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Jul 15
Love0

The Weight You Were Never Meant to Carry

By Anxiety, Brokenness, Comfort, Faith, God, Grief, Hope, Trials, Worry No Comments

Anxiety has become so commonplace that many people accept it as a normal part of life. We make jokes about being chronic worriers, but fear quietly steals our joy, clouds our judgment, and distracts us from the goodness of God. Like a cancer that contaminates our spiritual blessings, hidden anguish is not a minor problem to ignore.

Every generation finds new reasons to fret. Parents fear for their children. Students stress over grades. Workers wonder whether they will keep their jobs. Retirees question whether their savings will last. Even good news often gives way to fresh concerns. Mark Twain reportedly remarked that he had lived through many terrible experiences, most of which never happened. His observation exposes the deceptive nature of anxiety. Our minds often create disasters long before reality ever arrives (Prov. 12:25).

Jesus addressed our common struggle in the Sermon on the Mount. He cautioned us against obsessing over food, clothing, tomorrow’s uncertainties, and even the length of our lives (Matt. 6:25-34). Worry never solves a problem. Anxiety will not add one hour to our lives, remove any of our future hardships, or strengthen us for whatever today’s responsibilities might be. Instead, fear shifts our focus away from the Father’s providential care and concern.

Combatting our internal dismay begins with an honest confession. The Apostle Paul commanded believers to “be anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6a). Though we may understand the temptation to worry, we dare not justify it as anything other unbelief. Faith insists that God reigns over every circumstance, no matter how frightening or painful. Despite our rebellious instinct to live as if reality depends upon us, we do well to admit that our prideful delusion only leads to uncertainty and panic. A sincere acknowledgement of our weakness invites God’s strength into our struggle (Psa. 55:22).

The circumstances behind Paul’s words mark his command as even more compelling. Roman authorities held him in prison while he wrote the book of Philippians. False teachers troubled the churches he dearly loved, and execution remained a looming possibility. Even so, the faithful apostle refused to surrender his heart to fear because he trusted the character of God more than the uncertainty of his future (Phil. 1:20-21).

Calling out to God functions as the next step toward lasting peace. Through the means of prayer and supplication, we are to let our requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6b). God never asks us to ignore our fears. He welcomes every burden, every question, and every concern we bring before Him. Our Savior even admonished His followers to ask, seek, and knock because our heavenly Father delights in giving good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:7-11).

Thanksgiving also transforms the way we talk to God. Gratitude reminds us of the Lord’s past faithfulness while giving us renewed strength to face whatever is ahead (Lam. 3:22-23).  Likewise, prayerful worship deepens our resolve to embrace God’s direction and will before we know the outcome of our petitions. Making specific requests sharpens our dependence upon our heavenly Father because his specific answers serve as practical expressions which reinforce the realness of our faith. All the while, our confidence grows even as our anxiety subsides.

Regardless of what the outcomes might be, God breathes life into our prayers, making them the means of supernatural peace which guards our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7). Though this holy serenity does not always remove our painful circumstances, the Lord strengthens His people in the middle of every trial (John 14:27).

Because he also understood the powerful connection between our thoughts and our emotions, Paul instructs us to dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8). Healthy thinking cultivates strategic prayer, resulting in confident living. Fear grows wherever lies dominate our minds, but joy flourishes wherever God’s truth takes root (Rom. 12:2).

Seem too good to be true? Just look around. Birds never store food in barns, yet our heavenly Father feeds them every day. Wildflowers never toil or spin, yet God dresses the fields with their breathtaking colors every spring (Matt. 6:26-30). Each sunrise silently proclaims the Father’s loving care. Every blooming flower reminds us that our Creator never overlooks our needs. Human beings bear God’s image, making us infinitely more valuable than any bird or flower (Gen. 1:26-28).

Every morning presents us with the same choice. We can rehearse our fears or remember God’s steadfastness. We can carry burdens that belong to the Lord or place them into His capable hands. Worry has never changed tomorrow, but trusting God changes us today (Isa. 26:3).

Adam B. Dooley
July 15, 2026

Jun 24
Love0

Celebrating America’s Christian Heritage

By America, Christian Living, Faith, Freedom No Comments

As America celebrates her 250th birthday, citizens across our nation will gather beneath fireworks, wave flags, and remember the extraordinary events that gave birth to the United States. Two and a half centuries after the signing of our Declaration of Independence, we still enjoy freedoms that millions of people around the world only dream about. This national milestone deserves more than a casual acknowledgement. Gratitude, reflection, and an honest appraisal of the principles that made America exceptional are in order.

Celebrating America’s Christian heritage does not require blind assertions that all the Founders and our earliest citizens were orthodox Christians. History does not support such claims, though the modern insistence that the majority were deists is demonstrably false. Fifty-two of the fifty-five signers of the Declaration of Independence were Protestants, along with roughly 75% of the population.

Despite their rejection of a state church, the Founders possessed a deep conviction that Christianity was the necessary garden from which freedom would flourish. The men who established our nation overwhelmingly believed that a Christian foundation would protect broad religious liberty for minority groups.

The Declaration of Independence itself reflects sincere spiritual conviction. America’s founders grounded human rights not in government, public opinion, or political power, but in God. Because Scripture so clearly teaches that every human being bears the image of his Maker (Gen. 1:26-27), they insisted that all people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Those words changed the world.

For the first time in history, a nation unashamedly asserted that government does not grant rights; it merely recognizes the rights God has already given. The Founders submitted to governmental structures that exist under God’s authority to restrain evil and promote good (Rom. 13:1–4; 1 Pet. 2:13–17). Their goal was not to create truth, define morality, or to determine ultimate worth. At its best, government recognizes what God has already revealed.

Our forefathers feared what would happen if Americans abandoned the moral principles that Christianity supplied. George Washington famously observed in his Farewell Address that religion and morality serve as “indispensable supports” for political prosperity. John Adams wrote that the Constitution was made only for a “moral and religious people” and proved wholly inadequate for any other. Their concern aligns with Scripture’s repeated warning that righteousness strengthens a nation while sin destroys it (Prov. 14:34). To them, freedom could not endure among a people who lacked virtue, self-restraint, and moral conviction.

These concerns were not unfounded. Free societies demand something unique from their citizens. Tyrannies control behavior through force. Dictatorships rely on fear. Constitutional republics require citizens to govern themselves. When people refuse to exercise self-control, government eventually steps in to impose external control. As virtue declines, freedom dissipates with it. Lasting liberty requires moral restraint.

The Founders recognized that Christianity supplied the moral framework necessary for self-government. Scripture commands honesty (Eph. 4:25), personal responsibility (2 Thess. 3:10–12), humility (Phil. 2:3–4), justice (Mic. 6:8), compassion for the poor (Prov. 19:17), and love for neighbor (Mark 12:31). These virtues do more than shape private character; they strengthen public life.

Alexis de Tocqueville, the famous French observer who traveled America in the 1830s, noticed this spiritual connection immediately. “Americans,” he stated, “combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive one without the other.” The success of American culture, according to Tocqueville, was their willingness to exercise their freedoms within a moral framework shaped by biblical principles.

Today, many voices insist that faith and public life should remain entirely separate. Thankfully, our history tells a different story. America did not emerge from an ethical vacuum. Biblical ideas influenced our national understanding of right and wrong. Churches helped shape communities, Christian convictions informed public virtue, and religious faith strengthened the cultural foundations upon which constitutional republic rested.

Even Thomas Jefferson, who admittedly wanted more separation between church and state than his contemporaries, envisioned nothing remotely like the aspirations of the ACLU or the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. While governor of Virginia, Jefferson issued a prayer proclamation for the purpose of solemn thanksgiving and petitions to “Almighty God.” Additionally, he drafted bills outlining the governor’s prerogative to call for days of fasting and humiliation, as well his ability to punish Sabbath breakers and religious malcontents. Jefferson’s proposal for a national seal was depiction of the Red Sea crossing from the book of Exodus under the motto “Rebellion for tyrants is obedience to God.” Freedom from religion was the farthest thing from our third president’s mind.

Of course, Christians should not view America as the kingdom of God or confuse patriotism with discipleship. God’s family transcends every nation, including our own. Our highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20). No nation can replace the church, and no flag should receive the devotion that belongs to the cross. Yet believers can still thank God for the remarkable blessings He has given this country while recognizing the profound influence Christianity exerted on its development.

As we mark 250 years of American independence, we should celebrate both the freedoms we enjoy and the foundations that sustain them. Liberty remains a precious gift, but it requires moral responsibility. Freedom flourishes when citizens, even nonbelievers, embrace virtue, honor truth, strengthen families, and love their neighbors. A Christian worldview remains the secret ingredient for protecting the pluralistic realities of the American melting pot.

America’s founders understood these realities. They believed our experiment in self-government depended upon a people shaped by moral conviction. All these years later, their warning remains as relevant as ever. If we hope to preserve the blessings of liberty for future generations, we must recover the virtues that made liberty possible in the first place.

Adam B. Dooley
June 24, 2026

May 06
Love0

It Was Never About Us

By Brokenness, Faith, Hope, Hope When Life Unravels, Peace, Trials No Comments

There is an appointed time for everything . . .

A time to weep and a time to laugh . . .

A Time to mourn and a time to dance . . . (Ecc. 3:1, 4)

More than a decade after our family’s fight against childhood cancer, we are in the midst of a joyful season of celebration and gratitude. Watching my son beat leukemia was one of God’s greatest gifts in my life. To see him graduating from high school and thriving as a young man is a profound blessing that has me carrying around a box of Kleenex.

A few years back, I wrote a book called Hope When Life Unravels (still available wherever books are sold) in order to capture many of the lessons God taught us during those more difficult years. This week, two particular reminders from the past weigh heavily on my mind as we rest in the beauty of the present.

Fatherhood Matters

Why did God make me sick, Daddy? The question took my breath away. His big blue eyes peered over his medical mask as the plane engine hummed beneath us. My son was searching for answers, trying to make sense of the God who loved him and the trial that shattered his childhood innocence. That was just one of many moments when my son looked to me for reassurance and stability.

Children need an active, spiritual father to guide them through life. Motherhood is equally important, to be sure, but fathers play a unique role in the spiritual development and nurture of their kids. Because God expects husbands and fathers to lead their families, refusing to do so creates a damaging vacuum in the home. Teaching my children to love and trust God at all times was, and is, my responsibility. I must connect with them. They need my example. I should encourage them while also holding them accountable. I cannot delegate this sacred duty (Deut. 6:5-7).

Though I would like to tell you this always came naturally for me, I cannot. Despite believing that my son should be a better kid because of his dad, in reality, I am a much better father because of him. Battling leukemia left no room for my laziness, and I’m grateful. The testing of our faith produced an endurance that still strengthens us today (James 1:3).

Life Is Not About Me—or Even the People I Love

 The most surprising realization that came during my son’s ordeal was that, despite God’s willingness to mold and teach our family through it all, the trial was not primarily about the Dooley family. Over the course of three years, I continually reminded my son that God had a plan for his sickness even if we didn’t know what it was and even if it did not relate directly to us. With childlike faith, he accepted my assurance as true. Amazingly, I do not remember one instance when he complained about his illness. Instinctively, he seemed to know that more was at stake than the outcome of his suffering.

The same is true for you.

How can I be so sure? The story of Job is often a source of strength for those facing hardship, but tucked behind the drama of the opening chapters is a powerful truth to help us face tragedy with a different perspective. After Satan mocked the notion that people worship God for who He is rather than what He does for them, the Lord presented Job as a test case (Job 1:9-12). The real focus of the scene, however, is the glory of God rather than the faithfulness of His servant.

Despite our tendency to look insatiably for the cause and effect behind every burden we face, sometimes we are mere background characters in a much bigger story. Yes, we can learn important life lessons during seasons of pain, but even then, the promotion of divine glory is often the main agenda. Our stories are to be living testimonies of the beauty and worthiness of our great God.

If you find yourself in a season of hurting, I’d love to pray for you. Feel free to email me, and I will gladly lift your name and situation before the Lord.

Adam B. Dooley
May 6, 2026

Mar 18
Love0

The Enemy of Faith

By Faith, Providence, Trust, Worry No Comments

As the fourth week of strikes on Iran approaches, Americans are bracing for soaring gas prices and sustained inflation. With an April 15 deadline looming, many taxpayers dread their final bill from the IRS. Here in West Tennessee, tornado season is now underway, often leading to numerous sleepless and watchful nights. As the completion of another school year hangs on the horizon, students are anxious about final exams and GPAs.

On and on it goes, but no matter the problem or issue, all of us deal with the nagging, intrusive burden of WORRY. The uneducated worry because they don’t know enough. The educated worry because they know too much. The poor worry because of what they do not have. The wealthy worry because they fear losing what they do have. The young worrybecause they don’t want to get older. The elderly worry because they are afraid of not getting older.

All of us, in varying degrees and frequency, will have to face the enemy of worry along the way. Believe it or not, Jesus had a great deal to say about this subject. His Sermon on the Mount offers practical guidelines for overcoming our common nemesis. With piercing clarity and pastoral concern, our Savior is eager to free us from the anxieties that plague us.

First, we should realize that worry is sinful. Three prohibitions against worry underscore its offense to God. Do not worry about your life (Matt. 6:25); do not worry about what you will eat or wear (Matt. 6:31); and do not worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). For Jesus, worry is more than a bad habit; it is practical atheism. Restlessness communicates that we do not trust God to handle our problems. Faith and distress are always in dichotomy. Without mincing words, Jesus insists that Christians who worry behave more like unbelievers than children of God (Matt. 6:32).

Second, we should recognize worry as illogical. To illustrate the foolishness of worry, Jesus points to nature, specifically the birds of the air and the lilies of the field (Matt. 6:26-30). Have you ever heard of a bird being treated for high blood pressure? Or stress? Though they do not know where their next meal will come from, God feeds them, and they thrive.

Think about the beauty of wildflowers growing in a field. While these plants do nothing to grow, they still clothe the countryside with their beauty. Such natural wonders are here today and gone tomorrow, yet God still covers His creation with them. If the Lord will feed the animals and dress nature with such elegance, how much more will He take care of human beings who bear his image (Gen. 1:26-28)? Furthermore, if the Lord is faithful to meet our daily needs, we can certainly trust Him with our tomorrows. Worry is not only unbiblical, but also nonsensical!

Finally, we should resist worry with spiritual priorities. In order to prevent worry before it starts, we must learn to reorder our goals and ambitions. Much of what causes us stress and unease reveals our desire for pursuits that are unholy or selfish. Thus, Jesus instructs us to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, believing that He will supply all our needs (Matt. 6:33). Simply put, our greatest passion in life ought to be the pursuit of God’s will. Jesus does not want a place in your life; He does not want prominence in your life; He wants preeminence in your life, and nothing else.

Ironically, the pursuit of personal happiness will ultimately lead to our demise. When we seek God’s perfect reality for our lives, though, there is joy in addition to freedom from anxiety. Our thought lives, spending habits, recreational hobbies, personal goals, relationships, and work ethic must come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ if we want to enjoy the peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:6-7). At the risk of oversimplifying, much of what we worry about is the result of ambitions that contradict the kingdom of God rather than build it. Thus, absolute surrender to the will of God is the first step toward tranquility. Happiness is often a wonderful by-product of the holiness the Lord desires to build into our lives.

Adam B. Dooley
March 18, 2026

Feb 18
Love0

The Pleasant Lines of the Lord

By Christian Living, Faith, Happiness, Joy, Providence No Comments

Sometimes I have to pinch myself. When I look at my wife and children, I cannot believe they are mine. When I stand before the congregation I serve each week, the privilege of leading them overwhelms me.  When I consider all the simple pleasures that are continually part of my routine, joys like sports with my kids, Bible studies, and fellowship meals, I realize just how much I love my life.

Or, to quote King David, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me (Psalm 16:6).” Indeed. And yet, before we can celebrate our receiving from the Lord, we must first appreciate our need to take refuge in the Lord. “Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You,” David wrote, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You (Psalm 16:1-2).”

The order here is important because our greatest treasure in life is God Himself, not the blessings He bestows. We should count all things as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord (Phil. 3:8). Thus, seeking Him first provides the backdrop upon which God draws the pleasant lines of our existence (Matt. 6:33).

In fact, the moment we prioritize the gifts of heaven, we will most assuredly miss the Giver behind the mercies we enjoy. I often wonder how much of God’s benevolence I have missed simply because I found greater security in myself. Taking refuge in Christ, you see, is not less than receiving protection from our enemies, but it is more.

Trusting God for opportunities to experience His blessings is also an expression of confidence in His care for us. Knowing that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,” Christians can rest in the safety and provision of the Lord (James 1:17). Doing so prevents us from looking for that which is good outside of the will of God.

Fundamentally, every temptation woos us to pursue what is noble through dishonorable means. By perverting legitimate desires and ambitions, the enemy entices us to fulfill appropriate longings in inappropriate ways. Pay close attention to the first act of spiritual sedition in Eden’s Garden and you will quickly notice Eve wrestling with the dilemma of believing God or trusting her instincts.

Tragically, because the fruit of the forbidden tree was good for food . . . a delight to the eyes . . . and desirable to make one wise, the first woman fell for the lie that the path to happiness and satisfaction exists outside of God’s directives (Gen. 3:6). Fulfilling the right aspirations in the wrong way is always a recipe for disaster.

How often are we guilty of the same miscalculation? Failing to take refuge in the Lord inevitably results in misguided transgressions aimed at personal contentment and gratification. Cheating can tarnish our pursuit of success. Pride can pollute our healthy desires. Selfishness can soil our best deeds. Unfettered rage can blemish even our most fitting words. And our pursuit of justice can fall short because of revengeful bitterness.

In each instance, we knowingly or unknowingly choose to step outside of the Lord’s gracious refuge. This is why dating couples choose to seek intimacy (which is good) by defiling their marriage bed (Heb. 13:4). This is why homosexuals search for love (which is good) by stepping outside the boundaries of nature and Scripture (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). This is why people work hard to care for their families (which is good) by trusting in the uncertainty of riches (1 Tim. 6:17).

On and on it goes, but far too easily we trust in the pursuit of God’s blessings more than God Himself. Everything truly good in our lives will originate from God and will be consistent with His character. Sadly, we often miss the abundance of God’s best because we prematurely take matters into our own hands. Those who find refuge in the Lord are secure enough to trust whatever He gives, whenever He chooses to give it. Then, and only then, will the lines which outline our lives be wonderfully pleasant and satisfying.

Adam B. Dooley
February 18, 2026

Nov 24
Love0

Why Should We Trust God?

By Christian Living, Doubt, Faith, God, Trust No Comments

Do you trust me? That was the question I heard from one of my sons as he, through a sly grin, begged me to sit down. Because he was unaware that I saw him slip the Whoopee Cushion beneath me, his efforts to persuade his dad were even more entertaining to me than what was about to happen would be to him.

Perhaps you’ve heard a similar insistence from someone you love. Whether it is lighter moments or more serious matters, we frequently reassure the people that we love in both word and deed that we are trustworthy. The counsel parents offer their children, for example, roots itself in trust.

When the right decision is painful, a father reminds his son—trust me.

When the high road is costly, a mother might plead—trust me.

When future outcomes seem uncertain, parents reassure with the words—trust us.

Ultimately, who we choose to trust will determine both the course and quality of our lives. These instances, though, reveal an important lesson about trustworthiness. Who we trust depends largely upon a person’s character and their perceived motive. With that in mind, let me ask the most important question of all; do you trust God? Do you trust Him with your future? Do you trust Him with your fortune? Do you trust Him with your loved ones? Do you trust Him to forgive you when you stray? Do you trust Him with your life? And your soul? Do you trust Him enough to follow Him into tomorrow even if today is a disappointment? If so, why? And if not, what would convince you to do so?

Thankfully, tucked away in the Old Testament book of Isaiah are at least four significant reasons why we should trust God with our whole heart. First, we learn that ours is a God who satisfies fully. Immediately after describing the future suffering of the coming Messiah (Isa. 53:1-12), the prophet offered three profound images of how greatly we should rejoice over God’s grace in our lives. Because blessings are a miracle, we should celebrate them like a barren woman who conceives a child (Isa. 54:1-3). When the shame of our sin disappears, we enjoy relief like an adulterous woman who receives forgiveness and comfort from her husband (Isa. 54:4-10). After the provisions of God flow abundantly into our lives, we praise Him like citizens of a previously poor city now covered in jewels (Isa. 54:11-12).

Following these powerful metaphors is an invitation to all who will hear it—Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters (Isa. 55:1). In other words, God’s grace is about more than surviving; it is about thriving! Come and drink deeply from the rivers of mercy and find out how wonderfully satisfying Christ is for yourself. Don’t just think about it—COME! Don’t make excuses—COME! Don’t look for loopholes—COME! Don’t delay responding—COME (Rev. 22:17)!

Second, the prophet teaches us that we serve a God who loves deeply. Though Isaiah was primarily the Lord’s messenger to Israel’s southern kingdom, next he reveals that God’s intentions are much bigger than any one nation (Isa. 55:4-5). The promised Son born of a virgin in Bethlehem (Isa. 7:14; 9:6) came to suffer for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16). God’s love is bigger than just one group of people. His love is bigger than one nation. His love is bigger than one generation. God loves all people at all times in every place.

Currently, the world boasts of 195 countries and God loves them all. There are 650 ethnic groups across the globe and God loves them all. There are 24 time zones on planet earth and God loves them all. There just under 8 billion people alive right now and God loves each one of them. That means that God loves YOU and all of His instructions are for your good.

Third, we learn that we have a God who forgives completely. I suspect the reason that we sometimes doubt God’s love for us is because our sins are greater than we care to admit. Yet, the Lord desires that we seek and find Him (Isa. 55:6) knowing that if we forsake our sins, He will have compassion on us by abundantly pardoning every sinner (Isa. 55:7). While total cleansing is available to all because of God’s love, only those who thoroughly repent will know its joy. If this promise seems too good to be true, remember that God is not like us and His ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8-9).

Finally, we discover the guarantee that the Bible reveals a God who succeeds eternally. Stated differently, He always accomplishes exactly what He desires and precisely what He says. Just as rain and snow water the earth before evaporating, so God’s Word will always accomplish His work (Isa. 55:10-11). And what does Scripture promise God’s people? Joy, peace, celebration, and renewal (Isa. 55:12-13). Granted, these poetic realities felt true after God rescued Israel from Babylonian captivity, but Isaiah is also forecasting a future reality yet to occur.

One day, Christ will return and our broken world will be made right. He will wipe the tears from our eyes, swallow up death in victory, end our mourning, and remove our pain (Rev. 21:4-5). Every page of the Bible echoes this message and, because God always succeeds in His plans, you can trust that it is completely and remarkably true. So, if you’re already walking with God, keep trusting Him. And if you are considering following Jesus, I hope you will. You won’t regret giving Him your confidence.

Adam B. Dooley
November 24, 2025

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