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Let Go of the Past and Always Look Ahead

White as snow

The fibers of human conscience revolve around past experiences and past memories. These things of the past can weigh people down and cause them to feel guilt. And it is this strong sense of the past which people cannot shake off. But, in this post, whether you’ve been heartless, good, or whatever there is in between, I want you to learn how to let go of the past through Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

The Nature of Guilt

Guilt is literally ancient. There’s no doubt about it. People have been feeling guilty for thousands of years. David who lived thousands of years before us can relate to how guilt haunts an individual.

Psalm 51:3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 For I know my transgressions.
    My sin is constantly before me.

David felt guilty as he says that his sin was constantly before him. This meant that he would constantly remember what he did and this was painful to him. To resolve this, he expressed his guilt to God in the psalm and asked Him for forgiveness.

But, he went through very severe consequences for his actions as he was in the Old Covenant which I’ll explain later. Nevertheless, David wrote this psalm after he committed adultery with a woman and murdered her husband to cover up his sin.

I’m pointing this out because you need to know that guilt is a very real issue. And guilt even transcends time as many have experienced it in the past.

Allowing Your Conscience to Let Go of Guilt

Whatever you’ve done in the past, whether you’ve lied, cheated, betrayed, murdered, and the list goes on and on, your conscience records it. Guilt is a thing of the conscience. It is your conscience which torments you with haunting reminders of your history.

Romans 2:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)

The work of the law is apparent and well-displayed in the hearts of people and the conscience is what convicts people of their wrongdoings. That is why you might think that you must suffer for your past sins.

The Old Covenant written on your heart ensured that the soul who sins is the soul that must die. Of course, this way of thinking is logical and makes sense, but, you must remember one thing… love never tries to make sense.

So, God wanted to make the New Covenant where He died in your place so you could attain everlasting life.

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus

Romans 8:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Jesus wants you to give your guilt to Him. Jesus did away with the law of sin and of death by dying of the cross for your sin so that His new law can be administered to your heart. His new law is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and this law ensures that only the blood of Jesus can cleans your conscience of all guilt.

Exodus 24:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.

Even in the Old Covenant as is shown with Moses in the above scripture, the New Covenant was foreshadowed. But now, because Jesus already died to restore you, and His blood was shed for your sake, we can let Him sprinkle His blood on our guilt-ridden hearts so that we are set free.

Hebrews 10:22 King James Version (KJV)
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

It is only up to you to let go of your guilt because Jesus paid the price for your freedom.

To Let Go and Look Ahead

Hebrews 12:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Once you accept Jesus as the Lord your God, just look unto Him. What I mean by looking ahead is to look unto Jesus. When you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, nothing can stop you.

Listen to the voice of His Spirit and He will guide you in the direction of His will. And we know that His will holds nothing but good for your life.

John 10:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Forgive others because Jesus forgave you and understand that your new identity is as a new creation. That means you are constantly renewed as a new creation. So, you don’t need to repeatedly do bad things just because God’s taken away your guilt, but instead, you live by the law of Spirit and of life so that Jesus will empower you to do what is right.

2 Corinthians 5:17 World English Bible (WEB)
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

When you are in Christ Jesus and you secure your identity in Him, all of your past failures are forgotten by God. He sees you as a constantly new creation. Therefore, keep your eyes on Jesus, remember His love, let go of your guilt, and embrace Him as your Lord and Saviour.

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The Messiah Who Crushed the Serpent of Betrayal

God will never abandon you

Betrayal is a very serious thing. And unfortunately, every human being will at some point of time, experience its crippling sting. It manifests itself in marriages, in friendships, and even familial relationships; it hurts the most when the perpetrator of betrayal is someone you trust or love dearly. In this post, I am going to tell you about the Messiah who crushed the spirit of betrayal and what that should mean to you.

Understanding Betrayal

First off, you must realize that betrayal is a very hard thing to experience. Even certain Biblical characters who we would see as tough, experienced betrayal in a very painful sense. King David’s son, Absalom, tried to kill David and become King of Israel by force and this really hurt David, emotionally.

Psalm 55:12-14 World English Bible (WEB)
12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me,
    then I could have endured it.
Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,
    then I would have hidden myself from him.
13 But it was you, a man like me,
    my companion, and my familiar friend.
14 We took sweet fellowship together.
    We walked in God’s house with company.

The man who took down giants and led a nation acknowledged the bitter sting of what it means to be betrayed. He was betrayed by his own flesh and blood. Later on in his story, we realize that Absalom’s fate is horrid as he is later killed in his quest for power, much to David’s horror.

The point I am establishing is that you could be tough as nails or the sweetest person in the world, betrayal can happen to anyone, in fact, it could even happen to God. It’s just that God handles it in the best way possible.

The One Rule to Follow

I know I mention the story of Adam and Eve in my posts all the time. But, there’s just so many layers to the truth in that divine Biblical narrative that I can’t possibly ignore its lovely wisdom.

Genesis 2:16-17 World English Bible (WEB)
16 Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

In the Garden of Eden, God gave everything He could possibly give to Adam and Eve. He loved them and He made them to reflect His image. And God gave them only one rule. Just one simple rule. He told them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil as a warning to them. He did not want His children to face death, and so, He gave Adam a very clear warning which even Eve would get to know.

God Betrayed in the Garden of Eden

Genesis 3:4-6 World English Bible (WEB)
4 The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t really die, 5 for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate. Then she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too.

The first humans in the world betrayed God’s trust and they wanted to become like God. Of course, this did not end well as God’s warning was true and death did enter the world. So, not only did mankind betray God but mankind was betrayed by the serpent who represents the devil.

Genesis 3:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God Betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane

Fast-forward from Adam and Eve 4000 years down the Biblical timeline and we’re at the night of Jesus’ arrest. At this moment, He’s praying for the cup of suffering to be taken away from Him (He’s praying out of fellowship with Father God) but he ultimately decides that the crucifixion is the only way to save humanity, to save His children.

But earlier, Judas Iscariot already decided to betray Jesus and conspire with the hypocritical religious leaders of that time as to how to reveal Jesus’ location to them.

Luke 22:3-4 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. 4 He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them.

Note something imperative to this text. It says that Satan entered Judas, in other words, the spirit of betrayal or the same serpent that inspired the wretched deed of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was now influencing Judas to betray Jesus. If someone is betraying you, keep in mind that there’s a spirit from whence that betrayal originates.

Luke 22:47-48 World English Bible (WEB)
47 While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

And with a kiss of death, Judas betrayed Jesus. God in the flesh had to endure the pangs of betrayal. Moreover, Judas was someone Jesus trusted as Jesus gave Judas the responsibility of keeping His money but Judas was still the one to betray Him. So, remember that God understands the pains of betrayal in a very real way.

The Messiah Who Died for You

To those of you who have been betrayed by people you love, I want you to know about the Messiah who crushed betrayal. Maybe, you feel hurt and sorrowful because they betrayed you and you feel like you can never be made whole again. But, look to Jesus.

After Judas betrayed Jesus and He was handed over to the religious leaders, He was beaten, flogged, and crucified. He became physically unrecognizable and bore your sin, sickness, and curses on the cross.

John 19:16-18 World English Bible (WEB)
16 So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. 17 He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called “The Place of a Skull”, which is called in Hebrew, “Golgotha”, 18 where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.

But, God made an example out of Himself. He did not listen to the spirit of betrayal and resent the people who betrayed Him. Instead, Jesus plead for forgiveness on behalf of their account; He forgave those who were crucifying Him while they were crucifying Him.

Luke 23:34 World English Bible (WEB)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

The Messiah Who Crushed The Serpent of Betrayal

No one thought that He could rise again. The prophet Isaiah described Jesus as physically unrecognizable due to the abuse people inflicted upon Jesus during His crucifixion process. But, three days after His death, Jesus resurrected Himself, never to die again.

1 Peter 1:3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Even after betrayal, Jesus rose again from the dead. He rose again so you could rise again through His grace and strength. You do not need to wallow in sorrow because someone betrayed you, Jesus understands your pains; He put His resurrection power in you to overcome the grief of betrayal, the moment you accept Him as Lord and Saviour.

Romans 8:11 World English Bible (WEB)
11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

No serpent or spirit of betrayal can now destroy you, rather, God’s spirit lives within you. Do not be sad but place your trust in the hands of the Messiah who crushed the serpent of betrayal when He rose again from the dead. Therefore, remember His suffering for you and let Jesus set you free from the betrayal which He understands, too.

Hebrews 4:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

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A Companion Like No Other

Humans are designed to be social beings. It’s almost as if it is essential or vital that humans interact with one another. But, there are cases where people are alienated or isolated. Sometimes, people are forced into solitude and that can leave them to be lonely. If you want to see a Biblical perspective on loneliness then continue reading to learn about the companion like no other!

A Companion in the Garden

Before starting the topic, you must first understand that when you read God’s Word, it has a life of its own. And what I mean by this is that there are things which the Bible hints at but never really says directly. That’s because when God says something, there’s so much depth to it which He allows us to discover.

Genesis 3:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

The above scripture describes how God seemed to be searching for Adam and Eve; it says that God was walking in the garden and that they could hear His voice. Can you imagine that?

I mean, just think about it. The picture painted here is that the God who made Earth along with all its splendor was walking as if He was a man. It doesn’t say He was hovering over the Earth or anything else which may sound spiritual. Moreover, it says they could hear His voice. God was talking here!

The Consequence of Disobedience

Genesis 3:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Furthermore, the next verse says that God specifically called out Adam and asked him, “Where are you?” He was searching for Adam and that must be because God suddenly noticed something strange. He realized something was wrong when he couldn’t sense the spiritual glory upon Adam, it had been cut out as soon as Adam ate the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.

As the story goes on, we find that Adam and Eve finally answer God’s call but they realize evil has corrupted the world and they must deal with it now. Moreover, it is clear that their relationship with God is different, too.

But, what was the purpose of examining this passage? It was to help you understand that God intended mankind to be in communion with Him before anyone else. Pay close attention to the words which God uses.

Genesis 3:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Did you notice that God did not call the woman? It is not because God favours one gender over the other. He’s not sexist, you must interpret the Bible, spiritually. There’s a reason why He does what He does.

Firstly, think about how the man knew that God was calling him. God was calling out His name which is “Adam.” Now, unlike Eve’s name, Adam’s name means, “Mankind”. So, what this means is that as soon as Adam and Eve fell from their glory, God was calling out for them. He was calling for mankind.

He was calling for you and me.

A Companion Like No Other

Let’s talk about Jesus Christ. Jesus did not feel lonely when His disciples or human companions abandoned Him. He had God the Father by His side.

John 16:32 World English Bible (WEB)
32 Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

However, for our sakes, Jesus was crucified as a lonely person. Since mankind was separated from God the day that Adam ate of that forbidden fruit, Jesus took that penalty of separation from God and He was estranged from the Father for you and for me.

Matthew 27:46 World English Bible (WEB)
46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?“Psalm 22:1

The point of what I’m trying to say is that Adam’s curse of separation from God is no longer in effect. Jesus already took that curse; we can have communion with God, now. And if you put your trust in Jesus, if you answer His voice, God will do a new thing in you.

You don’t need to be lonely, God is with you. It no longer matters if people like you or if you have any friends or family. The only thing that matters is that you answer His call because you were made for a relationship with Him. You were made for Him and He is a companion like no other.

Matthew 22:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Your Intended Purpose

If you feel lonely, tired of having no one to talk to, and you need a companion, just spend time with Jesus. Spend time in His Word; talk to God about your troubles, He’s listening. You can even tell Him how you feel and if you feel lonely, tell Him that.

John 15:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

Remember how I talked about God’s daily walks with Adam before the fall of mankind. Well, God even restored that aspect of the relationship to those who trust Jesus.

The Companion Who Walks With You

Acts 5:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

The above scripture talks about how when Peter would take a walk, people would lay sick people near him so that even if his shadow touched them, they’d be healed.

But, get this, the Greek word used for “overshadow” in the scripture is episkiazó. Episkiazó is consistently used throughout the New Testament to describe God’s shadowing presence. An example of this is when Jesus is transfigured and God’s presence overshadows some of Jesus’ disciples who are with Him.

Matthew 17:5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

So, when Peter was walking, people were getting healed by God’s shadow coming from Peter. This means that Peter had come to the point where he was literally walking with God. Therefore, seek God, believe upon Jesus, and He will truly be to you a companion like no other.

Proverbs 18:24 World English Bible (WEB)
24 A man of many companions may be ruined,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

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The Raw Power of Godly Encouragement

Oftentimes, people do not appreciate or value the gift of encouragement. It is such a wonderful tool that can open up a door for hope. All throughout the Bible, there are cases where encouragement acted as the deciding factor for success. If you learn the incredible power of godly encouragement, it will change your life for the good!

Encouragement in the Old Testament

First, let’s define godly encouragement. Godly encouragement is when someone (which can include yourself or God) motivates you and points out that there is hope regardless of the situation because God is with you.

Now, the first instance in which God introduces encouragement into His wonderful Word is in the story of Joshua. When Moses prepares Israel with a lengthy speech, he talks about how he is not to enter the promised land and so, God appointed Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. It is in these moments that God instructs Moses to encourage Joshua for the mission which Joshua has ahead of him.

Deuteronomy 1:38 World English Bible (WEB)
38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Joshua became responsible for leading a nation. I know you may have some pretty serious stuff going on in your life; but, leading an entire nation is quite the challenge! So, God wanted Moses and everyone to encourage Joshua which goes to show the importance of encouragement from God’s perspective. Now, keep in mind the Hebrew word for, “Encourage,” in this passage is, “Chazaq,” (I’ll be referencing this word later on).

This situation relates to you in that if you are expected to do something that seems nearly impossible, you need godly encouragement.

But, what if there’s no one to encourage you?

When There’s No One to Encourage You

God is so fair and so careful that He makes sure that His Word is sufficient for you. And so, God has provided us with an example of a person who did not need anyone to encourage him.

1 Samuel 30:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

The snippet of scripture above reflects on the time when the Amalekites robbed all of David’s possessions and wives; God knows what they were planning to do with all they had stolen! David’s men turned against him as they became upset that the Amalekites stole all they owned.

So, what do you do when it seems as if the whole world’s against you! You do what David did; you encourage yourself in the Lord your God!

Sometimes, you cannot rely on other people to encourage you. It is a sad but true fact and God knows that. You must learn to encourage yourself. That’s what it takes to be a king. And David was in such a horrible situation.

I mean think about it; his own people were going to kill him and bad guys took all he had. David was in a very, very tough situation during the time of this scripture. But, he still trusted in God and encouraged himself. If you’re in a situation where the stakes are high and you don’t seem to have any hope, encourage yourself in the Lord your God just as David did.

So, in the course of the passage, we read that David sought God’s guidance and God strengthened David along with his army to take back what was stolen from them.

1 Samuel 30:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

When you’re at wits’ end, you cannot encourage yourself in pride or selfish ambition, no, you must encourage yourself to trust the Lord your God just as David did. You must trust in Jesus who is the Lord your God. He is the God of David.

Also, as a side note, the fact that David married more than one person was never God’s ideal picture of marriage. But, God makes it clear in the New Testament that marriage is to be a holy covenant between two people.

Godly Encouragement and the Cross

Psalm 27:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

The above scripture written by David through the inspiration of Holy Spirit says to wait on the Lord and to be of good courage.

Now, when it says to be of good courage, the Hebrew word within the scripture is, “Chazaq,” which is the same word that was used when God told Moses to encourage Joshua.

Thus, this psalm is telling us to simply wait upon the Lord; encourage yourself in what He’s done for you and He will strengthen your heart with the courage to face your situation. That is the key to godly encouragement. It unlocks the courage within yourself to face the Goliath in your life.

If you cannot encourage yourself, ask God to encourage you; ask God to strengthen you. God will answer you; he will not let the situation eat you up. If hell’s against you, then remind it that Jesus already bore hell for you.

Romans 15:5 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

When you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you so that He could bear your sins, your shame, your loss, your suffering, and every hell centered thing in the planet belonging to you, He transferred His strength, peace, grace, and Holy Spirit to your spiritual account. If you have His loving Holy Spirit living within you, there ask Him as the God of encouragement to encourage you.

Even if you can’t encourage yourself, God will encourage you for Holy Spirit is also called the Comforter. He will strengthen your heart as David wrote in the Psalm.

John 14:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In your time of distress, He’s there to comfort you because He loves you very dearly. And remember you have even better privileges than those in the Old Testament so enjoy your relationship with God.

Therefore, do not ever lose hope. Remember to ask God to strengthen your heart and so, encourage yourself in Him. Remind yourself that your God is big, that your God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords; remind yourself that He loves you and that He is always with you.

Joshua 1:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”

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The Weary’s Strength Amidst Adversity

There’re always times when life seems overwhelming. You might be sedulously climbing the corporate ladder in your workplace or someone who’s just become a parent, which are all good things, but, these things can be tiring or exhaustive, nonetheless. However, I hold good news for you, Jesus is the weary’s strength amidst adversity. If you can’t help but feel overwhelmed from life’s challenges, just let this post minister life-giving truth unto you.

Strength Amidst Success

As I briefly mentioned earlier, it is possible to feel stressed from the things which success brings. It is also plausible to be stressed out because of things like studying or working.

Galatians 6:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.

These tasks and acts of discipline may requires a ton of effort, but, God encourages you through His Word to keep on going. Paul writes through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to not get tired of doing what is good because good things are headed your way if you continue on this path.

This scripture can also be applied in the sense of worshiping God, reading the Bible, or praying as they are all advantageous to your relationship with Holy Spirit, but very hard to follow through with consistency. Consistency is vital to all forms of discipline. If you cannot be consistent, it is very hard to reap benefits.

And if you’ve repeatedly failed while in pursuit of achieving a goal or sticking to a routine, I beseech you to ask God for the grace to do it.

Isaiah 40:29 World English Bible (WEB)
29 He gives power to the weak.
    He increases the strength of him who has no might.

He promises that He is the God who strengthen you. If you see your goal to be impossible, let God handle it; you just need to cast your cares upon the Lord.

Strength Amidst Calamity

As I mentioned earlier, adversity can come even when you’re enjoying the promised land. But, it can be all the more real when you’re in tough situations. An example of such a situation could be the challenge of paying your bills or dealing with health issues.

Adversity does not always come from God. Sickness, poverty, death, and whatever other thing which Jesus paid a price to destroy does not enter your life because God willed it, but, because this world is a fallen world.

However, there is a solution to the tough situations which adversity brings as God has prepared one solution for every mess.

Proverbs 25:25 World English Bible (WEB)
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
    so is good news from a far country.

The above proverb is so powerful. But, let’s take a step back to truly imagine what the Holy Spirit wants us to see.

What does water do to someone who is literally dying of thirst? Well, one thing is that it satisfies them and quenches their thirst. Another thing it does is that it saves them from dying.

In the same way, if you are dying inside from all the bad news that has entered your ears, good news is here to revive you. Furthermore, the word, “gospel,” means good news. Since Jesus is good news and His redemption work is the gospel, you just need to believe His good news for Him to empower you.

Romans 1:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

When you believe the gospel of Christ, which is Jesus’ atonement work for you, there is no crisis that can stand in the way of God’s furious love. If you’re struggling with health issues, Jesus is your healing. If you’re struggling with paying the bills on time, Jesus is your prosperity.

You must believe through faith in what Jesus did for you on the cross. And if you’re too tired to stand upon the promises of God, let God strengthen you by just receiving His lovely grace.

He’s The Weary’s Strength Amidst Adversity

Isaiah 40:30-31 World English Bible (WEB)
30 Even the youths faint and get weary,
    and the young men utterly fall;
31     but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.
    They will mount up with wings like eagles.
    They will run, and not be weary.
    They will walk, and not faint.

The bottom line of what I’m saying in this post is that Jesus is the weary’s strength amidst adversity. If you feel that you are weary, thank Jesus for renewing your strength. Just say it aloud if you have to get that principle into your head. Believe what God says.

When you follow this divine precept, you will start noticing God’s undying strength empowering you to live in victory. As I have said earlier, even when you’re tired of holding onto the promises of God through faith, you must lean upon His strength.

Therefore, if you have not yet accepted Christ into you heart, confess and believe that Jesus Christ is your Redeemer, your Savior, your Lord and your God. He will give you strength to do things beyond your wildest imagination for His glory. Finally, I leave you with these wonderful words from the mouth of Jesus.

Matthew 11:28-30 World English Bible (WEB)
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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Death’s Defeater is Your Defender

Jesus is death's defeater

The most feared of humanity’s enemies is and always has been death. All people can relate to how death has robbed them of loved ones and how it can really traumatize. But, today, I am introducing someone who made death tremble 2000 years ago. His name is Jesus Christ; He’s your defender and death’s defeater. No human could have conquered death so God decided to do the job, Himself. And this post will remind you that you have nothing to fear, including death.

Death’s First Cameo Appearance

First, let’s start off with where death first makes its unwanted appearance in the narrative of man. Adam and Eve (first humans on Earth) now inhabited a fallen world, a consequence they brought upon themselves through mutinous disobedience despite God’s warning. They bore two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain was a man who grew vegetables and fruits whereas Abel cared for the animals.

Now, Cain grew jealous of Abel since Abel pleased God with his animal sacrifice while Cain’s vegetable offering did not please God. So, God warned Cain to not listen to sin, otherwise, it would get the better of him.

Genesis 4:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? 7 If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”

But, instead of heeding to God’s voice and offering an animal sacrifice, Cain murdered his innocent brother, Abel. He let sin obtain its desire.

Genesis 4:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

Now, why am I talking about this? It is because you ought to know the mother of death. Death’s mother is Sin. Death entered this world when sin entered this world, and God is fully aware of this troubling fact.

James 1:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

So, lust or ungodly desire brings forth sin, then, sin brings forth death. You may ask why do people die of sickness or natural disaster if all death is a result of sin? But, even that traces its lineage back to the lust, the evil desire within Eve when she saw that the forbidden fruit was good to the eye. Once she committed the sin or great act of disobedience by eating that fruit with her husband, sin brought forth death into the world and that is why any person from their lineage can die from sickness or natural disasters.

But, where is the solution?

Death’s Defeater is Life, Himself

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Let me explain to you why He can free you from the fear which death brings. It is because of the cross, when the same story of Cain and Abel manifested itself once again in human history.

Cain hated the righteous Abel just as the people hated the righteous Jesus and so, they murdered Him. This time, when their lust was achieved by crucifying God in the flesh, Jesus bore the full brunt of sin. However, unlike Abel, He did not stay dead.

Matthew 28:5-6 World English Bible (WEB)
5 The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

When Jesus died on the cross, it was the people’s sin that brought forth His death. It was the sin of Adam (who represents man hence why his name literally means man), which Jesus suffered the punishment for by dying. Since Jesus was the second Adam (according to 1 Cor 15:26), and he obeyed Father God unlike the first Adam, He brought forth something more powerful than death. This power is life, this power is the resurrecting, life-giving power of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 World English Bible (WEB)
21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

This is why death does not hold the last laugh, rather, the last laugh belongs solely to Jesus as He is death’s defeater.

1 Corinthians 15:55 World English Bible (WEB)
55 “Death, where is your sting?
    Hades, where is your victory?”See Hosea 13:14

What This Means for You?

This means that death is already defeated. Since we believe Jesus defeated sin, we ought to be consistent and believe that He defeated death, too. You do not need to fear death, anymore.

Psalm 91:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 I will satisfy him with long life,
    and show him my salvation.”

God made this promise to those who love Him. When you place your trust in Jesus, God will see you as if you love Him, even if your heart is not in that direction at the moment. And He says that He will satisfy you with long life.

Now, how long does that mean? Well, it means as long as it takes to satisfy you. Just use that life to seek Him and to know Him more intimately. Let Him show you His salvation, His work on the cross, and resurrection; then, you can enjoy the full benefits of His salvation.

In conclusion, do not fear death. Do not be anxious over death. Death should be anxious about you because Jesus conquered death and you’re His offspring. Remember the story of how Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. If Jesus brought people back from the dead, His power in you should not be restricted. I’ll leave you with what Jesus said to Martha when she reminded Jesus that there’s a stench in Lazarus’ grave.

John 11:40 King James Version (KJV)
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

I wonder what resurrection miracles we’d see if we only believed that Jesus truly is death’s defeater.

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The God Who Lovingly Comforts His Own

The God Who Lovingly Comforts His Own

We’ve all had heartbreaks in various forms. These emotionally devastating situations such as the loss of a loved one or scenes of betrayal are capable of crippling people and making them feel helpless. Excessive sorrow kills motivation and crushes the heart. But, that is why you need someone to comfort you. And this is why I’m going to talk about the God who lovingly comforts His own.

The Devastating Fall

1 Peter 5:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Whatever devastation you’ve experienced, whatever grief seized your heart, do not let it be a foothold for the devil. The Bible clearly talks about a wicked spiritual being known as the devil who walks about, seeking someone to deceive.

He comes about like a lion, but he can only be like a lion, he’s a liar; he can only devour because people believe he’s the real deal. The lie he may be telling you is that there is no one but you facing this horrendous situation and that you’ve nothing to do but to be depressed and doomed.

The worst imaginable fall from glory is displayed in the case of Adam and Eve. God made them for His glory and He literally gave them Heaven on Earth. But, they listened to the voice of the devil in the form of a snake and gave the devil all their privileges.

Genesis 3:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

The devil’s deceit seized Adam and Eve of all their privileges so that things would never be the same for them.

Even If We’re Unfaithful, He’s faithful

There has never been such a devastation as terrible as Adam’s fall because that fall allowed sin, death, and suffering to enter the world. And yet, God could not help but manifest His goodness.

God is such a good Father that even if we don’t always stay true to Him, He will always stay faithful to us. So, let His faithfulness be your strength, let His goodness and tender love comfort you.

He had to sacrifice an animal so He could clothe Adam and Eve. He comforted them even after their biggest mistake and this is why I know He is the God who comforts His own.

Genesis 3:21 World English Bible (WEB)
21 Yahweh God made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

Moreover, God did not just stop there. Once Adam and Eve failed, He did not just comfort them and leave them to be. He gave Adam and Eve a hint of His future plan for the human race. He assured them that He is going to make things right even though He doesn’t have to.

When God sacrificed that animal so He could clothe His own, He hinted at how one day, He would sacrifice the Lamb of God to comfort and restore His children. That Lamb of God is none other than Jesus Christ who died on the cross and took your failures upon Himself so He could put hope in you.

2 Timothy 2:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 If we are faithless,
    he remains faithful;
    for he can’t deny himself.”

The Spirit of God Who Comforts His Children

If you feel discouraged or devastated, there is one thing you must absolutely remember! It is that the spirit of Jesus is within you and He promises to comfort you.

John 14:16-17 King James Version (KJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Jesus was talking to His disciples as He knew that He was going to be betrayed and handed over to be crucified, soon. He was preparing them so they would know why He’s doing what He’s doing.

He said that through His relationship with the Father, He will give us the Comforter. Jesus also calls the Comforter as the Spirit of truth. The Comforter is the spirit of Jesus and we know this because Jesus is the truth and he tells the disciples that He is with them and soon, He will be in them.

When you accept Jesus, His finished work on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, you allow His wonderful Spirit to reside in you. He is the God who comforts His own. If there’s no one to comfort you, remember, He is at your side and shall always be with you.

John 16:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Even if you are grieved over something which is your fault, God wants to comfort you and make all things work out for your good. From the very beginning till now, God has been comforting and guiding His children; if you want to experience His divine love and comforting grace, put your trust in Jesus.

Isaiah 51:3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 For Yahweh has comforted Zion.
    He has comforted all her waste places,
    and has made her wilderness like Eden,
    and her desert like the garden of Yahweh.
Joy and gladness will be found in them,
    thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

He will turn your disaster into a testimony, just trust Him.

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The Lord Who Cares for You

The Lord Who Cares for You

If there’s anything you get from this post, please, let it be the knowledge of how much God loves you. I am speaking to people from all walks of life because this knowledge is meant for everyone. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom trying her best to raise children, or a university student diligently studying in the hopes of academic success, you must know one thing. You must know that Jesus is the Lord who cares for you. If you find it hard to believe, let this post minister to your doubt. And for those who already believe in God’s love, let this post renew your mind.

The Nature of God

1 Peter 5:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

Peter talks to the Church in the above verse about relying on the strength of God. Holy Spirit wants us to cast every worry, not on ourselves, but on Him. And the root of that divine desire is the fact that God cares for you. The reason why God wants you to let Him take care of the things which worry you is because He loves you.

The world might say there is no one who cares about you, except yourself and that you have to make your own way through life. However, this is not the truth; the fact of the matter is that God cares about you. He is the Lord who deeply cares for you. Even if the whole world was to hate you, you would not be outside of God’s unconditional love.

Romans 5:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God loves you whether you believe it or not. It is in His nature to love you. And it is for this reason that He died for you on the cross. When Jesus who is God in the flesh died on the cross two thousand years ago, He did it with reason. He did it because the perfect justice of God required punishment for our imperfection. Every small lie, vile thought, and evil intention laid on your spiritual record demanded a ferocious fine. And it is impossible for you to enter the presence of God with such a stained record. Someone needed to pay a heavy penalty for your mistakes.

But, on the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ, the very embodiment of God’s love, paid to the justice of God so that He could endure your hell for your sake. And three days later, He resurrected victoriously conquering death once and for all. Thus, I urge you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour if you have not already. I talk more about this divine exchange and its benefits in another post, too.

When you accept Jesus as your Saviour, you allow His work on the cross to save you. When you accept Him as your Lord, you allow Him to take full control over your life so He can bless you and guide you.

The King’s Only Weakness

Now, is it blasphemy to say that God holds a single weakness? I consider it not, for there is truth in such a claim. Let me explain.

1 Corinthians 1:24-25 World English Bible (WEB)
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; 25 because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Paul writes that Christ is the power and wisdom of God. When you look at what the Messiah was sent to do, you can see how strong and wise He is. The mission was to reveal God’s love to the world. And Jesus accomplished that, He endured terror beyond imagination during the crucifixion process to save you. But, why was He willing to sacrifice Himself for you?

It was because He is the Lord who cares for you. His love for you is His only weakness. This is why Paul writes that the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. You can see God’s love for you as strength or as a weakness. It is a weakness in that it caused Him harm. It is a strength because His love for you saved you.

Either way, the point is that you are the weakness of God. His love is so great, so genuine, so sincere that it led Him to lay down His life for you. Whether you’re good or bad, smart or foolish, He loves you and He leaves it up to you if you want to accept Him.

Divine Promise of the Lord Who Cares for You

Romans 8:38-39 World English Bible (WEB)
38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is no person or thing which can separate you from the love of Jesus. You may wonder why He loves you so much. But, perhaps He loves you because He created you, He designed you, He made you in His own likeness.

It is like a father who looks into His child’s eyes and realizes an instinctual affection for His child. It’s not as if the baby has done anything good or bad to earn the love of the father; the father’s love is independent of the child’s performance.

Isaiah 49:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you!

God makes a promise that likens His relationship with Israel which represents His covenant people to that of a mother and her nursing child. He points out how even if some mothers may forget their child, He will never forget us. He will always be the Lord who cares for you. His love’s guaranteed.

Therefore, remember how He loves you. If you, for even one second under the influence of situations doubt His love for you, remember what He did on the cross and remind yourself why He did it.

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Shattering the Stronghold of Addiction

No one ever starts doing something in the hopes of getting addicted. It just happens. To the addicted, addiction seems to be their life source, something which they cannot live without, but this extreme dependency is nothing less than a curse. If you are entangled in the webs of addiction, then let the Word of God shatter the stronghold of addiction in your life.

Addiction and the Soul

Your soul consists of your mind, will, and emotions. It is basically your human personality.

Psalm 94:18-19 World English Bible (WEB)
8 When I said, “My foot is slipping!”    Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me,    your comforts delight my soul.

This is why the Bible says to love God with all your soul, and as in the above verse, it says that God can comfort your soul. So, your soul is who you are as an emotional being.

1 Peter 2:11 World English Bible (WEB)
11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Now, addiction is a fleshly lust. It affects one’s body and is a deep, irresistible desire. The Bible says it is these types of desires which wage war against your soul.

You may be experiencing food addiction, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, or any other type of addiction, but they are all waging war against your soul! They are not for you, they are against you.

The Struggle With Addiction

Your mind may not want it; you may be saying to yourself, “Ah, how I wish I could stop this addiction, but I just can’t, it’s impossible.”

And so, it is clear that addiction does not care about your soul’s wishes it just strongly pulls a person to do something which is not good. This in part is because addiction is at heart, sin.

Romans 7:15-18 World English Bible (WEB)
15 For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. 16 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.

It is this inward struggle with sin that Paul is talking about. Although he was not addicted to a substance of any sort, he was struggling with the sinful nature that entices many people to fall into addiction’s grasp. He is writing through the Holy Spirit how even he, the apostle on fire for God, was not able to break apart from his sinful nature. But, he talks about the solution in the next chapter and that same solution applies to you if you struggle with addiction.

Shatter the Stronghold of Addiction

Romans 8:1 World English Bible (WEB)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

This is the start of Paul’s next chapter in the Letter of Romans. He says when you walk according to the Spirit, you will not be condemned.

If you believe you are condemned as a slave to whatever addiction there may be, let me tell you, there’s hope for you. Paul was just talking in the previous chapter about how he consistently failed in a certain area of his life. But, now he writes, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, that there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus.

When you are in Jesus, you are not, “condemned,” to be an addict. No one can decide your fate except Jesus and He decided to free you. Therefore, accept what He has provided for you. Jesus already defeated the addiction that is trying to trick you into following it. Let God shatter the stronghold of addiction.

The King Who Conquered Temptation

You may say, “Andre, how would you know how addiction feels like, you don’t understand its grip on me!”

Yes, but, Jesus understands your situation. He was tempted for forty days! Yet, Jesus was tempted so that He could understand your pains. And even so, He never lost to temptation.

Matthew 4:2-4 World English Bible (WEB)
2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”Deuteronomy 8:3

Moreover, in those forty days, He fasted. He ate nothing. And it is in these moments that eating feels like an addiction. I am not saying that prior to this extreme temptation, Jesus was addicted to food. I am saying that He biologically like any other human being would desire to eat. But, the urges to eat must have been extremely difficult. So much so, that it is comparable to how an average person may struggle to abstain from substance addiction.

The devil tempted Him to eat, he reminded Jesus that He could turn a stone into a nice, puffy loaf of bread. Yet, Jesus resisted in obedience to the Father so you could experience the same victory over temptation!

Jesus said man shall live by every word that comes from God, so live based on what He says about you. Do not live based on the lies of the enemy. You can remind yourself that Jesus lives in you and He is the Word of God who is your source of Life.

Hebrews 4:15 World English Bible (WEB)
15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

The Solution to Addiction

The moment you feel tempted, remind yourself, “Jesus already set me free, I am God’s dearly beloved child!” This is what you call resisting the devil. You are not giving up your identity to the lies of the enemy. No matter what tempts you, it cannot waver you from the solid identity you have in Jesus as the beloved child of God. As you submit to God, resisting the lies of the enemy, you allow God to shatter the stronghold of addiction in your life.

James 4:6-7 World English Bible (WEB)
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”Proverbs 3:34 7 Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

If you have not already accepted Jesus, know this: He wants you to be in a relationship with Him. When you believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross for you, there is no spiritual enemy or addiction which can condemn you. Rather, His Spirit will work in you.

Therefore, when you believe in Jesus, God’s Spirit is in you and if you think it is fate for you to fall into addiction, reject that mindset. Jesus already decided your fate and He says that your future is nothing but good, a future devoid of addiction. It is in your hands to yield yourself to His love as you submit to Him, and to stand firmly in the truth which Jesus called you to follow.

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Hope for the Hopeless

“Miqveh.” That is the Hebrew which often translates as “hope” in English translations of the Old Testament. Hope is very important because without hope, it is very hard to continue life.

Hope in God

First of all, the Hebrew word for, “hope” in verses such as Ezra 10:12, where there is hope for Israel, or in verses such as the below verse, Jeremiah 17:13, is “Miqveh.”

Jeremiah 17:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Yahweh, the hope of Israel,
    all who forsake you will be disappointed.
Those who depart from me will be written in the earth,
    because they have forsaken Yahweh,
    the spring of living waters.

So, in Jeremiah 17:13, Yahweh, the miqveh of Israel would be how, “Miqveh,” is used in the verse.

In the context of these verses, hope is basically how God provides a future for Israel. For us, in the New Testament, hope is constant expectation of seeing God’s promises in your life.

Romans 4:18 World English Bible (WEB)
18 Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”Genesis 15:5

Abraham was in a state of hope, which the New Testament believers should also rest in. He held to his constant expectation of what God promised Him, and that is what hope is. Whatever God says in your life, you have to hold onto, no matter how impossible it seems.

The Bible makes it clear that God promises healing, so hold onto that expectation of perfect health. God promises you in the Bible that you will not be in poverty, so stick to that expectation until you see your financial situation change for the good. If God promises you peace from the Word of God, then believe that He has put His unwavering peace in you.

Whatever God promises whether it is written or spoken, just expect it to happen, rest in the hope which Jesus attained for us.

Double Meaning

Now, why am I so keen on showing you the Hebrew word for hope in the Old Testament of the Bible?

It is because while I was investigating this Hebrew word for hope, Holy Spirit struck me with a fascinating revelation. “Miqveh,” not only means hope, it also means, “a collection of waters.”

Genesis 1:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 God called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. God saw that it was good.

This Hebrew word is used in the first chapter of the Bible as is shown above. So, in the context of that verse, it would translate as “God called the dry land, ‘earth”, and the miqveh he called ‘seas.”

Why does God make the Hebrew word for hope the same word for a collection of waters?

It is because when God is your hope, you will never be left thirsty! If you root yourself in God, who is your hope, you will not wither away, you will be refreshed by His life. He will make sure that your thirst is quenched!

Life Changing Waters

John 4:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Jesus says in the New Testament that whoever drinks of the water which He provides will never be thirsty. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, He puts fountains of living water in you! He puts His hope in you and He calls to you so that you may have a taste of this wonderful hope!

John 7:37-38 World English Bible (WEB)
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”

He does not want you to be in despair or to have no hope! Jesus wants you to be joyful and blessed. God loves you and that is why He made it so easy to come to Him.

So, accept Jesus and if you’ve already put your faith in Him, remember that He is your hope. He is the reason why you keep going even when life gets tough. Your hope can never die. No one can kill your hope; this is because your hope is not something, it is someone. And that someone is the living God who reigns eternally.

He put this hope in you, so that through you, even others can come to know Him and be saved.

Finally, let me close on this point. Jesus said whoever believes in Him, from within him/her will flow rivers of living water. When you come to realize what He paid for you, remember, He is in you. Let God work through and in your life; He is your hope. Therefore, never despair, but keep your eyes on Jesus!