Faithful Writers

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8) What did guidance look like back then? In David’s world, nobody was pulling out a phone for directions. You had shepherds guiding sheep through rough hills. Parents showing kids how to barter in the market. Kings giving counsel to their people. Guidance wasn’t a distant voice — it was personal, face-to-face. So when David writes this verse, the picture is of a God right there with you. That phrase about His “loving eye”? In Hebrew culture, to keep your eye on someone meant to care for them, to protect them. Like a parent at the playground — keeping watch, ready to step in if needed. That’s what David’s getting at. Why does this matter now? Fast forward to today. We’re swimming in advice — podcasts, books, TikTok hacks — but still lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering what direction to take. Career choices. Relationship messes. Faith questions that feel like a maze. Psalm 32:8 cuts through the noise. God doesn’t say, “Here’s a list — good luck.” He says, “I’ll teach you. I’ll guide you. I’ll keep my eye on you.” That’s not control — it’s care. What does it feel like? Think about learning to drive. You’re nervous, hands sweaty on the wheel. The instructor sits beside you, calm, steady, watchful. They don’t grab the wheel from you, but they guide — “Steady now, you’re okay, here’s the turn.” That’s the heart of this verse. God’s presence plus His wisdom. What if I’m standing at a crossroads? That’s when this verse really lands. Maybe you’re asking: Do I stay or do I leave? Do I mend this relationship or move on? Am I afraid to let go, or finally let God keep his promise and lead? The promise isn’t that we’ll get a billboard in the sky. The promise is that God doesn’t leave us guessing. He instructs. He teaches. He counsels. And He does it with His eye on us, in love. So what’s the takeaway? The same God who walked with David through caves and kingdoms is guiding you through workplaces, breakups, and everyday choices. You’re not fumbling alone. His presence is with you. Maybe the prayer today is as simple as this: “God, I don’t just need answers — I need You. Teach me. Guide me. Keep Your loving eye on me.” And peace starts right there. © Gary L Ellis

Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash His voice isn’t always heard; sometimes, it’s felt in the quiet corners of life. I used to think hearing God meant waiting for something dramatic, a prophetic word, a dream, a voice that would make the room tremble. But as I’ve walked with Him longer, I’ve come to see that His voice is rarely loud. It’s gentle, intentional, and layered, especially tucked into ordinary conversations, heartbreaks, and still moments where only peace speaks. 1. Through People There was a season when I was uncertain about what to do next. I prayed, fasted, and waited for a sign from heaven, but none came. Days turned to weeks, and silence began to feel like rejection. Then one evening, while chatting with a friend about something completely unrelated, she said a simple line that cut straight to my heart. She had no idea what I’d been wrestling with, yet her words echoed the very thing I’d been asking God about. That moment reminded me of how God sent Nathan to David, not with thunder, but with truth wrapped in friendship. Sometimes His voice doesn’t come through prophets or pastors, but through people who don’t even know they’re speaking for Him. God often hides His voice in familiar faces. He sends kindness, counsel, or correction through people who become His echo. The key is to listen and discern, not just to what they say, but to the gentle nudge that comes with it. 2. Through Pain Pain has a strange way of quieting every other sound until the only thing left is God’s whisper. In a certain season, when everything I thought I’d built began to crumble. Dreams I’d prayed over, relationships I’d trusted, and plans I’d worked hard for had all gone. I couldn’t understand why God would let it happen, but in that ache, He began to teach me that His silence wasn’t absence. He was working, this time not around me, but in me. Through tears and confusion, I started to see that He was pruning pride, softening my heart, and rebuilding faith that wasn’t dependent on outcomes. It wasn’t punishment, but preparation. Like Job, I discovered that God sometimes speaks the loudest through brokenness, not because He wants to explain, but because He intends to transform. Pain has a way of revealing what comfort hides, and when everything else fades, His love remains the one voice that still holds you together. 3. Through Peace Now there’s peace, His final, unmistakable language. It’s not always the peace of perfect circumstances. Sometimes it’s the kind that makes no sense at all. The kind that settles over you in the middle of unanswered questions and uncertain futures. I’ve learned that when peace lingers after prayer, it’s often God’s quiet “yes.” When peace lifts, it might be His gentle “not this way.” Peace isn’t just passive; it’s God’s way of confirming His presence. I’ve noticed that the moment I finally stop trying to control everything, peace comes like still waters. Not because I now have all the answers, but because I am resting in the One who does. Sometimes, God’s voice isn’t one sound; it’s a harmony. He confirms through people, He refines through pain, and He assures through peace. And if we slow down long enough to listen beyond the noise, beyond fear, and beyond what we expect, we’ll realize He’s actually been speaking all along. © Favour

I write Scripture-anchored devotions and theological reflections for the quiet pursuit of Jesus. I’m the creator of Rooted Devotionals, simple printable guides that help tired hearts build 10-minute rhythms in real life. Nathan Cole Rooted Devotionals on Etsy

unsplash.com Here’s the third and last of those three sayings I live by. Here’s all three together, and you’ll see why they are written on my office walls. Music Is My Melody. Joy Supersedes All Situations. Choose to be Thankful, and the Byproduct is Joy. I think all believers out there have a saying or two they always remember, something that sticks with them through the mud and grime the world tries to bury us under, and I believe it's important that we have something like this to hold onto.  Whether it's a favorite verse (s)  or, like in my case, sayings that keep me focused and remind me God is always there. These three sayings are unique to me and my needs; each of us will have our own unique sayings that speak to us no matter what. Byproducts The literal definition of byproduct is: “something that is produced as a result of making something else, or something unexpected that happens as a result of something:”(1) We create byproducts with our emotions and our choices all the time, without realizing it, both positive and negative.  When we shift our thinking and look around at our surroundings, and start to acknowledge what God has provided us, we change from ungrateful to grateful. We have the power to create a positive or negative byproduct with our conduct. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Phil 4:8 And the byproduct is Joy Here we are being directly told to think about such things. When we take moments throughout the day, even on our roughest days, and say to God, “Thank you,”  that is a positive byproduct of our deliberate choice to see the good, and it is worthy of our gratitude. Too many people are focused on what they don’t have, what they want, what think think they deserve. They think about these things so much that the byproduct coming out of them is always negative; there is no joy. How is God to work with that?  How is that glorifying God and strengthening you? Instead, switch your thinking to what is noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Make a choice to be thankful, and the byproduct will be Joy. © Jane Isley Source & Comment: (1) Cambridge Dictionary I believe I heard that phrase from a pastor at Red Rocks church  in Colorado. (amazing online church btw, highly recommend)

Photo by abhijeet gourav on Unsplash I will never forget the day I leaned over to my mom during church and whispered, “I’m going to the other side of the world.” We had been listening to our missions committee speak about an upcoming trip overseas, and the words flew out of my mouth so suddenly that I was left spinning. No doubt it was the Holy Spirit moving in me, because I couldn’t stop myself from saying it. It just… came out. What really shocked me, though, was her response: “I knew you would be.” Wait, what? No argument, no laugh, no questioning her 17-year-old daughter, who just said she wanted to hop a plane and leave the country. Just, “Okay. We’ll make it happen.” And happen, it did. I Was Wildly Unprepared The minimum age to embark on this trip was 18. I turned 18 a few months before we were supposed to leave so I was the youngest, least seasoned Christian on the team (that’s important for later). We spent months prepping: fundraising, making travel arrangements, studying the culture, meeting as a team, and saturating the upcoming trip in hours of prayer. Our leader briefed us on spiritual warfare, about how heavy the demonic oppression was in the area we’d be traveling to. We heard stories from other team members who’d been before, and they confirmed it was to be expected. The accounts ranged in severity from lost luggage to being detained by local authorities and miraculously being released without them searching the team’s backpacks full of Bibles (which were illegal to have in the country we’d be going to). Soon, we were prayed up, packed up, studied up, and ready to go. I felt mostly confident, a little nervous, but completely excited to be heading off to share the gospel. I was ready. Except… I was not . 3 flights and a 12-hour bus ride later, we were on the ground. The trip was mostly smooth (I’ll save that for another article), and we were linked up with our point of contact ready to talk about Jesus. We’d already seen some incredible things happen, and one of our team members even led a local to Christ on the bus ride, so by the time we arrived we were on cloud nine thinking about all the Lord was going to do over the next couple of weeks. Remember how I said I was the most unseasoned Christian on the trip? Well, it had me believing that I wasn’t a target. I believed that all the wild tales I’d heard from former team members wouldn’t happen on this trip because of how smoothly it was going. My false sense of security left me totally unprepared to face what would happen. The Night that Shook Me to My Core Each of us on the team shared a hotel room with one of the other team members, and my roommate was one of my good friends who was just a few years older than me. She was, and is, a faithful Christian who loves the Lord, and I will forever treasure the conversations we had on that trip. We ended one of our days making preparations to go up into the mountains the next day. We’d been in the city thus far, so it would be different in the villages. In the area we were working in, there was a night and day difference between city life and village life. So stark was the difference, it almost felt like stepping into a completely different country as we ascended the mountain just outside the city, leaving the modern comforts of hotels and restaurants to find that some of the highest points didn’t even have electricity or running water. We had finished our preparations and bags were packed for the early morning bus ride up the mountain. Excitedly, we drifted off to sleep thinking about what the mountains had in store for us. At some point during the night, my roommate got up and went to the restroom. It woke me briefly, but I soon drifted back off. Shortly after, she got up again. This time, she was walking around the room, so I assumed she couldn’t sleep and was up looking for her Bible or something. Again, I drifted off. The third time I was woken up, I felt the heaviness. I rolled onto my back and looked over to see my roommate fast asleep on her bed. So what had woken me up? I wanted to get up, but my body couldn’t move. Completely paralyzed, I lay there, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. I felt a presence in the room, but was unable to move or do anything but stare up at the ceiling. At the same time I felt the heaviness, I also experienced the warmest feeling of peace I’d ever felt. Though I couldn’t move, I knew in my spirit that it was a good thing. I felt like I was trapped inside a holy bubble, being shielded from the darkness in the room. I wasn’t scared ; I was at peace. Soon, I drifted off one more time . WHAM! At 6 am, I sat straight up in bed and caught a glimpse of my roommate flinging the door open and running out of our room. I got up and followed her as she went next door to another of our team’s rooms, which her mom and our team leader were staying in. As it turns out, she was violently sick, and we’d soon find out two of our other team members were too. I asked my roommate if that’s why she’d been up so much during the night, to which she responded she’d never gotten out of her bed until she’d left the room. Confused, she informed me that she’d heard me all night long getting up and down and walking around the room. I hadn’t. At this point, I had chills. Neither of us had been out of bed. Neither of us had been walking around. The heaviness, the presence in the room? That was the enemy. The four of us talked and were able to put more pieces of the puzzle together. We discovered that at least one of us had been awake just about all night long. Each time one of us were woken up, we prayed and went back to sleep. All night long, the wake-ups grew progressively more intense, and around the time I was feeling the heaviness, my roommate’s mom was praying over our room because she’d felt it too. That explained the peaceful shielding I felt the night before. As we reevaluated our day ahead, we decided to move forward with the plan, albeit with a smaller group. Of the 6 of us ladies, 3 were sick and stayed behind, while the other 3 of us went up to the villages for the day. There weren’t any earth-shattering miracles that day. No salvations that we were able to witness. But we sure planted seeds. We spread the message of the gospel to anyone who would listen, in an area that was saturated with idol worship and unbelief. We visited a couple of Buddhist temples, met with many wonderful people in the villages, and rode back down the mountain on a bus next to a man carrying a live chicken. Most importantly, we accomplished what the Lord had sent us and equipped us that day to do. What it all Means Spiritual warfare is real and ever-present. What we experienced that night was a demonic attack, intended to stop us from what we were planning to do the next day. We could have cancelled the plan. We chose to follow the Lord instead. I had never experienced that type of attack before. Thankfully, someone else was covering me in prayer at a time I was too immature in my faith to see it. No doubt there were others back home praying for us, too. That night, I learned firsthand that we can’t walk through life with spiritual blinders on. We can’t pretend the enemy doesn’t exist. Our struggle is not against humans, but rather spiritual forces ( Ephesians 6:12 ). That’s why it’s vital as Christians that we put on our spiritual armor — every single day ( Ephesians 6:10–11 ). We have got to pray over everything ( Philippians 4:6 ), and often (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Spiritual attacks don’t always look like this one. In fact, I’ve not had one quite like that since. However, living in the Bible Belt, the enemy typically doesn’t need to go to such lengths to stop us from spreading the gospel. He simply has to make us busy, stir up drama in our churches or whisper a few lies to us about how we “deserve” to be treated so that we lash out when we are treated differently. Oof, stepped on my own toes there… I believe our attack overseas was so different because the above methods wouldn’t work there. He needed to use something stronger because we were little beacons of light headed into an area of heavy darkness. We were pointedly marching into enemy territory, and needed to be stopped — except we weren’t. The Lord is more powerful than any fiery dart the enemy throws at us. He’s our refuge in times of trouble ( Nahum 1:7 ). He is greater than any scheme of the evil one, which means we win in the end ( 1 John 4:4 )! Stay ready, friends. Pray always, and don’t be caught off guard like I was. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings ( 1 Peter 5:8–9 ). Thanks for reading! If any of this resonated with you, or you’d like to see more content like this, please consider subscribing so you’ll never miss out on a post. 🫶🏻 Other articles you might want to check out: Trauma, Sin and Breaking Cycles Quick Guide to Start Reading the Bible: 6 Books to Start With Today © Stephanie M

ChatGPT First, we need to reestablish something: satan is a created being, not an entity that is outside of God’s creation. He is not equal to God in any way. “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22 “For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?” Psalm 89:6 There’s plenty more where that came from. We know satan is cunning, a trickster, an antagonist, and our adversary. Of course, he’s going to want people to think he’s this all-powerful being that is equal to God. Why do you think he stole a description of Jesus for himself and goes around with the word lucifer as a name? You can read about that here . The point is, people give satan wayyyyy too much credit. If he were God’s equal in any way, then how did God throw him out of heaven and the Garden of Eden, then turn around and curse him? Not king of anything. This belief came about due to mythology, ignorance, and people actually wanting this. There are people out there who truly believe he is the king of hell, and when they get there, it’s going to be one giant party. It’s not, in fact, satan doesn’t even want to go to hell in the first place. Have you ever explored Revelation to see what is going to happen to him in the end? It’s not pretty; he knows what's coming to him, and his goal is to take as many of God’s children with him by whatever means necessary. He doesn’t love you, he doesn’t care about you, he wants to corrupt and lead people to hell because he’s throwing the temper tantrum of the millennium. Let’s look at what this “king” has coming his way. “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.” Revelation 20:1–3 Well, here we see a few things. First, an angel is actually holding the keys to the Abyss.  (not the same as hell, but that’s for a different day)  Second, he is seized and tossed in there, and can’t get out until God releases him in a thousand years. Not looking so tough to me. Don’t pick a fight you can’t finish. “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7–10 So now he’s out, at God’s discretion, I might add, and starts a big ole fight and loses. Loses so bad he’s thrown into that lake of fire we call hell, that many think he is the king of, and gets to stay there for eternity. Here’s the key to all of this. “They (the beast and false prophet get the join him) will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Yes, tormented. Not that big ole party some like to believe. And because I can’t resist looking at original languages and not throw them in my articles, we’re going to look at that word “torment” for a moment. basanizó | βασανισθήσονται | they will be tormented. Which means: “To torment, to torture, to vex, to distress” ( 1 ) There’s no party, no kingship earned or sustained, nothing.  For too long, satan has held a higher position in this world and our minds than he actually deserves. I’m not saying act like he doesn’t cause havoc, but don’t think him equal to God in any way.  We have the power to cast demons out, and we also have the power to think of him differently and not give him what he wants, and that is power. © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙  on Unsplash Knock Knock Something dark is coming. It’s knocking at our doors. This death was just the beginning. It’s a hardcore spiritual war. Knock Knock Don’t mean to scare you, but the time is now. God calls you His warrior. Don’t break your vow. When you chose this life, you knew it wouldn’t be easy. Are you ready, child?  Knock Knock It’s time to strap up. Tighten your belt and secure your breastplate.  Don’t forget the truth you’re fighting for. Slip on your helmet and pick up your sword. Are you ready for God’s love to pour? Peace is at your feet.That alone is no defeat. However, it’s time for more. Don’t let that faith of yours keep hiding in that drawer. Grab your shield and be ready to roar. Knock Knock Go open that door. You ’re equipped for war. September 10th, 2025, changed everything.  You see, Charlie’s death wasn’t just political —  it was spiritual.  His death is showing the evil and hatred that is going on in this world, but it’s also showing how many people want to stand up and fight for the truth. Since Wednesday, Christians all over the world have sensed that something is coming. I, too, have felt something similar, and so have people that I personally know. Deep down, I think we all know that something is coming, whether or not you are a believer.  I believe it’s a hardcore spiritual war that’s about to hit. Now, spiritual warfare has always existed. If you’re a follower of Christ, you know this. You know that satan will do anything to slow us down or to make us want to walk away from Christ altogether.  However, what I am saying is that satan is going to try and use this death to make us, as believers, stay quiet. He wants us to be scared of being persecuted so that we don’t speak up. In fact, there are people in this world right now who want people who are similar to Charlie Kirk (aka devout Christians) to be killed. I don’t mean to scare you, but this is the reality that we chose to face when we decided to follow Christ.  “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they keep my word, they will also keep yours.” — John 15:19–20 [ESV] Now more than ever, we need to stand bold in faith.  We need to put on the armor of God. It’s time to put on the belt of truth, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the Spirit, sandals/feet of peace, and the shield of faith.  We are entering into a season of spiritual warfare, and now is not the time to just sit on the sidelines. We need to gather as Christians and spend time together in fellowship, prayer, and in God’s word!  We need to get out into the streets and show people who God is through love. That means openly talking about who Jesus is. That means offering to pray with strangers who are having a hard time.  That means putting aside extra cash if you can for those who need it. That means being willing to have civil conversations with people who have opposing views from you.   That means so many different things. God gave every single one of us different spiritual gifts that we can use to help lead people to Christ, so I encourage you — find a way to know what that spiritual gift is so that you can use it!  Even if you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, God has empowered you to go and spread the Gospel and stand firm in your faith. None of us wants to be persecuted for what we believe in, but think about all the lost souls out there!  Deep down, those lost souls do not understand what they are doing, missing, or what they will be facing on judgment day. Your boldness in your faith and love for Jesus could be the reason why someone turns to Christ. Your boldness could be the last seed that needs to be planted to save them from eternity in hell.  And if you’re afraid, that’s okay — that’s what makes us human. But just because we’re afraid of something doesn’t mean we shouldn’t move. Don’t let your fear be the reason that someone doesn’t get to hear the Gospel. Charlie Kirk’s death broke so many hearts.  We all can feel that gap. We know we lost a brother in Christ who was a steadfast warrior. However, we must have hope and remember that we will see him again one day!  Until then, we need to make God and Charlie proud! We must stand and fight this spiritual war the way Jesus would — through bold faith, love, grace, mercy, and hope! Here are some bible verses for encouragement: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.” — Isaiah 40:28-29 [ESV] “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me — the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” — 2 Timothy 4:7–8 [NLT] © Sierra Loew

ChatGPT We all do it. We pick verses. That in itself isn’t a bad thing. I’ve got verses tacked all over my office walls for references and research. The issue comes when a verse is cherry-picked, yanked out of its context, and treated as a complete thought or command, and is used to fuel an opinion, personal agenda, or doctrine that’s not Biblical.  Then everything else around that verse is conveniently ignored. That’s the problem here. Honestly? It’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, right up there with sticking your finger in a light socket or trying to tip a cow. A Quick Little History  1445 — Mordecai Nathan Jewish teacher who divided the Old Testament into either chapters or verses (can’t figure out which for sure) . Long before that, though, scribes were already making divisions in the text to mark sections for teaching or public reading. 1205 or 1227 — Stephen Langton He was a professor and an Archbishop, credited with the chapter system we currently use today. He added chapters to the Latin Vulgate. 1244 & 1248 — Hugo of Sancto Caro He was the first person believed to have attempted to divide the Bible into chapters (thinking this was for the NT, by the sounds of it) . He did this twice while revising the Latin Vulgate, and in 1236, he also gave us the first concordance. 16th Century — Back to Langton His chapter arrangement was put into Greek manuscripts of the New Testament sometime during this period. 1551 — Robert Estienne He was the one who numbered the verses within the chapters, and they were printed in his Greek New Testament edition. 1553 — Hebrew Bible — Robert Estienne Here we get the complete French Bible (OT & NT)  printed with chapters and verses. 1557 — Geneva Translation First complete English New Testament translation with chapters and verses. 1560 — Geneva Translation We get the full English Bible  (OT & NT) printed with chapters and verses. So, that is  definitely   not  the complete history. But I’m not burning more brain cells on Google today. Why The History Lesson? Because it was people who applied chapters and verses only to assist in studying and teaching both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  It was not done to permit people to pick one line, slap it on a bumper sticker, and die on that hill. All the writers, all their words, were inspired by God. He wouldn’t hand us this incredible book just for us to slice it into isolated fortune-cookie quotes. And nowhere did Jesus ever say, “Yeah, just ignore the Old Testament now.” The Old Testament didn’t die when Christ died. To prove that point, when Jesus was teaching and reading, guess what He was referencing and reading from? The texts WE call the “Old” Testament. Also, so did the apostles after Christ died. God’s Perspective. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are outside of time; humanity has time because we need it, God doesn’t.  He doesn’t see “Old” and “New,” like we do. He sees only His  words on paper. Words that are interconnected between books written decades apart from each other. He saw what was written before His Son came and died for us, and what is written afterward. His one complete message to us. And we should to. The more I study, the more I come to see these complex interconnections within the entire Bible, and the absolute need to not die on any cherry-picked hill that leads to unbiblical doctrine or teachings. We are to lead the world to Christ by example. So when you’re busy out there cherry-picking, why can't an unbeliever? You just fed them their permission. I came across a fantastic video on this. Don’t worry, it’s actually entertaining and engaging. The creator, Hailom, defines cherry-picking as: “An argument that only takes into account pieces of data or information that are favorable to the argument while ignoring anything that is not.” Smart, wise young lady. She discusses complexities and nuances in Scripture that we need to wrestle with. It’s just 15 minutes and 28 seconds, and it covers things I would have missed here. Two of her standout points (to me at least) : “We often put words into the author’s mouth.” “Human beings are capable of rationalizing and spiritualizing violence. Maybe it’s [the Bible] showing us something about ourselves, how quickly we fall into tribalism that destroys lives.” I’m going to end this here. She finishes this article very well, and I believe my point has been made.  You cannot cherry-pick verses and expect to hang your entire theology on them and justify sinful behavior, unbiblical teachings, and personal agendas, and still expect to stroll through the pearly gates. The Bible is and always was one complete book. © Jane Isley Like what you read? Help keep the kettle warm by   buying me a cup of tea  — every sip sparks a new idea and supports my work. 💡 Faithful Writers  on Medium. Tumblr Facebook Email

I used to think maturity in faith looked like a chalkboard covered with answers. Every verse had a tidy explanation, every question had a bullet-point response. If someone asked me about suffering, I’d have a theological paragraph ready. If they brought up doubt, I had a proof-text waiting. It felt impressive for a while. But deep down, not so much. Somewhere along the way, I confused being “answer-ready” with being Spirit-led. It’s easy to cling to certainty because it makes us feel safe. But certainty and maturity are not the same thing. Jesus Didn’t Hand Out Answer Keys Read through the Gospels and notice something strange: Jesus was constantly being asked questions — and half the time He responded with a question of His own. “Who do you say that I am?”“What do you want me to do for you?”“Do you love me?” If maturity meant being able to hand over airtight answers, Jesus didn’t model it. Instead, He invited people into conversation, tension, and even silence. That’s unsettling for those of us raised to think discipleship equals downloading information into our brains. Do you know what I mean, or am I the only one who was standing in that box with a false bottom? There’s a Beauty in Not Knowing All the Answers The older I get, the more comfortable I’ve become with the phrase, I don’t know. And strangely enough, that phrase feels like progress. Spiritual maturity looks less like a vault of answers and more like a posture of love and humility. Think about it: love doesn’t require perfect explanations. If a child asks, “Why is the sky blue?” and you stumble through an answer, they don’t love you less. They’re not looking for a scientific breakdown — they’re looking for the response of your presence. In the same way, God isn’t impressed by how fast we can flip through our mental index of Bible trivia. He’s after hearts that stay open, even when our heads are foggy. Growth Looks Like Fruit, Not Flashcards Paul said it plainly in Galatians: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Notice he didn’t say the fruit of the Spirit is knowing all the correct answers. Fruit grows slowly. It requires sunlight, water, and time. It can’t be crammed for like an exam. Real maturity is measured not by how fast we can win a debate, but by how deeply we can embody respect and love for those who disagree with me. When Answers Become Idols Here’s the danger: sometimes we worship certainty instead of Christ. We prop up our systems of answers as if they can save us. But when life collapses — when the awful diagnosis comes, when the prayer seems to go unanswered, when the job disappears — our neat answers crumble too. A Faith That Breathes Spiritual maturity isn’t about stacking up theological bricks until you build an impenetrable wall. It’s more like planting a garden: alive, unpredictable, and in constant need of tending. Gardens change with the seasons. So does faith. The Psalms give us permission to rage, weep, rejoice, and question — all in the same breath. David was called “a man after God’s own heart,” not because he had everything figured out, but because he kept showing up with his whole self. What Do We Do With This? So if maturity isn’t about having all the answers, what is it about? Here are a few thoughts: Learning to listen. Instead of rushing to respond, let people wrestle. Sometimes the holiest thing we can say is, “Tell me more.” Holding tension. Faith often lives in the in-between, where we’re sure of God’s love but unsure of the details. Trusting presence. Answers may fail, but presence — ours with each other, and God’s with us — never does. The Paradox of Growth Here’s the paradox: the more spiritually mature you become, the less pressure you feel to have it all nailed down. The questions don’t disappear, but your anxiety about them does. You realize that the goal was never to master God like a subject in school. The goal was to know Him, love Him, and let His love change you. Final Thought Spiritual maturity isn’t a diploma you hang on the wall. It’s more like a long walk with a friend. Some days you talk. Some days you sit in silence. Some days you argue. But the point is that you keep walking together. So don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have all the answers. You weren’t meant to. Maturity isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about trusting the One who does. © Gary L Ellis

The Scripture describes us as “Light of the earth." We are a city set on the hill that can never be moved, neither can our light be dimmed or placed under a bushel. What do you do when men see you as awkward? “Oh, no. You mean that ‘Jesus-girl’ or that ‘Jesus-boy’? Or you mean the ‘Pastor’?” Do you feel ashamed of being reckoned as one of those “church people" ? Or are you tempted to hide your Bible for the fear of being known and called by your own identity, a Christian ? Do you place the blame on your principles and standards instead? My personal view is that, as I grew up and learned more about Jesus, I had some principles that guided my life. Please don’t get me wrong; the principles weren’t to segregate me from others or to make me see myself as better than others — NO, far from it! As a young believer in faith, I had just begun to know God more. I just started feeling some nudges and prompts to do, and not to do. So, for example, while I see others cheat in the exam hall, I wouldn’t talk to anyone, even though we were friends. Our friendship ends in the exam hall and resumes after we leave the hall. 😅 Of course, I got a lot of criticism and hatred. I was called a lot of names, too, by my peers! “Let he who wants to me first ‘count the cost’” So Jesus had said, “Any man who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is unfit for the Kingdom of God.” Undoubtedly, there is benefit in serving Jesus. But narrow is the way; and only a few tread on it, which leads to eternal life. If you decide to follow Jesus, you’ll be hated, mocked, chastised, and called a lot of names — I wouldn’t mince words with you. But Jesus encourages us and tells us to “ Rejoice” when you pass through them. Matthew 5:11-13 NKJV“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Joy Forever More Rejoice, for you are known by your Father in Heaven. Rejoice, for your name is written in the book of Life. Rejoice, for we have already overcome. Rejoice, for Jesus has remnants and faithful servants who have not bowed their heads to Baal, and we have been chosen by His mercy to be counted as one of them. Rejoice for you are God’s and He is yours. Psalms 16:5 NKJV [5] O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup ; You maintain my lot. © Anya P.C.