Don't fear the breakdown. It's often the prelude to a breakthrough you couldn't have planned.

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When Giants Speak Louder Than Promises

On Second Thought

There is a tension in the Christian life that often goes unnoticed until we find ourselves standing at the edge of something God has clearly promised. It is the moment when what God has said collides with what we see. In Numbers 13:25–33, Israel stands at that very threshold. The land had already been given—God Himself declared it—but when the spies returned, their report shifted the focus from God’s promise to the size of the opposition. What should have been a testimony of fulfillment became a narrative of fear.

The facts were not wrong. The land did indeed flow with milk and honey. The fruit was abundant beyond expectation. Yet alongside that abundance stood fortified cities and formidable people. The Hebrew language subtly reveals the issue: the word often translated “discouraged” carries the idea of melting or dissolving inwardly. The people did not lose the promise—they lost their internal stability. Fear reshaped their perception. What God had declared certain suddenly felt impossible.

I find myself recognizing that same pattern in my own life. God’s promises are clear, yet circumstances can feel overwhelming. It is not that I doubt God outright, but I begin to weigh His promise against visible resistance. That is where the danger lies. The ten spies allowed the visible to redefine the invisible. Caleb and Joshua, however, saw through a different lens. They understood that God’s covenant word carried more weight than any obstacle. Faith did not deny the giants—it simply refused to elevate them above God.

The psalmist gives us a different posture in Psalm 7:17: “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” The phrase “Most High” comes from the Hebrew Elyon, emphasizing God’s supreme authority over all things. This is not praise after victory—it is praise anchored in who God is, regardless of circumstances. The psalmist is not waiting for the outcome to change before he worships. He is grounding his response in God’s character rather than his situation.

That becomes a defining question for us: Do we praise based on outcomes, or do we praise based on identity? Israel allowed fear to silence their praise, and in doing so, they surrendered the very hope that could have carried them forward. Their request to return to Egypt was not merely a logistical decision—it was a spiritual retreat. They chose the familiarity of bondage over the uncertainty of promise. This reveals something deeply human: we often prefer a known struggle over an unknown victory.

Yet God’s intention in allowing obstacles is not to harm but to refine. James reminds us that trials produce maturity, a completeness that aligns us with God’s purpose. The land was a gift, but the process of possessing it was the pathway through which Israel would learn dependence on God. Without the giants, they might have entered the land with self-confidence rather than God-confidence. Obstacles, then, are not contradictions to God’s promise—they are instruments within it.

Jesus Himself modeled this reality. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He faced a moment where the path ahead was filled with suffering. Yet instead of retreating, He surrendered: “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The cross stood as the ultimate “giant,” yet through it came the greatest victory. What appeared overwhelming became the very means of redemption. This reframes how we understand our own struggles. The obstacle is not always the enemy; sometimes it is the avenue through which God accomplishes His deeper work.

When I consider this, I begin to see that hope is not the absence of difficulty—it is the presence of God within it. Hope is anchored in His sovereignty, His unshakable nature. When everything feels uncertain, He remains constant. When I feel out of control, He is never shaken. That realization changes how I respond. Instead of shrinking back, I am invited to step forward—not because I feel strong, but because He is faithful.

On Second Thought

There is a paradox here that deserves deeper reflection. The very obstacles we ask God to remove may be the very means by which He intends to reveal Himself most clearly. We often pray for ease, yet God is working toward transformation. We ask for the giants to disappear, but what if their presence is what teaches us to trust? Israel saw the giants as barriers, but they were actually markers—evidence that the land was valuable enough to be contested. The resistance did not diminish the promise; it confirmed its significance.

Consider this: if the land had been empty, would Israel have learned to rely on God in the same way? If victory required no effort, would faith have deepened? There is something within us that grows only when stretched. The tension between promise and resistance creates a space where trust is formed. It is in that space that praise becomes powerful—not as a reaction to success, but as a declaration of belief.

This challenges the way we interpret our circumstances. When difficulty arises, we often assume something has gone wrong. But what if, instead, something is being formed? What if the presence of obstacles is not a sign of God’s absence, but of His intentional work? The giants in your life may not be there to stop you—they may be there to shape you. They force a decision: Will you trust what you see, or will you trust what God has said?

So on second thought, perhaps the greatest danger is not the size of the obstacle, but the shrinking of our faith. When fear dominates, hope diminishes. But when praise rises—even in uncertainty—it reorients the heart. It reminds us that God is still Elyon, the Most High, reigning above every circumstance. And in that realization, hope is restored—not because the situation has changed, but because our perspective has.

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Delayed, Not Denied

 Walking in God’s Unstoppable Purpose
A Day in the Life

“But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.” — Numbers 14:38

There are moments in the life of faith when I feel as though the actions of others have altered my path in ways I did not choose. Doors close unexpectedly. Opportunities slip through my hands. Decisions made by others seem to redirect what I believed was God’s clear will. As I sit with the story of Joshua and Caleb, I am reminded that obedience does not always lead to immediate fulfillment—it often leads to endurance. These two men trusted God fully, yet they wandered for forty years because of the disbelief of others. Still, their story does not end in frustration but in fulfillment. They were delayed, but they were never denied.

I find myself reflecting on how this truth is mirrored in the life of Jesus. There were countless moments when others attempted to hinder His mission. In Luke 4:28–30, after Jesus spoke truth in Nazareth, the people were filled with rage and sought to throw Him off a cliff. Yet the Scripture says, “But passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” The Greek phrasing suggests a quiet authority—no resistance, no panic—just divine purpose moving forward. No one could stop what God had ordained. Later, in John 7:30, we read, “They sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come.” There is a divine timetable at work that human interference cannot disrupt.

When I consider Joshua and Caleb alongside Jesus, I begin to understand that God’s will is not fragile. It does not depend on perfect circumstances or cooperative people. The Hebrew understanding of God’s purpose carries the idea of something established and accomplished—what Isaiah 46:11 declares: “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” The word ʿāśāh (to do, to accomplish) emphasizes that God completes what He initiates. This truth reshapes how I interpret delays. What feels like obstruction may actually be positioning. Joshua and Caleb needed the wilderness, not as punishment, but as preparation and influence. Their leadership was forged in a place they would not have chosen.

There have been seasons in my own walk where I questioned whether someone else’s decision had derailed what God intended for me. Perhaps you have felt that same tension—passed over for something you were qualified for, overlooked in a moment you believed was yours, or redirected by forces outside your control. Yet the life of Christ gently corrects that assumption. Even the cross, which appeared to be the ultimate interruption, was in fact the fulfillment of divine purpose. In Acts 2:23, Peter declares, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken.” What seemed like human victory was actually God’s plan unfolding exactly as intended.

The commentator A. W. Tozer once wrote, “God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible—what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.” That observation speaks directly into this moment. When I limit God’s work in my life to what others allow or prevent, I reduce His sovereignty to human permission. Likewise, Oswald Chambers reminds us, “All God’s revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience.” Joshua and Caleb did not understand the delay, but they remained obedient within it—and that obedience positioned them for eventual fulfillment.

What I am learning—sometimes slowly—is that no person, no institution, and no circumstance can ultimately prevent God’s will from being accomplished in my life. They may shape the journey, but they cannot cancel the destination. Even when I am in a wilderness I did not choose, God is still at work. He is forming character, strengthening faith, and preparing influence that I cannot yet see. The delay itself becomes part of the calling.

So I walk forward today with a renewed perspective. I release the belief that someone else holds the power to determine my spiritual outcome. I trust instead in a God whose purposes are not threatened by human limitation. If He has spoken something over my life, it will come to pass in His time and in His way. My role is not to control the path but to remain faithful within it.

For further study, this article offers helpful insight into God’s sovereign will: https://www.gotquestions.org/God-will.html

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You've survived too many storms to be bothered by raindrops. You've got this.

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Keep Failing, Keep Living: Why Fear of Failure Shouldn’t Stop You

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Keep Moving Forward: The Power of Choice in Overcoming Life’s Obstacles

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Overcoming the Nicolaitans

860 words, 5 minutes read time.

I used to think the mention of the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2 was just a historical footnote. A strange name, a brief condemnation, and that was it. But the more I’ve lived and the more I’ve seen in the church, the more I realize this short verse is one of the most piercing warnings—and one of the most hopeful promises—in all of Scripture.

The Nicolaitans (likely meaning “conquerors of the people”) represent the spirit that seeks to lord it over God’s people instead of serving them. It shows up when leaders or systems silence gifts, control contributions, and push people into “safe” roles that fit the hierarchy rather than the needs of the body. It’s the voice that says, “You’re not good enough,” or “We already have someone for that,” even when your skills could serve the kingdom in powerful ways.

Modern-Day Targets of the Nicolaitans

This spirit isn’t stuck in the first century—it’s alive and well today. Here are some common ways it targets believers:

• Talented outsiders like you and me: Creative people (programmers, artists, writers) who offer real solutions but get sidelined because they don’t fit the “approved” inner circle. Your gifts are seen as a threat to the status quo.
• Questioners and reformers: Anyone who asks “Why do we do it this way?” or suggests improvements. They’re often labeled “divisive” or “unsubmissive” to shut them down.
• The overlooked majority: Everyday members who want to serve but are funneled into low-visibility roles (setup, cleaning) while a few “stars” get all the platform time.
• The wounded and weary: People hurt by past church experiences who are tempted to give up entirely. The Nicolaitan spirit whispers, “You’re not needed here—or anywhere.”
• The LGBT+ community: Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or other sexual and gender minorities. Many have been told they are “not welcome,” “not good enough,” or “too sinful” to participate fully in church life, even when they sincerely seek Christ. The Nicolaitan spirit often uses moral superiority or rigid gatekeeping to exclude them, rather than meeting them with grace, truth, and the invitation to follow Jesus.

If you’ve felt targeted, know this: It’s not about your worth. It’s about a system that values control over Christ’s body.

I’ve felt that sting personally. As a web programmer, I’ve offered my gifts to churches—only to be gently (or not so gently) redirected to volunteer tasks that kept me on the sidelines. It hurt. It made me question my worth. And I know I’m not alone. Many of us have been made to feel like our talents don’t fit the approved structure.

But here’s the red meat of this passage: Jesus doesn’t stop at “I hate what they do.” He immediately turns to the promise to the overcomer.

The Nicolaitans are not the enemy we’re supposed to spend our lives fighting. They are the obstacle we’re called to overcome.

Jesus is saying: “I see the pain. I hate the control. I hate the rejection. Now rise above it. Don’t let their system define your calling. Don’t let their ‘no’ silence your gifts. Use what I’ve given you—whether inside the walls or outside them. Keep serving Me. Keep building. Keep loving. You are an overcomer. And the tree of life is waiting for you.”

Reflection Questions

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You walk among Your churches and You see everything. You know the pain of being sidelined, the sting of being told I’m “not good enough.” Thank You for hating what hurts Your people. Help me identify and overcome the Nicolaitan spirit in my life—whether it’s in a church system or in my own doubts. Give me courage to use the gifts You’ve placed in me, even if it’s outside the approved structures. May I stay faithful, keep my first love, and overcome—not by fighting people, but by trusting You. I look forward to the day I eat from the tree of life in Your paradise. In Your name, Amen.

Call to Action

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Author’s Note:

The identity and exact teachings of the Nicolaitans remain debated among scholars. Some link them to moral compromise (sexual immorality and idolatry, as suggested by the “doctrine of Balaam” in Revelation 2:14–15), while others see the name as symbolic of hierarchical control and domination over God’s people. Regardless of the precise interpretation, the core issue is clear: Jesus hates anything that harms, controls, or leads His church astray. This devotional focuses on the spirit of exclusion and abuse of authority that still appears in churches today, while affirming that Christ calls all to repentance, grace, and overcoming through Him.

D. Bryan King

Sources

• Who are the Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation 2:6, 14-15? – GotQuestions.org
• The Nicolaitans in Revelation: Bible Story and Meaning – Christianity.com
• Who Are the Nicolaitans Found in Revelation? – Bible Study Tools
• Who Were the Nicolaitans, And What Was Their Doctrine and Deeds? – Renner Ministries
• Nicolaism – Wikipedia
• Who Were the Nicolaitans? – BibleInfo.com
• Bible Gem 2197 – Who Were the Nicolaitans? – Berean Insights
• About the Nicolaitans – Useful Bible
• Nicolaitans Commentary – Bible Study Tools
• Revelation 2:6 Commentaries – StudyLight.org
• Christian Authoritarianism: The Unwitting Threat to Democracy – Medium
• Susie and the Dictator: Assisting an Authoritarian Pastor – Pearls & Swine
• Authoritarianism and Egalitarianism in Church Leadership – Sacred Structures
• Authority, Not Authoritarian – 9Marks
• How to Diagnose and Treat Pastoral Authoritarianism – Founders Ministries

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

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