“Ceri (my God influencer/brother) is your coping mechanism.”
That’s what my brother Kevin told me years ago.
My response? “Ceri points me to the ULTIMATE COPING MECHANISM: GOD.”
And that’s my assignment: To point the entire world to Him. Heehaw!!!
Ceri teaches me wisdom straight from God Himself. Like he said:
“Sometimes God will not change your situation, but He will change your perspective about a situation.”
Yesterday, I shared this Ceri perspective:
“God, Thanks for everything. Thanks for gifting me with life. Thanks for my family. Thanks for being able to just be here. Thanks through the midst of all these things that are going on around me — the city burning — but still, thanks for being able to watch it.”
Meta AI captured the verse behind it:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 — Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
GOD WENT TO THE TROUBLE TO CONFIRM IT AT THE ALTAR THIS MORNING
Out of a over 700-page Jesus Calling devotional, God took me directly here — as if He was speaking face-to-face:
“I GIVE YOU JOY AND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STRUGGLES WHEN YOU REFUSE TO GRUMBLE.”
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
You see God? This was no coincidence. This is the perspective I want for you:
IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STRUGGLES — THE CITY BURNING — YOU CAN THANK ME.
Our faith in God is the reason we can thank Him and remain POSITIVE and HOPEFUL, even when nothing seems to be going right.
I had another one of my forced sit-down-and-read moments — your girl does NOT like reading!!!
But here’s the big takeaway God gave us through Yes, Father:
“We shall accept from God’s fatherly hand everything (the good, bad and ugly) as it may be offered to us in any moment. We shall make the best use of it. We shall allow ourselves to be carried by God from moment to moment.”
God Whisper: _ Moment to moment. I’ll carry you. My hands are strong enough to carry your burdens and all the burdens of everyone in the world. Trust me moment by moment. That’s the “Yes, Father” posture. HEEHAW!_
Why can we do this? CONFIDENCE IN HIM:
If He brought us to it, He’ll take us through it.
Invincible doesn’t mean untouched. It means we are held, taught, and sent back into the ring to keep fighting — despite the punches and knocks. Invincible, baby!
We don’t need to run to alcohol, drugs, people, food, or any worldly escape.
You can run to God.
God Whisper: Bottles numb. Smoke clouds. Bingeing buries. But I use. Bring Me your mess. I don’t need your performance. I need your honesty. That’s where we repair and move forward.
Like a wise man told my son yesterday:
“Immediately you fail or mess up, go directly to God and come clean to Him — ‘God, I messed up here again.’ Seek His forgiveness, then immediately turn around (repent) and try not to make the same mistake again.”
We don’t sit in our failures.
We repent. We repair. We accept God’s forgiveness for ourselves and others.
We move forward to our victories with God by our side.
WE ROLL WITH GOD…
WE ROLL WITH strength, courage, joy, peace, wisdom, humility, kindness, compassion, love, patience, and mercy.
1. THE BIG LESSON: GOD > COPING MECHANISMS
People, habits, even good people like Ceri, can help you. But they’re just signposts. God is the destination. Don’t stop at the sign.
God Whisper: I send Ceris to point to Me. Don’t worship the pointer. Run to what it’s pointing at — Me
How to live it today:
Ask yourself: “When life gets hard, who or what do I run to first?”
Try this: Before you grab your phone, snack, drink, or friend — whisper, “God, You first.” Even for 10 seconds. I love running to our family’s website werollwithgod.com or my meditation books like Jesus Calling.
2. THE SECRET SKILL: THANKS IN THE FIRE
God doesn’t always put out the fire. Sometimes He teaches you to thank Him while it’s burning. That’s where peace and joy show up. 1 Thess 5:18
God Whisper: The low moment isn’t punishment. It’s training. Grumbling keeps you down. Thanks moves you through. Choose.
How to live it today:
Every morning and night, think of 3 things you can thank God for even though stuff is hard.
Examples: “Thanks I can breathe.” “Thanks for my kid’s laugh.” “Thanks You’re here while my city’s burning.”
“Name 1 awful thing + 1 thank-you despite of it.”
3. THE RULE: YES, FATHER — MOMENT TO MOMENT
You don’t have to carry next week. Or even tonight. Just this moment. Say “Yes, Father” to what’s in your hand right now, and let God carry you to the next one.
God Whisper: You’re overwhelmed because you picked up tomorrow’s weight. Put it down. I only gave you this moment. Can you say “God, I trust You” to THIS moment?
The “Just This” Prayer: When you feel panicked, stop and say: _“God, I say yes to THIS moment. Carry me to the next one. In this moment everything is fine and not the worst case scenario my mind is telling me to imagine. Remind me that Your Presence is with me here and right now. Help me to keep my mind on You.
4. THE TRUTH: INVINCIBLE = HELD, NOT UNTOUCHED
Being “invincible” with God doesn’t mean life won’t punch you (Life be lifeing!). It means God holds you through every punch, teaches you, and sends you back in stronger.
God Whisper: I never promised no hits. I promised no drops. You get hit, but you don’t get knocked OUT of My hand.
After a hard hit: Say out loud: “God, hold me through this punch.”
Then ask: “What are You teaching me right here?”
* “When I get sad, mad, worried or frustrated, I can run to God and have a conversation with Him.”
5. THE RECOVERY PLAN: FAIL FAST, RUN FASTER TO GOD
When you mess up, don’t hide. Run to God immediately. Say “I messed up,” take His forgiveness, turn around, and try again. No sitting in shame.
God Whisper: Failure is where the enemy says “stay down.” I say “get up, come here.” My forgiveness is faster than your failure.
The 60-Second Reset:
1. “God, I messed up here: __.”
2. “Thank You for forgiving me.”
3. “Help me try again.”_
For families: Do this out loud in the car after arguments. Models it for kids.
SUMMARY FOR EVERYBODY:
When I’m sad or mad, I can thank God and ask for help. He’s my 24/7 hotline for strength, help, guidance and support
I don’t need to numb out. I can take whatever negative situation to God, say thanks anyway, and He’ll carry me.
* Failures are a part of life. But so is God. Moment by moment, I say “God, I know You are with me here.”
WE ROLL WITH GOD…
WE ROLL WITH THANKS IN THE FIRE
WE ROLL MOMENT TO MOMENT
WE ROLL INVINCIBLE
WE ROLL FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST FOR HUMANITY
3 VERSES THAT CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THIS BLOG
1. THE CERI VERSE: THANKS IN THE FIRE
1 Thessalonians 5:18 — Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
God Whisper: Low is a circumstance. High is a circumstance. Thanks is My will in BOTH. HEEHAW!
2. THE LAUNCHPAD VERSE: YES, FATHER
Matthew 11:26 NLT — Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
| ▪ | “We shall accept from God’s fatherly hand everything as it may be offered to us in any moment… allow ourselves to be carried by God from moment to moment.” |
God Whisper: Troubles AND blessings are from My hand. I’ll carry you through it all. I can even bless you in the midst of troubles! Trust the process.
3. THE INVINCIBLE VERSE: HELD IN THE RING
Isaiah 41:10 — So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God Whisper: You WILL get hit (life will throw you 10,000 punches), but you don’t get dropped. My hand is in the ring. You’re invincible because I’m holding you.
Father,
Thank You that You are our ULTIMATE COPING MECHANISM.
Thank You for the Ceris who point us to You, and the Kevins who keep us honest.
Today, we say YES, FATHER to whatever is in our hand — even if our city is burning.
We choose thanks in the fire because our confidence is in You, not our circumstances.
You didn’t promise we wouldn’t get hit.
You promised You’d hold us through every punch, teach us in the ring, and send us back out stronger.
So when we fail — and we will — we won’t run from You.
We’ll run to You. “God, I messed up here again.”
We take Your forgiveness. We repent. We repair. We rise.
Carry us moment to moment, Father.
From our lows to our highs, for Your glory.
For the entire humanity that needs to know:
If You can meet us at our failures, You’ll meet us anywhere.
WE ROLL WITH GOD…
WE ROLL WITH strength, courage, joy, peace, wisdom, humility, kindness, compassion, love, patience, and mercy.
In Jesus’ Name — the One who makes us invincible — Amen.