Insights Magazine: Issue Two, 2025 by Insight for Living Canada

In This Issue

Insights Magazine is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Pastor Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ.

His sovereignty covers it all. God, and God alone, is in full control.

God’s Sovereignty, Our Sanity

by Charles R. Swindoll

In the summer of 1961, my life was changed. I was in seminary, serving as a summer intern at a church in Northern California.

I was struggling with some of the more profound truths in the Word of God during those days—especially, the sovereignty of God.

Candidly, this doctrine frightened me.

Cynthia and I were uncertain about our future. Our marriage wasn’t as strong as it needed to be. And she was carrying our first child, causing both of us to feel somewhat anxious about being parents.

So that summer I dug into the book of Daniel and came upon a truth that changed my life.

In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, dreamt about a mighty tree being chopped down by an angel. None of his wise men could interpret it. So he consulted a Jewish prophet named Daniel.

With divine courage to look Nebuchadnezzar in the eye, Daniel, like all true prophets, told him the truth, “The tree...is you, O king” (4:20–22 NASB). He explained the dream and visions and then challenged Nebuchadnezzar to do something about it.

You [will] be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place [will] be with the animals of the field, and you [will] be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. And...your

kingdom will remain as yours after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.

(4:25–26 NASB2020)

A chill still runs up my spine when I read these words in verse 25, “until you recognize,” and in verse 26, “after you recognize.”

Recognize. The NIV renders the Hebrew word as “until you acknowledge.” You can recognize something and not be involved in it. But you can’t really acknowledge something without involvement and acceptance.

Think about the word sovereignty . There’s a smaller word nestled in the heart of it, reign.

Nebuchadnezzar conducted his life as if he reigned over it. Daniel said, “God has given you this dream so you will know that the eternal God of heaven, your creator, not only made you and gives you breath but reigns over you.”

A tough pill for Nebuchadnezzar to swallow.

God patiently allowed Nebuchadnezzar to let that truth wash around in his mind for a full year.

But the king concluded that Babylon was his , which he had built by the power of his might. As he mumbled these conclusions to himself on his rooftop, God interrupted from heaven saying, “Sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind” (4:31–32 NASB2020).

Nebuchadnezzar went insane. Totally removed from the realm of reason, this once-proud sovereign lived in the wilderness like a beast (4:33).

But the story isn’t over.

God returned Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity to him, which led him to bless the Most High in full acknowledgment of His Sovereignty (4:34–37).

I vividly recall that morning in Palo Alto when I circled six statements in Daniel 4. Verse 34: “His dominion” and “His kingdom.” Verse 35: “His will” and “His hand.” Verse 37: “His works” and “His ways.” Everything the king had experienced and everything that followed his insanity was orchestrated by God who “does according to His will.”

Staring at Daniel 4:34–37, I broke out in a sweat as I struggled with what I had read. Finally, I invited the Lord to take charge of my life, my marriage, and the birth of our firstborn. I surrendered my entire future to Him. And I finished the time on my knees weeping in wonder and relief. From then on, it would be “God, and God alone.”

I share this story not to sound dramatic or pious but because it transformed me. Good times and hard times. Happiness and hardship. Gain and loss. Promotion and demotion. Joy and sorrow. Ecstasy and tragedy. Confusion and clarity. His sovereignty covers it all. God, and God alone, is in full control.

That summer morning in 1961, I decided my entire life would be His dominion and His kingdom, not mine. It would be His will shaped by His hand, not mine. It would be His works and His ways, not mine, that I would spend the balance of my life proclaiming and promoting.

His way is always right. It doesn’t always make sense. It isn’t always pleasurable and fun. But it is always right.

Not until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s sovereignty did true reasoning return to him. Not until we acknowledge God’s sovereignty will we be able to understand life according to God’s Word.

Adapted by Insight for Living staff from Charles R. Swindoll, The Mystery of God's Will: What Does He Want for Me? (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Kindle ed., 1999), 75–81. Copyright © 1999 by Charles R. Swindoll. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com

Strengthening

Strengthening Your Grip on Integrity

The Name of the Game is Change

by Charles R. Swindoll

When you boil the Christian life down to the basics, the name of the game is change Those who flex with the times, who refuse to stay rigid, who resist the mould and reject the rut…ah, those are the souls distinctively used by God. To them, change is a challenge, a fresh breeze that flows through the room of routine and blows away the stale air of sameness. It seldom fails to stimulate and invigorate…and it often serves as oil on the rusty gate of habit. This is especially applicable when it comes to certain habits that harm and

hurt us. That kind of change is always hard— but it isn’t impossible. Let’s think that over. Jeremiah pointed out the difficulty of breaking into an established life pattern when he quipped: Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)

Notice the last three words, “always done evil.” The Hebrew says, literally, “learned in evil.” Now that’s quite an admission! Those who are “learned in evil” can do no good. Evil

habits that remain unchanged prohibit their doing good. Evil is a habit that is learned; it is contracted and cultivated by long hours of practice. In another place, Jeremiah speaks for God and declares that it is so:

I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied, “Don’t bother me.” You have been that way since childhood—you simply will not obey me! (Jeremiah 22:21)

All of us have practiced certain areas of wrong from our youth. It is a pattern of life that comes “second nature” to us and therefore it strongly resists change. We gloss over our resistance with the varnish of excuses:

“Well, nobody’s perfect.”

habitual lifestyle) will not be complete until you “put on” the garments of the new man (the new, fresh, Christian lifestyle). The tailor’s name is Change, and he is a master at fitting your frame. But the process will be painful, I repeat, and costly. But worth it? Absolutely.

What are you asking the Lord to adjust in your life that needs immediate attention?

“I’ll never be any different; that’s just the way I am.”

“I was born this way—nothing can be done about it.”

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Jeremiah tells us why such excuses come easily. We have become “learned in evil”…we have “been that way since childhood.” In one sense we have learned to act and react in sinful, unbiblical ways with ease and (dare I admit it?) with a measure of pleasure. Admittedly, there are many times we do so unconsciously, and on those occasions the depth of our habit pattern is most revealing.

It is vital—it is essential—that we see ourselves as we really are in the light of God’s written Word…then be open to change where change is needed. The number-one enemy of change is the hard-core, satisfied sin nature within. I warn you: that sinful nature has been gratified and spoiled all these years, and it won’t give up without a temper tantrum. Change is its greatest threat. Change must be allowed to face and conquer the intimidations of inward habit—and I repeat the warning, it will never be an easy confrontation. So don’t expect it.

The flesh dies a slow, bitter, bloody death. “Putting off” the clothes of the old man (the old,

Change—real change—takes place slowly. Far too many Christians give up and get discouraged. Like ice skating or mastering a musical instrument or learning to swim, certain techniques have to be discovered, developed, and implemented in the daily discipline of living. Breaking habit patterns you established during the passing of years cannot occur in a few brief days. “Instant” change is as rare as it is phoney.

God did not give us His Word to satisfy our curiosity—He gave it to change our lives. Tell me, can you name a couple of specific changes God has implemented in your life during the past six months? Has He been allowed, for example, to change your attitude toward someone…or in your reaction of stubbornness…or a deep-seated addiction that has hurt you for a long, long time…or a habit of discourtesy in your driving…or a profane tongue…or cheating…or laziness?

Perhaps a better question would be, “Exactly what changes do you have on your drawing board?”—or—“What are you asking the Lord to adjust in your life that needs immediate attention?”

Since the name of the game is change, this time let’s play to win, OK?

Crucial Questions: Overcoming Long-Term Grief

by Steve Johnson

How do I get over long-term grief?

One of our listeners contacted us regarding her long-term grief. She wrote: I have suffered losses in my life. My husband and I were infertile for many years. Finally, we had a beautiful baby girl, but she died when she was six months old. That was devastating. Five years ago, my husband died after a long battle with cancer, and now I’m alone. Every day I think about how much I miss him. I keep all his things on the dresser just like he left them when he went to the hospital the last time. How do I get over this terrible feeling?

Grieving is a journey, and even if you have felt the Lord’s comforting hand on your shoulder, it’s natural to still feel stuck along the way. Perhaps we can offer a few suggestions that might help you overcome your long-term grief.

First, take a close look at your unfulfilled wishes. Your desire for motherhood runs deep, perhaps even deeper than your wishes for marriage.

In her book, Shattered Hopes, Renewed Hearts: What to Do with Wishes that Don’t Come True, Dr. Maribeth Ekey writes:

Once we accept that life is sad, once we stop fighting our sadness and simply let it be, we can channel our energies into facing sadness constructively. As we face it, we mourn. As we mourn, we let go of wishes and dreams that cannot

be. In letting go, we free our passions for investment in wishes that can be. This is the road to joy.1

Second, let yourself release the dreams that may never come to pass and open your heart to embrace new ones. God has given each of us a unique purpose to fulfil on earth. Take some time to reflect and write down what you believe God’s purpose might be for you. What mission might He be leading you to? While it’s painful to let go of cherished dreams, know that God can provide new ones—dreams that can fill your life with meaning and purpose. Consider partnering with someone in pursuing this purpose; the journey will be enriched by the shared experience.

feeding your negative emotions? If so, try altering just one habit. Sometimes, even small steps can be the beginning of rebuilding life after loss.

Grief may shape you, but it does not define you.

As Paul beautifully illustrates, there is immense strength and joy in unity of purpose: Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose (Philippians 2:1–2, emphasis added).

Third, focus on building life-enriching habits. Sometimes, we unintentionally perpetuate our feelings of sadness by engaging in routines that reinforce them. While many of us can’t change our circumstances, we can choose to change our actions. Small, positive changes—like getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and going for walks—can make a significant difference. You might also find encouragement in attending uplifting worship services, developing a hobby, meditating on a verse or passage of Scripture, addressing problems with courage and action, sharing a daily laugh, or cultivating a new friendship. Take a moment to reflect on your daily routine. Are there patterns that may be

Fourth, stay connected to people, even though it may be difficult. You need someone such as a pastor, Christian counsellor, or trusted friend whom you can call when negative thoughts weigh on your mind. Having someone to talk to openly can make a world of difference. Remember, God often uses other people to extend His mercy, comfort, and help. When we’re hurting, our tendency is to withdraw, but healing often comes through the support and care of others. I encourage you to let someone walk with you through this season, helping you to grow and find strength.

The final step in the journey of grief is learning to integrate the loss into your life. The relationship or dream you cherished has changed, and accepting that it is no longer part of your present reality is a vital part of healing. This loss has undoubtedly shaped and changed you, leaving you different from who you were before.

Despite these changes, there is hope. You have the strength to overcome your grief and move forward with life. Grief may shape you, but it does not define you. Brighter days are ahead.

We hope you found these suggestions helpful

Steve Johnson is the executive director and pastor at Insight for Living Canada.

1. Maribeth Ekey, Shattered Hopes, Renewed Hearts: What to Do with Wishes that Don’t Come True (Servant Publications, 1998), p. 36.

Threads: The Significance and Symbolism of Water

by Steve Johnson

The Bible is a tapestry of tightly woven threads, each one intricately weaving its way through the pages of Scripture. Each thread connects many stories together, all contributing to a central theme that runs through the entirety of the biblical narrative—leading, ultimately, to Jesus.

Part of reading the Bible is following the threads to see where they lead. It’s about noticing where they double back, tying into what came before, and where they converge at key passages. It’s recognizing how the earlier threads foreshadow and promise the later ones and how the latter threads look back, connecting with the foundation laid before.

One major biblical thread is the symbolism of water. It weaves through the Bible in three primary ways: as a force that only God can control, as a source of life, and as a cleansing and renewing agent.

A Force Only God can Control

Water plays a crucial role from the very beginning of the Bible. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God is described as hovering over the waters during creation. In the ancient worldview, the sea was often associated with chaos, as seen in this verse. Water is depicted as a primordial force in the creation narrative, symbolizing a chaotic, formless state from which God, through His creative power, brings order and life.

God separates the dark, chaotic waters to form the sky and the seas, establishing water as a fundamental element of creation. Dry land emerges as a home for humans to flourish. The term “deep” (NIV) is derived from a word related to a sea monster in the Babylonian creation myth. The picture conveyed is one of God’s absolute mastery over the waters by His divine Word.

The created order is preserved through God’s power as He maintains the sea within bounds (Job 38:8-11) and, by implication, restrains the threat of chaos. Though storms may appear to threaten this order, God is Himself the Lord of the storm, with all the elements of nature, water in particular, firmly under His sovereign control (cf. Psalm 29).

A Source of Life

In the Garden of Eden, a river flows to water the garden and then divides into four rivers, symbolizing the life-giving nature of water and its ability to sustain creation. This establishes water as a source of life and fertility early in the biblical narrative. The thread of water reappears with the chaotic waters of the flood. The flood account in Genesis 6–9 is a reversal of creation, a return of the waters of chaos. The same chaotic waters that God parted in Genesis 1 now return to cover the land that God previously raised up from the sea. The floodwaters serve as both a means of destruction and purification, wash-

ing away the corruption of humanity. Noah’s ark, which saves a remnant of life, becomes a symbol of salvation through water.

From here, the way is made for a new creation—the world renewed after judgment and the preservation of righteous Noah and his family. God rescues this remnant of Noah and his family through the waters so they can step onto dry land and become a fresh start for humanity.

As we move further into the Old Testament, the water theme emerges again in the story of the Exodus. God saves His people from Egypt by leading them through the waters onto dry land (Exodus 14). Pharaoh and his army are destroyed. The parting of the Red Sea is a miraculous event where water acts as both a barrier and a means of deliverance. This event symbolizes God’s power to save His people and His ability to make a way where there seems to be none.

ness and the restoration of a clean relationship with God (Leviticus 14:5–7; Ezekiel 36:25).

Water is also frequently used to express the longing for God’s presence and deliverance. Water symbolizes the deep longing for spiritual fulfilment and closeness to God. The thirst for water is akin to the thirst for God’s presence and salvation (Psalm 42:1–2).

This thread is taken up and projected into the future by later biblical authors. Isaiah envisions a new Exodus, with a new King leading God’s people into a new creation. As this thread is woven through Scripture, the nations are depicted as the chaotic waters (Isaiah 11:1–16).

From the waters of creation to the river of life in the New Jerusalem, water in the Bible consistently serves as a powerful symbol of God’s life-giving creative power, purification, and spiritual renewal.

In the desert, God provides water from the rock to quench the Israelites’ thirst, symbolizing both God’s faithfulness to provide and the spiritual nourishment that He offers to His people (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11).

The thread of water repeats later with Joshua and the Israelites when they come to enter Canaan, and they again pass through waters—this time the waters of the Jordan into the Promised Land (Joshua 3–4).

A Cleansing and Renewing Agent

Throughout Scripture, water is frequently used as a cleansing agent in rituals of purification. It is a metaphor for spiritual renewal, where God cleanses the people of Israel from their sin and restores them. Water is used in purification rites, representing the washing away of sin or impurity, often symbolizing holi-

The prophets often speak of water in terms of God’s future blessings and salvation. Isaiah 44:3 speaks of God’s provision of living water as a symbol of His Spirit, bringing life and renewal to a dry and barren world. In Zechariah 14:8, water symbolizes spiritual vitality, and its flow from Jerusalem signifies God’s presence in the new creation.

Fulfilment in Jesus

In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the fulfilment of the water thread in its various aspects. All the Gospels highlight the story of Jesus going down to the Jordan River. He enters the waters and then back out again in his baptism. In that moment, the Heavenly Father announces that Jesus is His Son, who will rescue the world from the chaos of our evil and violence by entering death and emerging victorious on the other side. This is one reason baptism is a significant ordinance for Jesus’ followers. It’s about participating in this ancient pattern of going through the waters of death and following Jesus into the new creation (Romans 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 10:1–2; 1 Peter 3:20–21).

Jesus offers “living water,” contrasting the temporary satisfaction of earthly water with the eternal satisfaction and life found in Him. This metaphor points to the Holy Spirit, which believers receive as a continual source of spiritual life (John 4:13–14).

Water is also used metaphorically in relation to God’s Word. In Ephesians 5:26, Paul speaks of Christ cleansing the church, “washed by the cleansing of God’s word,” drawing a parallel between water’s cleansing properties and the purifying effect of Scripture.

Water continues to play a role in the vision of the new heaven and earth and the New Jerusalem in Revelation 22:1–2a. “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the centre of the main street.” The river of life represents the

abundant and eternal life that flows from God’s throne, marking the ultimate fulfilment of the promise of living water. It symbolizes the perfect communion between God and His people in the new creation where His presence will forever satisfy the thirst of His people.

This image brings the water theme full circle, returning to the life-giving river of Eden, now in its perfected, eternal state. From the waters of creation to the river of life in the New Jerusalem, water in the Bible consistently serves as a powerful symbol of God’s life-giving creative power, purification, and spiritual renewal.

Steve Johnson is the executive director and pastor at Insight for Living Canada.

Beneath the Surface: The Skeptic’s Faith Journey

by Insight for Living Canada

One night a wife found her husband standing over their baby’s crib. Silently, she watched him from the doorway. As he gazed down at their sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, skepticism. Touched by this rare moment of vulnerability and depth of feelings that were displayed, her eyes glistening. She stepped closer and slipped her arm around her husband. “A penny for your thoughts,” she whispered softly.

“It’s amazing!” he replied. “I just can’t see how anybody can make a crib like that for only $46.50.” It just goes to show there is a little skeptic in all of us!

According to Dictionary.com , one definition of a skeptic is “a person who doubts the truth

of a religion, esp. Christianity, or of important elements of it.”

From cover to cover, the Bible abounds with skeptics, whether it be Eve, who doubted what God said about eating the forbidden fruit; Moses, who questioned God over leading Israel out of Egypt; or Felix, who was almost persuaded by Paul to become a believer. The Bible is a book about faith—and skepticism.

In reality, all of us are skeptics to some degree or another. I know I am. I resonate with the man who said to Jesus, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). I consider myself a skeptic because I sometimes struggle to believe all the truths of the Bible as fully as I should. Yet, if I never

wrestled with belief, there would be no room for my faith to grow. Faith, after all, is a lifelong adventure. Just when I think I’ve reached a point of unwavering trust in God’s Word, along comes a situation or challenge to test my faith and leave me doubting and waffling.

I view faith in God as a journey—a continuum. The walk of faith begins with believing in His existence and unfolds, step by step, like any other journey. Often, the movement is subtle, almost imperceptible, as we progress from total doubt towards total devotion. Along this journey we are confronted with truth and must choose to respond with belief or doubt. When we choose belief, we take another step forward, advancing to the next point where truth awaits our acceptance or rejection.

as such, there’s always a point of contact—a starting place where truth has already begun to penetrate and can be built upon. To put it another way, everybody believes something! In the faith journey of others, you and I are links in the chain, travelling companions, perhaps only for a short time.

I must make an important distinction: skepticism about truth doesn’t have to prevent one from trusting. We can still trust, even with only partial knowledge.

The person of faith chooses to believe even without having all the answers or understanding everything.

A person may be skeptical simply because they don’t fully understand something, thinking, “Once I understand, then I will believe.” But as Augustine wisely said, “Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”

Everyone, whether Christian or non-Christian, is somewhere on this faith continuum. As Christians, even as we wrestle with our own struggles along the journey, we have the privilege of partnering with God to help others—both believers and non-believers—take the next step forward in their own faith journey.

This means that I must be sensitive in how I approach people and speak to them about Jesus, always considerate of where they are in their journey. For the avowed atheist, I need to focus on sharing God’s existence. For someone who believes in God but struggles to trust Him, I need to share the relevance of God’s Word to their life. For the individual who has made a commitment to Christ—who has “crossed the line” and embraced Him as their Saviour—I need to share what they need to know, believe, and do to take the next step toward becoming a more fully devoted follower of Jesus.

I stated earlier that we are privileged to work alongside God to bring people along in their faith journey. He works through upbringing, relationships, and life events, and

Christian faith is also about the will—the act of choosing to believe and trust, even without having full knowledge. This willingness to trust despite uncertainty is key to taking the next step on anyone’s journey of faith.

A skeptic can still believe and grow in their faith. The person of faith chooses to believe even without having all the answers or understanding everything. They can rest in God’s redemptive plan and entrust themselves to Him, even with only partial knowledge.

Everyone experiences skepticism, questions, and doubt. Regardless of where someone is on their journey, you and I are called to help others trust and take their next step in their faith journey. And beyond all the major, life-changing steps of faith, perhaps we can even help someone believe that a crib can be made for just $46.50.