Get your "Chazaq" back!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like the world has been running on fumes lately. Everywhere you turn, there’s bad news, heavy headlines, and hard days. It’s easy to get discouraged — and even easier to stay that way.

But God’s Word reminds us that we have the power to change that atmosphere — with just one word of encouragement.

Think about it: one kind word, one text, one moment of grace can completely turn someone’s day (or even their life!) around. You never know what battle someone is fighting behind that smile. And your words could be the spark that reignites their hope.

Job’s friends didn’t get that memo. When he was suffering, they blamed him for his pain. And Job finally said, “What miserable comforters you are!” (Job 16:2). Ouch. Then he added something beautiful: “If it were me, I would encourage you. I would speak words of life.”

That’s it. That’s the kind of person I want to be — someone who builds others up, who reminds people that God is still for them, still with them, still working in their story.

Because as Hebrews 3:13 says, “Encourage one another daily.” Not occasionally. Not when you feel like it. Daily. Why? Because the world’s negativity doesn’t take a day off — so neither should our encouragement!

And let’s be honest — sometimes the person who needs the most encouragement… is you.

I love the story of David in 1 Samuel 30. His life had just fallen apart — his home burned down, his people taken, his own men ready to turn on him. And Scripture says, “David found strength in the Lord his God.” The Hebrew word for “found strength” is chazaq (say it like “ha-zahk!”). It means to encourage yourself, to tell yourself to be strong.

David literally preached to himself.
He reminded his heart of who God is — good, faithful, powerful, and present.
He talked himself back into hope.

And maybe that’s exactly what we need to do, too.

When the negative voices get loud — both in your head and in the world — it’s time to preach to yourself.
Tell your soul what’s true:

“God is my provider.”
“God is my protector.”
“No weapon formed against me will prosper.”
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

You might just find your chazaq coming back.

So today, if you think something kind — say it.
If you think something loving — show it.
If you think something encouraging — express it.

Let’s be people who speak life into a weary world.
Because when we lift others, God lifts us too.

Cultivating God Confidence in a topsy turvy world

Let’s be honest—staying optimistic isn’t easy when life feels uncertain. Insecurity sneaks in with one awkward silence, one odd look, or one discouraging thought. But true confidence doesn’t come from believing more in ourselves—it comes from trusting more in God.

David said, “My heart is confident in You, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises!” (Psalm 57:7).

When we remember who God is, our insecurities lose their grip.
Here are three quick truths to anchor your soul:

1. My God is for me.
   “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). You don’t live for God’s approval—you live from it.

2. My God helps me.
   “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13:6). His presence changes everything.

3. My God is still working in me.
   “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” (Philippians 1:6). You are a work in progress—and God isn’t done yet.

So, when insecurity sneaks in—when the silence is loud, when the doubts are heavy—preach to yourself. Remind your soul who God is, and who you are because of Him.

“Why so downcast, O my soul?
Put your hope in God.” — Psalm 42:5

You can be optimistic in a topsy-turvy world because your confidence doesn’t come from what’s in you, but from Who’s in you.

And here’s the best news: God is still cheering, still helping, still working—because God is crazy in love with you. 💙

One Team. One Country. One Hope. 💙

Go Jays Go!

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly sit still. The Toronto Blue Jays — Canada’s team — are in the World Series, and suddenly we’re all on the same side! Across this beautiful country, people are digging out their jerseys, flying their flags, and staying up far too late because… how can you turn off the TV when your heart’s pounding like that?

There’s something about this team that brings us together — strangers high-fiving in coffee shops, neighbours chatting across fences, families gathered around the screen, holding their breath with every pitch. For a few precious days, we’re united in blue.

And maybe, just maybe, there’s something holy about that.

Sports have a way of reminding us about life and faith. There’s courage in every player who steps up to the plate after striking out. There’s perseverance in every inning that doesn’t go as planned. There’s hope in every fan who whispers, “Come on, you can do this.”

Doesn’t that sound a bit like our spiritual lives?

We’ve all had seasons when we feel like we’re swinging and missing. When life throws curveballs we didn’t see coming. When it feels like we’re down by three runs and the bases are empty. But that’s when faith calls us to dig in, take a deep breath, and trust that God is still in the game.

“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” — Hebrews 12:1–2

Or maybe, in baseball language: Keep your eye on the ball, and remember Who’s coaching from the dugout.

One of my favourite things about this moment is how the whole country rallies. We may be divided by time zones, but right now, we’re one big cheering section. From Newfoundland to Nanaimo, from farmers’ fields to downtown condos, we’re all shouting the same thing: Go Jays Go!

And there’s something so beautiful about that unity — that shared sense of joy and belonging. It reminds me of Psalm 133:

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

Maybe that’s why it feels so good — because we were made for this kind of togetherness.

Whether the Jays win it all or not, there’s something sacred in the journey. The effort, the grit, the community that forms around hope — that’s the stuff God can use.

So as we cheer, may we also remember:
When life feels like the ninth inning and we’re running out of strength, God is still with us. When we face setbacks or disappointments, God’s promises still stand. And when the world feels divided, we can always choose to rally around something good, something joyful, something that reminds us who we are — a people of hope.

So let’s keep cheering. Let’s keep believing. And let’s keep remembering that the same God who gave us the joy of a walk-off home run is the One who walks with us every step of the way.

Go Jays Go — and thanks be to God. 💙