Faithful Writers

The Holy Spirit helps in everything good, and yes, even that. Let’s talk about the Holy Spirit. You know, that third member of the Trinity who sometimes feels like the “forgotten God” (as Francis Chan once put it) or that part of faith that some of us aren’t sure what to do with. I mean, sure, we know about the Father and Jesus, but the Spirit? That can feel a little more… abstract. But here’s the thing: According to 2 Peter 1:3, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Not some things. Not just the “spiritual” stuff. Not just the things that are obviously church-related. Everything. And if we’re taking this seriously, that means the Holy Spirit isn’t just here to nudge us during prayer times or convict us when we’ve binge-watched too many true crime documentaries. The Spirit is in all of it — the glorious, messy, confusing thing called life. What Does “Everything” Really Mean? So let’s break this down. When Peter says that God has provided everything for life and godliness, he’s not just talking about reading our Bibles, showing up to church, or making sure we don’t say bad words in traffic (though, let’s be honest, we could all use a little divine intervention there). He means that whatever it is we’re facing — the joy, the grief, the uncertainty, the “What am I even doing with my life?” moments — the Spirit is in it. This means that when we’re struggling to pay the bills, wrestling with doubt, trying to figure out what to do with our difficult relationships, or even just deciding whether it’s okay to order dessert ( spoiler: yes ), the Spirit is involved. In other words, the Holy Spirit isn’t just a “religious” thing. The Spirit is in the practical, everyday stuff, the stuff that makes up real life. The Spirit is in your decisions. Your questions. Your struggles. The Spirit is not waiting for you to be in a more “spiritual” headspace before showing up. But How Do We Know the Spirit is Helping? That’s the tricky part, right? Because the Spirit doesn’t always show up the way we expect. We want a booming voice, a divine sign, maybe something with flashing lights and a deep Morgan Freeman-esque narration. But more often than not, the Spirit’s help looks like: A sudden wave of peace when we expected anxiety. The right words coming out of our mouths when we had no idea what to say. That little nudge to reach out to someone we’ve been avoiding. A shift in our perspective that we didn’t see coming. The ability to breathe through a tough situation when we thought we’d fall apart. And honestly, sometimes the Spirit’s help is just the ability to keep going when we’d rather throw in the towel. (Or throw the towel at someone, depending on the day.) Life AND Godliness Notice that Peter says “life and godliness.” Because, let’s be honest, some of us have grown up in a faith that separates those two things — like “godliness” is the important stuff and “life” is just that thing we have to get through until we can finally focus on the real deal. But nope. That’s not what Peter is saying. Life and godliness are not two separate categories. The Spirit isn’t just hanging out in our morning devotions or our small group discussions. The Spirit is also in Our jobs, our parenting, Our friendships, Our stress, Our celebrations, Our heartbreaks. This means that when you’re making dinner for your family, when you’re dealing with an unexpected crisis, when you’re trying to be patient with that co-worker who drives you up the wall — God is there. You are not alone. And you don’t have to handle it on your own strength. A Different Kind of Help Here’s where things get interesting. When we think about the Spirit “helping,” we tend to assume that means fixing . Like, if God is really in this, then my problems should be solved, my anxiety should vanish, my relationships should be smooth sailing. But, “helping” means “one who comes along side and adds assistance. The Spirit’s help isn’t always about taking away the struggle. Sometimes it’s about changing us in the middle of it . It’s about giving us wisdom, resilience, a softened heart, or a different perspective. The Spirit’s job isn’t to make life easy; it’s to make us more alive — more present, more connected, more aware of the God who is already at work in us and around us. So What Do We Do? If the Spirit is already helping us in everything , then our job isn’t to make the Spirit show up. Our job is to pay attention . To lean in. To trust that God is already present and working — even when we don’t see it. So maybe today, instead of asking, God, will You help me? , we start asking, God, how are You already helping me? Or, begin thanking Him that He’s there to help you in (this), too, whatever it is. Because the Spirit is here. In all of it. Always. And that? That changes everything. © Gary L. Ellis

It's a "teachable moment" for the church. Thursday, June 19th, is a “ Juneteenth “ holiday in America. Christians know it as a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. and mark the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas. They came to inform enslaved African Americans they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation . While it was initially a more regional observance, particularly in Texas, it became a federal holiday in 2021. But Juneteenth 2025 commemorates a special day for all Jewish people because it celebrates an event that Christians will never entirely understand. While most Christians dwell in the “New Testament,” we should read and fully appreciate the Book of Esther. Christians debate whether that book should be in the Bible because the word “God” is conspicuously absent . Meanwhile, the profound spiritual lessons in that story fly over our heads like the Blue Angels . HaShem used ordinary people to save the Jewish race. He glorified Himself in the darkest times and proved that His promise to Abraham could and would never be broken. It was the direst of circumstances, and He showed up. Here’s why you should call or text a Christian on Juneteenth 2025. Thursday, June 19th, is also the 23rd of Sivan to Christians and Jews. In the story of Esther, it was the day the oppressors became the oppressed . “So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.” Esther 8:2 What did Esther and Mordecai do next? Did they turn the other cheek? Did they agree to coexist peacefully with their enemy? Did they fold like we did at this month’s Israel Summit in Texas? Nope. The first thing Esther did was to initiate her own “Emancipation Proclamation”. “let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?” 8:5–6 Up to this point in the story, Christians and Jews usually agree. Freedom is a good thing. But what she did next is where we lose most Christians. “The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.” 8:11 If any of my Christian brothers and sisters are struggling with the situation in Iran, please read Esther. The enemy of the Jews goes back thousands of years. And so does the best solution to deal with that enemy. When did all of this happen? God wanted to tell us the exact date so we could remember. He is big on stacking stones and writing scrolls, so we cannot forget his interventions. “So the king’s scribes were called at that time — on the 23rd day of the third month, the month of Sivan. It was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to all the Jews, as well as to the officials, governors, and advisors of all the 127 provinces that stretch from India to Ethiopia. To each province it was written in its own script and in its own language, and also to the Jews in their own writing and language.” 8:9 Reach out to a Christian today. We agree on 90% of the Bible. That makes us brothers. And this is a teachable moment for the American church. We agree on freedom from captivity. But our next step is to learn to finish the job. The church in the West mows over the weeds. The yard looks great for a while. But the weeds will return. Israel pulls the weeds up from the roots. It’s backbreaking labor. But it is what must be done to ensure a beautiful and peaceful garden. And Torah reminds us that Adam was responsible for cultivating and protecting that garden. (Gen 2:15) Let HaShem arise and scatter His enemies! Let Israel finish the job! And let the Christians find a new power that pulls us out of the comfortable pews into the spiritual war. The trumpets have been blaring. Can you hear them? Let’s assemble. Let’s unite. Let’s remember Thursday, June 19, 2023. May the spirit of Esther and Mordecai reign in your households this year! -Issachar © I.M. Koen

Pixabay I didn’t know anyone. Not a soul. I knew enough to realize that I needed to bring my Bible to a Bible study, but I didn’t know too much beyond that.   They wheeled in a cart with a big-box TV on the top and a VHS player on the bottom shelf.  A woman with a Southern drawl, meticulously set hair, and a scarf around her neck appeared on the screen.  The lady sitting next to me loaned me colored pencils, and we began marking up the first chapter in 1 Thessalonians - writing in our Bibles!.  I chose to mark all references to Jesus with the symbol of the cross.  My Holy Spirit symbol was a blue swirl.  ‘Wrath’ was a black ‘X’.  ‘Word of God’ was a sketched outline of an open book. Kay Arthur guided us through the Bible, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, attempting to decipher all that was said about the main themes.  Kay taught me to read my Bible with an inquisitive mind, asking questions, digging deeply, and building my understanding of God’s Word, “Precept Upon Precept." Kay Arthur went home to Jesus on May 20, 2025. After many years of  Precept Upon Precept Bible studies, I was in the time-exhaustive tumult of parenting and homeschooling when I decided to take the initiative to feed myself without a group of Bible study ladies.  I had a big monitor computer sitting on top of my computer desk, which housed an enormous central processing unit, power supply, and a slot to insert floppy disks.  I don’t think the word ‘internet’ was part of my vocabulary at that time. Instead, I would order CDs with John MacArthur sermons and listen to them over and over again. I had never been under the tutelage of expository preaching like MacArthur. He opened the Bible and made it come alive.  I craved time in the Word, sneaking away to read my John MacArthur Study Bible whenever possible.  John MacArthur went home to Jesus on July 14, 2025. When my laptop computer no longer had the technology to play CDs, I stacked them in a huge Rubbermaid storage tub and found Tim Keller on YouTube.  From my kitchen table in rural Wisconsin, I was able to watch the sermons Keller preached at Redeemer in NYC.  The love and grace of Jesus flowed through him, and I found myself even more magnetized to Jesus. Tim Keller went home to Jesus on May 19, 2023. Today, a quick drive across the St. Croix River lands me in Minnesota, the home of John Piper.  Bethlehem Baptist annually hosts the “Godward Life Conference”, which I have attended each year since its inception. During this 2-day conference on September 26-27, 2025, dozens of articulate, Jesus-loving, Holy-Spirit-filled believers will present messages on a full array of topics. My favorite part is seeing Piper live.  He is the most dynamic preacher I have heard in my lifetime.  And he is still walking and breathing on this Earth. These four individuals have each had an enormous influence on my spiritual life.  They have taught me how to study the Bible, created in me a desire to read my Bible, and helped me to realize my true purpose in life.  As I jointly mourn my loss and celebrate their gain, I ponder who will take their place?  Who are the up-and-coming preachers?  Who will share Jesus with the next generation?  Who will launch the next revival? Many big names come to mind, yet I wonder how Jesus would answer.  “ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) If you have been fed, you can feed.   The baton has been passed. @ Tessa Lind (First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by Tessa Lind.)

I don’t know what kind of day you’re having, but if you’re feeling misunderstood, overlooked, or completely out of sync with the world around you , you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Maybe more than you might realize. I’ve been in that place where it feels like nobody gets it , not even the people closest to me . I come back to something that grounds me every single time: Yes. Jesus understands. Not Just Spiritually — Literally Not in some vague, spiritual, “He’s up there watching us” kind of way. I mean, actually understands. Jesus isn’t some distant figure tossing encouragement down from heaven. He walked this earth. He lived a fully human life. He didn’t skip the hard stuff — He entered it. Pain, grief, betrayal, pressure, exhaustion, fear — He knows it all firsthand. Not because He’s omniscient (though He is), but because He lived it. Felt it. Carried it. That’s what makes this personal. He Knows What It’s Like Ever been misunderstood? So was Jesus — constantly. Even His own family didn’t get Him. Ever felt abandoned? Jesus watched His closest friends bail when He needed them most. Ever been on the receiving end of injustice? Jesus was accused, tortured, and executed for something He didn’t do. Ever cried out to God and felt like the sky was silent? Jesus did that too. Hanging on the cross, He said: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” You don’t have to explain your pain to Him. He’s already felt it. But, really, you CAN talk to Him about it. He’s the best listener. Jesus Gets the Junk That Comes Our Way This is what makes the gospel so personal: Jesus doesn’t just sympathize with our pain — He empathizes with it. Hebrews 4:15 says it straight: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…” Bring Him the anger, the fear, the heartbreak, the numbness — all of it. Unfiltered. Unfixed. Ask Him to show you where He was. Because He understands the mess. He entered into it. No Performance Necessary Sometimes the world tells us to power through. To keep smiling. To pretend we’re fine. Jesus never says that. He doesn’t need your performance. He wants your reality. When you say, “I’m exhausted,” He remembers collapsing into sleep in the back of a boat during a storm. When you say, “I feel completely alone,” He remembers praying in a garden while His friends dozed off. When you say, “I don’t think I can take much more,” He remembers carrying a cross on bloody shoulders. You don’t have to pretend in His presence. He already knows. You Are Not Alone I don’t know why certain prayers feel unanswered. I don’t know why some seasons drag out longer than we thought we could handle. But I know this: We are not unseen. We are not unknown. And we are never alone. Jesus gets it. He doesn’t flinch at our brokenness. He moves toward it. He stepped into our story — not just to rescue us, but to understand us. That changes everything. So Yes — Jesus Understands Whatever you’re carrying — anxiety, grief, disappointment, confusion — bring it to Him. Not polished. Not edited. Just real. You don’t have to explain it perfectly. You don’t even have to say it out loud. He understands. And that might be the most underrated miracle of all — not just that Jesus saves, but that He gets us. © Gary L Ellis

By guest author Alex AKA The Dropout Professor “One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘When will the Kingdom of God come?’ Jesus replied, ‘The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.’” — Luke 17:20–21 (NLT) Those of us raised in the church know — or rather, we’ve believed — that the ultimate hope of humanity is Heaven, and the ultimate fear is Hell. But what if this dichotomy is more of a disservice to us than any kind of motivational benefit? Image from user Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash If you’ve gone through any level of disillusionment and restructuring of your theology or relationship with God, one of the biggest questions any intellectually honest and moral person inevitably has to ask is:“How could a just and loving God allow anyone to spend eternity in a place of infinite torment and punishment for finite trespasses?” This is a valid point. Trying to Bible-thump and scripture-quote your way out of it is only going to alienate the people you claim to want to save from this final destination. So what do you do? As with many things in my life, I’ve taken sort of a both/and approach to the dilemma, while also remaining humbly uncertain about unknowable unknowns like what awaits the human soul postmortem. I think it’s worth noting, however, that any sort of faith that is primarily motivated by what happens after death is subject to supreme subversion and hijacking, rather than making the focal point being one’s relationship with God, others, and themselves. If how we live takes a backseat to what we believe then all kinds of mishaps are to be expected as par for the course. Of course, belief should inform behavior, but if the belief is that all sins are forgiven by declaring Jesus as Lord and that this life is a cosmic crapshoot, every human soul is one-and-done, and there are only two options of experience after the body expires… I think we’ve seen plenty of examples of this not quite panning out as a perfect omnibenevolent being would sign off on. If the point of an incarnational human existence is less of any sort of an objective scruples quiz to be reviewed, infinitely graded, and infinitely improved upon, and strictly a one-time doctrinal purity/sincerity of belief geographical crapshoot with infinitely incomprehensible stakes in either bliss or suffering, people on the secular side of the fence are absolutely correct to claim that the deity you believe in could reasonably be concluded to be callous, cruel, and evidently has no qualms creating people expressly for the purpose of setting up them up to eventually damn them. “No Punishment, No Justice” Mindset It’s hard to effectively “love one’s neighbor as oneself” if the underlying idea is that unless one’s neighbor is in total theological and/or behavioral agreement, they’re doomed to experience an eternity of torture and flames once their physical body ceases to function. This perceptual trap intrinsically roots one’s love in a “holier-than-thou” position, which does not translate to feeling anything resembling the agape love purportedly held in such high esteem by religious folks. I understand the concept of the “necessity” of Hell, to some degree. It may seem just as morally abhorrent for someone like Jeffrey Dahmer ( who purportedly accepted Jesus Christ before his murder ) to not face more than an earthly prison sentence and be welcomed into the pearly gates. Frankly, at this point, I don’t know or care if he was. Not my call, fortunately. Admittedly, I still wouldn’t want the cloud next to his. One could, and probably still will, argue that love for one’s neighbor is the impetus of evangelical work. “We are spreading the Gospel to them because we love them and want to save them from their sins” etc. But this is still rooted in a “we’re right, they’re wrong” mindset, hinged on a belief that the designer and tireless maintainer of the universe either doesn’t care about a vast enormity of His children’s individuated consciousnesses being eternally sustained after physical death for the purpose of punishment for transgressions beyond their comprehension, or worse, actively wants that to happen. Father, forgive us, we know not what we do. The Underlying Cruelty of Evangelical Heaven One of the most striking things I’ve seen in my years around missionary family members and acquaintances is a profound revulsion at the ideas of annihilationism (which postulates that at the “Day of Judgment” non-believers would be simply erased from existence) or universalism (which suggests the crucifixion and resurrection set in motion a chain of events that would eventually redeem all of creation) as opposed to the concept of eternal conscious torment awaiting non-Christians either at the moment of death, or at the end of time. Either way, it’s a pretty telling worldview to see over half of humanity as damnable, irredeemable, and necessary to burn and torture infinitely. I don’t believe in that God; I don’t believe that was Jesus’ Father. “Yes, Jesus’ death absolves all my sins in perpetuity, and no matter what I do in life, I’ll be rewarded with bliss forever, while the happenstances of your birth and life justify a ceaseless postmortem brutality against your soul, regardless of your conduct or character. That’s just Divine Will.” This is monstrous theology. If you’d push your sibling into a furnace and be capable of turning around and enjoying bliss after, I wouldn’t want to be in that Heaven anyway. Overlooking the Gift of the Present Moment “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” — Master Oogway in Kung-Fu Panda It’s cliché. It’s corny. But it’s still true. I know I’m guilty of ignoring blessings in favor of focusing on things I wish I had or activities I’d rather be doing. Thou shalt not covet . Whoops. That said, I know I’m also guilty of being hedonistic and prioritizing “enjoying now” over preparing for the future. We have to balance responsibility and recreation, trust and truth, embodiment and eternality. Do the laundry. Breathe in. Wash the dishes. Breathe out. Trust the process. Breathe in. Love your neighbor. Breathe out. “Be here now.” — Ram Dass Final Thoughts I’ve made jokes onstage about varying Heavens of different religions and written ad nauseum philosophizing, trying to reconcile the cosmologies of which I’m aware — both for my own sanity, and for the hope of a future where religion isn’t such a tremendous source of division and we all recognize our connection to divinity. Christians who keep prepping for the rapture to leave everyone else in the ashes are doing themselves and their faith a disservice as much as they are everyone else. God is bigger than our boxes. The dissonance between how much people who call themselves “Christians” follow Paul in actuality, as opposed to Christ, is maddening . If you don’t think their ideals are opposed, consider the following verses: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”— Matthew 7:21 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9 Hardly seems like these two are in agreement. I would rather sit around a table with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims who are sincere in their respective beliefs, but have done their inner work than a bunch of professing Christ-followers who don’t take issue with the current administration, or worse, actively support it and think it to be some sort of righteous crusade against “the evils of the left”. To be fair, I’d rather get pistol-whipped and taken behind the chemical sheds than sit around that second table. Oh well, here comes the holidays. If you found this thought-provoking, interesting, or entertaining, please feel free to follow The Dropout Professor elsewhere for additional content and musings, or buy me a coffee to support! :) Follow on Instagram Subscribe on YouTube © Alex AKA The Dropout Professor You may also enjoy reading these articles by our guest author today: Why Do Christians White-Knuckle This Life? The Struggles of a Heretical Mystical Christian My Trip to Hell

Photo by Damon Hall on Unsplash I’ve come to realize that God doesn’t always speak through loud signs or flashes of revelation. More often than not, His voice slips in quietly through a calm in my heart that doesn’t make sense in the natural. There have been times I prayed for direction, and though everything around me looked uncertain, there was this unexplainable stillness inside. Other times, even when the option before me seemed perfect, I just couldn’t shake the unease. That’s when I learned that peace and unrest are both languages God speaks in. Peace — The Mark of His Presence Scripture says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15). The word “rule” there means to act as an umpire. In other words, peace helps us discern what’s right. It calls the shots in moments of confusion. When God is leading you, there’s a rest that anchors your heart even when your mind still has questions. You may not know every detail, but there’s a gentle assurance that you’re safe in His will. This peace isn’t the absence of problems, it’s the quiet confidence that God is with you in the process. It’s that inner calm that whispers, “You don’t need to rush, I’ve got this.” “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” — Isaiah 26:3 Unrest Is The Holy Spirit’s Red Flag But just as peace affirms His voice, unrest can be His warning. There are moments when the Holy Spirit stirs a discomfort in you, a subtle tension that says, “Don’t go there.” You can’t always explain it logically, but something feels off. That’s not fear, it’s discernment . When Jonah ran from God’s assignment, he found no rest until he returned to obedience . Sometimes, the storm outside is just a reflection of the storm within. Pay attention to that unease because it may be heaven’s way of protecting you. Learning to Listen Within The more you walk with God, the more you’ll notice that His peace is not silent, it’s a voice of its own. The key is to slow down long enough to hear it. Quiet your thoughts, surrender your plans, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak. You’ll begin to recognize that His peace is steady, not fleeting. It doesn’t waver with circumstances, and when it’s absent, that’s often your cue to pause, pray, and wait until He brings clarity. In Stillness God’s voice isn’t just heard, it’s felt. Sometimes through a peace that holds you still, other times through a restlessness that redirects you. Either way, He’s speaking, not to confuse you, but to keep you close. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” — Isaiah 55:12 © Favour

By Guest Author: Jeff Barlatier “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:29 We read that line too quickly. We imagine little cartoon devils trembling. But first-century Jews did not imagine cartoonish imps. When a Jew heard the word daimonion  — “demon” — they did not picture Disney villains, red tights, or pitchforks. They heard something older. Heavier. Cosmic. They heard elohim. And when an Israelite used the word elohim, they did not mean “the one true God.” They meant any inhabitant of the spiritual realm — any being whose nature was non-human, non-corporeal, powerful, and divine in rank. Yahweh is Elohim — but not the only elohim. And when the New Testament says Jesus cast out daimónia, the connection is deliberate: Jesus was driving out rival spiritual beings — rival gods. This is the story beneath the story. This is what makes the Gospels electric. This is why the spirits screamed. Because when Jesus stepped onto the scene, the gods panicked. This is the story of when the gods bowed. We Have Been Taught to Think Too Small Modern Christianity inherited a tiny demonology We’ve reduced “ demon ” to: ✔️ a fallen angel ✔️ a mischievous imp ✔️ a tempter ✔️ a nuisance But Scripture presents something far more staggering. If the Old Testament calls members of Yahweh’s heavenly host elohim, and the New Testament calls those same entities daimonia, then the Gospels are not stories of Jesus chasing away annoying spirits. The Gospels record Jesus waging open war on the gods of the nations. When Jesus rebukes a demon, He is not flicking away a mosquito. He is overthrowing another power. He is dethroning a spiritual prince. He is reversing Genesis 11. He is invading Psalm 82 territory. We have been reading a multiverse battle in black-and-white. 2. The Old Testament Context: Elohim Means More Than ‘God’ Let’s clear the ground. The word elohim in Hebrew is not a name. It is a category. It means: a resident of the spiritual realm. Here are biblical examples: • “You shall have no other elohim before Me.” (Exod 20:3) — There are other elohim, but they are not Yahweh. • “For Yahweh is the great God above all elohim.” (Ps 95:3) — If Yahweh is “above” them, they exist, but He outranks them infinitely. • “The sons of God (bene elohim) came before Yahweh.” (Job 1:6) — These are divine beings. • “God takes His stand in the council of elohim.” (Ps 82:1) — There is a divine council of spiritual rulers. Every one of these beings is an elohim. Yahweh alone is haElohim  — the Most High God, uncreated, eternal. The biblical writers were not polytheists. They simply recognized the supernatural world as populated, structured, and hierarchical. Yahweh is in a class of His own. But other elohim exist — and they rule nations (Deut 32:8 — 9). When Israel turned to idols, they weren’t just turning to statues. They were turning to the spiritual beings behind the idols (Deut 32:16 — 17; Ps 106:36 — 37; 1 Cor 10:20). These beings — the elohim of the nations — became rebel powers. In the New Testament, these same beings appear under a Greek label: daimonia — demons 3. The Shift From Elohim to Daimonia: Not a New Category, Just a New Language When Jews in Jesus’ day spoke Greek, they needed a word that matched the Old Testament’s elohim category. They used daimonion. In Greek literature, a daimon is not necessarily evil. It is a powerful spiritual being — divine, intermediary, ruling, influencing. The first-century audience understood daimónia = spiritual powers. So the New Testament did not shrink the unseen realm. Christians did. The apostles simply used the Greek word that captured the same conceptual world as elohim. Thus: • Psalm 96:5 (LXX): “All the gods (elohim) of the nations are daimonia.” • Deuteronomy 32:17 (LXX): “They sacrificed to daimonia, not to God.” There it is — front and center. The New Testament’s “demons” are the Old Testament’s “gods.” They are elohim, dethroned by Yahweh, condemned in Psalm 82, but still influential until the Messiah comes. This is why the Gospel narratives explode with supernatural warfare. Jesus isn’t just healing bodies. He is reclaiming territory. He isn’t just telling demons to leave. He is forcing gods to kneel. 4. The Birth of Jesus Was a Declaration of War From the moment Jesus is born, the elohim realm knows something has shifted. Angels fill the sky not with lullabies, but with military announcements: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth…” (Luke 2:14) Peace does not come unless a stronger kingdom arrives to break the power of the old. The spiritual realm trembles. Herod — not just a wicked king, but a pawn of spiritual rulers — goes into a murderous frenzy. Simeon and Anna prophecy because heaven is stirring. Something is happening that threatens every power, throne, principality, and dominion. The Son of God has entered the turf of the enemy. 5. Why the Demons Always Recognize Jesus Before the Humans Do Humans are slow. The disciples need years. Crowds misunderstand. Pharisees resist. But the spiritual beings? They understand instantly. They cry out: “We know who You are!” “Have You come to destroy us?” “Son of the Most High God!” Why? Because they know Psalm 2. They know Psalm 82. They know Daniel 7. They know the prophecy of the Son of Man who would take dominion and strip the nations’ rulers of authority. They know the seed of the woman has arrived. They know the One who will crush the serpent’s head is walking toward them. So they bow — not in worship, but in terror. Jesus terrifies demons because He outranks them. He commands the elohim realm by nature, not by delegation. When Jesus speaks, the gods obey. 6. Every Exorcism Is a Throne Room Event Watch carefully what happens in every Gospel exorcism. The pattern is unmistakable: 1. The demon sees Jesus. 2. The demon reacts violently. 3. The demon acknowledges Jesus’ authority. 4. Jesus commands. 5. The demon obeys. This is courtroom language. Legal language. Throne-room language. They shrink back because He carries the authority of the Most High. This is why the crowds say: “What new teaching is this? With authority He commands unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” (Mark 1:27) No one had ever done this. Israel had exorcists, yes. But Israel never had a King who could walk into a region and empty it of its gods. Jesus’ command is not magical. Not ritual. Not formulaic. It is ontological. He commands because He is Lord. This is Yahweh in flesh stepping into the domain of the lesser gods and stripping them of power. Every exorcism is a dethronement ceremony. 7. The Gerasene Demoniac: The Gods Beg Permission Mark 5 is the clearest example. A man possessed by a legion of daimónia lives among tombs — territory of the dead, the domain of dark powers. Jesus steps off the boat. Instantly the powers react: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Notice the title: Son of the Most High God. This is language used by non-Israelite nations to speak of Yahweh. The gods are confessing: “We know who Your Father is. We know You outrank us. We know You have arrived as Judge.” Then the unthinkable happens: They beg Him for permission. The elohim of the nations — fallen, corrupt, territorial rulers — stand before Jesus and ask: “Please do not torment us.” “Please do not send us out of the region.” “Please send us into the pigs.” They cannot move without His word. They cannot relocate without His approval. This is the moment when the veil tears. This is the moment that reveals the cosmic hierarchy: Jesus is Lord. Every other spiritual being is creature. The pigs rush into the sea — the symbolic reversal of Egypt’s army drowned in judgment — and Jesus stands victorious on Gentile soil. The gods have bowed. 8. Why Jesus’ Ministry Is Filled With Exorcism, But the Old Testament Isn’t Here is a mystery that confused readers for centuries: Why are there almost no exorcisms in the Old Testament? Why do they explode in the New Testament? The answer: Because the King had not yet arrived to reclaim the nations. Until Jesus came, the rebellious gods — the elohim of the nations — still held legal jurisdiction. God had disinherited the nations at Babel (Deut 32:8 — 9). He gave them over to lesser rulers. Israel alone was Yahweh’s inheritance. But when the Messiah comes, the boundaries shift. When Jesus appears, He invades Gentile turf. He begins reclaiming what was lost. He binds the “strong man” (Mark 3:27). He spoils his goods. This is why Jesus’ ministry is filled with exorcisms. It is a sign: The Most High has come to take back the world. 9. Jesus Isn’t Casting Out Demons — He’s Rewriting the Cosmic Map Every time Jesus casts out a demon, He is not performing a trick. He is redrawing the spiritual geography of earth. He is doing Psalm 82 in real time: “Arise, O God, judge the elohim…” He is throwing down the rulers of the nations: • He heals the sick → reversing death • He cleanses lepers → reversing impurity • He casts out demons → reversing the dominion of foreign gods • He announces the Kingdom → reversing the exile of humanity The cross is the climax. The resurrection is the victory shout. Pentecost is the global takeover. The Gospel going to the Gentiles is the invasion of the nations formerly ruled by rebel elohim. This is why Paul calls them: • principalities • powers • thrones • dominions • rulers of this age And then says: Christ is above every one of them. (Ephesians 1:20 — 23) 10. When the Gods Bowed: The Temptation Narrative The temptation in the wilderness is not about Jesus resisting a few sinful ideas. It is about Jesus being confronted by the god of this world. A ruler offering kingdoms he actually governs. Satan shows Him all the kingdoms of the earth. He says: “They are mine to give.” Jesus does not disagree. Because they were, in a limited sense, under his and other elohim’s rule. But when the Son refuses the shortcut, the path is set: He will take the nations back not by compromise, but by conquest. Not through worshipping a lesser elohim, but through destroying them. Not by bowing to a creature, but by making creatures bow to Him. 11. The Cross: The Public Humiliation of the Gods Paul says something wild in Colossians 2:15: “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, triumphing over them in the cross.” This is courtroom language. This is military parade language. The cross looks like defeat to humans. It looked like victory to the powers. But it was their undoing. The cross was the moment Yahweh in flesh bound the gods of the nations, took away their legal authority, and stripped them publicly. They lost: • the right to accuse • the right to rule • the right to control nations • the right to blind minds • the right to enslave humanity They bowed. Because the Son of God had triumphed. The resurrection is the declaration: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” (Matt 28:18) Not some. Not partial. All. Every elohim knows it. 12. Pentecost: The Nations Are Reclaimed Pentecost is not a random holiday. It is the reversal of Babel. At Babel: God divided the nations. At Pentecost: God reunites them under Christ. Tongues are not a charismatic party trick. They are a military signal: Messiah is taking back the nations once ruled by the gods. The nations previously under the administration of lesser elohim (per Deut 32) are now hearing the Gospel. The gods are losing territory. Their reign is ending. They bow because they cannot stop the Kingdom. 13. The Early Church: Living Proof the Gods Have Fallen Why did exorcism continue as one of the most expected signs of the Kingdom in the early church? Because the church is the embassy of the new King. Wherever Christians go, idols fall. Wherever the Gospel goes, the gods lose jurisdiction. Wherever the Spirit goes, the rival powers retreat. Paul says: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers…” We wrestle. But we win. Because Christ sits above them. Because the gods have bowed. Because their authority has been broken. The Christian is not fighting for victory. The Christian fights from victory. 14. What It Means Today: Your Struggle Is Not Psychological Only, But Cosmic This theology is not academic. It is not theoretical. You feel it when: • you wrestle with generational patterns • you feel spiritual heaviness over a city • you encounter idolatrous systems • you meet people tormented by dark forces • you confront the demonic in addiction, hatred, or oppression You are not dealing with cartoons. You are dealing with spiritual powers — lesser elohim — who resist the rule of God. But the good news is the same: Jesus already made them bow. He is Lord. They are subject. You belong to the King. 15. The Final Scene: Every Elohim Will Bow in Judgment Psalm 82 ends with the death sentence of the gods: “You will die like men…” This is not a metaphor. They will lose their immortality. They will be judged. They will be cast down permanently. Revelation shows the end: • The dragon cast into the lake of fire • The beast destroyed • The false prophet judged • The nations reclaimed • The New Jerusalem ruling over all Christ reigns. Humanity — redeemed, resurrected, glorified — rules with Him. The gods that once oppressed humanity are gone. The Kingdom is restored. Eden is restored. The world is restored. And Yahweh alone is worshiped. Conclusion: Jesus Is Not Exorcising Demons — He Is Expelling gods We have read the Gospels as if Jesus were doing small things. But He is doing the biggest thing imaginable. He is unseating the spiritual rulers of the world. He is taking back the nations. He is forcing the gods to kneel before Him. Every exorcism is a coronation. Every healing is a sign of a new Eden. Every word He speaks echoes through the unseen realm. The gods bow because they must. The gods bow because they fear Him. The gods bow because He is Yahweh in flesh, and He has come to reclaim His world. And today? They still bow. Because Jesus Christ is Lord  of heaven, of earth, and of all the elohim. Amen. © Jeff Barlatier (Doctoral Candidate)MDiv candidate

Google Nano Banana “If God is real, why is there so much suffering?” “The Bible is full of contradictions.” “All religions are basically the same — why should Christianity be special?” You’ve heard these objections. Maybe you’ve asked them yourself. They sound intelligent, well-reasoned, like they’ve thoroughly dismantled Christianity. But here’s what I’ve discovered: Most objections to Christianity fall into two categories: Legitimate hard questions that deserve honest engagement. Surface-level arguments that sound profound but collapse when you actually think them through. The first category? Those are the questions that make faith deeper. Wrestling is part of the relationship with God. The second category? Those are the ones we need to talk about. Because too many people abandon Christianity over arguments that don’t actually hold up to scrutiny. Let me be clear: I’m not saying faith is easy or that all questions have neat answers. I’m saying some of the most popular objections to Christianity are built on misunderstandings, false premises, or logical fallacies. And if you’re going to reject Christianity, you should at least reject it for the right reasons. Objection 1: “If God Is Good, Why Is There Evil and Suffering?” This is the big one. The problem of evil. And honestly? It’s a legitimate question that deserves serious engagement. But here’s where the objection usually goes wrong: It assumes that a good God would create a world without the possibility of evil. Think about what that would actually require: Option A: God creates robots with no free will. You can’t choose to love. You can’t choose to do good. You’re programmed to be “perfect.” But is that actually good? Is forced love even love? Option B: God creates beings with free will. Which means they can choose love or hate. Good or evil. Selflessness or selfishness. And when people choose evil, suffering results. (Cough, Adam & Eve, cough ) The objection assumes Option A is better. But most people, when they think about it, don’t actually want to be robots. They value freedom, choice, and agency. So the real question isn’t “Why does evil exist?” The real question is “Can love exist without the possibility of its opposite?” What About Natural Evil? “Okay, but what about earthquakes? Cancer? Tsunamis? Those aren’t caused by human choice.” Fair point. Here’s where it gets complex: 1. We live in a fallen world. Christian theology teaches that sin didn’t just corrupt human hearts — it corrupted creation itself. (Romans 8:22: “The whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth until now” & Genesis 1:29–30 when animals started to eat each other, aka the food chain) 2. Natural disasters create opportunities for sacrificial love. When tragedy strikes, humans have the choice to respond with compassion, generosity, and courage. Evil becomes the context where the highest forms of good can emerge. 3. God doesn’t promise comfort — He promises presence. The Christian claim isn’t “believe in God and nothing bad will happen.” It’s “God is with you in the suffering.” Does this answer every question about suffering? No. Does it make it easier when you’re in the middle of a tragedy? Not really. But it does show that the objection “evil disproves God” is built on a false premise — that a good God must prevent all suffering. That’s not what Christianity claims. Objection 2: “The Bible Is Full of Contradictions” This one always gets thrown around. Usually by people who haven’t actually read the Bible. Here’s the reality: Most “contradictions” are either: Different perspectives on the same event (not contradictions, just different angles) Translation issues Cultural context that’s misunderstood Intentional literary devices that modern readers miss Example: “How many angels were at Jesus’ tomb?” Matthew mentions one angel. John mentions two. CONTRADICTION! Except… no. If John saw two angels and Matthew focused on the one who spoke, they’re both accurate. It’s like two witnesses to a car accident — one says “a red car ran the light,” the other says “two cars were in the intersection.” Not contradictory. Different focus. Example: “God is love vs. God commands genocide in the Old Testament” This is a legitimate hard question about God’s character and the Canaanite conquest passages. But here’s what’s not legitimate: acting like these passages are hiding in obscurity and Christians just ignore them. Christians have wrestled with these texts for thousands of years. There are serious theological frameworks for understanding them: The judgment-on-systemic-evil interpretation The ancient Near Eastern warfare hyperbole interpretation The progressive revelation framework You can look these up and disagree with these interpretations. But you can’t claim Christians are just ignoring the problem. Ultimately, who you want God to be vs who He actually is is what this question wrestles with. I have my reasons and my own explanation, but others may not agree. If you’re taking Christianity seriously, then it's a question that God will help you with understanding through prayer. The Real Test Here’s how to tell if something is actually a contradiction: Can both statements be true at the same time from different perspectives or contexts? “Jesus wept” and “Jesus is God” — Both true. God incarnate experienced human emotion. “Faith alone saves” and “Faith without works is dead” — Both true. Saving faith produces works. Works don’t produce salvation. “God is love” and “God is just” — Both true. Love without justice isn’t actually loving. Justice without love isn’t actually just. If you can’t reconcile two statements without assuming one is false, THAT’S a contradiction. Most “Bible contradictions” fail this test. They’re reconcilable with context, cultural understanding, or basic reading comprehension. Objection 3: “All Religions Are Basically the Same / Many Paths to God” This sounds inclusive and tolerant. It’s actually deeply insulting to every religion. Because it requires you to ignore what each religion actually teaches about itself. Buddhism: There is no personal God. Enlightenment comes through eliminating desire. Salvation is escape from the cycle of rebirth. Hinduism: Multiple gods exist. Salvation is reincarnation until you achieve moksha (liberation from the cycle). Islam: One God (Allah). Salvation through submission and following the Five Pillars. Jesus was a prophet, not God. Christianity: One God in three persons. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus is God incarnate. These aren’t different paths up the same mountain. They’re completely different mountains. You can’t say “all religions teach the same thing” without either: Being ignorant of what religions actually teach Deciding that what religions say about themselves doesn’t matter (which is condescending) The Coexist Problem The popular objection is: “Can’t we all just coexist? Why does Christianity have to claim it’s the only way?” First: Christians absolutely should treat people of other faiths with respect and love. Religious disagreement doesn’t require hostility. Second: Every religion makes exclusive truth claims. Buddhism claims Hinduism is wrong about God. Islam claims Christianity is wrong about Jesus. They all think the others are mistaken about fundamental reality. Christianity isn’t uniquely arrogant for claiming to be true. It’s doing what every coherent worldview does — making claims about reality and standing by them. Objection 4: “Science Has Disproven Christianity” This one’s interesting because it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what science actually does. Science answers “how” questions. Religion answers “why” questions. Science: How did the universe begin? (Big Bang, physical laws, cosmic evolution) Christianity: Why does the universe exist? (God created it for a purpose) These aren’t contradictory. They’re answering different questions. Evolution vs. Creation? The supposed conflict here is overblown by both sides. What science claims: Life on Earth has developed over billions of years through natural selection and genetic mutation. What Christianity actually claims: God created the universe and everything in it. These can both be true. Many Christians (including respected theologians and scientists) believe God used evolutionary processes as His method of creation. The Bible says God created — it doesn’t specify the mechanism. Now, Young Earth Creationists like myself disagree with this. That’s our right. But my interpretation of Genesis isn’t the only Christian interpretation, and it never has been…. and it won’t define whether you go to heaven or hell because of it (in my opinion). Miracles vs. Natural Law? “Science shows the universe operates by natural laws. Miracles violate natural laws. Therefore, miracles are impossible.” The problem: This assumes natural laws are prescriptive (what MUST happen) rather than descriptive (what USUALLY happens). If God exists and created natural laws, He can obviously work outside them. That’s what makes miracles miraculous — they’re exceptions, not the rule. The objection is actually circular reasoning: Miracles can’t happen Why? Because natural laws can’t be violated Why can’t they be violated? Because miracles can’t happen You’re free to not believe in miracles. But you can’t use science to disprove them — science can only describe regular patterns, not rule out exceptions. Plus, doctors witness miracle healings all the time, if you just look it up. Objection 5: “Christians Are Hypocrites” This is less an objection to Christianity and more an observation about Christians. And honestly? It’s often true. Christians are frequently hypocritical. But here’s what that doesn’t prove: That Christianity is false. If Christianity claimed “humans are basically good and following Jesus makes you perfect,” then Christian hypocrisy would disprove Christianity. But Christianity claims the opposite: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Christians being hypocritical doesn’t disprove Christianity. It confirms Christianity’s diagnosis of human nature — we’re all broken, including religious people. The question isn’t “Are Christians perfect? “The question is, 'Is Jesus who He claimed to be?” Judge Christianity by Christ, not by Christians. Evaluate the message, not just the messengers. (Though yes, Christians should absolutely strive to live consistently with what they profess. The hypocrisy criticism should make us better, not defensive.) Objection 6: “A Loving God Wouldn’t Send People to Hell” This objection makes sense emotionally. It’s hard to reconcile “God is love” with “eternal punishment.” But it’s based on several assumptions that might not be true: Assumption 1: Hell is God actively torturing people. Many theologians understand hell differently — as a separation from God that people choose . C.S. Lewis described it as “the doors of hell are locked from the inside.” If God is the source of all goodness, love, and joy, then complete separation from God IS hell. God doesn’t send people there — they choose it by rejecting Him. Assumption 2: Humans are basically good and don’t deserve judgment. Christianity teaches humans are made in God’s image (valuable) but also sinful (broken). If God is perfectly just, sin can’t just be ignored. There are real consequences. Assumption 3: A loving God wouldn’t allow anyone to reject Him forever. But love requires the possibility of rejection. If God forced everyone to be with Him, that wouldn’t be love — it would be coercion. Here’s the hard truth: If you believe people have genuine free will, then you have to allow for the possibility that people can use that freedom to reject God permanently. The Real Question The objection assumes God’s primary attribute is “niceness” — a cosmic grandfather who wants everyone comfortable. Christianity claims God’s primary attributes are love AND justice, AND holiness. A God who is only loving but not just would be a terrible God. A God who is only just but not loving would be a tyrant. The question isn’t “Would a nice God send people to hell?” The question is “What does a perfectly loving AND perfectly just God do with human rebellion?” Christianity’s answer: He takes the punishment Himself (the cross) and offers rescue to everyone (grace) . But He doesn’t force it on anyone (free will). The Objections That Actually Matter After all this, here are the questions that I think DO pose legitimate challenges to Christianity: Why this particular revelation? Why is Christianity true and not Islam or Buddhism? (This requires positive evidence for Christianity, not just debunking objections) How do we interpret difficult Old Testament passages? The Canaanite conquest, slavery regulations, etc., require serious engagement & not dismissal. What about people who have never heard the gospel? This is a theological puzzle Christians wrestle with and disagree about. How do we reconcile God’s sovereignty with human free will? This has been debated for 2,000 years, and Christians still don’t agree. Notice what these questions have in common: They’re hard, they require thought, and Christians who take them seriously don’t have neat answers. That’s different from the popular objections we covered, which sound smart but mostly reveal misunderstandings of what Christianity actually claims. So, What Now? If you’re going to reject Christianity, reject it because you’ve genuinely engaged with what it teaches and found it wanting. Don’t reject it because of arguments that dissolve under examination. Don’t reject it because of “contradictions” you haven’t actually researched. Don’t reject it because Christians are flawed (we are — that’s part of the point). Reject it, if you must, because you’ve considered the evidence and concluded Jesus wasn’t who He claimed to be. That’s the real question Christianity rises or falls on. Not whether Christians are perfect. Not whether every question has an easy answer. Not whether the faith is “scientific.” The question is: Did Jesus rise from the dead? If He did, everything else is secondary. If He didn’t, Christianity is false regardless of how many objections you can debunk. That’s where honest investigation should focus. Everything else is just a distraction. Which of these objections have you struggled with most? What questions about Christianity do you think ARE legitimately difficult? © Ashneil

Bing AI Faith often begins where comfort ends, and courage starts when God’s call shakes your certainty. There’s a peculiar stillness that comes right before a decision that matters. You feel it in your chest, a mix of excitement and fear, as if the universe itself is holding its breath. That was how I felt the day God nudged me toward something bigger than myself, a calling I had long admired from afar but never dared pursue. I remember sitting at my old wooden desk, staring at the invitation to step into a ministry I had only dreamed about. My mind ran in circles. “What if I fail? What if I’m not enough? What if this isn’t really God?” Fear whispered louder than faith, and I almost tucked the opportunity back into the safety of routine. But then, in that quiet moment of wrestling, I remembered every small way God had been faithful before: the doors He had opened that I didn’t deserve, the unexpected provision in moments of need, the peace that arrived when I least expected it. Courage, I realized, wasn’t about having no fear, but it was about choosing trust over hesitation. Stepping out didn’t make the fear vanish. My hands trembled, my heart raced, and doubt still lingered like a stubborn shadow. But I moved anyway. I prayed, I sought counsel, and I reminded myself that God equips the called, not the prepared. He doesn’t call the equipped, but equips those he calls. Each step forward felt like a tiny miracle, an invisible hand guiding me through uncertainty, whispering reassurance when my own voice faltered. Looking back, the journey wasn’t just about the external outcome; it was about the transformation within. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the choice to act and make a move despite it. It’s faith taking a step even when the path is foggy, it’s trusting that God is bigger than our worries, wiser than our plans, and kinder than our doubts. And the beauty of it? God doesn’t just call you for the sake of the task. He calls to grow you, to deepen your faith, to show you His strength made perfect in your weakness. The moment you answer, even with trembling knees and a hesitant heart, you discover that He has been preparing you all along. The courage you thought you lacked was already within you; it just needed the spark of obedience to ignite. If you’re reading this and feel that pull in your soul, the gentle insistence that God is asking more, don’t wait for fear to disappear. Step forward, even if it’s one small step at a time. Trust that the same God who has never left you will not abandon you now. Your courage doesn’t come from bravery alone; it comes from faith, surrender, and the quiet confidence that God’s call is always accompanied by His presence. Now, what step is God asking you to take today, even if it feels uncertain? © Favour

Photo by Joeyy Lee on Unsplash You know, I’ve noticed something, you don’t really hate the mirror. You hate the story it tells you. The one that whispers you’re not enough, that something about you needs fixing before you can be accepted. But here’s the truth: that story didn’t start with your reflection. It started long before you ever looked into the glass. Where the Voice Comes From Look closely and you’ll see that somewhere along the way, you picked up small, heavy messages, maybe from comments that were “just jokes,” from pictures that made you feel less-than, or from people who taught you love had to be earned. You didn’t choose those voices, but they stuck anyway, and now, when you stand in front of the mirror, you’re not really seeing yourself. You’re seeing everyone else’s opinions stacked on your shoulders. The mirror became a battlefield, and you’ve been fighting a war that was never yours to fight. But here’s what the Scripture says instead: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” — Psalm 139:14 Your reflection was never meant to measure perfection; it was meant to remind you of divine design. The Mirror Isn’t the Enemy Listen, the mirror only reflects what stands before it. It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t measure, it doesn’t compare. That’s all the noise you’ve learned to bring with you. If I could tell you one thing, it would be this: You are not broken, you’re just tired of seeing yourself through borrowed eyes. And if you can’t love what you see yet, start with respect. Respect that body for showing up every single day. Respect that face for holding in emotions that it never got to express. Respect that person in the mirror for still standing because GOD already called you “ very good.” “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” — Genesis 1:31 Learning to See Beyond Appearance Healing your relationship with the mirror isn’t really about pretending to feel beautiful. It’s about learning to see yourself as a whole person — body, mind, and soul. That means forgiving yourself for the harsh things you’ve believed, and allowing room for gentleness to grow where judgment used to live. The world trains us to chase perfection, but you were never meant to be flawless you were meant to be real and real has stretch marks. Real has tired eyes. Real has stories you can’t read in a photo. When Faith Reframes the Reflection If you ever want a healthier mirror, let God hold it, because when He looks at you, He doesn’t see mistakes; He sees meaning. He doesn’t see someone falling short. He sees someone becoming whole. And maybe that’s what the mirror’s been trying to show you all along, not what’s wrong , but what’s still worthy . A Gentle Reminder: You’re more than what you see. The mirror can only show your surface, not your spirit. So today, take one small look, and instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?” try asking, “What’s still growing in me?” © Favour