Fear isn’t something to ignore—it’s something to confront, prepare for, and reframe. Peter’s bold step out of the boat wasn’t foolish—it was faithful. But the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm, he began to sink. Through this powerful moment in Scripture, we’re learning three truths: fear will sink you, fear thrives when we lose focus, and we win the battle over fear when we shift our “what ifs” into “even ifs.” No matter what storm you're facing today, Jesus is near—and He’s ready to catch you.

Paul was on a mission when he encountered a storm that shipwrecked him. Despite the chaos, Paul remained calm and hopeful, leading others to safety. Even in life’s worst storms, God’s plan for us remains intact. Are you shipwrecked in your faith? God can still use those moments to bring you closer to Him. Themes: Trusting God in chaos, God’s protection, surviving life’s storms, faith in adversity.

In our culture we perceive every situation through the lines of “in-group” and “out-group”. At a football game, who are “my people”? At school, where are my friends? In family gatherings or at work, where are the people on my side of the arguments? Most of the time, we are looking inside of our circle of allies for validation and encouragement while we make every effort to completely ignore those outside. God does not have an “in-group.” He invites everyone to the party. In the story of Cornelius and Peter, the Holy Spirit guides a Jew and a Gentile to meet and interact with one another, totally contradicting the rules of society. The result is the public invitation of Gentiles into the faith. God always sees the current outsider as a future insider. God values the outsider. Do you?

Who is the enemy in your world, the person or group of people who lives and acts contrary to your value system? In Jesus’ day, the enemy of the Jews and the Christians was the Romans. In the story of the Roman Centurion, Jesus finds pure faith in an unexpected place. Understanding the chain of command, the Roman Centurion believes that Jesus can heal his servant even from a distance just by speaking the word—demonstrating a level of faith that Jesus could not find anywhere else among His believers. In a moment, the excluded enemy becomes part of the family. How are you laying down enemy lines? Can you see beyond what you perceive to be true? God values your enemy. Can you?

Have you ever felt unworthy of someone’s love or attention? Our sense of self-worth can be dictated by our own past sin or by how we perceive that others see us. This was the case with Saul, the Pharisee who relentlessly murdered Christians in the name of upholding the Jewish law. Upon encountering the risen Christ, his life is radically changed. As God speaks a new identity into his life, Saul becomes Paul, the famed teacher of the gospel. His infamous reputation makes Christians doubt his worthiness, and Paul calls himself “the least worthy” among the apostles. God not only accepts the unworthy; He celebrates them. There is a new destiny for each one who feels unworthy if they choose to find their worth in Him. With that choice, pride diminishes, and gratitude takes over. So, if you are feeling unworthy today, don’t despair. God values the unworthy.

Have you ever feared a serious diagnosis? Sickness can come with physical as well as social implications, and that was the case with leprosy in the ancient world—it was not only a death sentence, leprosy also led to exclusion and isolation. Naaman was a very highly respected commander of the Syrian army who had earned the applause of the world with his success, but he was also a repulsive leper. Unlike the world, God seeks out those who are sick to show them that He is real, and He sees their suffering. Those suffering from infirmity and isolation are always on God’s A-list because, like Naaman, they have an opportunity to turn to the Great Physician in trust and have their lives completely changed. God invites the sick to His table to dine—and then He heals them. God values the sick. Do you?

Have you ever felt desperate? Whether you need help in finances, provision, health, or any other area of life, desperation can lead you to do unusual and sometimes unflattering things. In first-century Palestine, certian medical issues resulted in some of the most vulnerable because they were left without legal rights or a way to provide for themselves. The woman with the issue of blood was so desperate that she relentlessly pushed through the crowd to get a touch from Jesus. Having nothing left to loose, She refused to take “no” for an answer and ultimately prevails. Jesus uses her story to encourage believers to be persistent and unwavering in their faith. Her desperate faith moved the heart of God. The Father values the desperate - Do you?

Proverbs discusses wealth and poverty, teaching that wealth gained through righteous means is a blessing, whereas ill-gotten gains bring trouble. It also highlights the importance of generosity and fairness, noting that true wealth involves more than just material riches.