Faith Over Fear Crisis Intervention & Counseling Services

08/27/2025

Hello everyone. I wish to thank you all for the support you have given over the past 4 years to FFCIT as we enabled access to low and often free counseling and other resources to those in need.

Unfortunately the overhead costs and resource costs of providing these services have exceeded what has been brought in by donations and paying clients. It is no longer financially viable to continue the services. It hurts my heart to have to close this program down as It has been a passion of mine. But I will no longer be offering these services or resources and will be referring people to other local mental health resources. I realize this will have an impact on many who cannot afford these resources but we can no longer cover the costs of operating this service.

Thank you again for all of the support and for your understanding. This page will be taken down in the coming days.

God bless you, everyone!

Pastor Brian Wattenbarger.

07/31/2025

Remember the benefits of God’s love!

07/31/2025

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07/30/2025

Morning Will Come

07/21/2025

Held in the Rock

Key Verse:
“I love You, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
— Psalm 18:1–2 (NASB)

Some days just feel shaky.

You wake up and the world feels off—maybe it’s the news, maybe it’s a diagnosis, or maybe it’s just that quiet dread that something could go wrong. Life has a way of shifting beneath our feet, and when it does, we look for something—anything—to hold on to.

That’s where David was when he wrote these words. He had been hunted, betrayed, cornered, exhausted. And yet, out of that chaos, he sings: “The Lord is my rock.”

Not “a rock.” My rock. Personal. Steady. Unmoving. When everything else was uncertain, God didn’t budge.

David piles on the imagery—fortress, shield, deliverer, stronghold. Why so many words? Because sometimes one description isn’t enough. When your heart is under attack, when fear is circling, when your spirit is fragile—you need to know you’re surrounded by more than just ideas. You are surrounded by a God who protects, defends, and holds you close.

You don’t have to be the strong one today. You just need to know where to run. And when you run to Him, you’re not just escaping danger—you’re running into the arms of your salvation.

Reflection:
Where do you turn when life feels uncertain or unsafe? What would it look like today to take refuge in God as your rock and fortress?

Prayer:
Lord, when the ground beneath me shakes, help me remember that You are my rock. You don’t move. You don’t change. Be my shield today, my safe place when I feel weak or afraid. Thank You for being my fortress. I run to You now and rest in Your strength. Amen.

If you like these devotionals, you can find my find my first devotional book here at this link:

https://a.co/d/cwJIthW

07/19/2025

Hello friends and family! I am looking for help in promoting my new book: “Hearts in the Hallways,” which is my salute to educators, administrators, and anyone else who dedicates their hearts and talents to teaching, mentoring, loving and caring for our precious youth.

There are 70 devotionals to help inspire and motivate teachers, parents and caregivers as they deal with the unique challenges of their positions. It is available in ebook and print to order formats from Amazon! I appreciate you helping to get the word out!

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

07/14/2025

Call for Help

“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” -(Luke 18:7-8)

It’s not fair when you’re cheated, abused, or betrayed. When you work hard and others get the credit. When you pour all you’ve got into a goal and it comes to nothing. When you invest love and attention in a friend who rejects you in the end. When you’re falsely accused, unfairly, punished, or let down by broken promises. Your grievance is painful and leaves you raw.

If you find yourself beaten down by injustice today, cry out to God to make it right. Call on him to uphold your reputation. Let him comfort and heal your wounds. Seek his will, trusting He’ll kindle new goals and dreams for tomorrow. Know him as your friend that never leaves your side. Depend on him as your mighty deliver to protect and save you from trouble.

Drawn near to God and each other as you suffer unfairness today. Trust the Lord to bring justice and help. Believe he’s on your side, fighting for you, his chosen ones.

Lord, overcome our trouble with your Justis today. Shield us from harm and repair what’s broken. Restore our hope for tomorrow. Amen.

07/14/2025

Lift Up Your Head

Key Verse:
“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
— Luke 21:28 (NASB)

When the ground shakes beneath you, where do you look?
When the waters rise around you, your family, your future—how do you keep your footing?

This past week, the images of flooding across Texas and rising tremors in unfamiliar places have left many of us shaken. These weren’t just weather events—they were life-altering disasters. Families huddled on rooftops. Children pulled through windows to safety. Entire towns submerged in muddy silence. Families missing and entire campgrounds full of children washed away to the devastation of communities. And beneath all of this the dark fear that something else is stirring beneath it all.

Jesus once spoke about days like these. He said there would come a time when the sea would roar, when fear would grip nations, and when the very powers of the heavens would be shaken. But He didn’t tell us this to send us into a panic. He told us so we could prepare—and so we could hope.

“When these things begin to take place,” He said, “straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

That’s not the posture of panic. That’s the stance of someone who knows where their help comes from.

Maybe your life feels unstable right now. Maybe the world’s chaos is echoing in your home or your heart. The waters are rising emotionally, financially, spiritually. And it’s tempting to live in fear—glued to the news, overwhelmed by what might happen next.

But Jesus invites us to something greater. Not blind optimism. Not naive denial. But faithful readiness. He calls us to trust not the ground, not the forecast, not the economy—but Him. The Rock that doesn’t shake. The Ark that still floats. The King who is still coming.

Just like Noah built his ark before the rain fell, we are called to build our lives on the Word of God now—before the next storm rolls in. Not in fear, but in confidence. Because no matter how high the waters rise, our Redeemer draws near.

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Reflection:
What has been shaking in your life lately? Where have you been tempted to focus on fear instead of lifting your head toward Jesus?

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Prayer:
Lord, when the world around me shakes, teach me to stand firm in You. Help me lift my eyes—not in fear, but in faith—knowing that You are near, that You are coming, and that You are still in control. Be my Rock when the waters rise. Be my Ark when the storms rage. And help me to live as a light of hope for others who feel like they’re drowning. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

https://a.co/d/cwJIthW

07/10/2025

You Are Loved Even When You Can’t Love Yourself

Key Verse:
“We love because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 (NASB)

Sometimes it’s hard to feel loved when you’re struggling to even like yourself. Maybe you look in the mirror and don’t see anything special. Maybe you hear a voice in your head telling you that you’re not good enough, pretty enough, handsome enough, or smart enough. And after hearing it so often, you start to believe it’s true.

But here’s what God wants you to know: His love for you has never depended on how you feel about yourself. He doesn’t love you because you’re perfect or because you always get things right. He loves you because He made you, and He made you on purpose. He loves you with a love so strong and deep that even when you can’t see anything good in yourself, He still sees everything good He put inside you.

You don’t have to wait until you “fix yourself” to be loved. God’s love comes first. His love reaches you exactly where you are. And as you open your heart to His love – even if it feels hard – you will slowly begin to see yourself the way He sees you: as His precious creation, chosen, beautiful, and deeply loved.

You are worth loving, even on the days you don’t feel it. Because His love isn’t something you earn – it’s a gift He gives freely. Let His love wash over you today and remind you that you belong to Him forever.

Reflection:
What is one thing you don’t like about yourself right now? How does it change your thoughts to know that God sees you with perfect love anyway?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that You love me even when I don’t feel lovable. Help me to see myself through Your eyes today. Remind me that I am Your child, deeply loved and never alone. Teach me to receive Your love so that I can learn to love myself the way You do. Amen.

07/09/2025

More Than Enough

Key Verse:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)

She sees the ads for new clothes and the pictures of family vacations and feels an ache in her chest. She watches her children’s faces light up over toys they see in the store or camps they hear their friends talk about, and in that moment, her heart sinks. She whispers to God, “I want to give them everything, but I can’t. I feel like I’m failing them.”

But what if her greatest gift isn’t found on a shelf or in a ticket to some experience? What if it’s found in her tired arms that still wrap around them every night, in the prayers she prays when no one sees, in the patience she finds when the day feels too long? What if it’s in her tears, her laughter, her listening ear, her steady presence?

God never asked her to give her children the world. He asked her to love them, guide them, and point them to Him. His grace fills in all the places where her resources, energy, and plans run dry. In His eyes, her children are not deprived because they don’t have everything money can buy. They are richly blessed because they have a mother who loves them with a love that reflects His own.

Her heart may ache over what she can’t give, but God wants her to see what she does give — herself. Her love, her wisdom, her faith, her hugs, her prayers. That’s what they will carry into adulthood. That’s what will anchor them when life feels unsteady. And that is more than enough.

Reflection:
What do you wish you could give your children that feels out of reach right now? How might God be reminding you today that your love, prayers, and presence are gifts far greater than anything material?

Prayer:
Lord, I often feel like I’m not giving my children enough. Help me to see them through Your eyes. Remind me that my love, care, and faithfulness are treasures they need most. Where I feel inadequate, fill me with Your grace. Thank You for loving them even more deeply than I do. Amen.

https://a.co/d/cwJIthW

07/04/2025

Wide-Eyed in the Storm

Key Verse:
“He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” — Psalm 107:29 (ESV)

My wife and niece were sleeping soundly inside the RV. Sleep usually eludes me, so I stepped outside into the cool Texas night. A storm was brewing in the distance and the sky lit up now and then with silent flashes of lightning. I enjoyed the wind blowing against my face and in what’s left of my hair.

I closed my eyes and lifted my head to feel the breeze fully. Stretching out my arms, I stood there quietly, taking in the distant storm and the restless wind around me. In that moment, I felt awake to everything God had made.

I thought about how God created the wind and the lightning, and how He saw me standing there, unable to sleep but not alone. Even when I feel restless and tired, God remains present. The storm reminded me of His power. The cool breeze reminded me of His nearness. And standing there with my arms out felt like my silent prayer: “Lord, I trust You. Even when I can’t sleep. Even when I don’t have answers.”

Reflection:
How might my sleepless nights become moments to connect with God? What does it mean for me to trust Him when I’m tired and restless?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being here with me in the quiet hours of the night. Remind me that You never sleep and that I am never alone. Help me to rest in You, even when my eyes remain open. Amen.

07/04/2025

Held While You Sleep

Key Verse:
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8 (NASB)

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

How many times have these words drifted from little lips into the night? They’re simple words, almost like a lullaby, but beneath them rests a truth that even adults need to remember. Each night as your eyes grow heavy, you are entrusting your life in God’s hands. You’re saying, “Lord, I trust You with everything – my breath, my dreams, my fears, my life.”

It can feel unsettling to think about life and death as we pray these words. Yet, there’s also a beautiful peace hidden in them. We’re reminded that whether awake or asleep, whether we live or die, we belong to Him. He loves us so deeply that He promises never to leave us, even for a moment.

And so we end this prayer with blessings: “God bless mommy and daddy and…” – filling in the names of those we love. We cover them in prayer, entrusting them into the same loving hands that hold us. As you lay down tonight, let this prayer not be mere routine, but a surrender – a reminder that you are safe in the arms of your Heavenly Father who watches over you with love that never sleeps.

Reflection:
How does it comfort you to know that God watches over you even as you sleep? Who can you add to your prayer list tonight to place in His care?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for holding me through the day and through the night. As I lay down to sleep, I surrender my worries, my hopes, and my life into Your hands. Please keep me and those I love safe. Let Your peace guard my heart and mind tonight. Amen