Today's Insight with Chuck Swindoll

Solomon planted seeds of willfulness and independence that reaped a harvest of age-old rebellion in his heart. Let’s see what God did in response to Solomon’s defiance.

The seeds of unaccountability were finally harvested . . . as they always are. The fruit? Unchecked independence. Nobody can get away with unaccountability. After a while, you’ve got to pay the piper. And that’s what Solomon did in the latter years of his life.

Although the term defiance does not appear in Scripture, acts and attitudes of defiance often do. No matter what the term, the scene is never pretty.

What does Isaiah 26:3-4 say? A frame of mind that is receiving support from leaning and is therefore being sustained, God will keep in “shalom, shalom.” Because he casts everything on Him. Everything! And that includes unfulfilled dreams . . . unpleasant circumstances . . . and an uncertain future.

Are you facing an uncontrollable situation, an uncertainty? Something you just can’t extract happiness out of? A situation that’s unpleasant, uncomfortable, and dissatisfying? The Lord wants us to glorify Him and to walk in peace with Him, even though our surroundings are unpleasant.

When I entrust my frame of mind to Him and lean on my everlasting Rock, He supports me with the ability to stay at the task as I let Him open the doors of the dream . . . in His time.

I invite you to focus your full attention on one of the rarest of all virtues. It is a virtue that everybody pursues, but very few possess on a regular basis. I’m referring to the often-longed-for but seldom-found virtue of peace.

In the depth of discouragement and the height of stress, “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” He got alone and prayed. He shifted the pressure from his own shoulders to Jehovah’s.

We’ve been talking about the very common and very real problem of stress. Today I’d like to tackle a practical suggestion for stress-reduction: spreading out the workload.

In Part One, we looked at a couple of New Testament examples (one negative—Martha, the other positive—Jesus) of people under stress. Let’s now go back to the Old Testament and lift out some familiar words of hope to those clenched in the vise-grip of worry.

To the surprise of some, the Bible often speaks directly to key issues. Let’s step into the time tunnel to find a perfect example of stress. It is the classic story of Mary and Martha, two unmarried sisters whom Jesus visited in their home at Bethany.

What will life be like when the dust settles and quietness returns? What will be the rewards for beginning and cultivating a family according to God’s direction? How will it be in my empty nest?

The mark of Cain has been branded on this generation. Resisting authority still crouches like a beast at the door, ready to spring and pounce on its prey, be it parent or policeman or teacher or employer or minister or president—whoever.

Who really cares anymore? Where is the Christian friend who is willing to risk being misunderstood to help another believer come to repentance and full restoration?

Uncover a timeless principle and six practical guidelines designed to transform your evangelistic approach, empowering you to connect confidently and graciously with others about Christ.