Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8 25 2025
Hope Beyond Helplessness
I was watching a St. Jude’s cancer ad and heard the cry of parents describing the helplessness of not being able to save their children. You can see it in their faces—anguish, terror, and a longing to carry the burden themselves. Every time you hear such a cry, it pierces your soul. Even if you have never walked that road, you sense the weight of their pain. You know in your heart you, too, would do anything to save your children from such an enemy.
Can I be a father figure to you for a moment?
Many of us have children who are not walking with God… there are different kinds of cancer.
They show no sign of seeking Him, and our hearts ache. Because the cancer of this world
sin, deception, and spiritual blindness, has wrapped around them. We long for them to know the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We long for them to receive the grace of Christ that gives them strength in every trial (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We long for them to know the joy that is set before us (Hebrews 12:2).
Just as those children in St. Jude’s cannot save themselves, so too many around us are powerless to break free from sin. But there is still hope. Jesus says:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
We do not fight with ordinary weapons. We have been given the greatest weapons of all time: hope, faith, and the intercession of a Savior who suffered, died, and rose for us (2 Corinthians 10:4). His blood covers every sin. His resurrection secures every promise. His Spirit empowers every prayer.
And so the Holy Spirit burdens our hearts. That grief, that unshakable stirring in your spirit for your children, your friends, your neighbors—it is not without purpose. It is the Spirit calling you to FIGHT… to pray, to intercede, to stand in the gap.
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land… but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).
This is our call: to war in the Spirit for the souls of those who cannot fight for themselves. To pray, to fast, to cry out before the throne of God until a breakthrough comes. To not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). Just as those parents stay and stand with their children in St Jude’s hospital with every breath of faith they have.
Brothers and sisters, this fight is holy. It is eternal. For such a time as this, God has called you. You already know the names. You already know the faces. And you already feel the weight of their battles.
So tonight, let us drop to our knees. Let us release the anger that might dwell in us towards them and their worldly testimony. Let us call on the only One who can heal, restore, and redeem. Let us fight for the souls of our children, our families, and our generation with the weapons God has given us. And let us trust that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Will you answer His call? Will you stand in the gap? Now is the time to fight. Now is the time to pray.
Heavenly Father,
We come before You tonight with broken hearts for those we love who are caught in the cancer of this world. We confess that in our own strength we are helpless, but we thank You that You are mighty to save.
Lord Jesus, You said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Tonight, we bring our sons, our daughters, our families, our friends, and even this generation before Your throne. We cry out for their souls.
Holy Spirit, stir us to stand in the gap. Teach us to fight in prayer and not grow weary. Strengthen our faith that we would believe for a breakthrough even when we cannot see it. Remind us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Father, we place their names before You now…
[pause and whisper their names]
We ask for Your mercy, Your grace, and Your power to break the chains of sin, addiction, despair, and deception. Cover them with the blood of Jesus. Surround them with Your love. Call them back to Yourself.
Lord, we will not stop praying. We will not stop standing. We will not stop believing until the cancer of this world is swallowed up in the victory of Christ.
And we declare tonight: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
In Jesus’ mighty name we pray,
Amen.
I will be hosting an Online Discovering Jesus 5-week class
starting this coming Tuesday night Sept. 2nd, at 7pm ONLINE for people of all ages.
Please send me a note if you would like to attend or know someone who would like to grow their faith. If you have a big screen at home, you can create a time to invite friends or neighbors who would like to join you in a Home Group for 5 weeks. Let’s get creative.
Here is your link to join us on Tuesday. If you desire to invite someone send them this email and just have them join us. https://meet.google.com/cfm-udos-iks
It’s ok if you’re running late from work or miss a week. Just come
If you’d like to share this Devotional with someone, here’s the signup link:
http://eepurl.com/gKlklD To browse the complete devotional library, visit:
https://fearlesslycourageous.com
