Sacred Faith

Recently, I was reading the story of God promising Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child. God told Abraham that not only would he and Sarah have a son, but that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Because Abraham and Sarah were advanced in age, Sarah laughed when she heard the promise. Time passed, and the promise did not immediately come to fruition. In her waiting, Sarah suggested that Abraham sleep with her servant so that a child could be born through human effort. While this did result in a child, it was not God’s plan. Abraham and Sarah tried to help God, and in doing so, they got in the way of what He intended to do.

There is a kind of faith that believes God can fulfill His promises—but often that faith still rushes ahead, trying to make things happen on its own.

But there is another kind of faith.

Sacred Faith

Sacred faith is different. Sacred faith holds God’s promise with a holy reverence and a deep trust that He will do exactly what He said He would do—in His time and in His way. Sacred faith believes in the impossible and waits with awe instead of anxiety.

Mary demonstrated this kind of sacred faith when she was told she would conceive a child while still a virgin. Nothing about that made sense in human terms, yet she trusted God’s word and submitted herself to His plan.

As I reflected on sacred faith, I was reminded of God’s miracles—and also of the many times in my own life when I jumped ahead of God, trying to force an outcome instead of trusting Him fully.

God is a God who still does miracles. We must regard His promises as holy, living realities—not distant ideas or wishful thinking.

Faith That Endures – Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 is often called the “hall of faith.” This chapter recounts the miraculous works God accomplished through ordinary people who trusted Him completely. Their faith was not casual or convenient—it was sacred.

The people described in Hebrews 11 revered God’s plan as something holy, something worth living for—and even dying for. Some of them believed deeply in what God promised, yet never saw those promises fulfilled during their lifetime. Still, they remained faithful.

That raises an important question for all of us:

• Do you hear what God is speaking to you?

• Do you believe God will do what He is asking of you?

• Do you hold tightly to His word, or are you waiting to see proof first?

The people of Hebrews 11 held onto God’s word with their very lives. That is sacred faith.

Build Your Faith

Scripture tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

The longer I live, the more I realize how deeply I need the Good News. The Good News is the new covenant—God’s promise fulfilled through Jesus. Knowing and understanding that covenant strengthens our faith more than speculation, fear, or curiosity about lesser things.

I need to know the covenant more than I need to know about angels and demons.
I need to know the covenant more than I need to know how God created the earth.

When we anchor ourselves in the Good News—what Christ has already done and what God has already promised—our faith grows. Sacred faith is built when we continually return to the truth of the covenant and trust God enough to wait, believe, and obey.

May we be a people who hold God’s promises as holy—and trust Him to do the impossible.

When the Weight of Life Becomes Too Heavy to Carry

By Pastor Brett Nation

This past week, I began to feel anxious.

Not in a dramatic way—but in a quiet, accumulating way. The weight of life started pressing in on me. I felt the responsibility of an upcoming family gathering and the hope that it would be meaningful and joyful. I felt the needs of the church. I felt the call to care for people and foster healthy relationships. I felt the reality of being a dad to grown children and a faithful husband to my wife.

In short, I was feeling life.

But I wasn’t carrying it in a healthy way.

Creating Space to Hear God

I realized I needed perspective, so I made a simple but intentional decision: I turned off what I could. I completely shut off my cell phone for several days. I let the right people know how to reach me in an emergency and had Dena help with a few logistics.

One morning, as I sat quietly in my chair with my eyes closed, I felt the anxiety of disconnecting. But in that stillness, the Holy Spirit gently met me. He brought a familiar Scripture to my heart:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
—1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

As I reflected on that truth, peace began to replace pressure. My thoughts cleared, and God started showing me what I had been carrying—and what He never intended for me to carry alone.

As your pastor, I want to share what this moment meant to me, because I believe it can help you as well.

The Cares of This World

We live in a world filled with concerns, responsibilities, and pressures. While we cannot avoid the world, we can choose who carries our worries.

Jesus spoke clearly about the danger of unmanaged anxiety:

“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.”
—Luke 8:14 (NLT)

We can hear God’s Word, yet allow the cares of life to drown it out. When that happens, we don’t live by truth—we live by worry.

The cares of this world seek to own us. They distract us from trusting God and living in His peace.

Jesus also warned:

“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled… by the worries of this life.”
—Luke 21:34 (NLT)

The word dulled can also mean burdened or under pressure. Anxiety slowly presses on us until we lose spiritual clarity.

Even the Apostle Paul understood this weight:

“I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.”
—2 Corinthians 11:28 (NLT)

Pressure is part of life—but God never intended for us to carry it alone.

Casting Your Care on the Lord

Scripture gives us a clear invitation:

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.”
—Psalm 55:22 (NLT)

As I listened to the Holy Spirit, I realized something important: I had been carrying all the responsibility for success or failure—at home, at church, and in relationships. I felt the pressure to fix problems, manage outcomes, and prove faithfulness.

In doing so, I lost sight of who God created me to be.

That mindset affected:

• How I made decisions

• How I managed my time

• How I prayed

• How I rested

• How I evaluated myself

My calling slowly turned into performance.

And performance always produces anxiety.

Renewal, Not More Effort

So how do we truly give our worries, concerns, and pressure to God?

For me, it wasn’t about adding more steps—it was about renewing my mind.

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
—Romans 12:2 (NLT)

I needed to give God my body—my worries about my children, the pressure of leadership, the fear of making wrong decisions, and even the anxiety of trying to please Him.

I had to stop living by the standards of the world and return to the truth of who God is and who I am in Him.

God was not evaluating my performance. He was loving His child.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children—and that is what we are!”
—1 John 3:1 (NLT)

A Simple Prayer of Surrender

I also realized I needed to release the expectations and opinions others had placed on me. If I didn’t, those voices would begin to direct my life instead of God.

There is a simple statement I once heard that captures true surrender:

“I give everything and everyone to You, God.”

That prayer shifts the weight of life back where it belongs—not on our shoulders, but in His hands.

If you are carrying anxiety today, know this: God cares deeply for you. You were never meant to carry life alone.

Israel-Iran, Russia-Ukraine, Trump-People

The earth is experiencing trauma at the hands of heads of state from all over the world. While many like to blame God for the evil in the world, the truth reveals a different perspective. People commit evil acts, creating travesties for all people.

As the earth experiences trauma, how can we respond? Some of my favorite people are responding by joining protests, others are sharing information through social media, and still others are planning the next candidate to run for office with the hope of bringing about change.

As for me, I am not one to attend a protest; I don't trust most of the information on social media, and spending time figuring out the next candidate does not provide an immediate solution. My participation could be to do nothing, but that is not helpful. As a pastor and a person who believes in God, I think we have a great answer in prayer. Scriptures instruct us to pray for those in positions of authority so that we may experience a peaceful life. (I Timothy 2:1-2) Scripture also states that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12) Praying brings us into the battle of spiritual warfare, where we contend for peace.

As I write this blog post, presidents, prime ministers, and advisors are making decisions on the world's behalf. I do not have the "ear" of any head of state or their advisors, but I do have the ear of God. Human voices and spiritual voices are speaking to each leader. The leaders of the world need to hear the voice of God, who is peace. As Paul gave Timothy the command to pray, I encourage them to follow this command. Christians believe prayer can change the heart of man; prayer is not significant but influential.

Let's pray instead of criticizing; let's pray for leaders to make decisions that promote peace. 

If God Is God, Why Are There Problems?

If God is God, then why are there Problems?

Everyone is going to ask the question, “Why are there so many problems in the world?” Every war ever fought was started by someone. No war in history was started by God, but is a result of human decisions. Every human being, including me, has made decisions that hurt someone else. People go hungry because of human choices. People have been harmed and overpowered by others due to human decisions. Divorce is not a natural occurrence; it is a result of human choices.

Adam and Eve Chose to Make Their Own Decision

The first humans in the bible, Adam and Eve, created a mess because of their choices. God told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Instead of trusting God, they believed they knew better than God. They turned from worshipping God to worshipping themselves. God created Adam and Eve to worship God, but instead of trusting God, they thought they knew better than God.   

Sin is Not the Issue; Who We Worship Is

Two quotes from NT Wright express my point. First, he states, “The primary failure of the human race was idolatry, a failure to worship.” Paul wrote about this primary failure in Romans 1:18-32. I encourage you to read it. This section of scripture is not about sin, but rather about the inability to worship, which ultimately leads to sin. In verse 23, Paul writes, “and instead of worshipping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshipped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.” (NLT) People created their own gods and idols, devising their own ways. A couple of verses before, Paul said, “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give them thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” (NLT)

When people choose to trust themselves more than God, they create a distorted image of God. People stop representing the heart of God. The second quote from NT Wright says, “Sin is rooted in idolatry, it’s swapping the divine Glory for images.” God has a divine purpose for us that is spelled out in Genesis 1:26-28 and Psalm 8. As God’s creation, we have a responsibility to take care of the earth. Turning away from the creator to our ideals has created the mess in which we live. When we choose to worship idols, our worldview becomes twisted, selfish, and corrupted.

Does God Need Us to Worship Him?

God is not an arrogant God needing His ego boosted by us. When we worship God, we are acknowledging that He is the supreme authority. Reading Psalm 8 reveals that God is a beautiful Creator worthy of worship. We are created to worship, but we have a choice of what we worship. We can worship ourselves (idol worship) or we can worship God. I John 4:8 tells us, “God is love.” He defines love. So yes, he is worthy of our worship.

Biblical Examples of Worship

As we conclude this blog, let me provide some biblical examples of people who expressed worship to God. Take a moment to explore these examples in more detail.

1)        Paul and Silas (Acts 16:24-26). When put in prison, they worshipped the Lord, when they could have complained.

2)        The Woman with the Alabaster Box (Luke 7:36-50). She was a woman who had sinned, but she came and worshipped at the feet of Jesus. Jesus forgave her sins.

3)        The Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41-44) The widow gave all that she had.

4)        Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:12-14). Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Abraham was God’s promised son. Abraham was willing to sacrifice this promise, knowing God had a purpose.

5)        Jesus surrendered to the will of God (Luke 22:41-43)

How do we respond?

As we live a life of worship, look for idols in your life. What have we placed in greater importance than God? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the idols and lead you in repentance. We are created to worship, and when we do what we are designed to do, we create a better world.

We Are Hope!

Our church family gathered on Sunday to connect, worship, and deepen our understanding of God's purpose. If you missed the service on Sunday, please watch it on Facebook or YouTube.

For the past three weeks, I have been preaching a series on hope and asking, "Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross?" Our hope is placed entirely on Jesus offering himself for us, for the forgiveness of our sins. So that leads me to a second question: "What does it mean that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins?"

To help answer these questions, we have been looking at the "Walk to Emmaus" in Luke 24:13-49. After the resurrection, Jesus encountered two of his disciples, but they did not recognize him as he walked to Emmaus. The disciples were sad because of Jesus being crucified, because they thought Jesus was the Messiah who would bring freedom to Israel (21). This statement of hope being dashed explains their perspective of what the Messiah would do for Israel. However, Jesus was going to redefine this perspective.

Jesus replies by referencing the teachings of Moses and the prophets. Scripture does not specify the exact verses that Jesus shared; researchers estimate that there are 300-400 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah, so He could have drawn from many. This past Sunday, we examined several critical scriptures that the disciples would have heard since childhood. I will reference these scriptures, but recommend looking them up for yourself.

First, in Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah gets direction from the Lord about the future of Israel. The Lord said he would establish a new covenant with Israel that would not be like the old covenant. This prophecy would give Israel the expectation that God would again deliver them from exile. Then, the prophet Daniel would read this prophecy while he was in captivity in Babylon. In Daniel 9, Daniel writes that he was reading Jeremiah when he prayed for Israel. Daniel would repent for the entire nation of Israel for the idolatry and sin they committed. As he prayed, the angel Gabriel appeared to share God's plans. Gabriel told him the Messiah was God's plan to bring forgiveness and restoration to Israel.

Jesus' words convinced and excited the disciples. They invited Jesus to stay with them, but were still unaware of who Jesus was. Once they sat down for dinner, Jesus broke bread, and God opened their eyes to recognize Jesus. Jesus instantly disappeared, later to appear before all the disciples. The revelation of Jesus' resurrection and that He set them free must have been an incredible moment. Jesus showed them a greater freedom than they had expected. Jesus restored them to their original purpose and us to ours, to be God's image bearers to the world.

The Apostle Paul later wrote that God has "rescued us from the Kingdom of Darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son." (Col. 1:13) Jesus took us from darkness to light. When Jesus was teaching in Matthew 5, He told the crowd that "THEY are the light of the world." (14) Jesus died on the cross so we can return to our vocation as His children. This is our purpose!

Jesus started a revolution on the day he was crucified; we, too, can join Him! The world is falling apart, people are being destroyed, but we have the answer. Be the light amid the darkness.