Blog Posts - JAMES JANZEN MINISTRIES

Fear is the enemy of joy!

3/14/2026

Fear is the enemy of joy.

That is why Jesus often said, ”Do not be afraid.”

In this insight and the one that follows, I will let Jesus talk to you through His own word. Imagine that he is talking to you as you read these verses.

On the evening before his death, Jesus said to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27).

A synagogue official named Jairus came to Jesus and urgently asked Jesus, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live" (Mark 5:22-23).

While on the way, bad news came from the house of the synagogue official. Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?" (Mark 5:35). Jesus disagreed with the advice of the bad news bearer to not trust further in Jesus. Jesus immediately said to Jairus, "Fear not, only believe" (Mark 5:36).

Practical advice for finding joy

3/5/2026

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Paul follows his admonition to rejoice with practical advice: PRAY!.

We often forget to pray and wonder why we have no joy.
We are often anxious because we do not talk to God about everything.

The greatest enemy of joy is anxiety, and anxiety is fear. Only the perfect love of God and the awareness of God's perfect love can remove fear.

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:16- 18

Joy will come when we pray about everything and think about God’s love.

Total faith in God’s providence

2/7/2026

It is impossible to read Paul’s letter to the Philippians without being deeply touched by his total faith in the love and providence of God. It is no wonder this letter is so widely read and loved by Christians today. It reminds me of Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.

Paul’s letter and these verses remind me of the song Trust in You.
To listen, click on this Link to lyric version.

May this song encourage you to trust God regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in.

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each One down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see

I' ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary, I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You're by my side

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through

When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust
I will trust in You

Truth is
You know what tomorrow brings
There's not a day ahead you have not seen
So, in all things
Be my life and breath

I want what You want Lord
And nothing less
You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand

You are my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good

There's not a place where I'll go
You've not already stood

Loss can be GAIN!

2/2/2026

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12-14

Paul’s imprisonment did not end his missionary activity but expanded it. Prison destroyed the barriers to gaining access to the Imperial Guard of Rome and gave Paul access to the commanding office of this guard upon his arrival in Rome. His boldness also removed the fear of witnessing for others.

Paul had done nothing wrong! (Acts 28:17-21).

Various political factions were behind the false accusations. Because he preached submission and loyalty to another king—Jesus, he was seen to undermine the government of Rome. His message disrupted local economies. The Jews were offended by the message of a crucified Messiah and considered Paul's teaching to be an attack on Judaism and ethnic loyalty. But Paul saw the hand of God at work behind all this to advance the spread of the gospel.

The word used for the advance of the gospel is a vivid word picture describing the progress of an army that needs the trees and undergrowth to be cut ahead of the army's advance.

Like Paul, look for the open door. It is always there for the followers of Christ.

Lacking Nothing

1/22/2026

In the previous insight, James shares that testing our faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:2-4) He encourages us to let steadfastness have its full effect. If we do, we will become perfect and complete, lacking nothing. An amazing promise!

Paul says something similar in Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Since I know that many readers are facing difficult times, I would like to pray the following prayer for each of you.

”Almighty God, through Your Spirit who dwells in every Christian, give each reader the strength to rejoice in their suffering. May this suffering produce endurance, character, and a hope that frees them of all shame and guilt.”