The holiday season has always been a difficult time for me, and I know I’m not alone in that. Over the years, this season has carried tremendous loss.

When Jesus first called the disciples, He told them, “I will make you fishers of men.” The men He said this to were already fishermen. He wasn’t promising to make them better anglers, better boat captains, or better net tenders. He was calling them to something far greater—to cast their nets among the people of the world and make disciples of all nations.

In my early life, I spent years in emergency medicine. I rode ambulances, fought fires, responded to natural disasters, and saw the worst things mankind can do to one another. Death, destruction, heartbreak—those things never truly rattled me. I knew my role, and I knew what to do.

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that began in 2012 to shift the focus from consumer spending to compassionate giving. It has grown into one of the world’s largest charitable days, inspiring millions to support causes that bring hope, relief, and positive change. Each year, Giving Tuesday generates billions in donations and unites over 90 countries in one shared purpose: helping others.

On this day, I simply want to say thank you—to all of you!

Legalism, love, and the gospel—three powerful forces that often collide in the heart of every believer. Understanding how they interact is vital for a life rooted in Christ.

This is a widely known and talked about scripture, but I think we take it for granted. Take a walk through this passage with me as we look at it from a practical perspective.

Who is my worst enemy?
It isn’t the person who hurt me, lied to me, or wronged me.
It isn’t even the devil himself — though he gets more credit than he deserves most days.

Fear.
Not the passing worry of what tomorrow might bring — but true, unadulterated fear.
The kind that freezes you in place, steals your breath, and clouds your thoughts.
The kind that makes you question your sanity, your safety, and even your faith.

It is better to be mute than to spew nonsense and curses from your mouth.

That sounds like something straight from the Psalms — and indeed, the psalmist wrote, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3)

Have you ever read Psalm 88? It’s not exactly uplifting. Most scholars call it the darkest psalm in the Bible. There’s no happy ending, no breakthrough moment, no “but then I praised the Lord, and everything was fine.” It ends in silence.

How do we know what Jesus is calling us to do? In Matthew 4, the call was plain. Jesus looked at Simon Peter and Andrew as they worked along the seashore and said, “Follow me.” Without hesitation, they dropped their nets and followed Him.

What do we do when we have to face our greatest adversaries—our most difficult insecurities, the things that expose our weaknesses, the battles that threaten to destroy us inside and out?