Author: Dwight Clough

Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. — Matthew 8:24 When my wife began experiencing panic attacks, I naturally wanted to help. As soon as I figured out that she was getting up in the middle of the night and rushing to the window air conditioner and gasping for breath because she was in panic, I decided to do the helpful thing and teach her a few things about fear. I had memorized a long list of verses about fear. I showed her how to stand in…

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. — Psalm 34:19 When trouble comes, our misperceptions rush to the surface…. I’m trapped. God has forgotten about me. It will only get worse. God doesn’t like me any more. God is just punishing me for something I must have done wrong. God likes to see me squirm. Then God gives us an opportunity to replace doubt with faith. This is Divine work — we cannot do it on our own. We can only bring our deepest fears to Jesus and see what He wants to do with…

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. — Romans 8:18 At first glance, this is an odd arrangment of words. Let’s try it a different way: Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the comfort and luxury we will enjoy in heaven. After all, no more sickness. No more pain. No more mean people. No more reckless drivers cutting me off out on the highway. No more loud parties next door keeping me up at night. Etc., etc. But wait! That isn’t what the verse says. It says our sufferings…

And God said, "Let …" — Genesis 1:3 … Jesus replied, "Let …" — Matthew 3:15In the Bible, God’s first word is "let." Permit. Allow. Give room for. Break free. God, the One who is so often characterized as the narrow-minded maker of restrictions, opens the universe with the word "let." God permits His plans to unfold. He allows His creation to take shape. He gives room for free moral agents to come into being, some to choose Him and others to reject Him forever.In the Bible, Jesus’ first word is also "let." "Let it be so now …" Allow…

[Solomon said,] "Strike him [Joab] down and bury him, and so clear me and my father’s house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed." — 1 Kings 2:31 Joab did much good for Israel. He was one of the best military commanders Israel ever had. Again and again, he led his troops to victory and was used by God to transform a small struggling nation into the dominant power in the region. Yet all his good could not erase his core corruption — he was a man of reckless violence who put to death at least two…

"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he [King David] said [to Solomon, his son]. "So be strong, show yourself a man … " — 1 Kings 2:2 Sooner or later we turn over the reins to someone else. A big part of our assignment here on earth is to equip someone(s) else to do what we cannot do. Even if you desire center stage, know this: you won’t hold it for long, and one of the best things you can do with your time is to make sure that the act that follows yours is…

Then the LORD answered prayer … — 2 Samuel 24:25 How does the LORD decide when to answer prayer? In this case, He waited until David acknowledged his sin, interceded for those who were suffering, and refused to sacrifice something that cost him nothing, but instead insisted on paying the full price to purchase the site and the animals for the offering. How and when will God decide to answer your prayer? I don’t know. But I do know this: Unanswered prayers are a great opportunity. Each time we bring them back to God, we discover some unexpected treasure –…

And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptians’s hand and killed him with his own spear. — 2 Samuel 23:21 Why does God give us impossible challenges? Because any other kind are – well – boring. Benaiah could have looked at the club in his own hand. But instead, he looked at the spear in the Egyptian’s hands. This reminds me of Ashley, a cat we owned years ago. She was a feisty creature who preferred biting…