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Get A Grip

March 4, 2026 6 comments

I thought of the expression,“get a grip,” the other day when I had to face the reality of a serious medical condition that I’ve been dealing with for the past several months, a medical condition that’s going to require surgery to fix it—brain surgery.

The medical condition I’ve been having is Trigeminal Neuralgia, and the neurosurgeon at OU Medical Center told me that he would perform a Microvascular Decompression on my brain to correct it.

However, when I thought of the phrase, “get a grip,” I wasn’t thinking in terms of its usual usage, that is, I wasn’t telling myself to control my emotions so I wouldn’t have a breakdown when I heard what the surgeon said he needed to do.

This surgery requires him to remove a portion of my skull near my ear and separate the superior cerebellar artery in my brain from the trigeminal nerve that controls the feeling in my face. (This artery sits so close to the trigeminal nerve that it has worn it down on the right side of my brain, which is why it’s continually sending painful electrical shocks to the right side of my face, and unfortunately, I’m allergic to the medicines that are usually able to control this condition.)

When I heard what the surgeon said he needed to do, instead of thinking about the usual meaning of “get a grip,” I thought about all the Scriptures that assure me that God will give me strength and uphold me during the difficult times I face in my life—a promise He’s given to all believers.

Isaiah 41:10 is one of those verses: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Not only does God uphold me—that is, He grips me tight—He also tells me to hold onto Him—yes, He’s told me to get a grip on Him.

A verse that says this very thing is Proverbs 4:13: “Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.”

As I undergo this procedure and the recovery period that follows—which could be several weeks—I’m  going to “get a grip”by holding on to everything God has promised me in His Word, all those verses that assure me that whatever He allows to come into my life has first passed through His hands and will ultimately bring Him glory and be for my good and benefit.

These are the same promises you can lean on to “get a grip” during the trials you’re facing. I’ve listed a few of those promises below, but there are many more in His Word.

Joshua 1:9—“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  

Psalm 73:26—“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Categories: Anxiety, Believe, Bible, Comfort, Devotionals, Faith, Fear, Get a Grip, Glorifying God, God's Word, Personal, Proverbs, Psalms, Thankfulness, Worry Tags: , , , , , ,

Are You Prepared?

October 26, 2025 Leave a comment

One day—although it’s probably happened to you already—you’ll experience disappointment, loss, suffering, hurt, betrayal, or a number of other painful situations you didn’t anticipate would come your way.

Even though you may have thought you were prepared for every possible hardship a human being can have, there’s a good possibility a situation will arise that will surprise you—something you weren’t prepared for, something you never imagined would happen.

Thankfully, God has graciously instructed His followers how to respond when difficulties come our way.

First, He tells us to expect difficulties:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12.

Difficulties and hardships aren’t strange. They happen to every human being on the planet, including followers of Jesus Christ.

Second, learn from difficulties:
“. . . you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7.

In His infinite wisdom, God allows us to suffer various hardships in order to test the “genuineness” of our faith. Although we may not understand His purpose for it until we walk through the portals of Heaven, we can be assured He designed it for our ultimate good.

Third, recognize our difficulties won’t last forever:
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10.

We won’t be in this difficult situation forever. There is an end to it—whether in this life or in death.

Lastly, rejoice in difficulties:
“ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.” 1 Peter 1:6.

Rejoicing when we experience trials doesn’t mean we aren’t grieving or hurting. It means in our prayers and by our testimony, we are trusting God, giving Him glory, and relying on His goodness during our suffering.

“Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will, entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19.

Be prepared to suffer. In doing so, you will honor and glorify our Lord, “. . . who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross . . .” Hebrews 12:2.

Categories: Anxiety, Comfort, Devotionals, Faith, Fear, Glorifying God, joy, Sorrow, Wisdom Tags: , , , , , ,

Need Comfort?

October 7, 2024 Leave a comment

Body language experts are on the news a lot these days. Because it’s an election season, they’re asked to interpret the subtle, nonverbal cues that give insight into a political candidate’s feelings.

One particular observation got my attention recently, because I had never heard anyone put a name to certain gestures a speaker makes, like clutching hands together, putting hands to the face, or massaging an arm. Body language experts call these “comfort gestures.”

Such actions serve to soothe the speaker and indicate the person is feeling anxious, stressed, or uncertain. One expert says that everyone has these “self-comforting movements,” which we all engage in many times during our day.

Although we may not be aware of how often we feel the need to comfort ourselves, the Bible is full of verses that address our universal need for comfort. I immediately thought of several, which made me curious, so I did an internet search and discovered over 100 verses that either mention comfort directly or describe how God provides comfort to us. Bible verses that speak of how God comforts us.

Here’s one of my favorites: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.

This verse tells me that Jesus Christ himself will comfort our hearts, and He does so on the basis of His love for us, a love that caused him to give “his life for us, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Now that’s comforting!

Categories: Anxiety, Believe, Comfort, Devotionals, Doubt, Faith, Fear, Hope, Trust, Worry Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

The Certainty of Doubt

August 11, 2024 Leave a comment

“I think I figured out who the doubters are.” That’s what a reader emailed me after I released my newest book, Four Doubt.

She followed up that sentence by saying, “But I found more than four doubters in this book. If I counted correctly, there were at least eight. It was like everyone had doubts. Did you realize that?”

I write series, so as a way of making it easy for my readers to know which book to read next, and also as a way of having an author “brand,” I include the number of the book as part of the title.

However, the number also has meaning in the plot of the book. Thus, in this series, the Silas McKay Suspense Series, the number in each of the titles—One Wonders, Two Believe, Three Confess, and Four Doubt, can be linked to certain characters, while also signifying the book order.

For example, in Two Believe, Silas McKay finds it hard to believe in the goodness of God after his wife died of brain cancer. Then, as he and a colleague investigate a robbery, she confesses she doesn’t believe in God. I won’t give any specific spoilers, but by the end of the book, two believe.

The reader who emailed me was right about Four Doubt having a reoccurring theme of doubt running throughout the book. Although the four main characters in the plot expressed doubt of some sort, there were others as well.

The reason doubt was so pervasive among the characters is that I try to make my novels as realistic as possible—in a fictional sort of way, of course—and our culture today is permeated with doubt. We express skepticism toward institutions, government, politicians, medicine, and the list goes on and on. However, doubt isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There are many instances in Scripture where doubt is expressed, and while Jesus pointed out to his disciples that their doubt showed their lack of faith, he didn’t condemn them for their doubt. Instead, he urged them to believe in Him.

When Silas, the main character in my novel, is asked whether he doubts something, he says, “In my line of work, I never shy away from having doubts. Doubt stems from a desire to know the truth, and if I engage in it, it’s only because I’m pursuing the truth.”

One of the certainties of life is that everyone will experience doubt, but pursuing truth dispels doubt. Where does that search begin?

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6.

Have no doubt. It begins with Truth himself.

Categories: Anxiety, Believe, Books, Certainty, Credibility, Doubt, Faith, Fear, God's Control, Hope, Trust, Truth Tags: , , , , , , , ,

I Can Do Anything

February 9, 2022 Leave a comment

I love the story of the little girl whose mother found her crying in the kitchen. When her mother asked her what was wrong, she said, “I’m in the kitchen, but I still don’t know how to cook.” Her mother put her up on a kitchen stool and proceeded to help her bake some cookies. Later, as they munched on the delicacies, the little girl observed, “If I let you do it, I can do anything.”

There are times when I’m standing in the middle of life, and I suddenly realize I don’t know how to do it. That’s when I try to remember to do these three things. By doing so, I feel as if I can do anything.

1. Ask God to take over.

Not long ago there was a popular song entitled “Jesus Take The Wheel.” It’s almost comical to think of Jesus of Nazareth in a long white robe and dusty sandals sitting in the driver’s seat and tooling along the highway of life with me in the passenger seat. However, while the picture may be amusing, the concept is theologically sound. John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” You can have peace; He’s overcome all the obstacles. Trust Him.

2.  Allow others to help you.

It’s an all-American ideal to “make it on our own” or to “act independently,” but, that’s not a Biblical concept. When Paul speaks of believers in Christ, he describes each one as part of a whole. In fact, he sees this whole as if it were a human body. He says in 1 Corinthians 12:14, “the body is not one member, but many.” When I ask help from a fellow believer, I’m functioning in the way God intended His Spiritual body on earth to function.

3. Accept the personality God gave you.

Are you an introvert? Then don’t expect to live as an extrovert. Do you enjoy talking? Then don’t expect to stay silent. God says in Psalm 17, “You are the apple of my eye,” and in Isaiah 44:2, “This is what the LORD says– he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:” Perhaps the best passage for understanding the hand of God upon the life of every individual is Psalm 139. The message in these verses is that God made you the way you are, and you glorify Him when you accept this truth.

Ask God.

Allow Others.

Accept Yourself.

Remember this pyramid with God at the pinnacle. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13.

Categories: Anxiety, Christian Living, Devotionals, God's Control, Grace, Guidance, Hope, Reality, Steadfast, Success, Trust Tags: , , , ,

What Does God Know About Worry?

July 29, 2021 Leave a comment

Everything, of course. That’s why we should follow his instructions about living a worry-free life. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.” Matthew 6:25.

Even though it’s worded a little differently each time, the command not to worry appears in all of the gospels, including a double warning in the gospel of John. “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27.

Paul also teaches the worry-free life in his letters. “Do not be anxious about anything . . .” Philippians 4:6. As clear as that command is, the “how to” of dealing with worry is equally straightforward.

Philippians 4:7, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Not surprisingly, Peter echoes Paul’s solution to worry in 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves . . . casting all your anxieties  upon him, for he cares for you.”

The writer of Hebrews says we can be sure of his help when we are troubled. He writes, “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear . . .” Hebrews 13:6.

According to God’s Word, by bringing our worries and cares to the Lord, we are rewarded with the strength and peace to deal with life’s inevitable anxieties.

And, because God is always overflowing in his care for us, He promises to do this for us anew every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning . . .”

What does God know about worry?  Everything.

Trust Him. He’s got this. Leave your worries with Him.

Categories: Anxiety, Bible, Faith, Fear, God's Control, God's Presence, God's Word, Prayer, Trust, Worry Tags: , , , , ,