Faithful Writers

This came up in a discussion, and my answer confused most people because my answer is a dual one. When I was asked to pick one I went with request, but the whole time I was thinking why does it have to be just one? Why can't it be both? I may be wrong, I am still working through this, but here are my thoughts. Free Will Is the Starting Point We are not puppets. God gave us free will to choose what we want, and that matters so much to this question. He makes it very clear what He wants from us, but He does not override our ability to choose. That choice, to come to Him willingly, openly, and freely, must mean something extraordinary to God. A love that is chosen is not the same as a love that is forced. So does that mean I do not believe in the Ten Commandments (because they are commands) or that they are simply a request? Absolutely not. I believe in them completely and I believe we are absolutely called to follow them. But here is the thing, we still have to make that choice. Some people do not, and that is a painful reality. When we choose to truly follow Christ, not halfway, not conveniently, but fully and completely, we begin a process of learning and living out His commandments. I describe it as a pull. Something draws us toward being more like Him, and as that pull grows stronger the commandments stop feeling like a list of rules our flesh keeps trying to fight and start feeling like the natural expression of who we are becoming. The Word That Changes Everything Here is where my dual understanding comes from. Acts 17:30 says: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." That is not a gentle suggestion, that is a command. The Greek word used there is paraggelló, it carries the weight of an order, a directive issued with authority. God is not asking politely. And yet. Look at how Jesus describes His own heart in Matthew 23:37: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." That is not the language of a king issuing a decree. That is the language of someone longing, pleading, aching for people to come to Him. The command is real. The love behind it is also real. And both of those things exist at the same time. A Request & a Command Are Different But They Coexist A request and a demand are two different things, but they are not mutually exclusive. I think that is exactly what is happening here. God commands repentance and belief, that is His authority speaking. He is the Creator and we are accountable to Him. That is not up for debate. But the way He pursues us, the way He pleads with us, the way He sent His own Son rather than simply wiping the slate clean and starting over, that reads like so much more than a cold command handed down from above. He is commanding, He is also asking, He is also pleading. 2 Peter 3:9 puts it plainly: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Not wanting anyone to perish. That is the heart behind the command. He is not issuing orders from a distance, He is a God who desperately wants us to choose Him and has made every possible way for us to do so. My Conclusion (For Now) Commandments are given to us, not forced upon us. The fact that we can still choose to ignore them is proof that the choosing matters. That is why I land first and foremost on request, because the entire framework of our relationship with God is built on the fact that He wants us to come to Him freely. But the command is real too. Both are true at the same time and I think that is exactly the point. And the fact that He does all three at once says more about who He is than any one of them could say alone. © 2026 Jane Isley. (revision) Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture. https://ko-fi.com/janeisley Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Have you ever lost everything you had? Was it easy to let go? I know of many who lost everything they had, either through natural disasters, carelessness, or human actions such as arson or theft. I've seen many sifting through rubble, desperately searching for remnants of their past lives. They needed a photo, a child's toy, or something else to cling to for comfort. This is especially true if the loss included the life of a loved one. If you have lived long enough, I'm sure you are acquainted with loss. God tells us not to dwell on the things of the past, as He is doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:18-19). There's a good reason for this. I have found that when I dwell on the past and recall what I have lost, I become despondent and depressed. When I remember the people involved who have wronged me, I feel bitter. These feelings are natural and normal, but this is not the way I want to live. I have taught myself to live one day at a time. In fact, my mantra has become "one thing at a time, one step at a time." This is how I get through each day. There was a time when I felt that life had turned its back on me, but I have since realized that it's not true. Life is challenging. Jesus didn't sugarcoat this reality when He told us that in this life we will have troubles. Thankfully, He didn't leave it at that, but encouraged us to take heart as He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul's life encourages me too. He had everything, but gladly sacrificed it all for the sake of following Jesus and proclaiming the Gospel. He changed from being a highly respected Pharisee to a persecuted prisoner who suffered stoning, beatings, shipwrecks, and even snakebites. He learned to be content with little or much (Philippians 4:11-13). He enjoyed blessings, but he didn't allow his circumstances to determine his attitude or rob him of his joy. I have learned that God gave us all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17), but He doesn't want us to become attached to temporary earthly things. At least this applies to me and my life. I lost everything I owned. For a time, I lost hope, dreams, and ideals. My husband and I thought that we had a second chance at life and building a future together, but a debilitating stroke robbed us of this opportunity too. Every day has become a battle with survival, responsibilities, and exhaustion. There is little to celebrate when looking at everything we've lost. My husband lost everything due to misplaced trust in an unscrupulous family member. He has forgiven this person, but he struggles to let go. After losing his business, his house, and everything he worked for, he also lost his health, mobility, speech, and most recently the lives of beloved family members and friends. Yet, despite all of this, God has remained faithful. We haven't lived extravagantly, but neither have we gone without necessities. We have never gone to bed hungry. We've always had a roof over our heads. Despite the challenges, I'm still strong and healthy enough to hold down a full-time job and take care of my husband. God gives us what we need. I strongly believe that if God doesn't provide, we don't need it. Sure, I'd love for God to restore everything I've lost, and I know my husband feels the same. We would dearly appreciate it if his health could be restored. We are believing that God will heal and restore him, but if He doesn't, we trust that God has a special plan and purpose for everything He allows. Favorite verses like Joel 2:25, Romans 8:28, and Jeremiah 29:11, to name but a few, seem empty or void of meaning when compared to our daily reality. Did God really promise to restore the years that the locusts have eaten? Can He give me back 30 years of my life? Can He restore my youth? I'm sure He can, but does He want to? Were these promises meant for me, or did they apply to the Israelites only, and only in the time and circumstances they lived in at the time? Will He work all things for my good, or is it ultimately for His purpose? I know that I'm not living the future I had hoped for. Reality is much different from dreams or ideals. How are we to apply what we read in the Bible to our own lives? I've learned to let go and trust God. He is the only constant and unchangeable reality in my life. Everything else is fleeting and subject to change. Life offers no guarantees. We don't even know if we will see another sunrise. God taught us that this life is not our home (Hebrews 13:14). We are merely passing through on our way to eternity. As someone once said, "we are walking each other home." We are meant to enjoy life, live carefree, and not fret or worry while anxiously trying to accumulate as many possessions as we can. Possessions neither bring happiness nor security. Our joy and our security are found in God alone. God takes care of my needs, and if He doesn't provide, I don't need it. I may want it, but I don't need it. This has become my philosophy in life. I would be so grateful if my husband could be healed. I would love to have my own house again, but at the same time I wonder whether I'll be able to maintain it and take care of it. I question whether my longings are realistic or whether I'm clinging to memories. I wonder about my motive. Do I want my own place because of the security it gives? Am I trying to find security in things, rather than in God? I'm not getting younger. The years are marching on. Time passes relentlessly. I feel old age creeping up on me. I know I can't do the things my younger self could do, but I'm not sure that I'm factoring in this knowledge when I think of my desires. How do I let go without letting go? How do I give up on desiring the things I once had without giving up on life itself? I grapple with this every day. How do you cope with loss and the emotions that accompany it? © Rina Schultz

This one is going to have an unexpected turn towards the end. We know God created animals; they are an integral part of the creation process, put here first before man and woman, and established as a needed part of nature. God undoubtedly had an absolute blast with animals. There are just so many, every possible color known to man, shapes, sizes, squishiblity factor, functions, and quirks so unique that science is still scratching its head. Ever watch swans? Did you know they mate for life and are monogamous? They show that to their mates with beautiful synchronized dances and intertwining their necks to make a heart shape. God May Have “Pets” Now, for this, I’m bordering on a wee touch of speculation here because of how we define a pet versus how God might for Himself in heaven. But all of this does go to my main point; I’m just entertaining you with some fun ideas first. In Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 10, Revelation 4, Revelation 6, Revelation 19, and possibly Isaiah 6, although I’m not sure on that one yet, that’s only there because of the wings part. There are creatures in heaven. Now, I’m not saying they are like our Dukes or Jaspers here on Earth, but they definitely have animal features and are plainly described looking like lions, eagles, horses, ox and there are, of course, lots of wings involved. Why wouldn’t God have some kind of creatures in heaven? We have guard animals here on Earth that we love; we have all kinds of different roles animals play here on Earth. We have all sorts of creatures here, granted, not quite as described in heaven, but that also makes sense. Heaven is very different from Earth; these creatures currently exist in a dimension, like angels and demons, that we do not inhabit. We don’t have a clue on how to begin to think about the dimension they live in. Also, I do not find the Biblical descriptions from the writers weird, odd, or implausible in any way, never have, and I don’t believe the descriptions are “metaphorical” or “poetic.” Have you seen some of the animals on this planet and what they can do? watchmojo.com (check out the guy at 2 min, 50 sec) Why Is There Heartbreak In This? First, I will firmly state that in no way am I taking away from Abel’s death and the tragedy and grief God felt when that happened. What I am doing is adding context that many have never thought about. The first death was one of His other creations, an animal. Not only did He feel the break from humanity from Himself and felt the full weight they brought on themselves, but He had to sacrifice one of His creations so that Adam and Eve could be clothed. God can grieve, just like we do; that wide variety of emotions we feel came from Him because we are created in HIS image. Imagine your creation (humans) willingly choosing to separate themselves from God. We know what our Heavenly reward is, we strive for it, we wait for it, we pray for it, we trust in it, and Adam and Eve walked away from what we know and want that is waiting for us. That had to crush God’s heart. God hurts and grieves just like we do. He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. Isaiah 63:8–10 Then, imagine that He had to make atonement for what they did, He had to look at His creation, choose one, and end its life so they could be clothed and atoned for. Our Father Feels Everything There is no planned-out theological ending to this article. This is more of a reflective piece. This is more of a think about this moment article. What we feel, our happiness, our sadness, our love, our body-shattering grief — that all came from God because He also feels these things. I think too often we forget that He is our literal Father in Heaven, with a substance-type presence, with possible “pets” in heaven, and with a heart because He is love itself. Adam and Eve broke His heart, and then, to pour salt into the wound, it forced Him to make the first atonement and end the life of a completely innocent animal. He regretted creating humanity by chapter six in Genesis. “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” Genesis 6:6 “Troubled” here means: To grieve, to hurt, to pain, to vex And I don’t blame Him. As a mother, I understand the complexities that come with a child and that whole range of constant emotions. And God. He does that for EVERYONE. And not just everyone now, but everyone in the past and everyone yet to be born. We often forget that God, in some ways, is just like us, heck Jesus joined us down here in an era of no toilet paper or refrigerators for about 30 years. He gets us, He understands more than we can possibly know or more than we give Him credit for. Each time we sin, or each time a person hardens their heart against Him and blots out their name in the book of life, God grieves, and yes, that is a choice to have your name blotted; your name was written in that book before you were a twinkle in someone's eye. I have no idea if there are physical tears in the current Heaven that God sheds, but Jesus shed tears. He knows what pain is. Let's not cause Him more grief than He already has; let us go out and make disciples, let us crowd our new Heaven as full as we can. We know what our reward is, we know that death is not the end, but only the beginning. I wasn't kidding when I said this was going to go in an unexpected way. But you know what, I think this world needs a lot more of that and this kind of thinking and writing, because the old stuff doesn't seem to be doing the trick anymore. Also, I don't know for sure if there will be pets (ours) or animals in heaven, but I consider these: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In Ecclesiastes 3:20–22, Solomon also asks the clearest question on this matter in the Bible, “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” Then we have Romans 8:19–21, Isaiah 11:6–9, and Matthew 10:29. We get new bodies, so why is it not possible that animals won’t? He loves them also. © 2026 Jane Isley. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save.

When most people think about planting seeds for nonbelievers, they imagine sharing the message of salvation, explaining the meaning of the cross, quoting Scripture, or inviting someone to church. These are good and beautiful things, and they absolutely matter. But they are not the only seeds God uses. Just as the natural world is filled with seeds of every shape, size, color, and function, the spiritual seeds that reach people are just as varied. And the fruit that is grown can also be different, remember that. So, my question to you is: Are you destroying the harvest before it ever has a chance to be planted? I ask this sincerely because throughout my life I’ve encountered churches, leaders, elders, and everyday Christians who shut down questions they personally don’t find relevant. More recently, it has been Christians in my comments section telling me that the things I write about are “stupid,” “irrelevant,” or “not important to our faith.” But if something is truly irrelevant, then why is it in the Bible at all? Do you really believe God wrote Scripture only for neurotypical thinkers? Do you imagine He didn’t know some of us would learn differently, process differently, or get curious about things others overlook? People ask about unicorns. They ask why Jesus’ tears were described as blood. They wonder about the Hebrew versus Greek meaning of “virgin.” They ask about Pangea, the Big Bang, or how there was light before the sun. These questions are not irrelevant, they are seeds! And often the very questions that can lead someone deeper into Scripture. Yet Christians shut them down, call them irrelevant, and shame people for there curiosity. I see this online everywhere I look, when that happens, it isn’t just the question that gets rejected, you just rejected the person who asked it. When Curiosity Gets Treated as a Threat There is an entire demographic of people the church is missing because of a narrow, traditional idea of what “planting a seed” looks like. Some people need the logic before faith makes sense. Some need to explore the strange corners of Scripture. Some need to ask the questions no one else thinks to ask. And when you dismiss those questions as irrelevant or stupid, you destroy the harvest before it ever begins. I can’t count how many times I’ve been told my questions were dumb, stupid, a waste of time, or irrelevant. I’m just one person, but I’m not the only one who is like this. There are millions like me, people who learn differently, think differently, and approach Scripture from angles that don’t fit any standard mold. Every time someone is shut down, a seed goes unplanted. And the horror is that many of those seeds could have grown into something beautiful if someone had simply taken the time to nurture them. This is why the church loses curious people. This is why so many walk away before they ever truly begin. They weren’t rejecting God, they were rejecting the feeling of being dismissed, belittled, or treated as though their questions made them a problem instead of a person. Why I Write the Way I Do I come down hard on this because I am that person. I needed to understand the things others brushed off. I dove into those hyper‑focused rabbit holes, and every single one drew me closer to God. I also happen to be stubborn enough to push past the comments, the dismissal, and the gas lighting. But not everyone is. Some people will walk away the moment their curiosity is treated as stupid. This is why I write the way I do. I write for the people who want to know these things. For the neurodivergent thinkers who see patterns others miss. For the curious minds who get excited about the “irrelevant” details. Because those details are seeds! Imagine letting your guard down and getting excited with someone about the strangest little detail in Scripture, and watching that excitement turn into faith. Every question is a seed. Every curiosity is a doorway. Every “irrelevant” detail is a chance to explore the Bible with joy. I’ve gone down some wild rabbit holes, and every single one has drawn me closer to God. We spend our lives masking and conforming to fit into your world. Maybe it’s time for you to step into ours, and learn to plant different kinds of seeds. I will leave you with this: “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God." Luke 8:11 There is not a single word in the Bible that is not a seed to be used. © 2026 Jane Isley. Want more content? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture and Word Studies. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

You will tell them whatever I tell you to say, whether they listen or not…I saw a hand stretched out towards me, and it was holding a scroll…and I saw that there was writing on both sides — cries of grief were written there, and wails and groans. God said, “Mortal man, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel” Ezekiel 2:7,9,10; 3:1 (GNT). As the prosperity gospel gained popularity, there have been more efforts within the evangelical community to make preaching less confrontational and more comforting. The practice of appealing to people’s desires, feeding them what they want to hear so they return again and again has become more common in churches. The trend toward large megachurches has led to a pattern of catering to congregants' desires, often delivering messages that suit their preferences. In the past, the prophet Ezekiel was told to read from the scroll only messages of lamentation, mourning, and woe, and he was instructed to deliver these words to Israel. He was not told to consider the preferences of his audience or to soften the message, as his integrity relied on his faithfulness to the word. This has always been the role of a Bible teacher or preacher, including those of us who share what we learn or discern from God’s Word here on Medium. “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.” -D. L. Moody. God’s Word has both sweet and bitter elements. It tells us, “all have sinned,” but it also declares, “God so loved the world.” One message cannot be presented without the other. We cannot highlight God’s love by ignoring human sinfulness; We cannot focus on God’s gentleness by downplaying His wrath; We cannot speak about heaven by avoiding the reality of hell; We cannot emphasize God’s closeness by hiding His transcendent holiness. We cannot simply make disciples of Jesus without explaining what it takes to become one, what must be done, and the consequences of following Him. Apostle Paul was bold enough to say, “I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). This divine purpose includes justification, sanctification, and glorification. Yet, modern Christianity has created a gap in the full counsel of God to make the message more agreeable and less unsettling for listeners. God’s Word is a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), yet many have turned it into a bouquet of flowers. Biblical preaching is meant to comfort the grieving, offer hope to the lost and the hurting, and also to challenge, reprove, and make us examine our lives. It is a ‘both-and’ task, and only in this way is the fullness of God’s message preserved. This is true today just as it was during Ezekiel’s time. May we never compromise our loyalty and faithfulness to our awesome God while we share the Truth. For if we do, we must remember that we cannot please Him with our lives (Proverbs 3:3,4). If this reflection encouraged you, you can support my writing or future reflections here. Your support simply helps me continue sharing thoughtful pieces like this. Thanks for reading! © Dr. Anudeep Manne

There are few things more exhausting than loving people who keep making foolish decisions. Right? You help them, and they repeat their dysfunctional behavior. You encourage them, and they fall right back into the same pattern. You forgive them, and somehow, they find another ditch to fall into. You begin to think: Good grief! Will they ever get it together? After a while, something hardened begins to rise inside of us. We think: “I’m done. I will no longer enable bad behavior.” It’s not because we stop caring entirely. But we get tired of carrying the emotional weight of someone else’s instability. Jesus said when iniquity abounds, the love of many grows cold. (Mt 24:12) Our love for people caught in a long struggle tends to wane. And our patience dims. We see this frustration at the Last Supper between Jesus and Philip: “Philip said, “Master, show us the Father; then we’ll be content.” “You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’” John 14:8–9 Yikes! See what I mean? The I.M. translation says, “Dude, seriously…how can you not be getting this after 3 ½ years of solid mentoring? What’s wrong with you?” When we study the life of Moses, we discover something remarkable: God’s people were often irrational, fearful, rebellious, immature, and unbelievably frustrating. Yet Moses never stopped interceding for them. Again and again, the Israelites complained against God after witnessing miracle after miracle. They saw the Red Sea split. They ate manna from heaven. They followed a cloud by day and fire by night. And still they murmured. Still, they panicked. Still, they rebelled. At one point, they literally created a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain receiving the commandments of God. Less than three months earlier, they had walked through a split Red Sea. And now, they were ready to change Gods. If anyone ever had a reason to throw up his hands and say, “You know what, Lord? Start over with somebody else. These people are idiots.” it was Moses. But that is not what he did. Instead, scripture says he stood in the breach for the people. He prayed, pleaded, and interceded on their behalf. And he kept doing it. Not once or twice. But repeatedly throughout Israel’s wilderness journey. When fire broke out because the people complained, Moses prayed. When Miriam rebelled against him personally and was struck with leprosy, Moses prayed for her healing. When the people refused to enter the Promised Land because of fear, Moses pleaded for mercy instead of revenge. When Korah led a rebellion against his leadership, Moses still interceded to stop judgment from spreading through the camp. Think about that. Most people struggle to pray for those who hurt them once. But Moses kept praying for people who hurt him repeatedly. That is spiritual maturity. One of the clearest signs of growth is not how powerfully you can rebuke people, but how consistently you can love imperfect people without surrendering to bitterness. That does not mean enabling dysfunction. It does not mean removing boundaries. And it certainly does not mean pretending sin is acceptable. Moses confronted sin directly and often. But confrontation never cancelled compassion. That balance matters. Because immature people either become doormats or cynics. They either tolerate everything or give up on everyone. But mature believers learn how to carry both truth and mercy at the same time. The older I get, the more I realize this: everyone is a work in progress. Some people are just earlier in the process than others. The people in your life may frustrate you deeply right now. Your spouse, children, friends, family, or coworkers. Some of them may be acting foolishly. Some may be spiritually asleep, deluded, or deceived. Some may be trapped in cycles they seem unable to break. And yes, wisdom sometimes requires distance, boundaries, or difficult conversations. But we can’t let disappointment harden our hearts. Because one of the enemy’s greatest victories is convincing good people to stop believing other people can change. That they will always be that way. That they are irredeemable, bad seed, or broken beyond repair. Moses could have quit on Israel dozens of times. But he understood something powerful: people are often at their worst right before God does something transformative in them. It’s not the calm before the storm. It’s the storm before the calm. If Moses had abandoned them emotionally, much of their story never would have unfolded. And perhaps someone in your life needs the same thing right now: someone willing to keep praying, keep believing, keep loving, and keep standing in the gap for them. Even while they are still acting foolishly. Galatians says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal 6:9) Sometimes the greatest act of faith is simply refusing to give up on people before God is finished with them. Your patience may become the bridge that carries someone into their breakthrough. That makes you like Jesus. How so? “Therefore, he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25 Jesus has a full-time job with me. I can imagine God saying, “Not Issachar again. Seriously? Will he ever get his act together?” But that conversation NEVER happens. Because He loves us. And knows our faults, frailties, blind spots, and sin tendencies. “For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” Psalm 103:14 And regardless of how we are, where we are in our process, what we keep doing over and over and over again: He will never leave us or forsake us. He never gives up on us. So, shouldn’t we be the same towards the people in our lives? © 2026 I.M. Koen Thanks for reading this. Ruth 2:12 to you and yours! -Issachar Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Relationships. Check out these oldies but goodies by I.M. Koen on Medium.com. God Misses You;Why not give Him a quick call to check in? Do You and Jesus Cry for the Same Reasons?; What makes you cry will also make you an excellent writer. Self-Talk Kept Me from Crapping My Pants.; It is the key to a long, healthy, and prosperous life. https://ko-fi.com/janeisley Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

There is one story about Jesus that has always felt strange to me. It’s the only time in the Gospels where Jesus heals someone, and it doesn’t seem to work immediately. In Mark 8, people bring a blind man to Jesus and beg Him to heal him. Jesus takes the man aside, lays His hands on him, and asks a simple question: “Do you see anything?” The man replies with an unexpected answer: “I see people, but they look like trees walking.” He can see, but not clearly. So Jesus touches him again. Only then is his sight fully restored, and he sees everything clearly. It’s a puzzling moment. This is Jesus — the one who calms storms, multiplies food, and raises the dead. We expect instant, complete results. Instead, we see something gradual. Something unfinished, at least at first glance. It almost feels like watching a doctor adjust their approach mid-treatment: “How about now? Is this clearer?” Of course, Jesus ultimately completes the healing. But the process itself challenges our assumptions. It suggests that transformation, even in the hands of divine power, sometimes unfolds in stages. And that insight has profound implications for how we understand our own lives. When the eyes are healed, but the mind is still adjusting Today, modern neuroscience offers a fascinating perspective on this story. Doctors have discovered that when someone who has been blind for many years suddenly gains physical sight, their eyes may function perfectly, but their brain struggles to interpret what it sees. The hardware works, but the software hasn’t caught up yet. This condition is sometimes called visual agnosia. The person is no longer blind in a physical sense, but their brain has to relearn how to process visual information. Imagine sitting in darkness for hours and then suddenly stepping into bright sunlight. Your eyes technically work, but everything feels overwhelming and disorienting. It takes time to adjust. In light of this, the blind man’s experience makes sense. The first touch may have restored his physical ability to see, but the second touch helped restore his ability to perceive clearly. The healing wasn’t incomplete. It was unfolding. And in many ways, this mirrors the spiritual journey. When belief comes before clarity Many people assume that spiritual transformation is supposed to be immediate. You have an experience, make a decision, and suddenly everything feels different. Everything makes sense. Everything becomes clear. But that’s rarely how it actually works. Often, belief comes first, and clarity follows slowly over time. You begin to see, but things are still fuzzy. You understand certain truths intellectually, but they haven’t yet settled into your emotional or experiential reality. You hear that you are loved by God, yet you still struggle with insecurity. You believe your future is secure, yet anxiety still creeps in. You know you’ve been forgiven, yet feelings of guilt and shame linger. You see others living with joy and confidence, and you wonder why your experience feels so different. It can leave you questioning yourself. Is something wrong with me? Why does this feel clear to everyone else but not to me? I remember wrestling with those questions personally. After first committing to follow Jesus, I watched people around me serve sacrificially and speak about their faith with genuine joy. They weren’t pretending. Their lives reflected something real. Yet internally, I felt mostly indifferent. I went through the motions, said the right things, and participated outwardly, but inside, it all felt distant. It was disorienting. I wondered whether the problem was with me or perhaps with the faith itself. Looking back, I realize I had received the first touch. But my vision was still coming into focus. The courage to admit incomplete healing What makes the blind man’s story so powerful is not just that he was healed, but that he was honest about his condition. When Jesus asked him, “Do you see anything?”, the man didn’t pretend everything was fine. He could have easily said yes. He could have hidden his confusion out of embarrassment or fear of disappointing those around him. Instead, he told the truth. He acknowledged that while something had changed, things were not yet clear. That honesty became the turning point. It opened the door for Jesus to continue the healing process. This reveals something essential about spiritual growth. Honesty is not a barrier to healing; it is the pathway to it. Many people assume they need to have everything figured out before approaching God. They feel pressure to appear confident, certain, and unwavering. But the opposite is true. The invitation of faith is not to present perfection, but to bring honesty. To admit where things feel unclear. To acknowledge doubts, fears, and confusion. It is in those honest moments that deeper transformation begins. Even the closest followers struggled to see clearly Immediately after this healing, Jesus asks His disciples a defining question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter gives the right answer. He declares, “You are the Christ.” It’s a moment of clarity and insight. Yet just moments later, Peter rebukes Jesus for predicting His suffering and death. He understood who Jesus was in theory, but he could not yet understand what that meant in reality. His expectations were shaped by his own assumptions about success, power, and victory. He could see partially, but not fully. And yet Jesus did not abandon him. Instead, He continued teaching him, guiding him, and patiently reshaping his understanding. Jesus recognized that Peter’s vision was still forming. He was in process. The same is true for us. The slow work of clarity If I were to map out my own spiritual journey, it wouldn’t look like a straight upward line. It would look more like a series of peaks and valleys — moments of clarity followed by seasons of confusion, moments of confidence followed by seasons of doubt. There were times when truths that once felt abstract suddenly became deeply personal. Moments when things that had always seemed distant suddenly made sense. But those moments often came after periods of struggle, questioning, and honest wrestling. Over time, I began to realize that those seasons of confusion were not signs of failure. They were part of the process. They were the context in which deeper clarity emerged. Each honest conversation, each vulnerable prayer, each moment of admitting “I don’t fully see yet” became an opportunity for growth. It was as if Jesus was continuing to apply that second touch, again and again. I began to realize something I hadn’t understood before. Jesus hadn’t failed me in those seasons of confusion. He was still touching my life. Still restoring my sight. Still patiently bringing things into focus. What I once thought were setbacks were actually part of the healing process. The patience of Jesus Perhaps the most comforting truth in this story is not simply that Jesus heals, but how He heals. He is patient. He does not rush the process or express frustration at incomplete progress. He does not walk away when clarity doesn’t come immediately. Instead, He stays present. He continues the work. This reveals something profound about His character. He is not intimidated by our confusion. He is not disappointed by our slow progress. He is committed to restoring sight fully, even if it takes time. Which means that seasons of uncertainty are not signs that He has abandoned you. They may be signs that He is still working. Learning to trust the process If Jesus were to ask you today, “Do you see anything?”, perhaps your answer would sound familiar. Maybe you see glimpses of truth, but things still feel unclear. Maybe you believe, but questions remain. Maybe you sense that something is changing, even if you can’t fully articulate it yet. If so, take heart. You are not alone, and you are not failing. Clarity often comes gradually. Transformation is often a process, not an event. The invitation is not to pretend that everything is clear, but to remain honest and open. To acknowledge where you are, and to trust that healing is still unfolding. Because the same Jesus who touched that blind man once — and then again — is still at work today. And if your vision still feels blurry, it may not mean He has stopped healing you. It may mean He is not finished yet. And over time, what once looked like trees walking will begin to look exactly as it was meant to all along. © David Jun

Before you read the rest of this article, I want to make a disclaimer about my positions and myself. I did pray to the Holy Spirit to guide me in this article beforehand– to write through me in truth and through the lens of Jesus. I am a human, and I am not perfect. I acknowledge that my beliefs are not 100% correct and are often clouded by the world around me. The only perfect person is Jesus, and that is exactly why I follow Him. While political views change with trends and beliefs, Jesus never changes. So, as I write this article, keep in mind that I am not perfect– but Jesus is. If you want to know Him more, seek Him out – read the Bible. That is my best advice for those who want to know Him more. Start with the Word, and let Him guide you on. We live in a current communication and political climate (and honestly, we probably always have) where we can’t seem to coexist with one another. I see people, both Republicans and Democrats, not tolerating one another simply because they have different political beliefs. For example, I often see arguments where many Democratic people don’t want to interact with Republicans because they automatically assume they are racists or that they support Trump. And I often see many Republicans not wanting to interact with Democrats because they are too ‘woke’ or they assume that they are mentally unstable. And can I be so real for a moment? This is really weird. This is insane – for someone to assume all of these qualities about a person simply because they follow a political party. Personally, I am independent and probably will be for the rest of my life, because I just cannot stand this animosity between the two parties. I know many people who are completely okay with not interacting with their opposing political party. And I know many people who are okay, and actually happy to see a person of another political party suffering. For example, after Charlie Kirk died, I had a friend of mine tell me that she didn’t care because he was a Republican. I was baffled. I have many Republican family members, and for her to say that meant that she wouldn’t care if they died either. I called her out on the ridiculousness of her claim, and she simply replied that she came from a Democratic state – as if that justifies her words. What I’m trying to get at here is that people take their political party way too seriously. It is getting to the point where people won’t even listen to one another if others don’t share their same beliefs. This is extremely unethical and very dangerous for the future of our country. People are beginning to think in absolutes – that being a part of a political party automatically comes with a hardwired list of attributes and beliefs. This kind of thinking is black and white – it leaves no room for the understanding of situational factors and life experiences. It leaves no room for the celebration of different backgrounds and personalities. God gifted us each with different gifts and lives. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…” (Romans 12:6). This is something to be cherished, not censored. Because of this current political and communication climate, people are censoring themselves in fear of social disapproval and retaliation. Isn’t the United States built on the freedom of different liberties, such as speech, religion, and expression? It is a shame that people are forgetting this crucial part of our country. We all need to hold tight onto the habit of respectful dissent – as mentioned in my previous article about ethically communicating. Deep down, does your political party matter so much to you that you would ignore and avoid opposing beliefs? Let’s get one thing straight: no political party has the power to save you. Even if you do follow a party, there will still be war, crime, and injustice in the world. We live in a broken world. Therefore, no person has been saved or redeemed by any political party. Maybe you’ve felt a sense of justice, purpose, or belonging by identifying with a party, but something is missing. You know who can actually save you and bring joy into your life? Jesus can. Jesus teaches love, and what better way to spread love than to love your neighbor? “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:31). Jesus didn’t come to dominate the world and force people to follow Him. He came to save and recognize the hurting, the sick, the broken. Instead of idolizing something that will always change (because, face it, political parties and their ideologies are constantly changing and will continue to do so), follow the One who never changes. I’ve found that I am much more passionate about helping others and bringing light into the world now that I follow Jesus. When I was a part of a political party, my activism was superficial, and I felt as if I were performing just to impress others. I wanted them to see so badly that I was a good person, but it never really satisfied my soul. I felt pressured to post things that I didn’t fully understand, all for the sake of looking like a good person and, of course, gaining approval from my peers. But I actually feel passionate about helping others now, especially knowing that Jesus sees and loves me in all conditions, which is impossible to achieve from anything or anyone else. So, I urge you all to stop idolizing your political party. I’m not telling you to stop following one as a whole, but I am telling you to quit putting it on a pedestal. It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican, Democrat, or anything else – stop idolizing the party. Get out of your own worldview and comfort zone and start learning about other beliefs and opinions. Challenge yourself to befriend those you don’t necessarily agree with. After all, differing religious and political beliefs didn’t stop Jesus from befriending and helping people. Jesus said to “love your neighbor,” so I will, no matter their personality or situational factors. I don’t have to support their beliefs, but I do have to love them regardless, as Jesus does. And I choose to do so. So, will you do the same? © 2026 Sienna Krieg. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Culture & Faith. https://ko-fi.com/janeisley Visit Sienna's Blog Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Stephanie M. is a Christian writer, mother, and founder of Rooted in Reason on Medium, a publication dedicated to exploring the Christian faith with honesty, clarity, and truth. At the heart of her work is a simple conviction: faith was never meant to be blind, but to be lived, examined, and rooted deeply in Scripture. Through Rooted in Reason, Stephanie invites readers into conversations about faith, doubt, discernment, and what it means to follow Christ in a world full of competing voices. She unpacks difficult questions, addresses cultural confusion, and encourages believers to build a biblical worldview that can withstand both personal struggle and external pressure. Her writing often explores the quiet but real tensions of life—motherhood, spiritual warfare, emotional struggle, and the challenge of staying grounded in truth when everything around us feels uncertain. She writes not from a place of distance, but from lived experience, blending Scripture, reflection, and honest observation. With a conversational and thoughtful tone, Stephanie seeks to create space for clarity and reflection. Her goal is to help readers slow down, think deeply, and return again and again to the steady foundation of God’s Word, finding both direction and hope in Christ. Stephanie M. Rooted in Reason

For centuries, scholars, theologians, and scientists have asked the same question. What exactly was manna, that mysterious food God provided to the Israelites in the desert? According to Scripture, manna sustained a massive number of people for forty years as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land, a daily provision unlike anything they had ever seen. While the Bible describes it as “bread” from heaven, historians and scientists have suggested various possible natural sources. In exploring manna, we can examine the Biblical text and natural explanations, all while marveling at the miracle at the heart of this story. “Then the Lord said to Moses, 'I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” Exodus 16:4 Biblical Descriptions of Manna In Psalms 78:24, manna is described as a “grain of heaven.” The Hebrew word dagan means grain or cereal, suggesting that manna had grain-like qualities and could be prepared as food, such as bread or porridge. Scripture offers some further descriptions. “was as coriander seed, and the color thereof as the color of bdellium.” Numbers 11:7-8 “it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Exodus 16:31 “a small round thing, as small as the hoarfrost on the ground.” Exodus 16:14 It appeared daily, except on the Sabbath. Any leftover manna would spoil, except on the sixth day, when God preserved it for the Sabbath. Exodus 16:19–30 And I do find this particularly interesting. The Israelites had never seen it before, emphasizing its miraculous origin. (God also provided quail at times, reinforcing that He can use natural processes as instruments of His provision.) Possible Natural Explanations Scholars and scientists have proposed several natural sources for manna, each consistent with desert environments. The digestive byproduct of insects that feed on the sap of the Haloxylon salicornicum plant. (yup, you read that right) (3) A sweet secretion from the Tamarisk tree. (3) A thallophyte sometimes identified as “Calvatia esculenta” or “Lichen esculentus.” (4) Why It Was Divine So we have the possibilities, but as stated earlier, God can and will use the natural world to fulfill His promises and miracles. We are shown that manna was miraculously provided. Not simply a natural phenomenon. It was daily, reliable, and sufficient for a lot of people over four decades. Something no ordinary natural process could sustain on its own. In Exodus 12:37, we learn that “about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, besides children,” left Egypt with Moses. To give you a sense of scale, six hundred thousand men alone would be roughly the population of cities like Milwaukee or Baltimore. It would also be enough people to fill Michigan Stadium (the largest football stadium in the United States) about five to six times. When women and children are included, many scholars estimate the total population was about two million people (and that‘s being conservative). That would be roughly comparable to the population of Houston, or enough people to fill Michigan Stadium about nineteen times. The Scale of the Miracle The numbers described in Scripture make this event extraordinary. In Exodus 16:16, the Israelites were instructed to gather one omer per person per day. An omer is a Hebrew unit of dry measure. It’s generally understood to be roughly 2.3 liters (roughly 2.4–3.9 pounds, depending on density). If the population traveling through the wilderness approached two million people, that would mean God provided roughly 4–6 million liters of food every single day. Manna did not appear on the Sabbath, so it would have fallen six days per week. Over forty years in the wilderness, that equals approximately 12,500 days of collection. Even using conservative estimates, this means the Israelites gathered over 25 billion individual daily portions of food. In total volume, this would amount to over 57 billion liters of food appearing consistently day after day in a harsh desert environment. No known natural process produces food on that scale, with that regularity, for that length of time. (Numerical calculations assisted by AI.) A Remarkable Detail Manna behaved differently depending on the day of the week. If it had been kept overnight, it would spoil, yet on the sixth day it remained fresh, so the Israelites could observe the Sabbath. “However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. ” Exodus 16:20 “So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.” Exodus 16:24 That detail alone points to something beyond a simple natural occurrence. The manna did not merely appear; it appeared with purpose, timing, and provision built into it. Faith Meets Inquiry While we may explore the natural explanations for manna and have some fun looking into it, we should not miss the miracle that happened. God provided daily, reliably, and miraculously, for forty years, a provision beyond what science or history alone could possibly explain. God’s hand was unmistakably at work. The lesson is simple: God will provide, and we are called to trust and obey Him. © Jane Isley Sources: (1) Exodus 16: 1–36 (2) Numbers 11: 7–9 (3) Jewish World, Talk of the Table, Winter Issue 2019 (4) Australian Lichens; Case Studies Exodus 12:37, Joshua 5:12, Psalms 78:24, Exodus 16:4 Quail: Exodus 16:13; Numbers 11:31–32 ChristianAnswer.net: Omer