Don’t let this season or the enemy’s forces cause you to shrink or go back.
A crushing season and a future that looks impossible can make you want to go back to Egypt. But keep moving forward, trusting in the Lord. His love and promises will prevail, because His love is unfailing and His Word cannot return to Him void.
Hold on to God a little tighter. Keep it real with God. Bring Him all the contents of your heart. He can handle it. And gather His Word concerning every circumstance. And sometimes faith requires us to be still, yet sometimes faith requires us to move. May we have the discernment to know the difference and the courage to act accordingly.
I’m looking forward to your testimonies and mine, even within these last four months of this year.
For those of us who needed the reminder during a time of uncertainty or while facing some kind of hardship:
God takes care of His.
Don’t doubt that your Heavenly Father has your back. He will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory.
And that doesn’t mean hard times won’t come. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience uncertainty, lack, disappointment, or seasons where we don’t understand what God is doing.
It means we are not alone in those seasons.
God is there in the midst of them, caring for us, sustaining us, providing for us, and giving us what we need to keep going.
Psalm 37:25 reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not based on whether life is easy. David was speaking from a lifetime of experience. He had seen hardship, but he had also seen God’s faithfulness.
So if you’re in a difficult season today, don’t mistake the hardship for God’s absence. God takes care of His.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread. –Psalm 37:25
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.
Reflection
I don’t know if I’ve defined “persevere” in our previous Persevere Series posts, but it’s crucial to understand what it means. According to Google, persevere means “to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.”
Perseverance looks like crawling in faith, taking one day at a time, abandoning perfection, and trusting God. It is leaning into His wisdom, doing things in His strength, and walking in His grace.
But perseverance isn’t always about pushing through, especially when you are sick, overworked, or struggling mentally and spiritually. Sometimes, God calls us to be still and know that He is God. Perseverance can also mean resting in His wisdom and power—allowing Him to restore us, as He did for Elijah (1 Kings 19:3-8). He leads us beside still waters and lets us rest in green meadows.
When God calls us to rest, it isn’t about sleeping all day, but about being intentional with your day—doing things that bring you joy, align with your purpose, and keep you in fellowship with God, yourself, or others. It is also an invitation to abide in Him and to trust Him, even with the unknown. In that rest, He restores and replenishes us—equipping us to face another day, another victory to be won, another storm to endure, and another test to be transformed into a testimony.
Rest clears the clutter in our minds, renews our rhythm, strengthens our bodies, and refreshes our spirits. Rest even allows us to be more productive—because it aligns us with God’s pace, not the world’s pressure.
So, on the days you feel like you must chase perfection and stay busy, answer God’s call to rest. When boundaries, purpose, and God’s presence feel lost in the noise of busyness, pause. Be still. Let God cover you with His love, fill you with His peace, and renew you with His fellowship.
In His rest, you’ll rise rejuvenated—ready to walk in purpose, live with clarity, and stand as more than a conqueror.
Scripture
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” – Psalm 23:2-3
Prayer
Father God, thank You for Your peace and Your restoration. Thank You that Your love gives me the grace to face each new day and the rest I need. Help me to abide in You as You abide in me. Show me when and how to rest. Help me lean not on my own understanding but to trust You with all my heart. Keep me from filling my days with busyness or striving to please others. Teach me to be still and know that You are God: the One who loves me beyond measure and sustains me daily. I choose to rest in the richness of Your love and provision. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.
Reflection
Sometimes, perseverance doesn’t look like running with strength or getting to the finish line first. Sometimes, it looks like crawling with faith. It’s one day at a time and one step at a time. You take that grain of mustard seed faith and put one foot in front of the other, trusting God with each step. Even in your lowest moments, God sees the effort. As your heart clings to Him, He honors the press, no matter how small. Don’t despise the little steps; they are still steps forward.
Scripture
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:9
Prayer
Lord, when I feel weak, remind me that even the smallest steps are seen by You. Strengthen me to keep moving forward, trusting You with every step. And Lord, let me not grow weary in my walk with You or in the strengthening of my faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Can I Depend on You” is an intimate conversation with God — asking, believing, and surrendering. When life gets uncertain, His faithfulness remains. A heartfelt Christian R&B song of learning to surrender and trust God.
This Sunday, I stayed home from church — not out of neglect, but out of necessity. With much work and my body being in a lot of pain this week, I listened to my body and followed my heart and took a rest. And sometimes, honoring God means pausing from our usual routines to care for the temple He’s given us. Today was one of those days, a Sabbath for both my body and spirit.
And with that, I was also led to study the Fear of the Lord. So, what is the fear of the Lord? Is it being afraid that God is chasing you down with lightning bolts and drizzles of fire behind every fleeting footsteps?
No. The Fear of the Lord is not about terror. For “Fear of the Lord” the main Hebrew word used in the Bible is:
יִרְאָה (yir’ah) — pronounced yeer-AH
Root: יָרֵא (yare) — to fear, revere, or stand in awe.
Meaning: Reverence, respect, deep awe, piety.
It’s an awareness of God’s holiness that shapes your behavior and keeps your heart humble before Him. With the Fear of the Lord and God’s love, God wants us to run to Him, not away from Him.
Before I go any further, I want us to read Psalm 34. Then we will walk through what God says about the Fear of the Lord in His Word.
Psalms 34:1-22 NLT [1] I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. [2] I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. [3] Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. [4] I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. [5] Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. [6] In my desperation, I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. [7] For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. [8] Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! [9] Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. [10] Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. [11] Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. [12] Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? [13] Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! [14] Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. [15] The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. [16] But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. [17] The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. [18] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. [19] The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. [20] For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! [21] Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. [22] But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
In Psalm 34, David, who pretended to be crazy in front of Abimilech to escape danger, gives his praises and testimony, gives an invitation to experience God’s goodness, gives instruction in the Fear of the Lord and lastly, details God’s care for the righteous.
But let’s delve deeper into the Fear of the Lord. What does God say about it further:
Proverbs 9:10: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. (NLT)
Proverbs 1:7: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NLT)
Proverbs 3: Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (NLT)
Hebrews 12:28: [Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. (NLT)
Proverbs 29:23 & 25: [23] Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. [25] Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. (NLT)
Psalms 105: 1-8: Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations. (NLT)
Now that we have read some scriptures on our topic of study, let’s bring it home with the five pillars of the Fear of the Lord.
The 6 Pillars
Protection – Fearing the Lord is a safeguard, placing you under God’s loving protection. Corresponding scriptures: Proverbs 14:26; Proverbs 19:23)
Knowledge – True understanding begins with reverence for Him. (Proverbs 1:7)
A Heart of Praise, Reverence, and Respect – At its core, the fear of the Lord is respect, reverence, and honor. It’s an attitude of worship that shapes everything we do. (Psalms 2:11; Psalms 33:8; Psalms 130:2-5; Psalms 105:1-8)
Wisdom – Discernment and right choices flow from fearing the Lord. (Psalms 111:10; Job 28:28)
Dependency Upon God – Fearing the Lord means trusting Him completely, rather than relying on our own limited understanding. I’m reminded daily that without God, I can do nothing. (Proverbs 3:5 & 6; Psalm 130:5)
(I forgot this one during the initial writing stage) Godly Sorrow – Godly sorrow is true repentance, and with it comes the fear of the Lord. Because He is holy and worthy of honor, our hearts—growing in spiritual maturity—will turn away from the things that keep us from drawing closer to Him and dwelling in His presence. (James 4:9)
Why does the Fear of the Lord Matter Today?
In a world that encourages self-reliance and pride, the Fear of the Lord keeps us humble, safe, and aligned with truth. Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. As believers, we are to recognize God’s power and holiness and respond accordingly. We must value what He says over what the world says, putting Him first and acknowledging His authority. We worship Him in spirit and in truth, not because He has an ego, but because our spirits respond to His character and His unfailing love. Ultimately, this leads to obedience. We want to honor Him in everything we think, say, and do. Living a holy life is a challenge, but with God’s grace, we can do it one day at a time.
Action Step
Take a moment today to ask yourself: in what ways am I showing respect, reverence, and honor to the Lord in my daily life?
Also, check out the corresponding video up on YouTube now!
While reading this morning Exodus chapter three again, a question and a statement came to mind. The question was “What came before the Exodus?” And the statement was “you need an encounter with God before your exodus out of whatever it is God wants to deliver you from.” So, what is an exodus? An exodus basically means mass departure or going out. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word itself is derived from the Greek word Exodos which literally means “the road out”. We know that in Exodus three that God commissions Moses to lead His people out of years of oppression and suffering. God saw and heard His people and He said to Moses, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering (Exodus 3:7 NLT). He then goes on to say that I have come down to rescue them. This is where Moses fits in and gets welcomed to join God in His mighty work.
Does God See Our Tears?
Exodus had to remind me that God hears and He sees. Often, many of us saved or unsaved cry out that God does not see all of the suffering in the world or even in our individual lives. He does. He is aware. That is why He sent His Son to bring His Kingdom here on earth and bring salvation and reconciliation. We now have an opportunity to one day no longer suffer and be in agony and turmoil.Moreover, as I read Exodus three, it dawned on me that some things preceded the exodus of the Israelites. For one, Moses had an encounter with God. And some other things took place also but first let me encourage you that God sees your suffering and He hears your cries.
Circumstances Don’t Have The Last Say
Circumstances in life, especially ones that won’t let up, won’t let you sleep, and keep popping back up, will make you feel like running and throwing in the towel. I have had days where my conversations with God are full of tears, pleas and cries of wanting to just give up. However, a Bible plan I read left me with the impression that God will either deliver you from it or see you through it. The line in the Bible plan actually read “that sometimes God doesn’t deliver you from the trial. Instead He saves us through it.” In my struggles with anxiety and fear as well as other circumstances presented in my life, I sometimes think that this would be a lifelong struggle that eventually I would lose. But the devil is a liar. And John 16:33 reminds me that Jesus has already overcome the world, and therefore, He has already overcome the issues that plague it too. We may lose some battles in our human experience but Jesus overcame the war. I may deal with anxiety for the rest of my life, but I know one thing God is teaching me through all of this, and that is to trust Him one day at a time.Shoot, the second thing He is teaching me is that He sent me a helper, the third person and He is called the Holy Spirit. He is my Comforter and constant, unparalleled peace in the midst of any storm. Three, I must surrender all to God. I must surrender to His love and lordship. And four, God does want to deliver me. There will be times I will be afraid and anxiety will rear its ugly head to challenge me to run and hide, stand still and give up, or tremble and fight. But the Holy Spirit will help me to get to the point where fear will not control me. And I will take my focus off of fear and anxiety and put it back on Jesus. I will live in the presence of God. The spirit of fear will not choke out my destiny or become my identity. The spirit of fear will not dictate the quality of life I will have or shall I say lack thereof. God did not give me a spirit of fear, but that of power, love and a sound mind. I will receive the life and life to the full Jesus came to give me. I will see myself the way God does. I will experience the joy that comes from God here on earth instead of believing I have to wait to experience it in heaven. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I will be fulfilled by only the One who can fulfill me and that is God. Life is not and will not always be comfortable. In fact, storms come and go. But I can walk in the freedom and wholeness of God, knowing that in His presence and with His grace, I can live simply, fruitfully and purposefully.
What Comes Before An Exodus?
Now back to what comes before the exodus.
God heard and saw. He sees your suffering. He feels your pain. He acknowledges what you’re feeling. Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. Exodus 3:7 NLT
God remembers His covenant and promises. “Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, “I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you. I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.”’ Exodus 3:16-17 NLT
You have an encounter with God. One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:1-6 NLT
God invites you to join Him in His mission. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:9-10 NLT
You get His instructions and encouragement. Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied to Moses, “ I Am Who I Am . Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations. “Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, “I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you. I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.”’ “The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord , the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord , our God.’ “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go. And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.” Exodus 3:7, 10-22 NLT
Lastly, I would like to say that God is right there with you in your healing journey. He is our Shepherd and we have all we need because He cares for us and He will always provide for us. He never lies and never fails. Before our exodus, we must also come to let our flesh die daily. This means that with God’s grace and prayer, to humble ourselves before God and surrender to Him as well as keep renewing our minds with His word to transform our hearts. We must take time to spend time with God and make sure we keep our prayer altars lit. Let Him guide us and prepare us for each day as well as our deliverance, however that deliverance looks like to God. God is an amazing God and He loves us so!Tannika Nikeya 🙏🏾
Tannika Nikeya 