Faith is hard.

Jireh says…

Thank you for this honest question — it’s one that many believers wrestle with:

If God brings peace, why do I still feel so anxious?

Here’s the truth: Peace is a promise, but it’s also a process. And anxiety doesn’t mean you’re broken or that God has forgotten you — it means you’re human in a fallen world. Let’s unpack this through the lens of Scripture and encouragement from a sermon that speaks directly to this tension.

Encouragement from “God Will Work It In!” by Pastor Steven Furtick

In this sermon, Pastor Steven draws from Philippians 2:12–13 to show how God’s peace isn’t always about changing what’s around us — it’s about what He’s working within us.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”

Pastor Steven reminds us that God is not just working things out for us; He’s working in us — even when the struggle is invisible to others. That means the anxiety you’re feeling may not be a sign of spiritual failure, but rather the evidence of transformation in progress.

Sometimes we think peace should feel like instant relief. But biblical peace — the kind Jesus promised in John 14:27 — is “not as the world gives.” It’s deeper than emotion. It’s presence over panic. And the more we surrender our expectations and invite Him in, the more space He has to work in our anxious minds.

Why Peace Feels Delayed

According to Isaiah 30:15:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. But you were unwilling.”

God offers peace, but we often resist the process — striving, overthinking, running to self-solutions. The feeling of anxiety may come from trying to fix things on our own instead of resting in the One who says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

What Can You Do Today?

• Pause: Take a breath. Invite God into the anxious space.
• Pray honestly: He’s not offended by your fears.
• Let Him work it in: Trust that what you can’t fix He’s already forming into something good.

Sermon Titles for Further Study:

• God Will Work It In!
• This Might Be My God Moment
• God Can Use This Too

If you’d like, I can also offer a prayer specifically for anxiety — or even help you build a devotional rhythm to walk in daily peace. Just let me know how you’d like to proceed.

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Jireh says…

Forgiving someone who has deeply hurt you can feel like an impossible task—but the Gospel invites us into something both challenging and liberating: grace that mirrors God’s own heart. One of the most profound biblical illustrations of this is in the book of Hosea.

In Hosea 1–3, God tells the prophet Hosea to marry a woman who will be unfaithful to him. Her betrayal mirrors Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. And yet, even after her repeated abandonment, God tells Hosea to pursue her again, pay her debts, and bring her home—a radical picture of forgiveness. Why? Because it mirrors what God does for us: “Say to your brothers, ‘You are my people,’ and to your sisters, ‘You have received mercy.’” (Hosea 2:1).

This story reminds us of several truths:

• Forgiveness begins with God. He didn’t wait for Israel to fix everything before pursuing reconciliation. Likewise, forgiveness isn’t based on the offender earning it—it’s rooted in the mercy we ourselves have received.
• Forgiveness is a process. Hosea’s journey was painful and costly. Your healing and decision to forgive may also take time, space, and a lot of prayer.
• Forgiveness is not the same as trust. You can forgive someone without immediately restoring the relationship to what it was before. Forgiveness frees you from the bitterness; trust can be rebuilt slowly and wisely, if appropriate.

Here’s a prayer to guide you through this:

Prayer for the Grace to Forgive

Dear Heavenly Father,
You know the pain that has pierced my heart. You see the weight I’ve carried from being hurt by someone I trusted. Lord, I bring that wound to You—not to ignore it, but to place it into Your healing hands.
Your Word says You are “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.” I want to mirror Your heart, but right now I need Your help.
Give me the strength to release bitterness. Remind me that forgiveness doesn’t excuse the wrong, but it frees me from its grip.
Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can walk in peace. Teach me how to move forward with wisdom and grace, rooted in Your mercy.
Thank You for forgiving me more than I’ll ever be asked to forgive anyone else. Let that truth soften my heart and guide my steps.

In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.

If you’d like, I can help you journal through this or walk you through some next steps for healing and boundaries. You’re not alone—and God’s grace is more than enough for this.

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Jireh says…

That’s a beautiful question — and I’m here to walk with you on that journey. Growing in your faith isn’t about striving harder, but leaning in deeper to the God who already loves you deeply and invites you closer. Here’s how I can help you grow spiritually:

1. Daily Bible Study Support

I can walk with you through Scripture, providing chapter-by-chapter insights from The Bible Recap, which helps you:

• Understand the full story of God (the metanarrative)
• See God’s character clearly in each passage
• Deepen your grasp of Scripture, not just through knowledge but by connection

Want to start with Genesis, the Gospels, or something else?

2. Personalized Prayers

I can write Spirit-led prayers in your voice — for strength, healing, clarity, gratitude, or anything your heart needs. Each prayer helps center your spirit and bring your heart into conversation with God.

Would you like a prayer today?

3. Daily Devotionals

Whether you’re an adult or a child, I create devotionals that include:

• A scripture focus
• A heartfelt reflection
• Questions to deepen your walk
• A closing prayer
• Action steps for real-life faith

Would you like one each morning? I can even tailor them to your mood or spiritual season.

4. Faith-Based Encouragement

If you’re facing doubt, identity struggles, spiritual dryness, fear, waiting, or weariness, I’ll draw from powerful sermons to offer:

• Scripture-based wisdom
• Faithcode blog insights
• Encouragement from trusted pastors like Steven Furtick and Rich Wilkerson Jr.

Just share what’s on your heart — I’ll match it with the right truth.

5. Questions About God, Faith, or the Bible

Wrestling with theology, life questions, or biblical confusion? Ask me anything. I’ll respond not with vague clichés but with rooted, grace-filled answers.

Would you like to begin today with a prayer, a devotional, or a Bible study focus? I’m here and ready when you are.

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