Hope with God... with Andrew and Wendy Palau

Have you ever faced the heartbreak of a dream that didn’t come true? That kind of grief is real, and it runs deep. But I want you to know—you are not alone. Jesus Himself understands sorrow. The Bible tells us that He was… …a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. He knows what it is to weep, to feel the weight of heavy loss. And yet, He promises that sorrow is not the end of your story. I...

What comforts you? Thinking of comfort reminds me of when my children were young, when one of them would become distressed and cry. As their mother, I understood why they were crying, even when they didn't. In love, I would wrap my arms around them and comfort them. In Philippians 2, Paul tells us that we receive comfort from God's love. We don’t understand everything that happens to us in life; w...

There’s a kind of sorrow that makes even music impossible. The Israelites felt that when they were taken from their home and exiled to Babylon. One of their ancient songs even says, They hung their harps on the weeping willow trees, too brokenhearted to sing. Maybe you’ve felt that kind of grief also—the kind that steals your song, that makes joy feel like a distant dream. But grief is not the end...

Where do you belong? Where is your country? The sad reality is that there are millions of refugees around the world right now. People fleeing violence and poverty and persecution. People searching for a new citizenship. Paul tells us in Philippians 3 that our true citizenship isn't here on earth; our true citizenship is made to be in heaven. And we eagerly wait for the return of our Savior from th...

Have you ever felt like everything you’ve ever loved has been taken away? Like the place you called home is no longer yours? The ancient Israelites knew that pain well. They were forced from their homeland, exiled to a foreign place, grieving the loss of everything familiar to them and they asked, How can we sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land? Maybe you know that kind of sorrow—losing so...

Have you ever felt so tired that it seems impossible to carry on? Like you just can't muster up the strength to hold on to hope? There’s another kind of hope available to you today. Not hope you try to convince yourself of, not hope in your own plans and abilities, but hope that is found only in Jesus. He loves you so much that He died for you, to wash you clean from every wrong thing you've ever...

What steals your peace? Sometimes it’s one short conversation or maybe a longtime problem that seems to have no solution. True peace is only found in a relationship with Jesus. And He offers a very powerful type of peace. He offers peace that will guard our minds and hearts by the power and the presence of God. This is available to you! It’s a mystery and a miracle, and it’s very, very real. It’s...

Do you remember what life was like when you were a little kid? Children are amazed by everything, aren’t they? Even the simplest things. Jesus once told His followers, who were wondering about how to be the best in God’s eyes, that to live in a close relationship with Him, they’d have to become like little children. What do you think that means? Jesus was showing them that, more than ambition, pow...

God cares about your future. Do you believe this? He knows your past… all you’ve done and all that has been done to you. Long ago, the apostle Paul wrote about his determination to do this one thing, he said: I will forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. Because of Jesus' work on the cross, if you give Him your life, He will take care of your past. Not just take care of it—He will...

Have you ever been skydiving? I haven’t! Are you crazy? But, I do know this: You have to trust your instructor. It’s very difficult to trust someone that much… We like to be in control of everything that goes on in our lives. Would you consider putting your trust in God? Letting go and fully trusting in God is the best decision you will ever make. The book of Proverbs is full of God’s wisdom, and...

Has anyone ever made a promise to you and then let you down? What if I told you that God has made many promises to you? Better yet, He will never fail you; He will never break His promises. In the Bible, God’s Living Word, the book of 1st Kings says this, Not one of God’s good promises has ever failed. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from death. He gave His life to make a way for us to be cl...

What encourages you? Take a minute to think about it. Is it a raise at work, money in your bank account, your children’s success, or a particular relationship? There are so many amazing things in life that encourage us. The hard truth is that these things come and go. Money is spent, our children are imperfect, people hurt us. In the Bible, the apostle Paul writes of the deepest type of encouragem...

Did you know you can talk to God anywhere, anytime? He listens to your prayers and He responds in love. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter, long ago, to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus. And it said this. He told his people, Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. This just means that when we pray to God, His Spirit is with us, giving us strength and connecting us to God. Do you want...

Who is your person in the world? A best friend, a husband or wife, a parent? The person that makes you feel safe when you’re with them. You understand them and they understand you; you can fully be yourself with them. Maybe you don't have anyone like this, and you long for it. God’s holy book tells us that we can have fellowship with the very Spirit of God! The word fellowship means communion, par...

You know, where I live, we don't get a whole lot of sunlight. We get lots of clouds and lots of rain. But when the sun does break through. Oh my! I can tell you it changes everything! We are not created to sit in overwhelming darkness, losing hope as the days pass by. Just like sunlight naturally brings joy, Jesus brings light into the darkest part of our souls. Whatever darkness you may be facing...

Do you feel lost? There’s a story in the Bible, God’s book of truth, it’s a story about a shepherd with one hundred sheep, and one wanders away. He left his ninety-nine sheep to rescue the one sheep that took off on its own. Wow! That is true love. This story represents the love of Jesus for you. He is the shepherd, and we are the sheep. We try to figure out life on our own, and we stray from the...

What’s the most valuable thing you have? What or who do you love the most? The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the early Christians in Philippi to encourage them to follow the way of Jesus. In it, he said… Everything good he had was a loss compared to one thing—knowing Jesus. Not just serving Jesus, but knowing Him. When he wrote these words, he was in prison—everything was stripped away. How chall...

It’s like this: You feel a little pain in your chest and think, Huh, I should probably get that checked out. Then you go to the doctor, and he tells you, You’ve gotta eat better, you’ve gotta exercise, get more rest… or else. And you ask, Well, when exactly will something bad happen if I don’t do all these things? Now, what about your spiritual health? Maybe you’ve felt something stirring in your...

Is this life all there is? I believe that the fact that we want to believe that there is an eternity reveals that it’s there — it's a reality. The Bible clearly tells us that there is an afterlife and that we can have it with God. Jesus Himself said it in John 17, "This is eternal life: that they(that's us) may know You(that's God), the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.&quot...

I was watching a show the other day, and the people just kept saying over and over— “Go to hell! Go to hell!” And couldn’t help thinking to myself…why on earth would anyone want to do that? Hell is not just a word—it’s a real place. A place of regret and darkness. A place of separation from God. And if we refuse His offer of life, that’s where we’re headed. But hold on, there's good news! Jesus Ch...

Decision-making can feel overwhelming, and everyone claims to have a solution. How do we gain clarity and wisdom beyond our own understanding? The ancient wisdom of the book of Proverbs in the Bible says this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs teaches us that wisdom is a divine gift. It says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” By...

We live in a world where self-discovery is emphasized, but I can tell you from experience, it won’t lead you to the answers you’re looking for. The ancient wisdom of Proverbs says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” A deeper understanding of life doesn’t come from knowing ourselves; it comes from knowing someone so much greater than o...

Do you need a friend? In this world where connections are so fleeting, it's easy to get disconnected. The book of Proverbs says this: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for times of adversity.” What if you could find a friendship that would truly last? The Bible teaches us about a friendship with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus once said this in the book of John, “I have called yo...

We often feel the pressure to get things right—whether it’s in our work, our relationships, how we live our lives. We try so hard to be perfect, but the truth is, that can be exhausting. What if letting go of the need to be perfect can actually bring us peace? There’s a simple message in the Bible that says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It’s an invita...

I hear people talking about ‘toxic positivity.’ Have you heard that? It’s the pressure to always stay upbeat and pretend that everything’s fine, even when it’s not. The Bible tells us about it. In the book of Proverbs, it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” So often, we hold on to our worries when we don’t have to. But it’s okay to be honest about...