Perhaps one of the heaviest emotions that falls upon our hearts, shame has a profound ability to persuade us to hide rather than act. While shame is healthy (Jer 6:15), it is not a feeling God hardwired to cause us to run from Him, though many do; rather, it is a feeling God hardwired to cause us to run to Him. David will wonderfully illustrate that point as it relates to his sin committed with Bathsheba (contexts to consider include 2 Samuel 11, Psalm 51, Psalm 32 - in that

Life often feels more like a storm on the sea than a quiet brook. Sometimes fear clouds our vision, casting doubt into our hearts. This can be alarming, as Jesus often questioned His disciples about their doubts. Internally, it can make us feel we don’t belong. “I see how Jesus dealt with them … how then would He deal with me?” A story about Jesus and a disciple reveals His approach to doubt. The fear that doubt will result in rejection is common. However, the main idea is th

There are some people in Scripture whose names are “household names.” Whether that is something positive, like Abraham or Paul, or something negative, like Ahab and Jezebel — these people are known. When we say their names, we know their deeds, their shortcomings, their victories … we know a lot about them. This cannot be said about everyone in Scripture. Some people in Scripture are read about but never named. They are features in the stories of our Bibles, but their identit