In this standalone message, Troy explains why God wants us to get rid of the painful anxiety that comes from depending only on ourselves in the midst of life’s difficulties. Instead of self-dependence, we should have such confidence in God that it frees our minds from anxiety. God has designed life in such a way that peace can be the constant experience of every Christ follower, even in the midst of trials.

In this week's message from our series, Getting Rid of the Gorilla, Troy challenges us to step out, take a risk, and find a spiritual shepherd we trust to help us learn how to forgive. It’s rare to find people who finally got rid of the gorilla, who didn’t also grant someone else access to the interior parts of their souls and allow themselves to be guided to hope and healing.

As we celebrate the Independence Day holiday weekend, Rick asks, "If God takes such great care of the lesser things of the world, how much more will He care for us?" He also considers the question, "How does God free us from the cares of this world when we focus on Him and His kingdom?"

Continuing in our series, Getting Rid of the Gorilla, Troy asks us to evaluate ourselves to make sure we're really following Jesus, and that our actions are in line with what's inside of our hearts. As the author of the Gorilla book writes, “Before Jesus ever calls you to forgive, He calls you to be His disciple. For some of us, maybe getting rid of the gorilla is not about forgiveness at all but about deciding whether to answer Jesus’ call to discipleship.”