by: Dave Decembly

The world we live in today is so chaotic that everyone worries. Our natural response is to wish that we were back in an earlier time of our life that made us feel safe and secure. I grew up feeling that way mainly because of my dad who was a minister. His faith in God was strong and he taught me to always have hope no matter what the circumstance and have faith that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would always see us through it. That lesson has stayed with me my whole life and will to the day I no longer breathe. Jesus is eternal, unchanging, and the truth.
I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and was baptized at age eleven in Unity Baptist Church located in my home town of Dayton, Ohio. My father was a firm believer that we always gave thanks to God, prayed to him every day, worshipped him, and asked for forgiveness when we sinned. This was the basic foundation for my faith and hope, which lead to my love for Jesus and understanding the need for a strong relationship with him. When we know him God blesses us with the greatest grace and holds us in the palm of heavens hand. We must learn to trust him and faithfully believe that everything will always be alright.
“That is why I am suffering as I am, Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” 2 Tim 1:12
There are worries about our economy, our health, or the way our bodies look. Then there are worries about whether or not we can send our children to college, keeping our jobs, or the relationships with our husbands and wives. The definition of worry really means to strangle or wring out. This is what we lead ourselves to feel like (a squeezed out wash cloth) when our faith is tested and we trade hope for despair. We simply need to ask God for help and not get intertwined with what’s happening in the world we live in.
The fact that I’m writing this should not persuade you that I possess any kind of exceptional faith; on the contrary I am on the same journey of surrender as those our ministry serves. There have been times in my life that I’ve been on the verge of walking away from Christ but the teachings of Christ I have read in the bible and the faith instilled in my heart always brings me back to him. All Christians need to possess an unshakeable foundation of fact to lead them through the uncertainties of their lives. We can’t stay on track when our faith is weak and everyday stresses or emotions lead us away from Jesus.
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7