We call it “survival.” We call it “doing our best.”
But let’s be honest—sometimes “doing our best” just means “barely holding it together with duct tape and caffeine.”
We’ve got people out here calling burnout “purpose” and anxiety “just part of the grind.” That’s not freedom—that’s a hostage situation with good branding.
Suspicion grows best in the dark.
When we’re hurt, when trust is fractured, when trauma has left its fingerprint on our souls, the temptation is to retreat. To circle the wagons. To pull back from people because people were the problem.
Isolation doesn’t just keep us “safe.” It breeds suspicion.
Suspicion whispers, “You can’t trust them. They’re out to get you. Better watch your back.” And soon, suspicion metastasizes into paranoia. Paranoia convinces us we’re discerning when, in fact, we’re simply afraid.
But the Bible tells a different story.
Our country has just walked through a major national tragedy.
The murder of Charlie Kirk was not only heard about—it was seen. Millions watched the footage, a demonic spectacle replayed on screens that seared itself into our collective memory.
Moments like this mark a generation. They don’t just change what we see—they change how we think. If we’re not careful, these moments embed lies into the background code of our soul’s operating system. They hum quietly, but they redirect our choices, limit our identity, and even reroute our destiny.
The work isn’t just to grieve. The work is to debug.
Here are seven lies that surface after tragedy—and the truths that expose them:
Most of us think of the fruit of the Spirit as a private list.
Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.
Nine nice words to hang on a wall.
But what if Paul wasn’t handing us a personal development checklist?
What if he was describing a compatibility code?
Most of us are great at making commitments.
We commit to eating clean.
To going to the gym.
To being nicer to our spouse.
To getting serious about God.
And then… life happens.
You get tired.
You get offended.
You get distracted.
And just like that, your commitment is out the window.
You know why?
Because commitment isn’t the same as covenant.
How to protect your reputation when you're under spiritual, personal, or public attack—drawing wisdom from Nehemiah 6. When you're building something meaningful, resistance is inevitable. Rather than reacting to gossip, slander, or false accusations, the biblical approach is to stay grounded in integrity, avoid petty arguments, trust God for vindication, and keep your hands on the work. With a bold, minimalist tone inspired by Seth Godin, this piece challenges readers to remain faithful to their calling in the face of character assassination and distraction. The higher you build, the louder it gets—but your persistence is your protection.
