August 20, 2025

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

To Do or not to Do?

Go. Wait. Do. Don’t. Which is it? Or is it both?

We have had a similar conversation before, but this seeming juxtaposition appears regularly enough in scripture to warrant our repeated attention.

“Go and make disciples of all nations.” It is perhaps the most operative phrase in the final commissioning from Jesus to the disciples before leaving Earth. It is one steeped in action and clearly mobilizing in directive. The disciples—and you and me by extension—are to “go.” We are to act. We are to move out and spread the Gospel.

But then there is the litany of scriptural commands (that is not overstating it…there are a slew of them) to “wait” on or “be still” before the Lord. Here are just two of them:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Ps. 27:14).

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning” (Ps. 130:5-6).

The repeated invoking of watchmen waiting for morning is particularly instructive because it is as though the Psalmist is saying, “You have to wait even longer than you can imagine!”

So which is it? Are you to go? Or are you to wait? Are you to act? Or are you to be still?

You know the answer, and yet it is critical for us to continually remind each other: It is both!

My friend, despite a relentless onslaught of stimuli that says otherwise, this life is not about you. What a tremendous blessing that is! What a liberating reality to walk in an understanding that your purpose in life has nothing to do with your performance, and everything to do with bringing glory to the name of your heavenly Father!

When you think about these seemingly juxtaposed commands through this lens, it all comes into focus. Your path is not so much set on a destination as it is a person. Your tasks are less about the “doing”—or the not doing—as they are about the yielding. God’s purpose in you is not primarily aimed at the output, but rather the infilling.

God asks you to “do” in order that you would be aligned with His glory.

God asks you to “wait” in order that you would be aligned with His glory.

God seeks your relationship and your obedience, and He does it that He might be glorified through you.

He doesn’t need your striving or your achieving or your perfection. But He does demand and desire your heart and your obedience.

He may ask you to “go.”

He may ask you to “wait.”

Either way, He is gently reminding you that He has called you by name, you belong to Him, and it is all for His glory.

Go. Wait. Do. Don’t. The answer is yes to whatever He asks, because your path is wherever He leads.

World

A Week of Peace Talks

Peace talks once again took center stage this week, first in Alaska between Russia President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, and then at the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, and several European leaders.

First, Presidents Putin and Trump met for nearly three hours in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday. The meeting was marked by vivid atmospherics, including a scenic mountain backdrop, a B-2 stealth bomber flyover, and even a joint ride in the presidential limo known as “The Beast.” While no deal or framework was agreed to, both leaders cited progress toward peace.

Next, on Monday, Presidents Zelensky and Trump were joined by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France President Emmanuel Macron, Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte for a meeting at the White House. Leaders expressed a similar sentiment of optimism after the meeting, but no peace framework was announced.

Analysis and eternal perspective: There was a lot of peace talk this week, but so far it is more talk than peace. That is often the case on the diplomatic road to peace, but it can be difficult to parse progress from perpetual delay. Ultimately, it will take Presidents Putin and Zelensky coming to a meeting of the minds to achieve a truce. President Trump has suggested the possibility of hosting a meeting between the two warring presidents, but nothing has been announced.

We as The Equipped community remain in steadfast prayer for those living in a war zone. We also remain steadfast in our pursuit of peace (Ps. 34:14), while acknowledging that true and lasting peace requires far more than just the cessation of war. We pray for lives to be protected, homelands to be secure, and, most important, for those on all sides of the conflict to know a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Finally, be encouraged. Our current home on Earth will always contain war and strife, but your eternal home will be free of tears and bloodshed.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

World

Protests and a Ceasefire

Hamas has reportedly agreed to a temporary ceasefire deal that would include the release of about half of the remaining hostages who have been held since October 7, 2023. The precise terms of the deal are not fully known, and it remains to be seen whether both Israel and Hamas will agree to implement it, but a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages is reportedly to be negotiated during the first 60-day temporary ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism that Hamas will return the hostages unless “confronted and destroyed.”

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis protested in the streets Sunday demanding a deal to achieve the return of the hostages.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Again, so far it is more talk than peace. Hostilities continue, hostages remain held, and famine-like conditions persist.

Therefore, we persist as well. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Psalm 84:5 adds an important component to the directive: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”

My friend, you and I are in the middle of a journey. God’s Word repeatedly reminds us to persistently pursue peace because true and lasting peace will not be fully attained until eternity. That does not reduce our tenacity in pursuing it (we should aim to model the Prince of Peace), but it should provide a bulwark against discouragement when peace proves to be elusive.

As always, pray without ceasing for those held hostage. Pray for their return, but also that their spirits would be miraculously guarded and protected.

U.S.

Warring Maps

The Texas state legislature is considering legislation to re-draw the state’s congressional districts. The move, if approved, would result in additional districts favorable to Republicans. It is supported by President Donald Trump and caused Texas state House Democrats to temporarily leave the state in an attempt to block the legislation.

Meanwhile, California Democrats announced a response to Texas with new maps of their own—maps aimed at adding additional districts favorable to Democrats. The move in California is supported by CA Governor Gavin Newsom and would require a state constitutional amendment and voter approval in a special election.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Federalism is necessarily messy. America’s Founders intentionally incorporated federalism into the governing structure in order to guard against centralized control. This is particularly true in elections, as history is replete with examples of leaders angling for more electoral control as a means of retaining control of power. This decentralization of election authority creates a certain amount of chaos, as states—informed by a unique mix of administrative and political motives—create their own election systems.

Both Democrats and Republicans—including President Donald Trump this week—have at times called for more centralized control of elections. However, the vast majority of constitutional authority over elections belongs to the states, and one result of that is the warring congressional maps in this story.

As a Jesus follower, you should pray that your leaders—both federal and state, Republican and Democrat—would have wisdom and act in the interest of those they serve. You should seek to understand the division of power established by the Constitution, as well as the rationale for it.

More important than all of that, however, you should fervently endeavor to lead a life of service that is unbound by blind partisan allegiance or geographic boundary lines. Human governments have a very real and tangible impact on the realities of the here and now, but the eternal needs of the human soul are far greater than those that can be addressed by a governing philosophy or a political party.

The eternal needs of those in your congressional district are the same as the ones of those residing just over the line in the adjacent district. Those needs are fully contained in the person of Jesus, and you are His ambassador! No map of man can block the spread of the Good News!

The Beautiful

Stop

Sometimes you just need to stop and watch the butterflies! Your world has beauty in every corner and at every turn. Have you noticed? Stop and notice today!

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).

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