Walking in the Light

There is something powerful about the words “walk in the light.”

John isn't simply talking about believing in Jesus. He's talking about how we live.

To walk in the light means choosing to live openly before God rather than hiding in darkness. It means allowing His truth to expose the things in our lives that need to be changed, surrendered, forgiven, and healed.

And there is something else I find especially interesting about this verse.

John connects walking in the light with having fellowship with one another.

In other words, our spiritual integrity doesn't just affect our relationship with God.

It affects the quality of the communities we create.

What We Do Privately Affects How We Live Publicly

John is one of the few New Testament writers who draws such a direct connection between our spiritual integrity and the quality of our relationships with one another.

That's important because we can sometimes compartmentalize our faith.

We can think our relationship with God is one thing and our relationships with people are something entirely different.

But Scripture doesn't really allow us to separate the two.

How we walk with God will eventually show up in how we treat people.

If we're walking in the light, it should affect the way we love.

It should affect the way we forgive.

It should affect the way we speak.

It should affect the way we handle conflict.

It should affect whether we're willing to admit when we're wrong.

It should affect whether we're willing to extend grace.

It should affect whether we hold grudges or choose forgiveness.

The condition of our hearts eventually becomes visible in the way we live with others.

Walking in the Light Doesn't Mean Being Perfect

Sometimes we hear the phrase “walk in the light” and think it means we have to have everything together.

It doesn't.

Walking in the light doesn't mean we never make mistakes.

It doesn't mean we never fail.

It doesn't mean we never struggle.

And it certainly doesn't mean we have to pretend we're perfect for the sake of appearances.

In fact, walking in the light requires the opposite.

It requires honesty.

It means we're willing to let God shine His light into the places we'd rather keep hidden.

The attitudes we don't want anyone to see.

The hurts we're carrying.

The sins we're struggling with.

The bitterness we've held onto.

The pride we don't want to admit.

The mistakes we wish we could erase.

Walking in the light means bringing those things before God instead of hiding them from Him.

And that's where grace comes in.

John doesn't say that those who walk in the light are never sinful.

He says that “the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

That's the hope of the Gospel.

We don't have to hide because Jesus already knows.

We don't have to pretend because His grace is greater than our failures.

We don't have to remain trapped in shame because His blood cleanses us.

There Is Freedom in Being Honest With God

Walking in the light can be humbling.

Sometimes God's light reveals things about us that we don't want to see.

It can be uncomfortable to admit that we're wrong.

It's humbling to acknowledge that we need forgiveness.

It's humbling to realize that sometimes the problem isn't everyone else.

Sometimes the problem is us.

But humility isn't something we should fear.

Humility is often where healing begins.

When we stop defending ourselves and start surrendering ourselves to God, He can begin doing a work in us that we couldn't do on our own.

Walking in the light means saying:

“God, search my heart.”

“Show me what needs to change.”

“Forgive me where I've failed.”

“Heal the places in me that are broken.”

“Help me become more like You.”

That's not weakness.

That's surrender.

And there is incredible freedom in surrender.

Lives Knit Together by Forgiveness and Redemption

John says that when we walk in the light, “we have fellowship with one another.”

Think about that.

The people who walk in the light aren't people who have never failed one another.

They're people who understand forgiveness.

They're people who understand grace.

They're people who have experienced redemption.

They're people who know that they themselves have been forgiven and therefore learn to extend forgiveness to others.

When we walk in the light, our lives become knit together not by our perfection, but by God's forgiveness and redemption.

That's what makes Christian community so beautiful.

We don't gather because we've all gotten everything right.

We gather because we've all needed Jesus.

We are all people who have fallen short.

We are all people who have needed grace.

We are all people who have needed forgiveness.

And we are all people who can be made new through Christ.

The Light Doesn't Destroy Us—It Renews Us

Sometimes we are afraid of God's light because we think it will expose everything wrong with us.

But God's light isn't meant to destroy us.

It's meant to bring us to life.

His light exposes what needs to be healed so He can begin healing it.

It reveals what needs to be surrendered so we can finally let it go.

It shows us where we've wandered so He can lead us back.

It reveals the darkness not to condemn us, but to call us out of it.

That's why walking in the light can be humbling, but it can also be healing, renewing, and invigorating.

There is something refreshing about no longer having to hide.

There is freedom in being honest with God.

There is healing in receiving His forgiveness.

There is renewal in surrendering our old ways to Him.

And there is life in knowing that we don't have to walk through this journey alone.

Keep Walking in the Light

Walking in the light is a daily choice.

Every day we have opportunities to choose truth over deception, forgiveness over bitterness, humility over pride, grace over judgment, and obedience over self-will.

And when we fail—and we will—we don't run from the light.

We run toward it.

We take our failures to Jesus.

We confess them.

We receive His forgiveness.

We get back up.

And we keep walking.

Because the goal isn't to convince everyone that we're perfect.

The goal is to become more like Jesus.

And when we walk in His light, something beautiful happens.

We experience deeper fellowship with Him.

We experience deeper fellowship with one another.

We become people who understand grace because we've received grace.

We become people who can forgive because we've been forgiven.

We become people who can offer hope because we've experienced redemption.

And little by little, God creates communities where broken people don't have to pretend they're whole.

They can come into the light.

They can be honest.

They can heal.

They can grow.

They can forgive.

They can be renewed.

And they can discover what it means to walk together in the light of Christ.

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

What a beautiful promise.

Walk in the light.

Not because you're perfect.

But because Jesus is.

Not because you never fail.

But because His grace is greater than your failures.

Not because you have everything figured out.

But because you know the One who does.

And when we walk in His light, we don't just discover a deeper relationship with God.

We discover lives knit together by His forgiveness, His grace, and His redemption.

The Person Who Challenges You May Love You the Most

“The person who challenges you and holds you accountable loves you more than the one who watches you stay the same and settle for mediocrity.”

That's a statement that can be hard to hear.

We live in a world where people often confuse love with approval.

If you love me, you should agree with me.

If you love me, you shouldn't challenge me.

If you love me, you should support whatever I decide to do.

If you love me, you shouldn't point out where I'm wrong.

But that's not always what love looks like.

Sometimes love looks like someone sitting across from you and telling you the truth.

Sometimes love sounds like, “You can do better.”

Sometimes it sounds like, “That's not who you are.”

Sometimes it sounds like, “I love you too much to watch you continue down this road.”

And sometimes the person who challenges us is the very person we need the most.

Real Love Doesn't Always Tell You What You Want to Hear

It's easy to surround ourselves with people who agree with everything we say.

It's comfortable.

They don't challenge us.

They don't question our decisions.

They don't point out our blind spots.

They simply tell us what we want to hear.

But there is a danger in being surrounded by people who will never challenge us.

We can become comfortable staying exactly where we are.

We can convince ourselves that we're doing fine when we're actually settling.

We can mistake comfort for growth.

We can mistake acceptance for love.

And we can become so accustomed to mediocrity that we stop believing there is more for us.

That's why we need people in our lives who love us enough to tell us the truth.

Not people who criticize everything we do.

Not people who tear us down.

Not people who think they are better than us.

But people who genuinely care about us and want to see us become the person God created us to be.

Accountability Is Not the Enemy

Accountability can be uncomfortable.

Nobody enjoys having someone point out their mistakes.

Nobody likes hearing that their attitude needs to change, that their choices aren't wise, or that they aren't living up to their potential.

But sometimes the uncomfortable conversation is the conversation that changes everything.

A true friend won't just celebrate you when you're doing well.

They'll also pull you aside when you're heading in the wrong direction.

They'll tell you when you're making excuses.

They'll remind you of who you are when you've forgotten.

They'll challenge you when you're settling.

And they'll hold you accountable when you need it.

That's not rejection. That's love.

Sometimes We Need Someone to See What We Can't See

One of the problems with being human is that we don't always see ourselves clearly.

We can see everyone else's mistakes while overlooking our own.

We can recognize unhealthy behavior in someone else while making excuses for it in ourselves.

We can see someone else settling while convincing ourselves that we're simply being realistic.

That's why having the right people around us matters so much.

Sometimes someone else can see potential in us that we've stopped seeing in ourselves.

Sometimes they can see that we're capable of more.

Sometimes they can see that we've become comfortable when we should be growing.

Sometimes they can see that we're allowing fear to keep us from moving forward.

And sometimes God uses that person to get our attention.

Jesus Never Called Us to Stay the Same

Following Jesus is not about remaining exactly as we are.

Yes, Jesus loves us exactly where we are.

But He loves us too much to leave us there.

Our walk with Christ should produce change.

We should grow.

We should mature.

We should become more like Him.

There should be things in our lives that we eventually have to let go of.

Attitudes that need to change.

Habits that need to be broken.

Relationships that may need boundaries.

Pride that needs to be surrendered.

Forgiveness that needs to happen.

Faith that needs to grow.

Sometimes that growth is uncomfortable.

But growth usually is.

You cannot become stronger without being stretched.

You cannot become wiser without learning.

You cannot mature without being corrected.

And you cannot become everything God has called you to be if you are determined to remain exactly as you are.

Be Careful Who You Listen To

There is another side to this that is important.

Not everyone who challenges you is doing it out of love.

Some people criticize because they want control.

Some people tear others down because they are insecure.

Some people disguise jealousy as “accountability.”

So we need wisdom.

The right person won't challenge you simply to make you feel small.

They'll challenge you because they want to see you become stronger.

They won't constantly remind you of your failures.

They'll remind you that you can grow beyond them.

They won't tear you down.

They'll build you up while still telling you the truth.

That's the difference.

Don't Push Away the People Who Love You Enough to Tell You the Truth

If you have someone in your life who loves you enough to challenge you, don't automatically assume they're against you.

Listen.

Consider what they're saying.

Take it to God.

Ask yourself whether there is truth in what they're telling you.

Maybe they're seeing something you can't see.

Maybe they're trying to keep you from making a decision you'll regret.

Maybe they're reminding you that you're capable of more.

Maybe they're refusing to watch you settle for less than what God has for you.

And maybe, just maybe, they're loving you in a way that isn't always comfortable but is exactly what you need.

We should be thankful for people who are willing to have the hard conversations.

Thankful for the friend who says, “I love you, but you're wrong.”

Thankful for the person who says, “You need to do better.”

Thankful for the person who refuses to let us make excuses.

Thankful for the person who sees more in us than we currently see in ourselves.

Because the person who simply watches us stay the same may be giving us comfort.

But the person who challenges us to grow may be giving us something much more valuable.

They may be giving us the push we need to become who we were created to be.

So don't settle for people who only tell you what you want to hear.

Surround yourself with people who will pray for you, encourage you, love you, challenge you, and hold you accountable.

And when those people speak truth into your life, don't be so quick to become offended.

Sometimes the hardest words to hear come from the people who love us the most.

Real love doesn't always let you stay comfortable.

Sometimes real love looks you in the eyes and says:

“I know you're capable of more. Don't settle.”

And sometimes that's exactly the reminder we need.

I Won't Hide My Love for Jesus

I love this quote for the simple fact that it speaks my heart.

I am not going to force Jesus on anyone.

I'm not going to tell you that you have to believe exactly what I believe. I'm not going to chase you down and demand that you follow Jesus. I'm not going to force my faith on you.

But I also won't apologize for loving Him.

You don't have to follow Jesus like I do, but I'll secretly hope you will.

Actually, if I'm being completely honest, I won't always keep that hope so secret.

Why?

Because I know what it's like to do life with Jesus.

I know what He has brought me through.

I know the comfort He has given me when I was hurting, the strength He has given me when I was weak, the peace He has given me when I couldn't find peace anywhere else, and the grace He has extended to me over and over again when I have failed Him.

I know what it's like to have Jesus meet you in the middle of circumstances you never thought you'd have to walk through.

And when you've experienced that kind of love, it's hard to stay quiet about it.

I'm Not Ashamed of Who I Love

I don't expect everyone to believe what I believe.

But I do expect people to respect my right to live out my faith.

If I want to blog about Jesus, I'm going to blog about Jesus.

If I want to worship Him in church, I'm going to worship Him.

If I want to talk about what He's done in my life, I'm going to talk about it.

And if I'm somewhere in public and I want to thank God, pray, or simply express my love for Him, I'm not going to feel ashamed for doing so.

I'm not forcing anyone to join me.

I'm simply living out what I believe.

We live in a world where people are encouraged to be open about the things they love, believe, support, and value.

So why should my love for Jesus be the one thing I have to hide?

It shouldn't be.

Jesus is not something I'm embarrassed about.

He's not a hobby.

He's not just a Sunday morning tradition.

He's not simply a part of my life.

He is the reason I have hope.

Then I Think About Those Who Couldn't Worship Freely

When I think about being open about my faith, I can't help but think about people throughout history who didn't have the freedom I have.

I think about the Jewish people who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust.

Their suffering is a heartbreaking reminder of what can happen when hatred, prejudice, and persecution are allowed to strip people of their humanity and their right to live according to their faith and identity.

And then I think about believers around the world today who have to be incredibly careful about who knows they follow Jesus.

There are Christians in various parts of the world who cannot openly carry a Bible.

They can't freely gather together for worship.

They can't necessarily tell their neighbors, coworkers, or even extended family that they believe in Jesus.

For some, being discovered could mean imprisonment, violence, losing their livelihood, or even death.

Some believers have to worship quietly behind closed doors because openly proclaiming Jesus could put their entire family in danger.

And then there are the martyrs.

People who have lost their lives because they refused to deny Christ.

People who understood that following Jesus could cost them everything—and yet they considered Him worth everything.

That makes me stop and think.

What Would I Do?

There is a question that Christians sometimes ask:

If we were put in that situation, would we do the same?

If following Jesus meant losing our job, would we still follow Him?

If following Jesus meant losing our friends, would we still follow Him?

If following Jesus meant losing our freedom, would we still follow Him?

And if the ultimate price were placed before us, would we be willing to give our lives rather than deny Him?

I can't honestly tell you exactly how I would respond in a situation I've never experienced.

I can say what I believe in my heart.

I can say what I hope I would do.

And with everything I've experienced in my life and everything God has done for me, I believe I would choose Jesus.

I believe I would rather sacrifice my life than deny the One who gave His life for me.

And I don't say that because I think I'm some great Christian who has never failed.

Quite the opposite.

I've failed God more times than I care to admit.

I've made mistakes.

I've made wrong choices.

I've said things I shouldn't have said.

I've had moments when my faith wasn't as strong as I wanted it to be.

I've fallen short.

But somehow, through every failure, Jesus has continued to love me.

He has continued to forgive me.

He has continued to pursue me.

He has continued to show me grace.

And that's why my love for Him runs so deep.

He Loved Me First

My willingness to stand for Jesus isn't based on believing that I'm strong enough on my own.

It's based on knowing who He is and what He has done for me.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:19:

“We love because he first loved us.”

That's it.

I love Him because He loved me first.

He loved me when I didn't deserve it.

He forgave me when I failed.

He stayed when I wandered.

He picked me up when I fell.

He gave me hope when I felt hopeless.

He gave me strength when I didn't think I had any left.

And He has never once asked me to be perfect before coming to Him.

He simply asks me to follow Him.

So No, I'm Not Going to Hide Him

If my talking about Jesus makes you uncomfortable, I'm sorry you're uncomfortable—but I'm not sorry that I love Him.

If my blog posts about Jesus aren't your thing, you don't have to read them.

If you don't want to hear me talk about my faith, you don't have to engage in the conversation.

But I'm still going to talk about Him.

I'm still going to worship Him.

I'm still going to thank Him.

I'm still going to tell people what He has done for me.

And I'm still going to hope that somewhere along the way, someone who doesn't know Him will become curious enough to find out who He is.

Because I'm not trying to force Jesus on anybody.

I'm trying to show people what I've found in Him.

There is nothing better than doing life with Jesus.

And if you've never experienced that relationship for yourself, I hope one day you will.

Not because I forced you.

Not because someone pressured you.

But because you encountered His love and realized for yourself:

There really is nothing better than Jesus.

So believe what you want.

Live according to your convictions.

I'll respect your right to do that.

But please understand this about me:

I will respect your freedom to believe differently, and I ask you to respect my freedom to love Jesus openly.

I'm not forcing Jesus on anybody.

Just don't expect me to hide my love for Him.

Cherishing Every Moment With Tucker

I'm writing this post with a heavy heart.

On the 10th, we found out from the vet that Tucker's lungs are full of nodules. The vet won't say with certainty that it's cancer, but what we saw on his X-rays looked just like Dexter's did when we found out that he had lung cancer.

We were told that with dogs, lung cancer generally forms somewhere else in the body before it takes over the lungs. So, more than likely, if this is cancer, it could be somewhere else in Tucker's body as well.

The only way we would know for certain would be to do an ultrasound, but those are very expensive. For now, we've decided to wait a month and have another set of X-rays done to see if there have been any changes.

After going through this once before with Dexter, we've made the decision to keep Tucker as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as we can. When the time comes that his suffering outweighs his quality of life, we'll have to make that incredibly difficult decision to let him go.

It's never easy having to make that kind of decision. We love our pets so much that they really aren't just pets—they're family.

Tucker has been the most amazing dog. We cherish every moment we've had with him, and right now, we're cherishing the moments ahead because we simply don't know when one of them will be our last.

Dexter went downhill very quickly. He was good one day, and the next, he wasn't. He couldn't walk and was floundering all over the floor. Tucker, thankfully, is still doing fairly well other than having some sick spells and bouts of dehydration. He's still acting pretty normal. We can tell that he's slowed down some and wants to rest more, but he's 10 now, so that's to be expected.

Right now, our focus is simply on keeping Tucker as happy and comfortable as possible. We're going to spoil him, love on him, and enjoy every moment we have with him.

Tucker turned 10 this past March, and honestly, that just seems so young to me to be facing something like this. But in dog years, he's still lived a good life, and we are incredibly thankful for every year, every memory, and every moment God has given us with him.

I'm sure there will come a day when I'll write another post about Tucker—the day when we've had to make the hard call that I already know is coming.

But that's not today.

Today, Tucker is here. He's still enjoying life. And we're going to cherish him for as long as God allows us to have him.

For now, enjoy a couple of pictures of Tucker—one from when he was younger and one from more recently.

And if you have a pet you love, don't take those moments for granted. Love them a little harder. Take the pictures. Make the memories. Because sometimes, the moments we think we'll have forever are the very moments we later wish we could have back.

(taken from the Bible App)

Do Not Become Weary in Doing Good

There are some verses in Scripture that seem to speak to us differently depending on the season of life we are in.

Galatians 6:9 is one of those verses for me.

I’ve read this verse many times before, but where I am in life right now, it makes me think about the harvest in a completely different way.

When I read, “Let us not become weary in doing good,” I think about continuing to live for Jesus, continuing to encourage others, continuing to speak about Him, continuing to love people, continuing to do what is right—even when we don't immediately see the results.

And then I think about the promise:

“For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

What does that harvest look like?

It doesn't necessarily mean financial blessings. It doesn't necessarily mean receiving something material in return for the good we have done.

Sometimes the greatest harvest is seeing someone come to know Jesus.

Sometimes it is seeing someone's life changed.

Sometimes it is watching someone who was hurting find hope.

Sometimes it is knowing that something you said, something you did, or simply the way you lived your life planted a seed in someone's heart that God will eventually bring to life.

People Hear What We Say, But They Watch What We Do

We can tell people about Jesus all day long, but people are also watching how we live.

Our actions often speak much louder than our words.

People watch how we respond when life doesn't go the way we planned.

They watch how we treat people who don't agree with us.

They watch what we do when we're disappointed.

They watch whether we forgive.

They watch whether we show grace.

They watch whether our faith remains when we're walking through difficult circumstances.

And perhaps most importantly, they watch whether we continue to follow Christ when we become weary.

It's easy to talk about faith when everything is going well.

It's another thing entirely to continue trusting God when you're tired, disappointed, hurt, or wondering when you will finally see the answer you've been praying for.

That's when our lives can become a testimony.

When we continue to do good even when we don't see immediate results, we're showing people something about Jesus.

When we refuse to give up, we're showing them what it looks like to have faith in a God who is faithful.

When we continue loving people who may not love us back, we're showing them the love of Christ.

When we keep serving, encouraging, praying, forgiving, and pointing people toward Jesus even when we are weary, we are planting seeds.

And we may not always get to see where those seeds land.

Don't Give Up Because You Don't See the Harvest Yet

One of the hardest things about planting seeds is that you don't immediately see the harvest.

You plant.

You water.

You wait.

And sometimes you wonder if anything is happening at all.

But just because you can't see something happening doesn't mean God isn't working.

That's true in our spiritual lives too.

You may have prayed for someone for years and still not see them turn toward God.

You may have shared your testimony and wondered if anyone was listening.

You may have encouraged someone, loved someone, prayed for someone, or simply tried to be an example of Christ—and wondered whether any of it made a difference.

Don't become weary. Don't give up.

God sees every act of obedience.

He sees every prayer.

He sees every tear.

He sees every time you chose grace instead of bitterness.

He sees every time you chose to keep going when you wanted to quit.

And Galatians 6:9 reminds us that there is a proper time for the harvest.

Our job is to remain faithful. God's job is to bring the harvest.

We don't get to decide when the harvest comes.

We don't always get to see the results of the seeds we've planted.

But we can trust the One who does.

Your Life May Be the Testimony Someone Needs

There may be someone watching you right now who will never tell you that you're influencing them.

They may not tell you that your faith encourages them.

They may not tell you that they noticed how you handled adversity.

They may not tell you that your kindness made a difference.

They may not tell you that your decision to keep trusting God made them wonder what it is about Jesus that gives you the strength to keep going.

But they may be watching.

And your consistency may be planting a seed.

That's why we can't afford to become weary in doing good.

We aren't just living for ourselves.

Our lives are a testimony.

Every day we have opportunities to show people what Jesus looks like through the way we live.

We may not always preach a sermon, but our lives are preaching something.

The question is: What are they hearing from the way we live?

Keep Going

If you're tired today, I want to encourage you with the same verse that is speaking to me:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Keep doing good.

Keep loving.

Keep praying.

Keep encouraging.

Keep forgiving.

Keep serving.

Keep telling people about Jesus.

Keep being the person God has called you to be.

And when you don't see results, don't assume that nothing is happening.

Some seeds take time.

Some prayers take time.

Some people take time.

And some harvests come much later than we expected.

But God's timing is always the right time.

Maybe the harvest God has promised isn't a bigger bank account, a bigger house, or more possessions.

Maybe it's a changed life.

Maybe it's a restored relationship.

Maybe it's someone finally surrendering their life to Jesus.

Maybe it's seeing someone who once had no hope discover the hope we have in Christ.

Maybe the harvest is knowing that your faithfulness helped point someone toward eternity.

And what could possibly be a greater harvest than that?

So don't give up.

Even when you're weary, keep going.

Even when you can't see the results, keep planting.

Even when you wonder if your efforts matter, remember that God sees what you cannot.

At the proper time, there will be a harvest—if we do not give up.

Keep planting.

Keep trusting.

Keep believing.

And most of all, keep showing people Jesus.

If You See a Different Me, It Means I Saw the Real You

That quote hits home deeply with me.

There have been times in my life when I've had to become more direct, put some distance between myself and someone, or simply stop allowing them access to me. It wasn't because I suddenly became a different person. It was because they showed me who they really were.

They showed me a side of themselves that was ugly, hurtful, or intentionally disrespectful—and once you see something like that, you can't always pretend you didn't see it.

Those who really know me know that I'm a very Type A personality. I'm an “everything has a place and everything should be in its place” kind of person😂. But I also love to relax, laugh, and have a good time with my family and friends.

I'm also a quality-time gal.

Quality time is something you can't get back. Once that time is gone, it's gone. That's why I value the people I allow into my life, and I am a very loyal friend. When I love you, I love you deeply. When I care about you, I will show up for you. I will cheer you on, pray for you, stand beside you, and give you the best of me.

You will always get the best of me as long as you give me the same in return.

God has done a lot of work in me through the years. He has taught me to have more patience, extend more grace, forgive more freely, and not react to everything that happens around me.

But one thing I've learned is that grace does not mean giving someone unlimited access to you.

Forgiveness doesn't always mean restored access.

And loving people doesn't mean allowing them to continually hurt you.

I will distance myself from a person before I continue allowing intentional hurt, disrespect, or toxic behavior into my life—especially when it is directed toward me or the people I love and care about.

Frankly, I don't have time for it.

And I don't believe God called us to be doormats for people who continually choose to do wrong.

There is a difference between loving someone and allowing them to have unlimited access to your life.

Sometimes the godliest thing you can do is create some distance.

Sometimes you have to stop explaining yourself.

Sometimes you have to stop trying to make someone see what they refuse to see.

And sometimes you have to let someone go because keeping them close is costing you your peace, your joy, your focus, and your forward progress.

We have to be careful about the people we allow to influence our lives. The wrong people can become distractions from what God is trying to do in us and through us.

That doesn't mean we should become bitter.

It doesn't mean we should hate them.

It doesn't mean we stop praying for them.

It simply means we recognize that not everyone deserves the same level of access to our lives.

Jesus Himself knew that not everyone could walk closely with Him. There were crowds who followed Him, disciples who walked with Him, and then there were those He allowed into His closest circle.

There is wisdom in understanding that proximity matters.

So if you see a different me, don't assume I've changed for no reason.

Maybe I simply saw something I couldn't unsee.

Maybe I finally recognized what God had been trying to show me all along.

Maybe I realized that the relationship was no longer healthy, the friendship was no longer genuine, or the person I thought you were wasn't actually who you were.

And that's okay.

I'm not going to spend the rest of my life trying to force the wrong people to become the right people for my life.

I can love you from a distance.

I can forgive you without bringing you back into my inner circle.

I can pray for you without continuing to give you access to me.

And I can walk away without hatred in my heart.

Because sometimes protecting what God is doing in your life means being willing to let go of what—and who—is standing in the way.

Empty seats are better than the wrong company.

And sometimes the empty seat isn't a loss at all.

Sometimes it's simply making room for the people God actually intended to sit there.

Empty Seats Are Better Than the Wrong Company

We’ve all been guilty at one point or another of keeping the wrong company. Sometimes we hold on to people because we’re afraid of being alone. Sometimes we settle for relationships that we know aren’t good for us because we’ve become comfortable with them. And sometimes, we simply don’t realize how much the wrong people are affecting the direction of our lives until we’ve already gone too far down the wrong road.

I learned the hard way many, many years ago that it is most definitely better to have empty seats than to fill them with the wrong people.

An empty seat may feel lonely for a season, but the wrong company can cost you far more than loneliness ever will.

The people we surround ourselves with matter.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

Wrong company can corrupt what God is trying to build in our lives. It can pull us in directions we were never meant to go. It can make us compromise things we once stood firmly on. It can cause us to accept things we never should have accepted and settle for things that are far less than what God intended for us.

Sometimes the wrong people don't just influence our decisions—they influence our vision.

They can taint our lives to the point that we can no longer clearly see what is right in front of our faces. We become so accustomed to what we've accepted and settled for that we don't recognize that there could be something better waiting for us.

And sometimes, what is right in front of us is so much better than what we've convinced ourselves we have to settle for.

That's why we have to be careful about who gets a seat at our table, who gets access to our hearts, and who gets to speak into our lives.

Not everyone who wants to walk beside you is meant to walk with you.

Not everyone who has been part of your past is supposed to be part of your future.

And sometimes, letting someone go isn't a failure. Sometimes it's obedience.

There may be seasons when God allows certain seats around us to become empty because He is making room for something better. He may be removing people, relationships, habits, or influences that have been keeping us from becoming who He created us to be.

We don't always understand the empty seats.

We may even grieve them.

But an empty seat is still better than giving the wrong person a place that belongs to someone—or something—God has chosen for our lives.

We need to be living our best lives with God by our side rather than living our worst lives with the wrong people by our side.

And here's what I've learned: what God has for us is so much better than anything this world can offer.

The peace He brings is like no other.

The comfort He gives is something no person can completely give us.

There is a security that comes from knowing that God is with you—even when you don't know what tomorrow holds. There is something incredibly comforting about finally letting go of the need to control everything and allowing God to take the wheel of your life.

That feeling of “I'm home” that comes from being where God wants you to be is better than anything I've ever experienced.

I've spent enough time going my own way to know that my way isn't better.

I've spent enough time with the wrong people to know that being surrounded by people doesn't mean you aren't lonely.

And I've learned that having an empty seat beside you is far better than having someone sitting there who is pulling you away from God and the life He has for you.

So if you find yourself in a season where some seats around you are empty, don't automatically assume something is wrong.

Maybe God is protecting you.

Maybe He's redirecting you.

Maybe He's making room.

Maybe He's teaching you that you don't have to fill every empty space just because you're afraid of being alone.

Sometimes empty seats are God's way of making room for better things.

And if you don't have that peace with God yet—if you haven't experienced what it feels like to truly surrender your life to Him—don't you want it too?

Because a life lived with God and for God is really living.

I mean really, truly living.

I've been more alive with God than I ever was without Him.

And I wouldn't trade that life for anything.

So be careful who you allow to fill the seats in your life.

Choose people who draw you closer to God, not further away from Him.

And if a seat has to remain empty for a while, let it.

An empty seat is better than the wrong company.

And sometimes, that empty seat is exactly where God wants it to be.

The God of All Comfort

The God of All Comfort

There is something incredibly comforting about knowing that God does not stand far away from us when we are hurting.

He doesn't look down on us from a distance and tell us to simply “get through it.” He doesn't become distant when our hearts are broken, when we're weary, when we're afraid, or when life doesn't turn out the way we hoped it would.

He comes near.

The tender love of God for His children is clearly displayed in the fact that He comforts us in our troubles. God is not distant and cold. He is loving, compassionate, and near to the brokenhearted and weary.

And Paul knew this firsthand.

Paul wasn't writing these words from a comfortable life where everything was going according to plan. He knew what it meant to suffer. In his mission to bring the message of Jesus to as many people as possible, Paul was mistreated, rejected, persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and threatened.

Yet through all of it, Paul could still testify that God was the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.”

Think about that for a moment.

Paul didn't say God comforts us in some of our troubles.

He didn't say God comforts us when our problems are small enough for us to handle.

He said “all our troubles.” 

That means there is no trouble too great for God's comfort to reach.

There is no heartbreak so deep that God cannot meet us there. There is no fear that He cannot calm. There is no season of loneliness in which He has abandoned us. There is no valley so dark that His presence cannot find us.

Paul knew plenty of trouble, but God's comfort was always near.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into prison. Their feet were fastened in stocks, and yet at midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God.

They worshiped while they were hurting.

Their circumstances had not changed yet. The prison doors were still closed. Their bodies were still hurting. They didn't know what was going to happen next.

But God was there.

And sometimes that is the greatest comfort we can receive—not necessarily that God immediately changes our circumstances, but that He reminds us that we are not facing those circumstances alone.

I think we sometimes have the misconception that if God is with us, life should be easy. But Scripture never promises that following Christ means we will never experience pain, disappointment, loss, rejection, sickness, fear, or hardship.

What Scripture does promise is that God will be with us in the middle of it.

Psalm 34:18 tells us:

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Close.

I love that word.

God doesn't say, “I'll be close once you get yourself together.”

He is close to the brokenhearted.

He is close when we're crying.

He is close when we don't understand.

He is close when we're exhausted from trying to be strong.

He is close when we don't even know what to pray.

And sometimes God's comfort comes in ways we don't expect.

It may come through a Scripture that suddenly speaks directly to what we're going through. It may come through a song that brings tears to our eyes because the words seem to express exactly what our hearts are feeling.  It may come through a friend who calls at just the right moment, a hug when we desperately need one, or someone simply sitting beside us when there are no words that can make things better.

And sometimes, God's comfort is simply His quiet reminder:

“I am here. You are not alone. I have not forgotten you.”

I've experienced each and every one of these I just mentioned.

There is another beautiful truth hidden in these verses.

The same Greek word Paul uses for “comfort” is the root of the word Jesus uses for the Holy Spirit in John 14:16. Jesus promised His followers that He would send an Advocate and Comforter who would live within them.

Jesus knew that His followers would face difficult things.

He knew there would be times when they would feel afraid, discouraged, confused, and alone. So He didn't leave them to face this life on their own.

He gave them the Holy Spirit.

John 14:17 tells us that the Spirit would live with believers and be in them.

Think about how incredible that is.

God doesn't simply comfort us from the outside. His Spirit lives within us.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. He is our guide. He reminds us of God's truth. He strengthens us. And He is also our Comforter.

When the world around us feels uncertain, we have the presence of God within us.

When our hearts are hurting, He is there.

When we don't know what to do next, He is there.

When we don't have the words to pray, He is there.

When we feel like we can't take another step, He is there.

God Doesn't Waste Our Pain

But there is another part of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that I don't want us to overlook.

Paul says God comforts us in our troubles “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

God doesn't waste our pain.

The very places where we have been hurt can become places where God uses us to help someone else.

The tears we've cried may one day help us understand someone else's tears.

The prayers we've prayed in the middle of our own difficult seasons may give us words to pray for someone else.

The Scriptures that carried us through our darkest moments may become the very Scriptures we share with someone who is walking through their own valley.

The comfort we received from God was never meant to stop with us.

It is meant to overflow.

Maybe you've wondered why you had to walk through a particular difficult season.

Maybe you've asked God, “Why me?”

And while I don't believe we will always understand the reason behind our suffering, I do believe God can take what hurt us and use it for His purposes.

He can take our broken places and make them places where His love shines through.

He can use our experiences to remind someone else that they aren't alone.

Sometimes the greatest ministry we can offer someone isn't having all the answers. Sometimes it's simply being able to say,

“I've been there. I know what it feels like. But let me tell you what God did for me.”

That's testimony.

That's compassion.

That's comfort.

We Have a Father Who Cares

The Application Bible points out that God's comforting nature comes from His compassionate love for His children. Psalm 103:13 says:

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”

What a beautiful picture of our Father.

God doesn't merely tolerate us.

He loves us.

He cares about what hurts us.

He sees the tears nobody else sees.

He knows the burdens we carry silently.

He knows the prayers we haven't been able to put into words.

And He cares.

Understanding God's comfort should produce more in us than simple obedience. It should produce gratitude, love, devotion, and praise.

When we truly understand that the God who created the heavens and the earth cares about the details of our lives and comes near when we're hurting, how can we not praise Him?

If You're Hurting Today...

Maybe you're reading this while walking through something you never expected.

Maybe your heart is broken.

Maybe you're exhausted.

Maybe you're waiting for an answer that hasn't come yet.

Maybe you're praying for a situation that seems impossible.

Maybe you're trying to hold everything together while secretly wondering how much longer you can keep going.

I want to remind you of what Paul knew firsthand:

You have a God of all comfort.

You may not know what tomorrow holds.

You may not understand why you're walking through this particular season.

You may not know when the circumstances will change.

But you can know this:

God is with you.

He has not left you.

He has not forgotten you.

And He is not standing at a distance watching you struggle alone.

He is near.

Let Him comfort you.

Let Him meet you in the middle of your pain. Let His Word remind you of what is true when your circumstances are telling you something different. Let the Holy Spirit strengthen you when you don't feel strong enough to keep going.

And then, when God carries you through this season, don't forget what He has done.

Because somewhere down the road, someone else may be hurting in the very place where you once hurt.

And you may be the person God uses to say,

“I understand. I've walked through a difficult season too. And I want you to know about the God who comforted me.”

The God who comforts us in our troubles can use our story to bring comfort to someone else's.

Our pain may become part of our testimony. Our comfort can become someone else's hope. And our story can point someone else to the One who never leaves us.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ—

the God of all comfort. 

Church Hurt Is Real, But Don't Let It Keep You from Christ

"Church hurt" is real.

It has become a phrase we hear often, and for good reason. Many people have experienced deep wounds from those within the church—pastors, leaders, fellow believers, or people they trusted. Those wounds are not imaginary. They hurt, and sometimes they leave scars that last for years.

But while church hurt is real, allowing imperfect Christians to permanently separate you from Christ gives those people far too much power.

Our hope has never been in people.

Our hope is in Christ Jesus.

At one time or another, almost every believer has been hurt by someone in the church. Someone said something they shouldn't have. Someone acted in a way that didn't reflect Christ. Someone who was supposed to encourage you instead wounded you. Maybe someone in leadership disappointed you, betrayed your trust, or failed to live out the very truths they preached.

If that's happened to you, I'm truly sorry.

The pain is real.

The disappointment is real.

But those people are still human.

The Bible reminds us in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Every pastor, elder, Sunday school teacher, worship leader, and church member is a sinner in need of God's grace. While they are called to represent Christ well, none of them are Christ.

Only Jesus is perfect.

Psalm 118:8 tells us, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans."

That's an important reminder because it's easy to place people on pedestals. We expect them to always do the right thing, always say the right thing, and never let us down. When they fail—and eventually they will—we can become so disillusioned that we begin questioning God Himself.

But God didn't fail us.

People did.

There is a difference.

So why do we allow imperfect people to influence what should be our own personal relationship with the Lord?

That's a difficult question, and there isn't one easy answer. Pain has a way of clouding our perspective. Betrayal cuts deeply, especially when it comes from people who claim the name of Christ.

Yet while people will fail us—that's simply part of living in a fallen world—God never will.

Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to keep "our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Our faith was never meant to rest on the character of another person. It was always meant to rest on the character of Christ.

That's why we must seek Him for ourselves.

No pastor can build your relationship with Jesus for you.

No church can replace your personal walk with Him.

No Bible teacher can spend time in God's Word on your behalf.

We have to open the Scriptures ourselves. We have to pray. We have to pursue Him daily. As we read His Word, we discover who He truly is—not simply who others have portrayed Him to be.

I understand that church hurt cuts deeply. You are not alone. People you should have been able to trust may have been the very ones who caused the pain. People who were supposed to reflect Christ may have misrepresented Him.

I understand.

But if we allow those hurts to define how we see God, we only deepen the wound. We end up distancing ourselves from the One who never intended to hurt us in the first place.

The enemy would love nothing more than to convince us that because God's people failed us, God has failed us too.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus experienced betrayal Himself. One of His own disciples sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. Peter denied Him. The rest of the disciples fled in fear. Yet Jesus continued His mission because His purpose was rooted in the Father's will, not in the faithfulness of people.

There may be times when you need to leave an unhealthy church. There may be situations where boundaries are necessary. In cases of abuse, manipulation, or ongoing unrepentant sin, walking away from that environment can be wise and even necessary.

But don't walk away from Jesus.

When many disciples abandoned Him, Jesus asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well. Peter answered in John 6:68, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

That's the question we all have to answer.

If not Jesus, then who?

The world around us is filled with hurting people. Every person you meet carries wounds of some kind. Many people allow those hurts to define their lives and shape every decision they make. If we're honest, we've all been there at one point or another.

I know I have.

But healing begins when we stop looking at imperfect people and start looking at our perfect Savior.

Church hurt may have been part of your story, but it doesn't have to be the end of your story.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

People may disappoint you.

Churches may fail you.

But Christ never will.