Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

There’s a powerful moment in Scripture where Peter sees Jesus walking on water, and with faith, he steps out of the boat. For a moment, he’s doing the impossible. But then—he hears the roar of the wind. He sees the waves crashing around him, and fear sets in. That’s when he begins to sink. (Matthew 14:29-30)

What changed? Jesus didn’t move. The miracle was still happening. The only thing that shifted was Peter’s focus. He went from looking at Jesus to listening to the roar.

That’s what happens to us, isn’t it?

We’re moving forward, believing for healing, restoration, or provision. We’ve got momentum—faith is rising. But then we hear it. The roar. The diagnosis. The financial pressure. The discouraging comment. The enemy shouts, “It’s too late,” “You’re not enough,” “God won’t come through.” Suddenly, fear drowns our faith.

Here’s the truth I’ve had to learn again and again: the roar is just noise. It’s a distraction, not a prophecy. It’s an illusion designed to keep us from walking in God’s promises.

The Bible tells us that our adversary, the devil, “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But did you catch that? Like a roaring lion. He’s not the Lion of Judah. He only mimics power. He roars to intimidate, to paralyze. But the roar doesn’t have the authority to undo what God has declared over your life.

Now, let me share something fascinating—something both spiritual and scientific.

There’s a part of your brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). It acts as a filter between your conscious and subconscious mind. Essentially, it decides what information you notice and focus on. That’s why, if you suddenly decide you want a red Jeep, you’ll start seeing red Jeeps everywhere. They were always there, but your RAS is now tuned to that frequency.

Here’s the connection: your RAS doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what you tell it is real. So if you keep thinking, I’ll never get out of this, or Nothing ever works for me, or I’m just not good enough, your brain will start filtering in all the evidence to prove those statements true—and filtering out the opportunities, blessings, and breakthroughs God is placing in your path.

But the reverse is also true. If you wake up declaring, This is the day the Lord has made, or God is fighting my battles, or Something good is coming my way, then your RAS will start looking for evidence to support that too. You’ll begin noticing God’s hand, not just the enemy’s roar.

That’s why the Word says in Philippians 4:8 to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. It’s not just poetic—it’s powerful. What you focus on, you move toward. And if your focus is filled with fear, defeat, and doubt, you’re handing your RAS over to the enemy’s lies. But if you fill your mind with God’s promises, you train your brain to expect miracles, not meltdowns.

Even Jesus faced the roar. In the wilderness, the enemy came at Him with lies and twisted truths. But Jesus didn’t argue—He responded with Scripture. He didn’t entertain the noise; He shut it down with the Word.

And you can do the same. The roar may be loud, but it’s not louder than the voice of truth. The lies may be convincing, but they aren’t more powerful than God’s promises.

You might be walking through a storm right now. Maybe the roar in your life is a rebellious child, a crumbling marriage, or a doctor’s report. You feel like the enemy is shouting at you from every side. But I want to encourage you today: don’t confuse the volume of the enemy with the authority of your God.

When the roar gets loud, worship louder.
When the fear rises, declare God’s Word even bolder.
When doubt creeps in, remember whose voice has the final say.

Isaiah 54:17 reminds us, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn.” That means not only do the weapons fail—but the roar behind them must be silenced.

You are not alone in the fire. The Fourth Man is in it with you (Daniel 3:25). You’re not walking toward defeat—you’re walking through victory. So drown out the roar with the voice of truth.

Your Battle Is a Gateway, Not a Wall

Before David entered the palace, he had to face Goliath. Before Joseph ruled in Egypt, he had to endure the pit and the prison. Goliaths always precede promotion. What you’re facing isn’t meant to stop you—it’s meant to reveal you.

God doesn’t waste pressure. He uses it to prepare and promote. Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” God won’t just bless you—He’ll do it in plain sight of those who doubted you.

The Lion Roars Loudest When Birth Is Near

I’ll never forget what a safari guide in Africa once told me: “Lions stalk their prey most intensely when they sense it’s about to give birth.” In the spirit, it’s no different. When your breakthrough is near, that’s when the enemy will circle the hardest.

So, if you feel overwhelmed, pressed, exhausted—it may mean you’re just moments away from birthing something beautiful.

Change your focus. Rewire your mind. Retrain your RAS to expect the goodness of God. You may still hear the enemy roaring, but now you’ll walk right past it—unmoved, unshaken, and undefeated.

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
Thank You that Your voice speaks louder than the roar of fear, lies, and discouragement. Help me to set my focus on You and not on the storm. Rewire my thinking and train my heart to expect goodness, mercy, and victory. I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I silence every lie that tries to tell me I’m not enough, and I declare Your truth over my life. I reject the roar and receive the peace that passes all understanding. Thank You for walking with me through every storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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