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To overcome stress you must either change your circumstances or your perceptions. You can change some circumstances, of course, but many you cannot.

Believers periodically tell me versions of the following: “We shouldn’t be thinking about reunion with loved ones, or the joys of Heaven. We should only be thinking about being united with Christ, who is our only treasure.” This sounds spiritual, but is it?

Can you imagine anyone saying on his or her deathbed, “I wish I’d bought more stuff”? If we truly understood both the present and the eternal results of giving, we’d never hesitate or wonder whether it’s worthwhile to give now.

We delude ourselves when we think we have ultimate control over our lives. It often comes down to this: what we really want is to make our own plans and do our own thing. We don’t want anyone, including God, to impose His plans on us.

When I’ve been snorkeling, I often think how incredible it is to get a glimpse of all the things God governs that go on in the universe, 99.99999% of which we never see or think about!

God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He uses our sense of human weakness and inadequacy not only to build our character, but also to manifest His strength and grace to us and through us.

Sometimes we read Scripture about rejoicing or trusting and think, Easy to say, but you’re not facing what I am. But few people have faced conditions as dire as Habakkuk, with the impending destruction of his nation, family, friends, and entire way of life.

There are people who reason, If I give generously, I’ll have to worry about where the money will come from to replace what I’ve given. But Jesus teaches that generous giving isn’t a cause for insecurity and worry. It’s a cure for it.

Jesus says, “Don’t give up! Pray for God’s help” (see Luke 18:1). Some readers will be suspicious of this because they’ve heard “Just read the Bible and pray, and that will solve everything.” No, it won’t solve everything, but nothing will be solved without it. Jesus knew what He was talking about.

Our perceptions—much more than our circumstances—are the building blocks with which we construct our lives. No matter what the circumstances and stress, our view of life determines our level of joy and contentment.

The presence of God is the essence of Heaven. John Milton put it, “Thy presence makes our Paradise, and where Thou art is Heaven.” Heaven will be a physical extension of God’s goodness.

The more famous someone becomes, the harder it is to cultivate and retain virtue. The bigger your image, the more it tends to eclipse your character. In today’s social media world, instead of building character, many people just build image.

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the death of my childhood best friend, Jerry. In God’s providence, earlier this summer I ran across my 2007 blog about him. I’m reposting it in honor of my friend, and in the hope that readers will find this tribute to friendship to be encouraging. 

This Wednesday, October 8, is the 44th anniversary of the death of my precious mother, Lucille Vivian Tovrea Alcorn. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t think of her and thank God for her.