. And God doesn’t just hear our prayers—He responds. He responds through His Word, through His Spirit, and through answered prayers.

God is the best counselor because He knows us through and through, and He loves us more than we can fathom. Luke 12:7 (NIT) puts His deep knowledge and love for us into perspective: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Almighty God

There are two points in this verse where Jesus is referred to as God. For this to make sense, we need to understand that Jesus and God are one in the same–two parts of the Trinity, with the third being the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the mighty God and everlasting Father because Jesus is God.

God is all-powerful. From the whole of creation to the wonders and miracles He’s performed throughout time, it’s all too evident. And if that’s not compelling enough, His power and majesty is repeated throughout Scripture. Revelations 1:8 (ESV) says, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,'” says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'”

Jesus “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-11 NIV).

Can you believe it? God–almighty, omnipotent, holy, and limitless–”made Himself nothing” all for us. But He didn’t stop at lowering himself to that of a man; “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death–even death on a cross!”

God almighty suffered the ultimate sacrifice for us. How humbling.

Everlasting Father

God is eternal. It’s hard for us to grasp being that we only think in finite time, but He existed before the concept of time. Psalm 90:2 (NIV) says, “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

The book of Genesis speaks to how God and the Word existed before creation. Can you imagine existing for eternity in solitude? It’s no wonder God chose to create.

The everlasting God, who created us, loves us, and died for us, will be our Father for all eternity. As believers, we’re adopted into His family as children. Being a part of the family of God, we’re able to have a deep and personal relationship with Him–able to come to Him for help, for comfort, and with our praises. Forever. This relationship isn’t possible without Jesus.

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace is a lofty title. A prince is an heir to a kingdom—in this case, the kingdom of peace. Jesus is the heir of peace, and if we are “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17 NIV), we can access peace through Christ.

Spiritual peace

Before Jesus, we were slaves to sin, living in constant contention with God. Our sin nature makes us self-serving, disobedient, impure, and wholly unfit to stand before the presence of a holy and perfect God. By washing us clean with His sacrifice, Jesus bridged the gap between us and God.

Jesus made reconciliation with God possible. Romans 5:1 (ESV) confirms this: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Emotional peace

Finding peace in a world bent on conflict and turmoil feels impossible, but Jesus brings a peace separate from the world. John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The key is resting in Jesus–in knowing this world is only our temporary home, and we’ll experience true peace once in our eternal home. We don’t have control over what the world does, but God does hold control–He’s overcome the world!

Mental peace

Perhaps the most tangible evidence of Jesus’ peace is our direct line to God. We have an almighty God we can talk to and have a personal relationship with. We’re promised peace if we come to God–with an attitude of gratitude–and share our requests and worries with Him (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV).

Jesus also promises “rest for your soul” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV) if you take your burdens to Him and take on the lifestyle of Christ. We’re not promised easy lives, but we do know there’s peace through Jesus, our Prince of Peace.

God’s heart is to restore us to wholeness. When we need healing for our bodies, minds, or spirits, God’s Word provides answers for our afflictions. Scriptures on healing give us a new perspective of hope and comfort. Rest and read God’s Word knowing that it will speak into your situation today. Let’s look at Psalm 34:18.

Psalm 34:18

We pick up our phones and get a notification for yet another negative headline. Instantly, fear strikes into our already weary hearts. We trudge through the day with a sense of impending danger, anxiety, or even grief. Sound familiar?

It can seem like we’re surrounded by struggle, lack, and disappointment. Our souls feel downtrodden, our hearts crushed, and our confidence shaken. But we weren’t meant to live this way. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that even in our brokenness, God draws close to us. Not only is He with us (Joshua 1:9), but He is the divine physician who is faithful to save us and heal us from the inside out (Mark 2:17).

When the dark shadows come to steal our joy, God wants to restore us to wholeness (Jeremiah 30:17). When just going through the motions is a trial, God wants to bring us a sense of renewed life and purpose.

Emotional distress

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Our mental anguish and emotional pain don’t cause Him to recoil or turn away. The reality is quite the opposite. In our darkest moments, God wants to draw us into His embrace. He wants to hold our hearts in perfect peace. 

It doesn’t matter what we’ve seen, what’s been done to us, or what struggles we encounter. Jesus is stronger. His shalom peace involves restoration, wholeness, and well-being for every area of our souls. 

It might not always feel that way, but we can rest knowing that even if our feelings betray us, He never changes. He is true and kind. He is for us through both the triumphs and the trials.  

God is with us

We can look inside ourselves and get distressed, or look at our outside circumstances and get depressed. However, when we look at Jesus, we find real rest. 

God is so close to us, even at this moment. He is Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, and the Mighty Counselor. With just one word, He can cause our broken hearts to come to life. He is always nearby, ready to rescue us from every anxious thought. 

In our darkest moments, God wants to draw us into His embrace.

All depression, fear, oppression, and worry have to leave at the name of Jesus. We can bring every burden and lay it at His feet. We can rest and know His shoulders are strong enough to carry the heaviness that tries to consume our hearts. His nearness brings us to abundant life.

If you’re ready for a breakthrough, don’t let fear keep you from letting His light in. His light is stronger than any shadow. Turn your gaze to meet His eyes, and know that He is with you.

Reflection Questions

• Does knowing that God is near you in every moment change your perspective?
• What burdens have you been carrying that you can give over to Christ?
• God says that He will rescue us and draw near to our broken hearts. How does reflecting on His kindness bring healing?

Moses parting the Red Sea, Elijah calling down fire, and the apostles performing miracles all have one thing in common—God’s will. They weren’t calling on God as a source of power, using His might and majesty however they wanted. On the contrary, God used them as vessels to perform His wonders. 

Through faith, they opened themselves up to God’s leading, and God accomplished many magnificent miracles because of this faith. It wasn’t their own power—it was God’s.

Practical application

How do we achieve mustard seed faith? 

First, we need to humble ourselves. Romans 12:3 NIV says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.” Our faith comes from God—not our own power. As such, we need to embrace our need for Him and accept that we can’t achieve faith on our own.

Knowing that God supplies our faith, the next step is to pray. Philippians 2:13 states, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” God supplies the desire to follow Him. Without His help, we can’t align with His will. If we ask God to supply us with faith and a desire to serve Him, He will hear us; 1 John 5:14-15 gives us that assurance.

Prayer is the most important step, but we also need to live out our faith. If we’re aligned with God’s will, there will be fruit in our life.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

We also have assura nce in John9:31 that if we do His will, he hears us: “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does His will.”

If we acknowledge our need for God, ask for a desire to serve Him and show His fruit, we then tune in to His leading.

It’s only when we’re attuned to His leading that we truly desire the things of God. There our prayers will also align with God’s desires. 

That’s where mustard seed faith begins.

Reflection Questions

• When you make requests of God, do they typically align with your will or God’s will?
• What steps could you take to build up your faith to align with God’s will?
• What mountain are you facing in your life? Take time today to pray with faith that God will move it.

Gentleness, or as we might call it, humility and meekness, is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Looking at the Greek, Paul uses the word “prautēs,” which interestingly has the same root as the word Jesus used to describe those who will inherit the earth. It alludes to the balance between strength and control.

What does the Bible say about gentleness?

There’s no better example of gentleness and humility than the life of Jesus. Jesus, fully God, became fully man, exhibiting the highest form of meekness and humility this world has ever seen.

Philippians 2:4-8 (ESV) describes His gentleness: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

He also showed incredible gentleness as He interacted with the surrounding people. Jesus, in all His holiness, could’ve chosen to cast judgment on the sinners He encountered, but, instead, He made special efforts to extend gentleness to those who needed grace and forgiveness the most.

Some examples of this include His interactions with people of lower status in the ancient Jewish culture.

Jesus loved the outcasts

Jesus never shied away from people on the fringes of society. Even though most people hated tax collectors, Jesus embraced them—He even invited a tax collector to be His disciple! He showed ground-breaking compassion towards those with debilitating illnesses, impairments, or disabilities, and those fighting demons—people who’d been forced out of civilization.

He didn’t just stop at outcasts among His own people. He also ministered to a centurion, a Canaanite woman, and Samaritans. Jesus demonstrated the importance of loving and ministering to those not accepted into high society—the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40)—in stark contrast to the religious leaders’ contempt for anyone of lower standing.

Jesus listened to and empowered women

Seen as both socially and spiritually inferior to men, women were often looked down upon, especially if they were unmarried. Jesus was not a respecter of persons—someone who looked down on those of lower standing—but instead exhibited gentleness and compassion in how He treated women.

• When the woman who’d been bleeding for 12 years touched His garment without consent, Jesus displayed gentleness in His response by teaching her about saving faith instead of casting her out.
• When the prostitute poured the ointment on Jesus’ feet and washed them with her tears and hair, Jesus chose gentleness by defending her at the Pharisees’ outcry.
• When the Pharisees brought an adulteress before Jesus and cried for her to be stoned, Jesus didn’t condemn her.
• When Jesus encountered the woman at the well, Jesus ministered to her instead of casting judgment on her life choices.

Jesus also showed great compassion towards widows throughout His ministry. He taught women and let them serve when society wouldn’t entertain the idea.

Jesus embraced children

Annoyed by their presence, Jesus’ disciples attempted to keep the children away from Jesus. However, moved with love and compassion for them, Jesus instead chose to embrace them and pray over them. Jesus exhibited gentleness with these children, knowing that pushing them away would do more harm than good.

Jesus forgave His executioners

Even at the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus continued to show gentleness in how He dealt with His accusers. He was tormented, beaten, scorned, and left to die—and yet His heart remained on the souls of the people inflicting pain on Him. In Luke 23:34 (ESV), Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus even extended forgiveness to the thief who repented on the cross next to Him.

How can we exhibit gentleness in our own lives?

Jesus’ life serves as a great example of how we should conduct our own life, but Paul also had great insights. In Ephesians 4:1-2 (NLT), he wrote, “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle.” Even stuck in prison, Paul noted the importance of seeking peace and unity through humility, gentleness, and patience.

But how does that look practically? How do we put on gentleness in all situations, especially in a world that’s filled with so much wickedness and contention?

Romans 12:14-21 commands us to: 

• bless those who persecute us
• live in harmony
• never repay evil for evil
• live peaceably with all
• don’t perform acts of vengeance
• give generously to our enemies.

Much like Jesus, we can minister to people in ways we would’ve never imagined through our gentleness, humility, and meekness.

It sounds counterintuitive, but we’re called to respond to the wickedness around us with gentleness, regardless of how hard it is. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” See the word “tenderhearted” there? It means to be gentle in nature.

This gentle nature extends to how we deal with tension even with those closest to us. 2 Timothy 2:24 (ESV) says, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.

There’s power in gentleness. Much like Jesus, we can minister to people in ways we would’ve never imagined with this fruit of the Spirit. Today, make a conscious choice to respond with meekness, humility, and a gentle nature.

Trust in the Lord

It’s easy to be patient when things are in our hands. For example, you know when a movie is going to end, and if you want to see a part again, you can just rewind it. Going too slow? Push fast forward. Just not into it? That’s fine—you can turn it off and do what you want instead.

God asks us to be patient when the remote is in His hands.

The fruit of patience is living out our faith that God will care for us. He’s gracious and knows we will fall short. We live in a fallen world, and He understands patiently waiting on Him may not always be our first response. Scriptures on patience point us back to His heart—that we would run to Him in our times of weakness.

God knows the desires of our hearts, and He has good plans for our lives. Our cries haven’t been ignored due to His “to-do list.” He is always listening, always caring, and always demonstrating His love toward us. We can prioritize patience and give Him our trust, even while we’re still waiting.

Peace be with you

How do we develop this peace in our own lives? Elisabeth Elliot, in her book Be Still My Soul, lays out several next steps:

1. Choose your attitude. Will you approach this situation remembering God’s faithfulness to you? Will you trust him? Will you rest in His control of the situation?
2. Choose to offer your pain to God. Whatever your pain is, you don’t have to carry it on your own. We have a heavenly Father eager to carry our burdens.
3. Choose to receive what God has given with open hands. Many times, we can’t control the thing robbing us of our peace. It simply ‘is what it is.’ Accept it and ask God to move in ways you can’t.
4. Choose to renew your commitment to Him. Despite our emotions, our situations, our frustrations, or our struggles, we serve a God who is good. Wherever you are, remind yourself Who you follow and what He has done for you.
5. Choose to praise Him as Habakkuk did. Though Israel was in famine, Habakkuk praised the Lord. God was faithful to Israel in the past, and Habakkuk knew He would be faithful in the future, despite what present circumstances looked like.
6. Choose to do the next thing. We may lose our peace because we don’t have control over a situation or we can’t do something the way we planned. However, just because our plan differs from God’s doesn’t mean we can’t experience peace or move forward. God is sovereign–you
   don’t have to fix everything on your own. Just do the next thing.

If peace feels a lot like a choice, it’s because it is. Jesus knows that we’ll have trials and tribulations in this world. However, He promises us in John 16:33 (ESV), “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Peace is found by willfully accepting God’s promises, resting in His faithfulness, following His footsteps, and trusting the Holy Spirit to provide peace in places where you cannot. He has overcome the world—and in this knowledge, we find peace.

Ask God

When we have a lack of self-control, it isn’t surprising to God. God knows us better than anyone else—even ourselves. This means He knows all about our pitfalls, how we struggle, and what will help us grow. He has defeated sin and death, and that same power lives in us. That power is ours as we strive to be more Christ-like.

Self-control in the Bible shows up throughout the lives of everyday people doing everyday tasks. It isn’t a fruit of the Spirit only accessible for those who are holy enough, or good enough to exercise it. We can live life trusting and obeying as the Spirit leads.

Using the fruit of self-control means we must give up our control. It doesn’t mean that we try to micromanage and control everything. Instead, it means we can rest in God’s definition of self-control by saying no to our impulsive side and listening for the whisper of God. He is faithful to guide us and will give us wisdom when we run to Him for guidance.

When you’re faced with a challenge or you’re inclined to give in to temptation, ask God for His direction and discernment. He isn’t afraid of our weaknesses—in fact—He works through them! He is our defender against the thoughts that try to keep us trapped in cycles of defeat.

Relying on His power gives Him glory and causes our lights to shine as a witness to others. When we receive our sense of “self” from Christ, exercising self-control becomes more about honoring Him than working in our own might. With God’s help, we can step out of our comfort zones and bad habits and step into a life of self-control, rest, and trust.

Rejoice through struggles

As difficult as it can be, we’re called to rejoice even through painful circumstances. Throughout Scripture, there are many examples of choosing joy through affliction. Christians persecuted for their faith are commended for their joy amidst adversity across the New Testament. Paul, stuck in jail, wrote 2 Corinthians 7:4 (ESV): “In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”

Even when we’re dealing with temptation and struggling with sin, we’re still called to rejoice. James 1:2-3 tell us to “count it all joy” when we hit hard times because we know God is refining us through our struggles.

The best example of rejoicing in the midst of bad circumstances is Jesus, who took on the pain and suffering of the cross for us. Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) says, “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” He knew there was joy even in the tremendous pain He endured.

Rejoice when you have need

It’s probably the most difficult to rejoice in God when we’re in need. Whether those needs are physical, emotional, or spiritual, it’s hard to feel God’s blessing when we’re lacking in one or more areas. Yet, we’re still called to rejoice.

Though Israel was going through a famine, Habakkuk declared, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV). Even if our basic needs aren’t met or we don’t know where our next meal is coming from, we’re still called to rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoicing in God during times of need produces peace. Philippians 4:4 and 9 (ESV) says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” If we’re in a spirit of rejoicing and giving thanks, our hearts will be at peace. God is our provider, and if we have confidence in that, we have no reason to fear.

We may not have the answers to our various circumstances, but we can rejoice and have faith in the Lord. Rest in the Lord, let His joy fill you, and be at peace. Joy isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth the effort.