UNLESS –

UNLESS

Pastor Calvin Cook

January 7, 2026

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” — Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

This morning, I was praying through scripture. Today’s focus during this prayer time was on Psalms 3 and 5. It seemed that each verse took me to a different place of prayer. I really love the focus of praying scripture first thing in the morning, before anything else.

Today while I was praying and thinking over past recent experiences and conversations that have paused me, I considered one word in many of these conversations and situations, that being the word the UNLESS.

Pausing, I did a brief search through a scripture thesaurus on the word UNLESS only to find and discover what a quiet and powerful word it is and how powerfully but settled it is woven through scripture.

But what does this word mean. Is it a dividing point, a turning point, or is it resolve. Is this the word to see things just a little differently, maybe even a change of course in thought and purpose.

I remembered while I was praying for situations and for things that I am going through and knowing others are going through how often in the last few days UNLESS has appeared in conversation.

“Unless there is a miracle”, “Unless he/she changes their ways”, “Unless it snows” “Unless Jesus returns” and others that creates a sense that UNLESS is a turning point an invitation to see life, even our relationship with God just a little differently.

So much of our daily focus is pulled toward anger, pain, sickness, loss, and death. We focus first on the negative. Not to diminish these feelings because these feelings, situations and focus are not imaginary, they are real, heavy, and often unavoidable. But they were never meant to be our center. When they become our focus, they begin to control everything about us, our thoughts, shape our reactions, and define our hope.

Jesus once said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). He wasn’t dismissing hardship or saying we all live in a fa la la world.  Jesus was redirecting our vision and still is.

However, we cannot realize this: Unless we recognize God’s presence. Unless we trust His salvation. Unless we embrace and live into redemption.

The opposite of Jesus’s unless being, that if we don’t embrace the Jesus unless, the former things, overwhelmed with pain, hurt and anguish will always rule us. Pain becomes our focus. Anger becomes our guide. Fear becomes our future.

This is where the Holy Spirit is saying – “it’s time to grow up, put on your big boy and big girl pants and realize that we are called in another way.  Scripture reminds us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:2

This doesn’t mean denying reality, it means deciding what has authority. When God’s presence is acknowledged, we discover we are not alone. When salvation is trusted, we remember our story does not end in defeat. When redemption is embraced, even our broken places can become holy ground.

UNLESS GOD IS AT THE CENTER, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL TAKE ITS PLACE!

And here is the grace-filled truth: God is not waiting for us to get it together. God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is with us. Remember what Emmanuel means? God is entering into every situation and unless we realize God’s presence, guidance, care, and direction we are never going to escape those things which are gnawing like a squirrel with a nut our very being.

So today, pause and ask yourself: What am I allowing to shape my outlook—what I see, or Who is with me? Because, unless we choose to see God at work—here, now, even in the middle of the mess—the darkness will always feel louder than the light.

But when God becomes our focus, the light never fails.

One final thought and I’m looking in a mirror as I say these words. We cannot wait for someone else to do this for us. We must take control of our own mind, body, and soul. No one will fix you like you will when you learn to trust completely in God. No one will pray for you like you will.  No one will create intimacy with God like you will on your own. The harsh word is this: We must quit living an enabled lifestyle, regardless of who or what is enabling you. With God and allowing God to move and have being and taking one step at a time – it will be OK according to God’s good and perfect will.

Prayer

Lord, I confess how easily my heart gravitates toward what is broken and painful. Help me to see Your presence in the midst of it all. Teach me to live from redemption, not reaction. May my mind, my hope, and my future be shaped by You—unless nothing else. Amen.