Wayne Jacobsen

From Despair to Fullness

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Sara and I were recently in a religious environment that pins all its hopes on miracles. And although they have the occasional story to pull out that seems to prove the point, you ignore the hundreds of other people whose needs persist despite the same kinds of prayers and devotion. So when someone experiences a miracle, it’s touted as normal, and when people struggle with sickness, trauma, or challenging circumstances, they are looked down upon.

As we were leaving one of those meetings, I turned to Sara and said, “This would not be a safe place for anyone with a  need.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” she responded with a sigh.

I used to be part of groups like that, even leading them, until love began to change my heart. God does do miracles that change people’s circumstances, but those are few and far between. Mostly, the miracle he wants is inside of us, not outside of us. Sickness, or overwhelming need, does not prove you’re unloved or that you’re not trying hard enough. It just means you are caught in the chaos of this age, often through no fault of your own, and his love in you is even more valuable in such times.

The celebration of Christmas can bring this into sharp contrast. For those whose circumstances are wonderful, it is a time of great joy. For those who have lost a loved one this past year, are battling a life-threatening illness of their own,  dealing with toxic family members, or suffering financial stress, these days can only seem more lonely and lifeless. They don’t have to be.

If you’re facing dire difficulties, just remember God is with you to reveal his glory in the midst of whatever struggle you’re facing.

Sara and I read Psalm 23 yesterday morning. It begins with the sheer beauty and joy of God leading us to green pastures and quiet waters. But it also affirms his ability to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death and to set a table before us in the presence of our enemies. No one should be made to feel unsafe because the events in their life are not easy and joyful. If God isn’t as real in our darkness and fears as he is in easy times, then we’re missing who he really is.

So, wherever you find your life this Christmas, Sara and I pray that you’ll be at rest in this simple reality: Christ dwells in you, and he alone is your hope for the glory of God to be revealed in you. And that will surely happen. If the miracle you’re praying for doesn’t come, find the miracle of his life within you. He is surely there with encouragement, hope, strength, and wisdom.

Especially for those of you in challenging times, Sara and I hope you find his sweet presence deep inside your heart. We hope that allows you to give way to the joy of Presence, instead of letting your struggles define your day. You can know sorrow, fear, and confusion, and still know his fullness growing within you.

A few years ago, I got a letter from a woman named Ruth, who is a CEO in the health industry. Here’s what she wrote:

There is always this thing that pulls me down into despair and a helpless state. My joy doesn’t last. I don’t know how to get out of this!!!!! I don’t have any more strength to go to work tomorrow. I want to rest, but there is this… I honestly don’t know what to call it—constant pain, sadness, despair, exhaustion. It sucks the life out of me and leaves me empty even when I’m holding on to my faith that God is good to me.

I can’t be alone…. I can’t stand me…. It’s been like this for years now!!!!

I realized that all my life (33 years),  I was expected to believe what others believe. I lived for what others wanted for me and expected from me; it made me stop and think! So now I think this is the cause of my problem. I always wanted to keep the peace of my surroundings just for the sake of making everybody happy, but now I realized that it is at the cost of losing what God has in me, I guess! Help.

She’s not alone. I’ve met many like her on this journey, who write me from the end of the rope.

I told her it isn’t usually helpful to resolve these questions by getting a plan in our heads and pursuing it. “I think Father’s will for us unfolds in the circumstances we are in and how he nudges us in the coming days. So don’t think you have to have a plan, or even know which way is best. The restlessness in your heart is a good sign that Father has something different for you. So, keep your eyes open. Explore. But just keep walking ahead until greater clarity comes.  He probably won’t give you a fully-formed plan, which may be preferable for a CEO, but he will give you an open door.

“You can stress too much trying to get it exactly right. Relax. God’s best isn’t a certain direction or vocation; it’s his unfolding glory in you, regardless of what circumstances you’re in.

It’s not either/or, it’s a dance. His insight in you, you responding to him, more insight, more following, and out of that beautiful dance, you’ll find yourself in the best place for you to be.  He won’t scoop you into it; you don’t have to find it on your own.”

Imagine my joy at hearing back from Ruth a couple of weeks ago:

I’ve wanted to write to you for some time to express my gratitude. A few years ago, I reached out to you, not really expecting a response, asking for guidance because I was in a season of deep distress. To my surprise and blessing, you wrote back with such love, wisdom, and heartfelt advice.

You encouraged me to rest in the love of God and to let go of the burdens of religion. That simple guidance has stayed with me and has been transformative. Slowly but surely, the Lord has been faithful in delivering me from the shackles that once weighed me down, showing me the root causes of much of my trouble, and bringing me healing and freedom.

 Today, I can truly say that I live in the peace of God that surpasses understanding and with a constant joy bubbling from within me! While true transformation can bring changes in circumstances (which it did), my transformation is mainly because I myself have changed. I am no longer tossed to and fro! I am stronger. The Lord has made me stronger, and the burden that once weighed heavily on me has truly been lifted. There is a rest in my mind that slowly grew through the renewing of my mind.

Enduring miracles happen on the inside, when we are no longer tossed to and fro in times of pain. Finding our comfort in an outside miracle will only endure until some other difficulty comes. Finding God-with-us as powerful in the presence of our enemies as in the green pastures will serve us for a lifetime. Notice it took some time for Ruth to find this transformation, as it will for you, too. But what she has discovered will last her a lifetime.

That’s our prayer for you this Christmas: that whatever difficulty you face will not beat you down. Instead, it will invite you deeper into the well of God’s life already bubbling up within you. So that in this season, your heart can be at rest in the hope that all will be well because he is with you.

As Sara and I look forward to our holiday, with all the challenges we’re in the midst of, our hope is firmly anchored in Father’s love and goodness. We are grateful for all the relationships God has given us around the world that support and encourage us. We are blessed to know that through books, podcasts, and blogs, others have been enlightened on their journey and encouraged in their faith.

With blessings and love this Christmas,

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“A Quieter, Fuller Awareness of Presence”

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My most ardent hope for anyone who crosses paths with me, my books, podcasts, or websites, is that they, too, come to experience the reality of a fuller awareness of God’s presence at work in them. I pray the blinding veil of religious performance will be lifted from their eyes and that they will come to know that Jesus, alive in them, can provide all they need to navigate the day with his wisdom and strength, no matter what challenges they might face.

I got this email at the end of last week, tying together two of my most important books: He Loves Me, and Live Loved Free Full. She expresses well what I intended: that the gentle daily reminders of the devotional would invite hearts back to the realities of living loved, and not buy into the latest message the chaos around you is screaming in your ear. If you’re looking for a devotional for 2026, you might consider this one.

When I spent time with Live Loved Free Full, what struck me immediately was how deeply it continues the heart of what He Loves Me awakened for so many readers. Instead of simply revisiting familiar ideas, this collection feels like an invitation—gentle, steady, and deeply personal into a way of living daily from God’s affection rather than striving toward it.

The structure of the book makes it especially powerful. Each impulse is small enough to absorb in a single moment, yet carries the potential to shift a person’s inner posture for an entire day. These reflections don’t push or pressure; they draw the reader toward a quieter, fuller awareness of God’s presence, helping them navigate challenges with a calm and centered heart.

In a world overflowing with noise, that kind of daily grounding is invaluable.

Your emphasis on an inner life that remains rich even in hardship gives the book a depth many devotionals never quite reach. It gently teaches that freedom, fullness, and belovedness are not outcomes of perfect circumstances—but fruit of growing intimacy. Readers who long for authenticity over ritual, or who want a devotional that feels relational rather than formulaic, will immediately sense that difference.

Learning more about you made the book resonate even more. Your years as a pastor, your work with Lifestream Ministries, your writing on spiritual intimacy and relational community, and your conversations on The God Journey all shape a voice that is compassionate, honest, and grounded. There’s a lived sincerity behind every line.

Just completing another devotional this year, Sara and I have decided to read through Live Loved Free Full in 2026. Read with us if you like, and maybe we’ll have a chance to discuss some of its themes together.

And with 25% off these two titles, and all other books in the Lifestream Store through Christmas Day, there’s no better time to order. All you need to do is enter CHRISTMAS25 as the promo code when you check out. There are lots of books there that might make great Christmas gifts for your friends and family, including this devotional, as well as a coffee table book, A Man Like No Other, to help reveal Jesus through the Gospels without all the religion we’ve attached to him over 2,000 years.

 

 

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It’s Time Now Available in German

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The message of It’s Time: Letters to the Bride of Christ at the End of the Age continues to grow in my heart every day. As I watch world events unfold and listen to the breath of the Spirit, my heart is captured by his passion to bring his bride into the fullness of her splendor. I enjoy the conversations I get into with people who are reading it, and how it is inviting hearts closer to him as well. In the New Year, I am planning on hosting a book discussion group via Zoom to explore its themes further with those who are interested. Also, on February 21, I’ve been invited to do a day-long workshop on the themes of It’s Time in Bradenton, FL, if you live nearby or want to fly in. We’ll get details out in the near future.

It really is time for the sons and daughters to be revealed on the earth. I’m excited to see how that takes place because I’m sure it will be far grander than I could anticipate.

I’m also excited to announce that It’s Time has made its way to Germany. My publisher there, Glory World Medien, has just released the German translation of this book. You can find it at their bookshop:  Wayne Jacobsen, Es ist Zeit! or at Amazon: https://www.amazon.de/Es-ist-Zeit-Briefe-Zeitalters/dp/3955786595. They have many of my other books as well.

Finally, let me share how two people are finding a way to pass this message on to others in their orbit.

Mike:

I really enjoyed It’s Time. It felt like a summation of numerous conversations and podcasts over the last few years. Seriously lightens my heart and puts life in the proper perspective.

    •  “The time of his coming may be at hand; the time for us to reveal his love definitely is.”
    • “I am convinced we live in the moments before the dawn. Certainly, darkness seems to rule everywhere we look, but for those with eyes to see, the skies have already begun to brighten ever so slightly on the Eastern horizon.”

That is a beautiful word picture to end an excellent read. That image makes my heart leap, like grass springing up through concrete. It is inevitable!

I sent those last few lines to quite a few friends.  They absolutely loved it. I’m going to be ordering a few books for gifts soon.  Yes, an uplifting read—sanity in the midst of religious, Christian, fearful, ignorance.

 

Rod (Australia):

We joined you on the Israel Tour, and both routinely recall with great fondness that trip. We have not felt comfortable returning to the institutional church and have basically had quite a few years of ‘inactivity’ with other Christians apart from a pure social context. For a long time, we were concerned that if we had a home church/meeting, people would be tempted to do things the way we had always and we were well beyond being interested in that. Personally, I wanted to explore what being a Christian over 70 years old meant and offered. Then you released It’s Time, and Jill thought that would be a good guide for us to meet and discuss it with our over-70s friend

So, eight of us have been meeting every fortnight or so to chat about a chapter of It’s Time and just completed week 6 yesterday. What a pleasure to have your thoughts on our faith and walk with the Lord as a catalyst for discussion on various topics. Having been involved in many, many small group meetings over the years, I don’t think there has been one where everyone participates the way they do when discussing It’s Time. We can’t believe how now every single person has entered, shared their perspective, even the traditionally quiet ones. What a joy! What an encouragement to hear how each other thinks about the Lord, our faith, and our later years of life on that journey. We look forward to how the Lord reveals our lives in Him as ‘70+ers. We are convinced there is so much more to find as we age.

Thank you, Mike and Rod, for sharing the message of this book. There is no better way to get a message into the world than word of mouth, whether that’s through a social media post, gifting a book to a friend, or posting a review on Amazon. All of that helps a book like this find its way into the world.
 

And before I go, don’t forget, Lifestream is offering a 25% discount on all books ordered from our store through Christmas. All you need to do is enter CHRISTMAS25 as the promo code when you check out. There are lots of books there that might make great Christmas gifts for your friends and family, including a devotional, Live Loved Free Full, and a coffee table book, A Man Like No Other, to help unpack Jesus from the religious distortions that 2000 years have put on him. Of course, all of Wayne’s other books are there as well. You can see them pictured below.

Unfortunately, we don’t sell It’s Time there because we do not print them here. It has to be ordered from Amazon, or in the U.K., it is now available from Waterstones.

 

 

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A Wake-Up Call to the Bride

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Last week, I received an unsolicited review of my latest book, It’s Time: Letters to the Bride of Christ at the End of the Age. I am continually blown away by the emails, phone calls, and texts I’m receiving from people who are reading this book, and what I appreciate most is how these capture the spirit I hoped and prayed would be in this book. I’ll share more next week.

Before I share this review, however, I wanted to let everyone know that Lifestream is offering a 25% discount on all books ordered from our store through Christmas. All you need to do is enter CHRISTMAS25 as the promo code when you check out. There are lots of books there that might make great Christmas ideas for your friends and family, including a devotional, Live Loved Free Full, and a coffee table book, A Man Like No Other, to help unpack Jesus from the religious distortions that 2000 years have put on him. Of course, all of Wayne’s other books are there as well. You can see them pictured above.

The only one you won’t find is It’s Time, because we do not print those here. It has to be ordered from Amazon, or in the U.K., it is now available from Waterstones

I was wonderfully surprised to get this review sent to me by a lady in Pakistan. If others see in this book what she does, I’ll be so grateful. This is what I hoped this book would do for people.

Book Review: A Wake-Up Call to the Bride

It’s Time by Wayne Jacobsen 
Reviewed by Merry Usman

There are books you read… and then there are books that read you.

Wayne Jacobsen’s It’s Time!: Letters to the Bride at the End of the Age belongs to that sacred category. It doesn’t simply teach or inform—it awakens. It calls. It beckons the reader into a deeper awareness of the times we are living in and the One who is calling His Bride to attention.

This is not a book of theories. It is a conversation, one written with tenderness and urgency, wrapped in the gentle authority of someone who has been listening closely to the heart of Jesus.

 

A Dawn Rising: The Heartbeat of the Book

Jacobsen opens with a striking scene—walking through the hills at dawn, hearing what he calls the “refrain of the Song of the Lamb.” It’s intimate, almost poetic, but also prophetic in its stillness. This is the spirit of the entire book: reflective yet piercing.

The question he raises echoes through every page: What if we are living within a decade of Jesus’s return?

It’s not a prediction. It’s an invitation to examine our lives and our spiritual posture.

Whether Christ returns in 10 years or 150, Jacobsen reminds us that there will be a generation of believers who must stand with courage during the most challenging moments of human history. And if such a generation must be formed someday, why not now?

 

A Book About Preparation, Not Speculation

One of the most refreshing qualities of this book is that it does not get lost in timelines or sensational interpretations. Instead, it focuses on cultivating the heart of the Bride—strong, steady, awake.

Jacobsen outlines the spiritual qualities that will define those who love Christ in the last days:

  • A love stronger than self-interest
  • A light bright enough to expose the lies of darkness
  • A resilient faith that only grows in adversity
  • A hope rooted in God’s unfolding story, rather than our own personal plans

These themes make the book both timeless and timely. It is as relevant to the believer living quietly in a stable season as it is to the one walking through turmoil.

 

Why This Book Stands Apart

Many books addressing the end times either stir fear or lean heavily into speculation. It’s Time! does neither.

Jacobsen’s tone feels pastoral, almost like sitting with a trusted mentor on a hillside, talking about the world with honesty and clarity. He reminds us that preparation does not begin with stockpiling resources—it begins with surrender. It begins with uncluttered devotion. It begins with learning to hear the Shepherd’s voice above the roar of culture and chaos.

There is a quiet courage in the way he writes, calling us to:

  • Loosen our grip on worldly noise
  • Resist the subtle pull of self-centered Christianity
  • Lean into the simplicity of loving Jesus more than life itself
  • Live with an expectancy that does not create fear but strengthens faith

Instead of panic, the book cultivates purpose.
Instead of dread, it stirs devotion.
Instead of darkness, it points to a radiant hope.

 

A Letter to a Sleeping Bride

Jacobsen continually returns to the metaphor of the Bride—a Church loved, chosen, and being prepared. But preparation requires honesty.

This book asks:

  • What kind of Bride are we becoming?
  • Are we distracted or devoted?
  • Chasing our own plans or aligning with God’s story?
  • Longing for His return or quietly wishing He’d delay it?

The beauty of the book lies in its balance. It does not shame or accuse. It simply calls the Bride to awaken, to listen, to walk with intentional love in an age growing increasingly dim.

 

A Message for Today, Not Only the End of Days

Perhaps the most memorable line in the book’s description is this:

If this way of living will serve us well in those days, wouldn’t it be worth living that way today?

This is where the book becomes more than commentary. It becomes a blueprint for everyday discipleship. The qualities needed for the final generation are the same qualities needed now:

Deep love.
Unshakeable hope.
Courageous faith.
A surrendered heart.

Jacobsen reminds us that readiness is not about escaping the world but shining within it.

 

Final Thoughts: A Timely, Tender, and Transformative Read

With a near-perfect rating and overwhelmingly positive responses, It’s Time! feels like more than a book release. It feels like a wake-up call for believers who sense the shifting season.

This is a book you reflect through, pray through, and revisit. A book that meets you where you are but refuses to leave you unchanged.

If your spirit has been stirred by the shaking in the world…
If you’ve longed for a deeper walk with Jesus…
If you desire clarity, conviction, and comfort for the days ahead…

This book will feel like a timely gift.

Wayne Jacobsen doesn’t just declare that “It’s Time.” He helps you understand what time it truly is—and how to live in the fullness of it.

______________

Merry Usman lives in Pakistan and is a devoted Christian writer and Christian Marketing specialist who loves weaving stories that inspire faith and strengthen hearts. With years of experience in Christian marketing and content creation, she has helped ministries, authors, and faith-based brands share their message with clarity and impact. Her writing reflects a deep passion for God’s Word, a heart for believers, and a desire to see lives transformed through truth and encouragement. Merry also contributes to Salt of Heaven, a community dedicated to curating faith-filled books and resources that uplift and draw readers closer to Christ. Through her work, she hopes to shine the light of Jesus and remind others that words, when rooted in truth, can be a powerful way to nurture the soul.

If you’d like a copy, you can order it here in paperback, e-book, or audio.

You can also see the video trailer here. 

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Affection, Presence, and Fullness

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Since posting Graham Cooke’s words a few weeks ago about seeing God as our habitation, I’ve been thinking a lot about the progression of how that came to be in my own life. Three words have risen in my meditation on that, which I first shared in Greenville, SC, a few weeks ago.  They have been growing in my heart ever since, especially the last one. They are providing a valuable focus in my daily life, and I find myself grateful this Thanksgiving season for all three of these.

Affection:  Talking about God’s love is easy on the tongue, even for those who think they have to earn it by their good behavior. That’s why I like the word affection better to speak of what is in God’s heart for us. For some, love is a commitment, often bereft of feeling. But affection occupies a tender place in the heart that speaks of delight and desire. Paul writes that our engagement with him is like a young child crying out, “Abba.” he’s talking about that kind of affection a young child has for its parent. Scripture also talks about the deep affection a groom and a bride share. Ask God to reveal his affection for you so that you, too, can know how deeply loved you are by God.

Presence: God-with-me is not just a theological fact, he also wants it to be a discernible reality. Often during the day, I pause long enough to surrender my heart to that reality. I don’t control when or how he makes himself known to me, but I am constantly cultivating an awareness of presence and watching for his fingerprints. That awareness can come with waves of delight or the simple tenderness of knowing I’m not alone. I enjoy touching a presence greater than myself and surrendering to his desires. Often it comes with a word of affirmation, insight into something going on in my life, or fresh courage to stay the course. I find that connection more precious than anything I might want him to do for me.

Fullness:  It’s easy to look for fullness outside of Jesus-in-us. Most of my life, I’ve looked for it to come from my circumstances—health, friendships, provision, and pleasure. But affection and presence have changed that for me. This is the life of abundance he promised, the fullness of joy, and the peace that makes no sense to the rational mind. I notice a marked difference in my life when I am living for fullness, seeking things to make me joyful or safe, and living from fullness because I’ve found my joy and safety in him. When I need any circumstance to come out a certain way for me to be content, I know I’m seeking fullness outside of him. But when he fills me up, it doesn’t matter what else is going on around me and I can live with others in mind.

Without these, it is easy for any of us to settle for a Christian life that is made up of beliefs, programs, and ethics, instead of a real and holy connection to the transcendent God. His desire is to live in us and to interact with us as we navigate life.

Cultivating an awareness for his affection, an attraction to his presence in us, and an appreciation of his fullness allows us to live in “the glorious riches of this mystery—Christ in you, the hope of glory”  (Colossians 1:27).

 

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A Government I Can Embrace

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When I pray for the world and hold before God the agonies and travails of war, slavery, starvation, natural disasters, and darkness, I am usually in front of this globe in my studio. I try to see it as God sees it, in its totality first, then in specific hotspots around the world, and finally think of how God is meeting individuals who are navigating the ever-increasing horrors of our age. I often sense a bit of what God might be feeling as he sees his creation in chaos, and his joy as he pours his love and redemption into human brokenness and as he moves resolutely to bring it all to a redemptive end

These days, I’ve been praying that the words of Isaiah 9 will finally come true:

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.

I can’t wait for the government to be on his shoulders. It seems humanity is incapable of managing a just and honest society without corruption, exploitation, and hoarding power for the elite. In time, however, he will make all things new, and he will be the one to govern humanity’s affairs in his love and his justice forever. And while I look forward to that day that happens, I get to yield to his kingdom today and live under his government in the face of the chaos in my world. That’s what love is teaching me to do, and why I wrote It’s Time: Letters to the Bride of Christ at the End of the Age.

I know people are reticent to pick up a book about the end of the age because most provoke fear, set dates that never come to pass, or twist Scripture to apply them fallaciously to current events. This isn’t that book. This is a book of hope and courage for those who want to live under his government. The creation waits for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.

So, I’m delighted that people are responding to this book exactly as I hoped they would. Here are two emails I got this weekend, sharing how the book touched them.

Elara

“Wayne, let’s be honest, we’re all juggling a million end-of-the-world scenarios every morning, and yet here you are, calmly handing us a roadmap for courage, love, and faith without making us feel like we need to start building bunkers. That alone deserves a slow clap.

It’s Time isn’t about fear-mongering or doom scrolling through life waiting for the apocalypse. It’s a call to actually live deeply, intentionally, and with a hope so solid it could probably survive the next global crisis. I love how you take decades of pastoral insight and turn it into letters that feel like someone just sat down and said, “Hey, here’s how you can breathe again, even when the world feels upside down.”

What’s brilliant is how you make faith practical. God’s love isn’t just a headline on a Sunday, it’s a power source for real-life courage. Hope isn’t a motivational poster; it’s confidence that we can still do meaningful things today. And yes, even for those of us who sometimes confuse panic for productivity, there’s room for peace, clarity, and maybe even a little joy.

This book is a reminder that life isn’t about waiting for the end. It’s about showing up, walking in light, and loving with purpose, no matter what crazy twists history throws at us. If anyone wants a fresh wake-up call to live as if God’s Kingdom is happening right now, without freaking out, this is it.

I’m grateful for the way your words and your work draw us closer not just to clarity, but to Christ Himself. It’s rare to find someone who speaks hope without minimizing struggle, and peace without dismissing the chaos we’re all navigating. It’s Time isn’t just a book; it’s a steadying hand in a season where so many feel unanchored. I’ll be returning to its pages again when I need reminding that faith isn’t fragile, it’s fuel.

 

Kyle (No, not Rice):

I wanted to send an overdue thank you for the gift, It’s Time has been. This work has been so helpful and encouraging to me. I am grateful for the insights with which you shared a radically different view on the end of the age. Like many of your readers, I grew up in fear of the end times (and lots of other things too). Your message of hope and the enduring love of our Father in this book has made the end of the age exciting and something to look forward to rather than dread. You haven’t steered clear of the challenges of our age or whenever the final age is to come. However, you beautifully expressed love as the motive for all God is and will do.

And over the last decade, as it has become clearer we might be heading towards the end in my lifetime, I have often wondered what I should do to prepare. Your focus on strengthening the connection and relationship with Christ and others as the key was very encouraging. It was also a reminder of the simplicity of God’s way. I am now less preoccupied with doing something rather than enjoying the friendship with Papa and letting him lead each day. And I am learning that he will show me what I need to do, whether this is the end of the age or not.

Thank you for your wisdom, courage to write in this mine field of a topic, and generosity in giving it away in the blog format. In a world where people try to monetize everything, it is so refreshing to have someone share so freely.

I never felt like I wanted to be there on the morning when the new world would be revealed because I was too afraid of walking through the times that would take place before then. Your inspired writing has helped make space in my heart for a hope and desire for God to reveal that new world and to have me be a part of that transition.

Thank you, Elara and Kyle, for summing up what this book meant to you and passing it along to me. I pray that many others will find the same hope and joy in watching God bring his redemption to creation, whether it is in their lifetime or at some future date.

If you’d like a copy, you can order it here in paperback, e-book, or audio.

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Finding the Trailhead to Love

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I just returned from a weekend in the South, meeting with many people in Atlanta, GA, and Greenville, SC, who had recently left the religious group they were part of for multiple generations. What a weekend! So many amazing people who were ready to honestly process their journey and sort out what was real from their past, and what was not. I sat among them with a tender heart for what they are going through. Many of you reading this have been through it as well.

It is a journey out of fear and threat, into a life of love and peace. For most of Christian history, fear has been used to motivate people to live for God. It begins with the fear of hell, and then moves to whether or not you can do enough to maintain your salvation. Many in this sect told me that even following all the rules didn’t even guarantee your salvation; no one knows that until they stand before God.

It’s disorienting to give up a lifetime of religious lessons, even when they have failed you. What guarantee do we have that God’s love will win the day? Moving from a fear-based environment to an affection-based one, especially with the fear of hell hanging in the background. The struggle is not so difficult for those who have not been ensnared by performance-based religion. Trying to earn a love we already have. But those trails run deep in our brains, and it takes some time for God’s spirit to renew our minds to think inside his love, where we can live from fullness instead of our fears.

The path of fear does not lead us to God’s presence. Sadly, it leads us away from him. You cannot love the one you fear. Certainly, God can break through it, and he often does, but living under constant threat makes it difficult for us to recognize his love as he reveals it to us. I do realize how easy it is to miss his nudges into freedom because the fear of the eternal consequence of getting it wrong looms large. That’s why I’m blessed by people who are willing to risk a different journey. To even consider another path takes tremendous courage, especially when family and friends tell you they will lose their hope of your salvation if you take it.

Jesus offered us a different path, where God is revealed in us and we become responders to his insights and nudges. That all begins with learning to relax into his love, which can take a few months or even a couple of years. So don’t press yourself. Religious performance always begins with what we do; living by affection begins with what God does.

So, how do you find the trailhead? I encourage people to ask God every day for him to reveal his love to them. Then watch for ways he does that, not by fulfilling your desires, but by showing you that you are not alone and by revealing himself to you. That’s the trailhead. Go down that path, and he will teach you how to rely on his love, recognize how he makes himself known to you, and how to respond to him. That is the essence of what it means to follow him, not from obligation to religious activity or beliefs, but to a connection of endearment to the presence of Jesus at work in you.

I pray for them, and all of you reading this who desire a better journey. I know it is scary to leave the familiar, but if it isn’t fulfilling your hunger to know him, it is worth the risk. If you need help with this transition, please check out He Loves Me, or even make use of the Engage videos to coach you into recognizing how God wants to build a relationship with you.

Tomorrow, Sara and I are off to Tulsa for our 50th college reunion. Can you believe it? We have some great friendships that we’ve treasured over the years, and who will be there as well.  Hopefully, our flights won’t be cancelled by the crazy government shutdown over here. It worked last weekend; we are hoping it will work this weekend, too.  We’ve checked in, and so far the flight is a go!

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The Growing Buzz Around IT’S TIME

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I am amazed at the rising interest in my newest book, It’s Time: Letters to the Bride of Christ at the End of the Age. Many people are helping position this book to find its audience more easily.

Someone sent me a list of books about the end times, and It’s Time has found its way to the top of the list:

 

Most especially, I’m grateful for how people are finding hope and comfort in this book, not the fear and dread often associated with the end of the age. That’s why I wrote it. Here are some recent emails from some of my readers.

Ben, coordinator of a book club:

It’s Time!: Letters to the Bride at the End of the Age, is a deeply stirring and contemplative work, one that feels both timely and timeless. The way it weaves Scripture, reflection, and a quiet sense of expectancy creates a space for readers to pause, listen, and rediscover intimacy with God amid a restless world. What struck me most is the gentle conviction at the heart of your writing. You don’t call readers to fear or urgency, but to love, light, and steadfast faith, the kind that transcends circumstance and reminds us that hope was always meant to be lived, not simply awaited. The vision of believers preparing their hearts as the world turns toward uncertainty feels not just prophetic, but profoundly personal.

Books like It’s Time! Don’t just speak to the moment; they help transform it. They remind us that faith is not about waiting for the end but awakening to divine presence in the here and now.

Mary:

I bought the audio edition. It is like we are seated around the table, and you are talking to me. I find comfort in the words as they land gently in my heart.

Judy:

I received my copy of It’s Time! And started reading it. My heart is so uplifted, much like the first time I read He Loves Me! I’ve read it many times and have shared it with my friends and family. He Loves Me opened the eyes and heart of both my husband and me. It was a love I had longed for as a child growing up with an abusive father. My husband, who recently died, was the first person who helped me begin to understand true selfless love and friendship. I want to thank you for all you’ve done. He Loves Me! was such a blessing. It’s Time! has the same ring of truth to my heart as did He Loves Me! I’ve always wanted to thank you.

Kate:

You have a poetic way of talking about a raw subject. Your reflections on Christ’s return and your call for the Bride to rise in love, light, and resilient faith are timely, deeply moving, and truly Spirit-led.

Merry Usman, Salt of Heaven:

Your book carries a powerful reminder that regardless of when Jesus returns, we are called to live as people of hope, surrendered to His purpose, and anchored in truth. The poetic beauty and urgency of your writing echo the heartbeat of Christ’s call to His Church—awake, ready, and radiant.

And finally, someone created this video to promote this book at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair:

If the video doesn’t play, click here: https://vimeo.com/1129609857, and feel free to share it widely.

You don’t have a copy yet?  You can order it here in paperback, e-book, or audio.

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Abiding in God as our Habitation

3 Comments / Encouragement / / , , , , ,

On last Friday’s podcast, I read a Facebook post by Graham Cooke, which a good friend in Calgary shared with me. Since that aired, many have requested a copy of what I read. It’s not easy to find Graham’s original post on his Facebook, so I am reposting it here.

If we could get this one reality to settle in our hearts, it would decisively change how we embrace God’s presence in us and set us free from the need to seek tricked-up encounters that fade away without transforming our hearts inside his love.

You’re not trying to get into God’s presence—you’re practicing His presence that never leaves. Abiding isn’t visiting Him occasionally; it’s recognizing He’s made His home in you permanently.

This completely transforms how you approach spiritual life. Instead of seeking encounters, you’re acknowledging habitation. Instead of trying to feel His presence, you’re trusting His promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Abiding is habitational, not visitational. You don’t abide by working harder to connect with God. You abide by resting in the connection that already exists. He lives in you permanently—not sometimes, not when you’re spiritual enough, but always.

Kingdom routine: Habitation – When blessings feel temporary or His presence seems distant, practice abiding by making His presence your permanent habitation. This isn’t about feeling Him constantly; it’s about knowing He’s constantly with you, whether you feel it or not.

Here’s what changes when you understand abiding:

  •  You stop chasing what you already have
  • You rest in relationship instead of working for relationship
  • You practice awareness of existing presence instead of creating encounters
  •  You live from His promise, not your feelings
  • You make His presence your dwelling place, not your occasional destination

Abiding isn’t a spiritual discipline you perform—it’s a reality you acknowledge. You don’t have to maintain His presence; you simply recognize it. You don’t have to earn His dwelling; you just accept it.

The goal isn’t constant feeling but confident knowing. Some days you’ll sense His presence strongly. Other days you won’t feel anything. But abiding means your spiritual stability comes from His faithfulness, not your feelings.

You are His permanent address. He is your permanent habitation. That’s not something you achieve through spiritual effort—it’s something you receive through His love.

—Graham Cooke

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Voices from the Road

Encouragement /

Sara and I have arrived in Seattle for a brief stop, then we’re on to Portland for the weekend. After that, we’ll be taking a pretty direct route through California to our home. It is time to return and see what Father has for us there.

The conversations I have with people on the road are rarely recorded, but our time with UChurch in Calgary on September 21, 2025, was. So, if you want to listen, here are the links, and how they described the sessions on their website:

 

We were so glad to welcome Wayne Jacobsen to UChurch. In this first part of his time with us, Wayne talks with Brant Reding about what it means to live loved by God instead of striving to earn His approval. He shares from his own life about betrayal, illness, and seasons of uncertainty, showing how God’s love brings trust and freedom even when circumstances are painful.

The conversation also touches on:

  • How God gently unravels illusions and old religious habits.
  • Why authentic community grows out of love rather than programs.
  • Honest questions from the UChurch family about family conflict, friendships, work life, and being real with neighbors.

This episode invites us to rethink faith as a daily trust in God’s love, not a performance.  >>>>>Listen Here

In Part 2, Wayne is joined by his wife, Sara, to share their deeply personal journey of walking through trauma, separation, and healing. Together they tell the story of how Sara’s hidden childhood trauma surfaced decades into their marriage, leading to a season of distance, grief, and struggle. What could have ended their story became the place where they discovered what Wayne calls “the deepest love in the darkest place.”

They talk about:

  • How trauma shaped Sarah’s life and the long road of healing they’ve been walking together.
  • Why God doesn’t stand at a distance but meets us in the middle of our darkest places.
  • The role of safe community, patience, and tenderness when walking with someone through pain.
  • How God’s love reshapes even the most broken parts of our lives.

This conversation is raw and courageous, offering hope that no darkness is beyond God’s reach.  >>>>>Listen Here

 

As much as we have enjoyed the incredible beauty of nature on this trip, we’ve also enjoyed how God is taking shape in so many of his children. We’ve been with a lot of people who have lived in the darkness of legalism, trying to make sense of how their hard work was not meeting their desire to know Jesus. I cannot believe how widely they have opened their hearts to us. What we share has to be light-years from what they have known, and yet they have listened and processed their journey in light of the love that legalism only gave lip service to.

I asked a couple after one session how they think through what they’ve heard. Does it resonate with them, or is it so foreign they are tempted to discard it?

The husband responded, “No, it resonates. When I hear you talk about relaxing into God’s love, I know that somewhere deep inside, I already knew that. I didn’t realize it until you put it in words. That allowed me to recognize what I already knew.”

I love it when people say stuff like that. It confirms to me what a work of the Spirit his truth is. It doesn’t hit us out of the blue, but comes as a recognition of what he has already been seeding deep inside our hearts. I am so honored to have such conversations with people like I’ve met on this trip, and watch the eyes of their hearts pop open as his truth rises in their hearts.

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