Tag: grace

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Fear Buries Purpose not by Force, but by Permission.

Fear Buries PurposeFear buries purpose not by force, but by permission. Giving in to the fear of failure hides your ability to reach your potential. Fear is the loud giant roaring in your mind, while faith is that whisper that pushes you forward. Too many times, we listen to the roaring giant because we can’t hear the whisper. We become less than God meant us to be, a shell of who we could have become.

Rationalization of Fear

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Fear is not from God. If fear is driving your decisions, something other than God is shaping your future.

The sad part is that we accept outcomes as destiny. We justify results based on effort, not potential. Fear doesn’t just scare us; it rewrites our beliefs. It convinces us that safety equals wisdom, that smallness equals humility, and that resignation equals maturity. We start calling retreat “discernment” and paralysis “patience.” That’s how fear survives—by disguising itself as reason.

Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Potential is Stewardship

But potential is not a suggestion. It is stewardship.

Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

What we often call destiny is simply the sum of our surrendered decisions. We accept outcomes as if they were set in stone, when in reality, many were negotiated away out of fear, not through rebellion, but through caution, hesitation, and waiting until we felt ready, qualified, or safe.

If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been. ~ Robert H. Schuller

Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous… Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Fear Does Not Make Us Evil

Fear does not make us evil. It makes us incomplete.

And the tragedy isn’t failure. Failure refines, teaches, and humbles.
The real tragedy is never trying because we convince ourselves that silence is obedience.

Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, I will help you.”

Faith is not loud. It seldom competes with fear in volume. It speaks through invitations: ‘Step forward.’ ‘Trust Me.’ ‘You were made for more.”

The question is not if fear will roar, because it always will.
The real question is whether we will base our lives on noise or on truth.

We are not victims of fate; we are stewards of a calling. Fear isn’t just a limit on the present—it shortens the impact of the echo that is your life.

Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”

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Why is Christ Hard to Believe In?

Christianity, living like ChristAnd why is Christ Hard to Believe In?

People are often not rejecting Christ Himself; they reject a distorted image of Him created by human failure, cultural noise, and personal wounds. Most reasons are relational and experiential, grounded in distrust, pain, disappointment, or fear rather than in logic alone.

The most significant cause of atheism today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips but deny Him by their actions. That’s what an unbelieving world can’t believe.” – Brennan Manning.

The Distorted Image of Christ

If people are rejecting a distorted image of Christ instead of Christ Himself, then the conversation is no longer about winning arguments. It becomes about clearing away the fog that hides who He really is.

Most people have never met the Christ of the Gospels.
They have met:

      • the Christ of politics
      • the Christ of shame
      • the Christ of control
      • the Christ of hypocrisy
      • the Christ of cultural religion

But those are not Him. Those are human projections laid on top of Him.

The Real Christ

Jesus did not reject broken people; He rejected the self-righteous. He did not crush doubt; He welcomed it closer. Christ did not use power; He emptied Himself of it.

When someone says they reject Christ, they usually mean:  “I reject what I’ve seen done in His name,” “I reject the version of God that was used to wound me,” and “I reject a God who looks nothing like love.”

And honestly… they should.

Because a Christ who is petty, manipulative, tribal, or cruel isn’t truly Christ at all.

It shifts responsibility to where it truly belongs. Not onto unbelievers for “not seeing,” but onto believers for “not revealing.”

We are not called to defend Christ as if He were fragile; we are called to reflect Him as if He were alive.

And when He is seen clearly, without fear, power, and ego clouding the view, He becomes surprisingly hard to reject. The most vivid image of Christ most people will ever see isn’t a sermon or a verse. It is a life quietly reflecting His character.

How to Change the World View

Be a person who:

⇒ Is safe to be around.
Christ was safe to be around. The broken were not afraid of Him. Children ran toward Him. Sinners stayed in His presence.

Psalm 46:1, “God is our place of safety. He gives us strength. He is always there to help us in times of trouble.”

⇒ Listens more than they speak.
Jesus asked questions that let people reveal themselves. Listening is not passive; it is a form of love. When someone feels heard, defenses soften.

1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

⇒ Refuse to weaponize truth.
Truth without grace feels like condemnation. Grace without truth feels like indifference. Christ carried both without crushing either.

John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

⇒ Let repentance be visible.
Nothing dismantles a distorted image of Christ faster than a believer who can say, “I was wrong.” Pride hardens. Humility disarms.

Matthew 3:8, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

⇒ Loves without an agenda.
Christ loved first and let transformation follow. Love that expects nothing in return looks divine.

Lamentations 3:22-23, “The Lord loves us very much. So we haven’t been destroyed. His loving concern never fails. His great love is new every morning. Lord, how faithful you are!”

⇒ Lives mercifully in small places.
Kindness in traffic. Patience in frustration. Integrity when no one sees. These are the pixels that form the picture of Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”

Conclusion

You don’t “fix” the world’s image of Christ. You become one clear window.

One honest reflection. One life that quietly says, “He is better than what you were shown.”

James 3:17, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That’s the most important thing about it. And that’s not all. It also loves peace, considers others, obeys, and is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair, not pretending to be what it is not.”

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The Quiet Violence of Innocence

Violent InnocenceWhile reading recently, I encountered a term that initially sounded academic, almost theoretical: violent innocence. At first, I thought it described others—two people or organizations engaged in passive conflict, each claiming innocence while quietly undermining one another. It seemed like a more refined version of passive-aggressive behavior. But as I reflected on it further, it became more unsettling. Not because it described others so accurately, but because it revealed something inside me.

What Is Violent Innocence?

The definition I found was simple but piercing:

Violent innocence refers to a process where an individual or institution inflicts harm while simultaneously claiming innocence, denying responsibility, and defending a self-image of being “good” or “undefiled.”

The violence is subtle. The innocence seems real. And the harm exists in the space between who we believe we are and what our actions — or inactions — actually cause.

James 4:17, “If anyone knows the good, they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin.”

That’s the harsh truth: we can sin just by doing nothing. We can cause harm without yelling or fists. We can hurt others simply by refusing to love.

I Never Thought of Myself as Violent

As a Christian, I have always reserved the term violence for physical or emotional cruelty. Violence comes from rage, evil, or malice—qualities I do not associate with my life. Yet Jesus elevated the standard far beyond physical acts.

Titus 3:14, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”

In God’s perspective, violence isn’t just physical harm like broken bones or bruised feelings. It can also be shown through neglect, indifference, silence, refusal to act, withholding mercy, or withholding truth. Harm can come from absence just as easily as from actions.

We depend on artificial rules and protocols to stop us from acting, which in turn protects us from responsibility. We ignore a need, choose comfort over compassion, or justify our inaction with polished excuses — we take part in a form of harm we might never recognize in ourselves.

And we do it while maintaining the belief that we are good.

The Violence of Our Excuses

Almost every day, we get the chance to help someone — and almost every day, we find a reason not to. I don’t have time, or I’d rather not get involved, or even better, they created their situation; now they have to face the consequences.

These statements seem harmless, even rational. But beneath them is a calculation: my convenience outweighs their need.

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Withholding good is not neutral. It shapes the world around us. It shapes our own hearts.

Violent innocence flourishes in this space — where we safeguard our perception of goodness by dismissing the opportunities we pass up.

The Most Damaging Violence: Withholding the Gospel

Here is where the concept becomes painfully personal. As believers, we carry the message of eternal hope — the only hope that rescues the soul. Yet, there are countless moments when we could speak but choose not to. We soften the edges. We stay polite. We remain safe.

If the gospel is life, then silence is not harmless. It is a failure of love.

1 Corinthians 9:16, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

When we withhold the truth that could save someone’s eternal life, our innocence turns into a form of violence. Not physical violence — but spiritual neglect. Eternal neglect.

This isn’t about guilt; it’s about responsibility. It’s about love brave enough to risk discomfort for another’s soul.

Letting Go of the Protected Lie

Violent innocence lets us comfortably believe we’re harmless. But Jesus didn’t call us to be harmless. He called us to love—bold, sacrificial, inconvenient love.

Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

To bear a burden, we must first be willing to feel its weight.

We need to allow God to uncover the harm concealed within our innocence—not to condemn us, but to set us free. Innocence isn’t the absence of wrongdoing; it’s the presence of active love.

My prayer is this:

Lord, break the illusion of my innocence and grant me the courage to love.

Let me never cause harm through silence, neglect, or convenience. Let my life demonstrate the mark of someone who took action — someone who loved — even when it was costly.

1 John 3:17, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

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Christmas for the Lonely

Christmas 2025Christmas for the lonely is the worst of all holidays. It is the peak of all the missed chances and forgotten moments that haunt their existence. It seems to amplify their loneliness.

A Lifeline for the Hurting

I have a heartfelt plea this festive season: reach out to those who are hurting and offer them a lifeline. Not by trying to cheer them up or giving quick fixes, but simply by loving them. Quiet desperation is one of the heaviest burdens a soul can carry. We cannot remove that burden entirely—only God can heal the deepest wounds. But He often chooses to work through us.

A Day of Celebration and Reflection

December 25th is not the exact date of Jesus’ birth; it’s the day we commemorate His birth. Those are two separate things, and this might help our non-believing friends understand the meaning behind the day. Still, whether someone believes in Christ or not, one thing everyone does on the 25th is reflect. Almost all of us take a moment, if only briefly, to look back on our lives.

Gratitude in the Present Moment

For many of us, the fortunate among us, myself included, this reflection brings gratitude. We see how God has carried us, blessed us, surrounded us with relationships that enrich our days, and given us experiences we never deserved but deeply cherish. We remember seasons of joy, perhaps even better seasons than the one we’re living in now, but our feet remain firmly planted in the present. This moment is ours, a gift from God. And in this moment, we choose hope.

Psalm 100: 4–5, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good, and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

When Christmas Feels Heavy

But not everyone walking beside us sees this season the same way. Some face broken relationships. Others feel like opportunities have slipped away. Some look forward and only see darkness. Their minds drift to what might have been but never will be. Their hearts hold memories that darken the soul and weigh down the spirit. Life doesn’t seem like a glass half-empty—it feels like the glass was never big enough to hold what they lost.

Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Understanding the Depth of Despair

I feel deep compassion for them because I have been in their position. I have experienced the cold, lonely pain of despair. In that moment, even minor wounds seem deadly. And just when life feels too hard to bear, something darker tries to pull you further down.

For many people, Christmas isn’t a time for reflection; it’s a day to try to forget. The happiness of others only deepens their pain. The “light at the end of the tunnel” feels more like a train coming. Salvation seems like a myth. Comfort and joy feel like fairy tales.

I have prayed not to wake, begging for tomorrow not to come. I wanted the pain to stop completely. But the peace we seek cannot be found outside of Christ. And the outcome of a life without Him is not something to desire, no matter how broken the present moment feels.

Called to Walk with the Least of These

Matthew 25:45, “‘Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

This Christmas, choose to invest in someone else’s journey. Not to fix their life or offer solutions, but to provide companionship and hope. Let them know they are not walking alone. Be the person God delights in working through—the one who brings light into someone else’s dark corner.

Healing Broken Connections

And one more thing: each of us has broken connections, people who hurt us, or people we have hurt. Consider offering a kind word, a small gesture. It might change more than one life. It might just change yours.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

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The Sobering Truth About Your Existence

Character is DevelopedThis is a sobering truth about your existence: a few decades after you pass away, no one will remember what you did. Sure, close family members might remember your name, but the core of your achievements will fade over time.

Accomplishments

Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

George Washington is often called the father of the United States. It’s taught in every school that he was a general in the revolutionary army that defeated the British in our fight for independence, and that he was our first president. These are facts; they don’t reveal much about who he truly was. We know facts about him, but we don’t really know him.

All your accomplishments, if you’re fortunate, will eventually become nothing more than data points. Most of what you’ve achieved in life will fade away like morning dew. Who you truly are will be lost in the memories of those who knew you. With their passing, so will the memory of you be lost in time.

Character

Proverbs 20:7, “The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!”

If you want your essence to echo through eternity, it must be intentional. It’s not about your name; it’s about your character. Everyone leaves a legacy. The question is: what kind of legacy will we leave behind? Will people feel that your life was meaningful enough to imitate and pass down as an example to others? Are there people several generations from now who are connected to who you were?

“Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.” H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Ego and hubris often lead to superficial achievements and empty accolades. My dad has many roads and bridges named after him, but the people who see the signs do not honestly know him. His legacy is not plaques but the life lessons he shared with us. My grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, are the true heirs of his legacy.

Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

Leaving a legacy isn’t optional; you’re making one right now. The real question is: what kind of legacy are you creating? Is it something people who know you will pass on, or is it fleeting and shallow? Does it reflect Christ, or just worldly standards? The standards of the world are constantly changing and temporary. Worldly standards can be interpreted differently by each generation. Christ is unchanging and constant through time. Love, compassion, and grace are timeless.

Case in Point

Agur (Proverbs 30) claimed to be more brutish than any other human and lacked human understanding, but 3,000 years later, we are still learning from and passing on his wisdom. We know nothing about Agur the man; was he respected, did he work hard, or was he a good family man? But what we do know is his character and wisdom. That is the echo through eternity that we should all strive for.

Proverb 30:8-9, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

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When Life Turns Up the Heat

When Life Turns up the heat.When life turns up the heat and hardship defines our existence, do we see it as punishment or an opportunity to grow?

Lately, I have been reflecting on this. Before Joseph arrived at the palace, he was sold into slavery and sent to prison. Before David became king, he had to defeat Goliath and escape from Saul. Esther was orphaned and exiled before she became queen. Moses went from Pharaoh’s palace to herding sheep in the wilderness. God doesn’t give us what we expect; He gives us what we need to be the person He made us to be. That’s the hard part, the refining.

Be a Coffee Bean

Just as God refines His people, heat also reveals what’s inside us. I heard this analogy: If you put an egg, a potato, and a coffee bean each in boiling water. The egg starts soft inside; the heat hardens it. The potato starts hard on the inside, but heat makes it soft. The coffee bean is another story. The coffee bean changes the water, turns it into something useful. The moral is that hardship can turn us hard and callous inside because of our circumstances. Hardship can beat you down, make you lose heart, and surrender your strength. But, hardship did not change the coffee bean; the coffee bean used the heat to change the water.

We all face struggles; it is part of living in a broken world. Hardship doesn’t define us—it refines us into who God designed us to be. Because we live in a fallen world, struggles will happen. God is aware of this and uses those challenges to refine and purify us.

Malachi 3:3, “He will act like a refiner and purifier.”

In these times, we need not question why this is happening to us, but what do You want me to do next? How do you want me to use what I am going through to become the person I was always destined to be?

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

When Life Barges In

When life barges in to create chaos and hardship, that is when we are allowed to show others God’s grace. It is during these moments that others look to us to see what our faith will produce. Anyone can feel thankful in good times, but it takes someone of faith to be thankful during tough times. A person of faith knows that God cares enough about them to use these moments to shape them into something better. They are not looking for excuses or blaming others; instead, they are seeking purpose and direction.

Jesus experienced everything you’re going through. Jesus was misunderstood, disappointed by people, lonely, and tempted. If God allowed His Son to face all of that, will He also let you go through it? The reason is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

The point I want you to remember is that hardship is not meant to push you down, crush you. It is intended to draw you closer to Jesus and strengthen you. It is through this refining that we see how much God truly cares for us as individuals. He will not allow us to stay the same when a better us lives inside.

Refinement isn’t punishment, it’s preparation.

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Living a Life of Thanksgiving

ThankslivingA Season of Gratitude

At Thanksgiving, we take time to thank God for all He has done in our lives—for family and friends, for food and shelter, and for the many blessings that fill our days. We express gratitude for His provisions, and then our minds often shift to Christmas and the celebration of His most incredible gift.

1 Corinthians 1:30, “Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate, and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.”

Thanksgiving is special because even the secular world pauses to give thanks for its blessings. If those who do not believe can express gratitude, how much more should we, who know the Giver of every good gift, overflow with thankfulness? Can you name even one good thing in your life that God did not provide?

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy.

Giving Thanks Beyond the Table

Take a moment—just a single moment—to revel in the miracle of your life. Before you eat, offer a prayer that comes from the depths of your soul and sincerely thanks the God who created you, wrote your story, and guided every step of your journey.

Sadly, after that moment of gratitude, most of us go back to our routines—overeating, socializing, and then falling back into the daily grind. But imagine if we could live in that moment of thankfulness every day. What if gratitude became the rhythm of our lives instead of an annual event?

God crafted us uniquely and perfectly for the journey ahead. Even though we see flaws, detours, and wrong turns, He sees the perfection of His plan unfolding. We often treat blessings as isolated events, but God views them as part of a continuous story—His ongoing work in our lives. He doesn’t simply check off answered prayers; He blesses us continually, if only we would notice. God lives in the moments.

James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Gratitude in the Hard Places

But what if your circumstances are challenging—if pain, conflict, or loss define your days? Remember this truth: If you’re still breathing, God isn’t done with you yet. As long as you have breath, you have purpose.

I’ve experienced dark seasons when the only thing that kept me going was knowing that God still had a purpose for me that day. I didn’t always understand what or why—but I knew it was bigger than my pain. I was committed not to meet Him in an incomplete state.

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The way to overcome your struggles is to immerse yourself in God’s overwhelming love. He draws close to those who call on Him in their distress. Every moment—yes, even the painful ones—is a gift and an opportunity to express gratitude to Him.

Isaiah 66:1-2, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Haven’t I made all these things? …These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.’”

Living With Kingdom Purpose

We live in a broken world that often produces bitter fruit. Some seem to endure more suffering than others. I don’t always understand it—not in my own life or in others’. But I know this: when I take my eyes off the eternal prize, the weight of the struggle increases. A life without purpose intensifies pain; a life with purpose can redeem it.

Knowing that each trial has a purpose in the kingdom gives me the strength to keep going. Moment by moment, I thank God that I am still standing—and that He’s not finished with me yet. That gives me meaning. And with meaning comes hope.

So, commit yourself to this truth: don’t face God unready. Live grateful. Live polished. Live prepared.

Revelation 7:12, “Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

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Crushed but Not Broken

Shattered not brokenHave you ever felt like your plans were crushed, only to realize they weren’t broken but simply redirected for God’s purpose? Sometimes, God uses minor setbacks to teach us. This is a story of one such experience. Traveling internationally is always challenging. It’s not just about different languages and cultures; it’s also about everyday things like water and electricity. I was telling a friend the other day that I’ve never felt more entitled than when I stepped outside my environment into someone else’s.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This story illustrates how God uses a big problem for one person, and the solution then benefits someone else who wasn’t even involved at first.

Disaster in the Air

A laptop was crushed during transit—nothing serious, just an accident that happened at the worst possible moment. All of the documents and information needed to complete the mission were intact but unavailable. Work stopped. Plans were delayed. But God often hides His provision within our problems.

That same week, two young interpreters — twin sisters who were second-year college students — were busy helping the mission with translation and support. Both were intelligent, dedicated, and persistent, but neither had a computer, so using a borrowed computer wasn’t an option. They completed every school task and assignment on their cell phones. One was studying law, while the other was studying psychology. Their determination was inspiring, but their resources were limited.

Psalm 34:10, “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

Disaster Opens Opportunity

Replacing the broken laptop opened a new opportunity. When shopping for a functional laptop to finish the mission, it was surprising to discover how affordable they were in this country. This realization would never have happened if the need for a laptop hadn’t been essential. It also brought to light the students’ needs.  What seemed like a problem turned into a chance to address a larger need. Losing one computer created space for two others to be used, allowing them to make a difference. What appeared to be a setback became an opportunity for growth.

Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done…”

Opportunity Guides Solutions

One laptop was purchased to complete the mission and then given to one of the twins, while the second laptop was bought simply because God made the need clear. Now, both twins had an essential tool that made graduating from college easier. The lesson wasn’t about losing or giving up—it was about trusting. The tool was temporary; the impact was eternal. God turns inconvenience into influence and frustration into fruitfulness when we let Him write the story.

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The Danger of a Single Story: Seeing People as God Views Them

forgiveness and understandingThe Trap of a Single Story

Have you ever been judged for just one mistake? A single weak moment that tainted an entire relationship. We’ve all been caught in someone else’s narrow story of us. We live in a world where it’s easy to judge quickly. One incident, word, or first impression can define our whole story. Scripture reminds us that people are more than the single stories we see.

1 Samuel 16:7, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Look at the lives of these four prominent characters that ultimately crafted the narrative of the Bible:

Rahab the Prostitute (Joshua 2; Matthew 1:5)

To Jericho, she was considered a prostitute. She was not only a woman in a male-dominated society, but her profession placed her on the fringes of civilized behavior. Yet, in God’s eyes, she was a woman of faith who sheltered spies and was a part of the Messiah’s family tree. A single story of sin was not her final story.

Like Rahab, Moses’ story demonstrates that one failure doesn’t invalidate God’s calling.

Moses the Murderer (Exodus 2; Acts 7)

Moses fled into the wilderness after killing an Egyptian. He lived a shepherd’s life, tending his father-in-law’s sheep. God rewrote his story: deliverer, prophet, lawgiver. The first impression did not define his purpose.

The story of Peter reminds us that even repeated mistakes can be redeemed.

Peter the Denier (Luke 22; John 21)

Peter was a mess. After three years of learning from Jesus, he still did not understand. Most remember him for denying Jesus three times. However, Jesus forgave him: “Feed my sheep.” He became the rock of the early church.

Paul began as an enforcer of the anti-Christ movement, but he was still part of God’s plan to redeem humanity.

Paul the Persecutor (Acts 9)

This is probably the most incredible story of all. Despite Paul’s career choices, God understood his heart. We know his early history of threatening Christians. He even held the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen. God transformed him into one of the greatest missionaries and writers in the New Testament. God’s story of grace replaced his backstory of violence.

The Problem with Partial Information

As humans, our understanding is limited by the physical world around us. The way we perceive life is shaped by our experiences and the constraints of the world around us. However, God is not bound by the physical laws He created; He is not constrained by the flow of time. We see moments. God sees lifetimes. We see a chapter. God sees the entire book. Not only that, but it is His story being told by Himself. Nothing is new or unknown.

“The proof of love is the willingness to listen.” – Mike Murdock.

When we face a hostile interaction, the outbursts or failures often stem from hidden causes like wounds, fears, or past experiences. There’s a story behind it waiting to be told. Those who offend us are often just trying to be understood. It is during those moments that we, as Christians, have an opportunity to reflect Christ. This is our chance to listen to their story.

James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

How God Calls Us to Respond

Look beyond the surface; do not let labels or single events define people in your mind. Ask yourself: What might God still be writing in their story? God uses every moment to shape us into the individuals He wants us to become. This interaction is not accidental. It is not just about them. It is meant to shape you. So, the first question is: What do You, God, want me to learn from this?

God calls us to extend grace to others as Christ did. Jesus saw potential in the Samaritan woman at the well, while others only saw shame. He offered her living water, not condemnation. He looked beyond the immediate encounter toward eternity. When emotions run high, can we look past the moment and focus on eternity?

The best approach is to let them tell their whole story. Giving them space to vent decreases tension and helps you gather your thoughts and calm your emotions. It also allows you to understand the background and the true origin of the interaction.

Remember how God writes new chapters in your life and the lives of others.

Practical Application

In business: Do not dismiss someone after a failure.

In ministry: Do not judge a seeker based on their past life.

Within family: Remember that even those who stumble can rise again by God’s grace.

Everyone’s story is never truly complete until God brings it to a close. Do not settle for just chapter one or even chapter ten. Trust that He is weaving redemption, even when all you see is brokenness. The danger of a single story is that it leaves no room for grace. However, God’s story always offers space for redemption.

Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

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Where Were You?

Where Were YouWhere were you when My children were being murdered, raped, and starved? I gave you talents, resources, relationships, opportunities, and passion. I placed you in a world where you could flourish. As My chosen, I fed you, protected you, and surrounded you with abundance. And when My children cried out in need—where were you?

Isaiah 58:10, “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”

The World Groans

The world groans under the weight of evil. This message is not for the lost, but for the found— for those whom God has blessed with safety, wealth, and comfort so they might care for those who have none. But we, the protected, have grown numb. We live such entitled lives that we fail to see the purpose behind the blessings God has poured upon us. We chase comfort, not calling; we protect our way of life instead of protecting life itself.

Luke 12:33, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail…”

One day, when judgment arrives—and it will—I fear we will hear God’s voice echoing through eternity: “Where were you?” He will cry that His people—those He trusted with resources and influence—used them for comfort instead of compassion. They followed culture rather than Christ. They built bigger houses, bought faster cars, and stored up treasures on earth while His children went hungry.

The World At Large

Imagine being born into a world where a warlord raped your mother, where, as a child, you were forced to kill strangers, and where your sister died of hunger while you watched helplessly. You never knew love, never felt safety, never heard laughter that wasn’t born of cruelty. You look up at the same night sky we do, and you ask, “If there is a God of love, where is He?” And God cries out once more, “Where were you, My chosen people?”

Colossians 3:12, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

We send missionaries who talk about love, but the hungry wonder, “Where is it?” We parachute into their pain, bringing gifts and good intentions, then retreat to our comforts, convinced we’ve made a difference. Yet, all too often, we leave behind only disappointment— hope that flickered for a moment and then faded. They stay, still hungry, still hurting, still asking where God is— while we scroll, shop, and sleep peacefully.

Mark 10:21-22, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Where Were You?

1 John 3:17, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Many faithful believers will one day stand before their Maker, expecting crowns and jewels, but instead meet a tearful God who asks, “Where were you when My people suffered?” Jesus said the poor will always be among us—not merely because the world is broken, but because He knew our comfort would be too precious to sacrifice.

“Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God.” — Rick Warren

So I challenge you: Travel to a place where the world is harsh and hope is fragile. Don’t go to preach—go to listen. Sit with them. Hear their stories. See the image of God in faces marked by suffering. Ask yourself what your life might have been if you were born in their village, not yours.

James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

If you do, and you truly listen, you’ll never see the night sky the same way again. You will understand why God still asks, “Where were you?”

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