When Grief Meets Grace

Have you ever felt so hopeless that even good news seemed impossible to believe? That’s exactly where two disciples found themselves on the road to Emmaus. They were grieving, lamenting the loss of everything they’d hoped for. And in that moment of deepest despair, Jesus showed up—breaking bread with them before vanishing from their sight.

The Biblical Pattern of Lament

The experience of these disciples mirrors the ancient biblical practice of lament found throughout Scripture. Lamentations, often called the funeral poems of the Bible, follow a powerful pattern: they begin with raw, honest grievance—”God, where were you when this happened? This is horrible. I feel hopeless and downcast”—but they always turn back to a crucial truth: God, you are good.

This turning point is beautifully captured in Lamentations 3:22-25, a passage that transforms despair into hope:

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the one who seeks him.”

Hope When We Don’t Deserve It

Here’s the revolutionary truth about God’s character: He is in the business of dealing hope—not hope when you deserve it, not hope when you’ve done something to earn it, but hope that meets you exactly where you are in your moment of despair.

The disciples on the Emmaus road weren’t looking for Jesus. They were walking away from Jerusalem, away from their shattered dreams. Yet Jesus pursued them. He walked alongside them. He opened the Scriptures to them. And when He broke bread with them, their eyes were opened to recognize Him.

New Mercies Every Morning

The promise of Lamentations 3 isn’t that we’ll never face grief, loss, or disappointment. It’s that God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning. No matter how dark yesterday was, God’s faithfulness greets you with fresh hope when you wake up.

This isn’t a shallow “think positive” message. This is the bedrock reality of who God is:

• His love prevents us from being consumed by our circumstances
• His compassion is limitless and never-ending
• His faithfulness is great, unchanging through every season
• He is good to those who hope in Him and seek Him

Where Are You Today?

I don’t know what you’re struggling with. Maybe it’s:

• A relationship that’s falling apart
• A diagnosis that’s shaken your world
• Financial pressures that feel crushing
• Dreams that have died
• Questions that have no easy answers

Whatever you’re facing, know this: God meets you in that moment of despair. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t have to have your faith perfectly intact. You don’t have to pretend everything’s okay.

The Lord Is Your Portion

When you can say with the psalmist, “The Lord is my portion,” you’re declaring that God Himself is enough. Not God plus financial security. Not God plus perfect health. Not God plus all your dreams coming true. Just God.

And when God is your portion, you can wait for Him. You can hope in Him. You can seek Him—even when your heart is broken, even when you don’t understand, even when the grief feels overwhelming.

The Invitation to Hope

The same Jesus who walked the Emmaus road walks with you today. He meets you in your grief. He opens the Scriptures to restore your hope. And He offers Himself as the source of compassion that never fails.

His mercies are new this morning. Will you receive them?

When God Seems Silent

Have you ever experienced a season when God felt silent? When your prayers seemed to hit the ceiling and bounce back? When heaven appeared to be on mute?

The disciples knew this feeling all too well. After watching Jesus die on the cross Friday afternoon, they spent Saturday in devastating silence. Their Messiah was gone. Their hope seemed buried. God appeared absent. This “Silent Saturday” represents those dark moments we all face—when grief overwhelms us, when answers don’t come, and when faith feels impossible.

But here’s the truth that transforms everything: silence doesn’t mean the story is over.

Rejoicing Comes in the Morning

Psalm 30:5 beautifully frames the Easter story: “Sing praises to the Lord, you His faithful people. Praise His holy name, for His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Early Sunday morning, everything changed. Jesus rose from the dead. The tomb that held His body now stood empty. Death, which seemed to have the final word, was defeated. The silence was shattered by the greatest news in human history: He is risen!

This wasn’t just good news for the disciples—it’s life-changing news for us today.

Why We Rejoice Today

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we gather every Sunday not to mourn what was lost, but to celebrate what was won. We worship a living Savior, not a dead prophet. We serve a God who specializes in turning mourning into dancing, ashes into beauty, and death into life.

The resurrection proves several powerful truths:

God keeps His promises. Jesus said He would rise on the third day, and He did. Every promise in Scripture is backed by the same faithfulness that raised Christ from the grave.

Your pain isn’t permanent. Just as Sunday followed Saturday, your season of weeping will give way to rejoicing. Your current struggle doesn’t define your future.

Death doesn’t win. Because Jesus conquered the grave, we have hope beyond this life. Grief is real, but it’s not final. For believers, death is simply a doorway to eternal life with Christ.

Our Mission: Be the Change

This resurrection reality fuels everything we do at Lakeview Christian Church. Our mission is simple: Be the change as Jesus has changed us. We live this out through “Just 3”:

Study – We study God’s Word to love and know Him more deeply. Understanding the resurrection story transforms how we view every circumstance.

Share – We share the good news to know and love others. Just as the women couldn’t keep silent about the empty tomb, we can’t keep quiet about what Jesus has done.

Serve – We serve as love in action. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now works in us to love and serve our Portage Lakes community and beyond.

Your Invitation to Rejoice

Perhaps you’re in your own “Silent Saturday” right now. Maybe you’re facing loss, confusion, or disappointment. Maybe you’ve been waiting for God to show up, wondering if He’s listening at all.

Here’s your reminder: Sunday is coming. In fact, for those who trust in Jesus, Sunday is already here. The resurrection means that no matter how dark your Friday was or how silent your Saturday feels, rejoicing is available right now.

You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect. You don’t need to have all the answers. The empty tomb declares that God is faithful, hope is real, and your story isn’t over.

Join Us This Sunday

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe that weeping may last for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. We invite you to experience the joy of resurrection Sunday—not just once a year at Easter, but every single week as we gather to worship our risen Savior.

Because our God is here. The tomb is empty. And it’s time to rejoice.

The Old Way: Separated from God’s Presence

For thousands of years, humanity lived under a system that kept us at a distance from God. As sinners, we couldn’t simply walk into God’s presence. The process was complex, costly, and required a mediator.

Here’s how it worked: You and I would bring our offerings—usually a lamb or something that cost us dearly—to the high priest. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sacrifice these offerings on the altar in exchange for our sins.

We couldn’t do this for ourselves. We weren’t holy enough to enter God’s presence. A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, symbolizing the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity. We were divided, separated, and dependent on a human mediator to approach God on our behalf.

This system reminded us constantly of our sin and our separation from God. Year after year, sacrifice after sacrifice, the barrier remained.

The New Way: Jesus Tears Down the Barrier

But when Jesus died on the cross, everything changed. He didn’t just modify the old system—He completely transformed it. As the Gospel accounts tell us, at the moment of Jesus’ death, that massive temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).

God Himself ripped down the barrier.

Hebrews 10:19-22 beautifully explains what this means for us today: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

What This Means for You Today

1. You Have Direct Access to God

You no longer need a human priest to mediate between you and God. Through Jesus Christ, you can approach God’s throne of grace directly, confidently, and at any time (Hebrews 4:16).

2. You Don’t Have to Clean Up First

Notice the passage says we come with “hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” You don’t have to get your life together before approaching God. Jesus’ blood has already cleansed you. Come as you are.

3. You Can Approach with Confidence

The old system was filled with fear and uncertainty. But now we approach “with full assurance that faith brings.” We’re not hoping God will accept us—we know He does because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

4. The Sacrifice Is Complete

Unlike the old system that required repeated sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). The debt is paid. The work is finished. The barrier is removed.

Living in Light of the Torn Curtain

Understanding what Jesus did at the cross should transform how we live:

• Prayer becomes personal conversation rather than formal ritual
• Worship flows from relationship rather than religious obligation
• Guilt is replaced with gratitude as we realize the price Jesus paid
• We approach God boldly knowing we’re welcomed as beloved children

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe this truth should change everything about how we relate to God. We don’t have to live at a distance anymore. We don’t have to wonder if God hears us or accepts us.

The curtain is torn. The door is open. God is accessible.

Your Response Matters

The cross demands a response. Will you accept this incredible gift of access to God through Jesus Christ? Will you stop living like the barrier is still up and embrace the intimate relationship God offers?

Jesus didn’t just die to forgive your sins—He died to bring you close to the Father. Don’t waste another day living at a distance from the God who tore down every barrier to be with you.

The curtain is torn. Come close.

Discovering Your Place in the Crucifixion Story

When we think about the crucifixion of Jesus, we often picture three crosses on a hill. We know the story—Jesus in the middle, two criminals on either side. But have you ever considered that you and I are represented on one of those crosses? The choice of which one is entirely up to us.

The Two Criminals: Two Different Responses

On that fateful day at Golgotha, two criminals hung beside Jesus, each facing the same circumstances, yet making vastly different choices:

The First Criminal chose to reject Jesus and His love. Despite being in the very presence of the Savior, he hardened his heart and mocked the One who could save him.

The Second Criminal chose to respond and acknowledge who Jesus truly was. In his final moments, he recognized Jesus as Lord and received the promise of paradise.

Same situation. Same opportunity. Two completely different eternal outcomes.

An Ancient Choice That Still Applies Today

This isn’t a new concept. Long before Jesus walked the earth, God presented humanity with the same fundamental choice. In Deuteronomy 30:19, we read:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life that both you and your descendants may live.”

The same theology that applied thousands of years ago still applies today. God has always given us the freedom to choose—to accept His love or reject it.

The Love That Chose Us First

Here’s the beautiful truth we must remember: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We didn’t have to clean ourselves up first. We didn’t have to prove ourselves worthy. Jesus chose to love us when we were at our worst.

The question is: How will we respond to that love?

Which Cross Do You Choose?

The Cross of Rejection

Like the first criminal, we can choose to reject Jesus’s sacrifice. We can harden our hearts, ignore His love, and face eternity separated from God. This choice leads to spiritual death and eternal consequences.

The Cross of Reception

Like the second criminal, we can choose to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior. We can humble ourselves, accept His forgiveness, and receive the promise of eternal life. This choice leads to transformation, hope, and paradise.

The Cross of Redemption

The middle cross—Jesus’s cross—represents redemption for all who believe. It’s the cross that makes our choice possible. Without Jesus’s sacrifice, we would have no option but condemnation.

Making Your Choice Today

The beauty of God’s grace is that it’s never too late to choose life. The criminal on the cross made his decision in his final moments and heard Jesus say, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

But don’t wait until your last breath. Choose today. Choose life. Choose Jesus.

Your Next Step

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe in being the change as Jesus has changed us. We live this out through our “Just 3” commitment:

• Study to love and know God
• Share to know and love others
• Serve as love in action

If you’re ready to choose the cross of reception—to respond to Christ’s love and acknowledge Him as Lord—we invite you to take that step today.

The choice is yours. Life or death. Blessing or curse. Which cross will you choose?

How a 500-Year-Old Prophecy Reveals God’s Perfect Plan

As we journey toward Easter at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, there’s something absolutely remarkable we need to pause and appreciate: the stunning accuracy of biblical prophecy. What we’re studying in Luke’s Gospel about Jesus’ trial and crucifixion wasn’t just predicted five years before it happened—it was foretold over 500 years earlier with breathtaking precision.

The Mathematical Impossibility of Coincidence

When you examine the sheer number of messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled, you’re looking at a mathematical near-impossibility. Scholars have identified over 300 prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament, and Jesus fulfilled every single one. The probability of one person fulfilling just eight of these prophecies by chance is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s 1 in 100 quadrillion). This isn’t luck—it’s divine orchestration.

Isaiah 53: A Portrait Painted 500 Years Early

One of the most powerful prophecies comes from Isaiah 53, written approximately 700 years before Christ. Isaiah was preaching to people who had lost hope—people who couldn’t see where God was present anymore, who felt stuck with no way out. Sound familiar?

Into their darkness, God spoke these words through Isaiah 53:4-6:

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Read that again slowly. This isn’t vague symbolism—it’s a detailed description of crucifixion written centuries before Rome even invented this method of execution.

The Prophecy Fulfilled at the Cross

Every detail Isaiah described came true in Jesus:

• “He took up our pain and bore our suffering” – Jesus carried the weight of humanity’s sin to the cross
• “Pierced for our transgressions” – Roman soldiers drove nails through His hands and feet
• “Crushed for our iniquities” – He endured brutal beating and crucifixion
• “The punishment that brought us peace was on him” – Jesus took the penalty we deserved
• “By his wounds we are healed” – His sacrifice provides spiritual healing and restoration
• “We all, like sheep, have gone astray” – We’ve all sinned and turned from God
• “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” – God placed our guilt on Jesus

Why This Matters for You Today

This prophecy reveals something crucial: God had a plan all along. When you feel lost, stuck, or hopeless—just like Isaiah’s original audience—remember that God sees the bigger picture. He’s been working out His redemptive plan since before time began.

The cross wasn’t Plan B. It wasn’t a tragic accident. It was the predetermined path to your freedom, foretold centuries in advance and fulfilled with perfect precision.

Living Out the Mission

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, our mission is to be the change as Jesus has changed us through “Just 3”:

• Study to love and know God – Dive into prophecies like Isaiah 53 and see God’s faithfulness
• Share to know and love others – Tell people about the God who planned their rescue 500 years in advance
• Serve as love in action – Respond to God’s incredible love with grateful service

This Easter season, let the mathematical miracle of fulfilled prophecy strengthen your faith. The same God who orchestrated every detail of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is orchestrating the details of your life too.

You’re not stuck. You’re not forgotten. You’re part of a story God has been writing since the beginning—and He always finishes what He starts.

When Everything You Touch Breaks

Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything seems to fall apart? The kind of week where every plan crumbles, every project fails, and chaos seems to reign? You’re not alone. Even in our darkest moments, God offers us a powerful promise found in Psalm 46:10-11.

The Command to Be Still

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:10-11)

This passage doesn’t say “be still and move around” or “be still and doubt.” It calls us to intimate knowledge—a deep, personal understanding that regardless of whatever you face, whatever you’re going through, God is bigger.

What Does “Be Still” Really Mean?

Being still isn’t about physical inactivity. It’s about spiritual surrender. It means:

• Stopping our frantic attempts to control everything
• Ceasing our worry and anxiety
• Trusting God’s sovereignty over our circumstances
• Knowing—not just believing—that God is who He says He is

This intimate knowledge transforms how we respond to life’s chaos.

Jesus’ Example of Surrender

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced His own moment of overwhelming darkness. He had to surrender His will to the Father’s plan. This wasn’t easy—He prayed so intensely that His sweat became like drops of blood. Yet He ultimately said, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus shows us what true surrender looks like when everything feels like it’s breaking.

When God’s Plan Seems Hidden

Here’s the truth we must embrace: When we face weeks where everything we touch seems to break, we must remember that God’s plan is bigger than what appears on the surface.

God is in the business of doing something greater than we can see in the moment. Our temporary chaos doesn’t mean God has lost control. In fact, it often means quite the opposite.

Expect Spiritual Opposition

When we align ourselves with God’s will, we should expect resistance. Satan will advance against those who are walking in obedience. But here’s the ultimate trust: God is sovereign. He remains our fortress even when we’re going through the waters of chaos.

The Lord Almighty isn’t just near us—He is with us. The God of Jacob isn’t just powerful—He is our fortress, our place of safety and protection.

Practical Steps to Be Still

1. Pause in the chaos – Take intentional moments to stop and pray
2. Remember God’s character – He is sovereign, faithful, and good
3. Surrender your will – Like Jesus, pray “Your will be done”
4. Trust His bigger plan – What you see isn’t all there is
5. Stand firm in faith – God is your fortress when everything shakes

Finding Hope in the Storm

When life feels overwhelming, when everything seems to be breaking, when chaos surrounds you—this is precisely when Psalm 46:10-11 becomes most powerful.

Being still doesn’t mean being passive. It means actively trusting in God’s sovereignty while resting in His presence. It means knowing—with intimate, unshakeable knowledge—that God is bigger than your circumstances.

Your Fortress Awaits

Whatever you’re facing today, remember: The Lord Almighty is with you. The God of Jacob is your fortress. You don’t have to fix everything. You don’t have to control every outcome. You simply need to be still and know that He is God.

That truth brought hope in the midst of a difficult week. May it bring you hope today as well.

The Hope That Changes Everything

Thanks be to God that we live in a world where Jesus has already died for our sins and resurrected. This truth is the foundation of our faith and the reason we gather for communion each week. It’s the hope of Easter, the promise of redemption, and the reason Jesus is such a big deal—because His sacrifice literally changed everything.

From Brick by Brick to Complete Freedom

For centuries, the Old Testament sacrificial system operated like building a wall. Day after day, sin by sin, brick by brick, humanity created a barrier between themselves and God. High priests worked tirelessly, offering sacrifice after sacrifice, trying to atone for the people’s sins. It was exhausting, endless work that never quite finished the job.

But what Jesus did on the cross was revolutionary. He didn’t just remove another brick. He saw that entire wall of sin and separation, laid dynamite at its base, and blew it up once and for all.

The Finished Work of Christ

Here’s the beautiful truth: no longer does our sin accumulate. Through the blood of Jesus, we are made clean. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from our sins.

Hebrews 10:11-14 paints a powerful picture: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”

Notice the difference? The Old Testament priests stood—always working, always offering, never finished. But Jesus sat down. Why? Because His work was complete. The price was paid in full.

Confidence in Christ’s Completed Work

After Jesus paid the price for our sins, He sat and waited for His enemies to become His footstool. This imagery should fill us with incredible confidence. We don’t serve a God who is still working to save us. We serve a God who has already accomplished our salvation.

It doesn’t matter where you’ve been. It doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve messed up. God’s blood is sufficient. His work on the cross is enough—once and for all.

The Hope of Communion

This is why communion matters so much. Every time we take the bread and the cup, we’re remembering and proclaiming this finished work. We’re declaring that:

• Our sins are forgiven—completely
• Our debt is paid—in full
• Our relationship with God is restored—permanently
• Our hope is secure—eternally

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe in being the change as Jesus has changed us. Our mission of “Just 3″—Study, Share, Serve—flows from this foundational truth. We study to love and know God who saved us. We share to know and love others with the same grace we’ve received. We serve as love in action, responding to what Christ has already done.

Your Invitation to Freedom

The wall between you and God has been demolished. The sacrifice has been made. The work is finished. All that remains is for you to receive this gift of grace.

1 John 1:7 promises: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Not some sin. Not most sin. All sin.

That’s the confidence we have in Christ. That’s the hope of communion. That’s why we gather, remember, and celebrate—because Jesus changed everything, once and for all.

When Failure Meets Divine Love

As we journey through the Gospel of Luke, we encounter a powerful contrast between two prominent figures who both failed Jesus spectacularly. Yet their stories end dramatically differently—not because of the size of their sin, but because of how they responded to God’s grace. This ancient story offers profound hope for anyone struggling with failure today.

What is Hesed Love?

At the heart of this message is a Hebrew word that changes everything: hesed. This isn’t just any kind of love—it’s God’s covenantal, loyal love. Hesed represents God’s unwavering commitment to His people, rooted in His agreement with Abraham and extended to all who trust Him.

Hesed means God will never:

• Forsake His promises
• Withdraw His grace
• Leave us trapped in our sin
• Give up on making a way back

As Psalm 103:12 declares: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” This is hesed love in action—complete, permanent removal of our sin through God’s compassion.

The Biblical Foundation of Grace

Both Lamentations and Psalms reference a pivotal moment in Exodus when God’s people completely turned their backs on Him. Fresh from their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, they built a golden calf and worshiped it while Moses met with God on Mount Sinai.

Moses interceded desperately: “Lord, they didn’t mean it. Don’t destroy them. Remember who You are.”

God’s response revealed His character for the first time in this complete way. Exodus 34:6-7 records: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”

This wasn’t just for ancient Israel—this is who God still is today.

Two Failures, Two Responses

The Gospel of Luke shows us two disciples who failed Jesus:

Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. When he realized what he’d done, he felt remorse but ran to despair instead of grace. He believed his failure was final.

Peter denied Jesus three times, claiming he didn’t even know Him. When Jesus looked at him with love, Peter wept bitterly—and that brokenness led him back to restoration.

The difference? Peter understood he was “the product of grace and the product of God’s loyal hesed love.” He knew God’s covenant promise meant there was always a way back.

Living in Hesed Love Today

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, our mission is to be the change as Jesus has changed us through our “Just 3” commitment:

Study – Know God’s character of hesed love through His Word Share – Experience grace in authentic Christian community
Serve – Extend the same compassion God shows us to others

God is always “in the process of making a way to deal with our brokenness.” He doesn’t leave us in our sin but compassionately removes it—as far as the east is from the west.

Your Response Matters

If you’re struggling with failure today, remember: God’s hesed love is bigger than your worst moment. The question isn’t whether you’ve failed—we all have. The question is, which direction will you run?

Will you run to despair, believing your sin is too big for God’s grace? Or will you run to Jesus, trusting that His covenant love never fails?

Lamentations 3:22-23 promises: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Every morning brings fresh mercy. Every moment offers a chance to return. That’s the power of hesed love.

When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, God Still Deserves Our Praise

A message from Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes

Have you ever felt like everything in your life is falling apart? You’re not alone. In fact, there’s an entire book of the Bible dedicated to asking God the hard questions we’re all thinking.

The Prophet Who Asked “Why?”

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, our young adult group has been studying the prophets, and one name keeps appearing: Habakkuk (however you choose to pronounce it!). This short, three-chapter book captures something we’re all too familiar with in today’s world—lamenting.

Let’s be honest: our society is really good at lamenting. We whine and grieve about a lot. But Habakkuk’s lament was different. He wasn’t complaining to his friends or venting on social media. He was bringing his honest questions directly to God:

• “Why have you called judgment upon Israel?”
• “Why are all these bad things happening?”
• “Why are we in exile?”
• “Why are you destroying the temple?”
• “What is going on? Why do we deserve this?”

Sound familiar? These are the same questions we ask when life doesn’t go according to plan.

The Most Powerful “Yet” in Scripture

After two chapters of honest wrestling with God, Habakkuk arrives at one of the most profound declarations of faith in all of Scripture. Habakkuk 3:17-18 says:

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Read that again slowly. Habakkuk is describing total devastation:

• No fruit on the trees
• Failed crops in the fields
• Empty pens and stalls
• Complete economic collapse
• Zero visible reasons for hope

And then comes that powerful word: “YET.”

Choosing Joy When Nothing Makes Sense

At its core, this is what we proclaim at Lakeview Christian Church. Our mission is to be the change as Jesus has changed us through “Just 3”: Study (to love and know God), Share (to know and love others), and Serve (love in action).

Habakkuk’s declaration embodies all three:

Study: He knew God deeply enough to trust Him when circumstances screamed otherwise. His relationship with God wasn’t dependent on his circumstances being good.

Share: By recording his struggle and resolution, Habakkuk shared hope with countless generations facing their own “fig tree” moments.

Serve: Choosing joy in suffering is an act of worship—love in action directed toward God, even when it costs us everything.

What’s Your Fig Tree?

What’s not budding in your life right now?

• Is it your health?
• Your finances?
• Your relationships?
• Your career?
• Your family?

Habakkuk teaches us that joy isn’t found in our circumstances changing—it’s found in knowing the God who never changes.

The prophet didn’t say, “I’ll rejoice when the fig tree buds again.” He said, “Though it doesn’t bud, yet I will rejoice.” That’s not denial or toxic positivity. That’s faith anchored in the character of God rather than the comfort of our situation.

The Invitation

This Sunday at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re exploring how God invites us into this kind of unshakeable faith. When the world around us crumbles, we don’t have to crumble with it. Our hope isn’t in things that don’t last—it’s in the only One who does.

Habakkuk discovered what we’re all invited to experience: that God is worthy of our praise not because of what He gives us, but because of who He is. He is our salvation, our strength, and our song—even when the fig tree refuses to bud.

Will you choose the “yet” today?

When God Gets Our Attention

Have you ever tried doing things your own way, only to have God redirect your path in an unmistakable way? At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we call these “2×4 moments”—those times when God has to get our attention because we’ve stubbornly insisted on our own plans instead of trusting His.

Think about Jonah. God called him to Nineveh, but Jonah had other ideas. He boarded a ship heading the opposite direction, convinced his plan was better. We all know what happened next—God threw a whale in his path. That’s the ultimate 2×4 moment! When we refuse to trust God and insist on doing things our way, we shouldn’t be surprised when He intervenes.

The Call to Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-2 reminds us of God’s call on our lives: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

This passage challenges us to rethink everything. True worship isn’t just singing songs on Sunday morning—it’s offering our entire lives as living sacrifices. It’s recognizing that nothing we have truly belongs to us: not our money, not our time, not our relationships, not our careers. Everything is God’s, entrusted to us for His purposes.

Be the Change Through “Just 3”

At Lakeview Christian Church, our mission is simple yet transformative: Be the change as Jesus has changed us. We live this out through what we call “Just 3”:

Study – We study to love and know God. When we renew our minds through Scripture, we begin to see the world—and our resources—through God’s eyes rather than our own limited perspective.

Share – We share to know and love others. This means opening our lives, our stories, and our resources to build genuine relationships that reflect Christ’s love.

Serve – We serve as love in action. True transformation happens when we stop clutching our time, talents, and treasures with closed fists and instead offer them with open palms.

Approaching Communion with Open Hands

When we gather around the communion table, it shouldn’t be routine. Each time we partake of the bread and cup, we’re reminded that Jesus held nothing back. He gave everything—His body broken, His blood poured out—so that we could experience new life.

The question communion asks us is this: If Jesus gave His all for you, what are you holding back from Him?

Are you clutching your schedule, afraid to give God your time? Are you protecting your comfort zone, unwilling to share your faith with others? Are you gripping your resources, convinced you’ve earned them and they’re yours to control?

The Transformation Begins Today

The beautiful promise of Romans 12:2 is that transformation is possible. When we stop conforming to the world’s patterns of self-protection and self-promotion, and instead allow God to renew our minds, we discover His good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re committed to being a community that lives with open hands and surrendered hearts. We’re learning together what it means to trust God completely—not just with our eternal salvation, but with our daily lives.

Will you join us in refusing to settle for 2×4 moments? Instead, let’s choose daily surrender, offering ourselves as living sacrifices and discovering the abundant life Jesus promises to those who trust Him completely.