Daily Encouragement

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2026

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Message summary: When God's will is not revealed clearly to us we need to stay faithful even when we don't understand. Whatever happens we need to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

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"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27).

Consider the phrase: “I sure didn’t see that coming” or "that sure wasn't on my radar". Well that certainly is the experience of Larry and Cindy.

They're a part of our Crossroads Adult Bible Fellowship class. As the year 2025 began life was going along well in their young senior years. Larry had recently retired and they had just welcomed their first grandchild, Luke.

Little did they know that nine months later Cindy would receive the unforeseen diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which began the hard battle of fighting off the dreaded disease. We talked to them last night and could sense the hopefulness in their outlook even though the "whatever happens" is not yet clear on the short term. (They both gave me permission to share their story.)

Let's look into today's text "whatever happens" to see what Paul is referring to within its context.

In the preceding verses Paul was imprisoned and his short-term outcome was uncertain. He was loved and esteemed by the Philippian believers and his plight caused them distress. What would happen to him? After all, there were already Christian martyrs, but he had a settled perspective: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

In the verses that follow Paul writes of the opposition to the Gospel. In our own time there is increasing opposition to the Gospel and we often wonder what will happen in our future, in our children's and grandchildren's future?

Late in Daniel's life he makes a statement we may all identify with “I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, ‘My lord*, what will the outcome of all this be?’" (Daniel 12:8). In the specific context this is concerning a revelation to Daniel and his expression of not understanding and wondering what the outcome would be.

But in a broader sense this verse speaks to me regarding aspects of God's revelation and providential events in my life that I don't understand and my desire to know what the outcome will be.

In response to his earnest query he receives this word: "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end" (v.9).

To me Daniel's experience is a bit similar to ours when God's will is not clearly revealed to us. That's when we must go back to a foundational Scripture such as Hebrews 11:1 that states faith is the assurance [conviction] of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Our faith in Christ gives reality to future hopes and unseen truths that we don't yet understand. It takes us back to Paul's attitude of "whatever happens" we need to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

“Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.”

In our own lives there are many other ways the short-term outcome is uncertain: health issues (those of our own and loved ones), family burdens, the economy, the state of our nation and world.

In tomorrow's message we will consider the uncertainty of short term outcomes.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we don’t always know where our present steps will take us on life’s journey, but we do know they lead us to heaven as we walk with You. Our steps here may lead to steep mountains or deep valleys. Crooked paths and rough terrain may be part of the journey, but ultimately we will rest where You reside. There we will no longer have questions about our future, for we know that we will spend eternity forever worshiping You. Grant us peace and joy for our journey here below, whatever happens, as we anticipate our future eternal inheritance. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

* “Lord” is in the small case in this particular Scripture reference because this message to Daniel came from an angel not deity.

Brooksyne note: We referred to "I sure didn’t see that coming". This morning just before reading today's message our neighbor Jane stopped by. She shared a heartbreaking story about the Zimmermans, a couple in their 40's, from her church association. They live in the Ephrata area and days before Christmas they were caught in the middle of a police chase ending with their collision with the car being chased which erupted into a blaze of fire. The couple remains in the hospital with serious burns, multiple broken ribs, and other major complications. I told Jane that we had just written about "whatever happens" in our daily encouragement and that we would include the Zimmermans in our prayers. The message of "whatever happens" is certainly an attitude they must apply to their very difficult situation at this time.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"I know Who Holds Tomorrow" Watch on YouTube The Petersons

Ira Stanphill, who wrote this song, at one time was a pastor here in Lancaster. Years ago in the course of our nursing home ministry we met a lady who had been a member of his church and spoke of how she enjoyed his introducing songs to their congregation that the Lord had given him which later were published and included in hymn books.

Upon losing his wife at a young age, Ira Stanphill wrote "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" expressing a prayer of surrender to his Savior under circumstances he didn't understand. God doesn't promise that walking with Him will be easy, but what He does promise is that every day of our lives we are in His hands and we can rest in the hope of His Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the punishment for our sins so that we can have hope and spend eternity with Him!

"This Is My Desire" Watch on YouTube Closing song at our service at Calvary Church this last Lord's Day.

Five Things I Guarantee Will Happen In 2026 Peter Heck is among my favorite online writers. This brief article will bring a joyful assurance!

Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge in southern Lancaster County.
Click on photo to enlarge

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.

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