Category: “What We Get Wrong” series

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What We Get Wrong About Suffering

👉 If God is good, why does pain still exist? Does suffering mean you’re being punished—or could it be part of God’s plan?

Let’s just say it:
Suffering messes with your theology.

It’s easy to believe in God’s love when the bills are paid, the body’s healthy, and the prayers are getting yeses.
But what happens when the pain drags on?
When the diagnosis is bad?
When the waiting seems endless?

And the scariest part?

You’re doing everything right.
Praying. Serving. Obeying.
And still… the fire won’t let up.

What do you do with that?

🔥 “God, I Thought You Loved Me…”

Let’s not sugarcoat it—suffering hurts.
And when it hits, it usually whispers one of two lies:

  1. “God is punishing you.”
  2. “God has abandoned you.”

But here’s what Scripture shows us:

  • Job was righteous—and still suffered.
  • Paul wrote most of the New Testament—from prison.
  • Jesus, God’s perfect Son—was “a man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3)

So if pain meant punishment… God would owe Jesus an apology.

❌ Suffering Isn’t Always Because of Sin

We’ve inherited a sneaky prosperity mindset—even when we don’t preach it.
We think, “If I do right, good things should happen. If bad things happen, I must’ve failed.”

But the cross destroys that thinking.
Jesus did nothing wrong—and yet He was crucified.

God doesn’t only use blessing to speak.
Sometimes, He uses brokenness to shape us.

✅ Suffering Can Be Part of God’s Plan

Hear that again:
Not everything painful is outside God’s will.

Ask Joseph.
Sold into slavery, imprisoned unfairly, forgotten by men…
Yet later he said,

“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

Ask Jesus.
He sweat blood in Gethsemane but said,

“Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Ask Paul.
He had a thorn in the flesh that God didn’t remove.
Why?

“So I wouldn’t become proud… His strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Sometimes the thing you think is trying to kill you…
Is the very thing God is using to form you.

🧠 What We Get Wrong

Let’s break it down:

  • Myth: Suffering = God is mad at me.
    Truth: Suffering ≠ absence of love. Sometimes it’s proof of God’s refining fire.
  • Myth: Pain means I’m outside God’s will.
    Truth: Pain may be the exact tool God is using to align you with His purpose.
  • Myth: Good Christians don’t struggle.
    Truth: Even the strongest believers weep, doubt, and wrestle.

💡 What Should You Do in Seasons of Suffering?

  1. Don’t fake it.
    God isn’t impressed by forced smiles. Bring your honest heart.
  2. Lament.
    Read the Psalms. Even David cried, complained, and questioned—but always came back to trust.
  3. Lean into community.
    You’re not meant to suffer in silence. Jesus had Gethsemane—but He also had friends close by.
  4. Let suffering shape—not shatter—you.
    The fire refines gold. The wilderness prepares warriors. Suffering is not your end—it’s a process.

🙏🏽 Final Thoughts

Suffering doesn’t always make sense on this side of eternity.
But it isn’t meaningless.

Every tear you’ve cried,
Every night you’ve groaned,
Every prayer you’ve whispered through clenched teeth—

He sees it.
He holds it.
He will redeem it.

“After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace… will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
— 1 Peter 5:10

It might not look like victory right now…
But hang on.
He’s working something deeper than you know.

And your scars?
They’re not just signs of pain.

They’re proof that something holy is being written in your story.

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What We Get Wrong About Success

👉 Does God measure success in wealth and status? Or is it something entirely different?

Let’s be honest.

We’ve baptized hustle culture.
Christianized ambition.
Turned platforms into pulpits.
And somewhere along the line, we began to believe that if we’re not trending, speaking, building, or earning six figures, maybe we’re not doing enough for God.

But can we pause?

What if success—real, kingdom success—looks a lot less like applause…
And more like obedience in obscurity?

🚫 Success ≠ Stuff

Let’s get this out of the way:
God is not allergic to prosperity.
He is not intimidated by platforms.
He does bless people financially.

But if we think more money, more influence, more followers = more anointing…
We’re walking straight into deception.

Jesus said,

“Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

Read that again. Slowly.

🎯 So What IS Success to God?

In one word?

Faithfulness.
Not fame.
Not numbers.
Not likes.
Not “impact metrics.”

Just faithfulness.

When Jesus told the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), the master didn’t say:

“Well done, good and high-achieving servant.”

He said:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

📉 Unseen ≠ Unsuccessful

In today’s world, we idolize visibility.
But some of the most powerful kingdom people never make it to the stage.

  • Anna the prophetess waited decades in the temple—praying.
  • Jeremiah preached for years and hardly anyone listened.
  • Jesus Himself spent 30 years in obscurity before 3 years of ministry.

God sees what we call small.
And He calls it eternal.

💼 But What About Work, Business, and Career?

Great question.

You can be a CEO, a creative, a street cleaner, a stay-at-home parent, a politician, or a preacher…
And still be wildly successful—if you are walking in what God assigned to you.

David was successful when he killed Goliath.
But he was also successful when he was watching sheep.

Because success is not about where you are.
It’s about Who sent you there.

🤯 What We Get Wrong (Checklist)

Let’s do a quick heart audit:

  • Do I measure success by how much I earn—or how much I obey?
  • Am I chasing calling—or clout?
  • If no one applauds me, will I still do it?
  • If God told me to leave a “big thing” for something “smaller,” would I?

If your answers are hard to swallow…
That’s okay.
Success in God’s kingdom often feels upside down.

🙏🏽 Here’s the Real Truth:

God is not impressed by your stats.
He’s moved by your surrender.

The widow with two coins? ✔️
Mary of Bethany pouring her perfume in worship? ✔️
Joseph, stuck in prison yet faithful in spirit? ✔️

None of them were “goals” in the world’s eyes.
But in God’s books? Top-tier successful.

🧭 How to Measure Success in God’s Eyes:

  1. Are you where God asked you to be?
    Not where culture pushed you to go.
  2. Are you doing it with excellence and obedience?
    God doesn’t reward laziness—but He also doesn’t bless disobedience.
  3. Is your heart surrendered to Him—even if no one sees you?
  4. Do your priorities reflect eternity—or just comfort?

🗣 Final Thoughts

Success, in the world’s dictionary, is climbing up.
But in God’s kingdom?
It’s bowing low.

Don’t measure your worth by the size of your platform.
Measure it by the depth of your obedience.

Because at the end of the day, we’re not living for success stories…
We’re living for Well done.

That’s the real win.

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What We Get Wrong About Faith

👉 Is faith just about believing hard enough? Can it force God’s hand? And what about doubt—is it always a sin?

Let’s talk, family.

Faith has become a buzzword.
We wear it on t-shirts.
We hashtag it in captions.
We throw it at problems like a magic wand:
“Just have faith!”

But let’s be real…
Some of us have reduced faith to superstition—
Like if we close our eyes tight enough, clench our fists hard enough, and whisper “I believe” 12 times, God will show up on cue.

🥴 Is that faith—or manipulation?

📖 Faith Is Not a Force to Bend God’s Will

Let’s clear this up early:
Faith is not about making God do what we want.
It’s about trusting what He wants—even when we don’t understand it.

Hebrews 11 (a.k.a. the “Faith Hall of Fame”) mentions people who saw walls fall, lions shut up, the dead raised…

But it also mentions those who:

  • Were tortured
  • Lived in caves
  • Were sawn in two 😳

Same faith.
Different outcome.

🤔 Faith ≠ Certainty.

Faith is not about having zero questions.
It’s about trusting God despite the questions.

Even John the Baptist—the one who baptized Jesus—had a moment of doubt in prison.
He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you really the One?” (Matthew 11:3)

And what did Jesus say?

Not “How dare he doubt.”
But:
“Among those born of women, no one is greater than John.”

💡 So no—doubt is not always sin.
But staying in unbelief without seeking truth? That’s where the problem lies.

🧘‍♀️ Faith Is Not Just Mental Grit

Sometimes we confuse stubborn optimism with biblical faith.

Faith is not just positive vibes.
It’s not “manifesting.”
It’s not “If I believe it enough, it will happen.”

Nope.

Real faith looks like:

  • Abraham waiting decades for a child—and still trusting.
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saying, “Even if God doesn’t deliver us, we still won’t bow.”
  • Jesus in Gethsemane saying, “Not my will, but Yours.”

🙏🏽 So What Is Faith, Really?

Let’s strip it back to the core:

Faith is trusting God’s heart, even when you can’t trace His hand.

It’s not a magic ticket.
It’s not an emergency button.
It’s not a spiritual tantrum.

It’s surrender.

🔥 What Faith Is NOT:

  • Faith is not denial of reality.
  • Faith is not manipulation of God.
  • Faith is not blind hope with no substance.

✅ What Faith IS:

  • Faith is confidence in God’s character.
  • Faith is obedience in uncertainty.
  • Faith is peace in chaos.

🚶🏾‍♂️ How Do We Grow Real Faith?

  1. Feed your faith with God’s Word – (Romans 10:17)
    👉 Stop surviving on sermon snacks. Eat the Word daily.
  2. Question honestly—but pursue answers.
    👉 Don’t fake it. Dig deep.
  3. Surround yourself with real faith-walkers.
    👉 You’ll either walk with doubters… or with Daniels.
  4. Obey even when it’s uncomfortable.
    👉 Faith is proven when it’s costly.

🗣 Final Words

Faith is not about getting the outcome you want.
It’s about becoming the kind of person who trusts God—regardless of the outcome.

Real faith walks into the fire…
Not because it knows what will happen,
But because it knows Who will be there.

So no—faith isn’t about “believing hard enough.”
It’s about believing deep enough to surrender.
And trusting that God is still good—even if He says no.

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What We Get Wrong About Holiness

👉 Is holiness about avoiding sin or about becoming more like Jesus? And is it only for “special” Christians?

Holiness.

We hear the word and think…

👀 Long skirts.
😶 Zero makeup.
📵 No fun.
🎼 Hillsong on repeat.

Let’s be honest—holiness is one of the most misunderstood (and underloved) concepts in Christianity.
Some of us avoid the word altogether because we think it means becoming weird, boring, judgmental… or just plain unreachable.

But what if holiness isn’t about what you avoid—
…but who you become?

🤔 The Misconception: Holiness = Rulebook Christianity

Too often, holiness gets reduced to a checklist:

❌ Don’t drink.
❌ Don’t swear.
❌ Don’t wear ripped jeans.
❌ Don’t talk to unbelievers.
❌ Don’t even think about Netflix.

But here’s the twist:

You can avoid sin and still not be holy.
Holiness isn’t behavior modification—it’s heart transformation.

✨ So What Is Holiness?

Let’s strip it down to the core:

Holiness means being set apart.
Set apart from sin.
Set apart for God.

It’s not about self-righteousness.
It’s about Christ-likeness.

Holiness isn’t just about staying clean.
It’s about being consumed by a love that changes your appetites, affections, and ambitions.

It’s not just about what you don’t do.
It’s about who you are becoming.

🙋‍♂️ Myth: Holiness is for “Special” Christians

Nope.

You don’t need a halo, a pulpit, or a platform to be holy.

“Be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:16

That’s not a verse for elite clergy or monks in monasteries.
That’s for you.
Whether you’re a student, a mother, a marketer, or a mechanic.

Holiness isn’t about position—it’s about posture.
It’s about giving God your “yes” daily, even in the small, unseen places.

💥 Holiness Isn’t Legalism

Some people confuse holiness with legalism:

  • Legalism says: Earn God’s love by keeping rules.
  • Holiness says: You already have His love—now live like it’s true.

Holiness grows best in the soil of grace.
You don’t become holy by striving.
You become holy by staying close to Jesus.

“Abide in Me… and you will bear much fruit.” – John 15:5

You can’t manufacture holiness.
But you can cooperate with God’s Spirit to walk in it.

🌱 Holiness Is Progressive

Spoiler: You won’t become holy overnight.

God’s not after perfection in a day.
He’s after progression in devotion.

It’s about growing…
little by little,
layer by layer,
with the Spirit as your guide and grace as your anchor.

🔥 What We Get Wrong

  • Myth: Holiness means never messing up.
    Truth: Holiness means letting God set you apart and shape you when you do.
  • Myth: Holiness is outdated.
    Truth: Holiness is deeply relevant—because sin still destroys and God still sanctifies.
  • Myth: Holiness is for a few chosen ones.
    Truth: Holiness is the normal Christian life.

💬 Final Thoughts

You weren’t saved to blend in.
You were saved to stand out—by living a life that reflects Jesus.

Holiness isn’t about isolation.
It’s about imitation—mirroring the character of the One who called you.

And no, you don’t have to become a Bible-quoting, fun-crushing saint overnight.
Just become someone so soaked in God’s love that sin starts to lose its flavor.

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What We Get Wrong About God’s Will

Is it always a mystery? Do we just sit and wait for signs? Or does God expect us to move in faith?

Let’s be honest:
When many of us say, “I’m just waiting on God’s will,” what we really mean is:

“I’m afraid to make a move.”
“I don’t want to make a mistake.”
“I don’t want to be blamed if this goes south.”
“I want handwriting on the wall, thunder in the sky, and a prophet to call me by name.”

Now, don’t get me wrong—waiting on God is a biblical posture.
But what if sometimes, God is actually waiting on you?

💭 Is God’s Will Always a Mystery?

Let’s dismantle this carefully.

1. God’s will is not always hidden.

We often treat God’s will like a riddle—something only solved after 21 days of dry fasting and a Mount Sinai moment.

But Scripture gives us a lot of clarity:

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

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…”
(1 Thessalonians 4:3)

God’s will includes living righteously, loving others, stewarding our gifts, pursuing justice, walking in humility, etc.

🧭 Translation: You already know 70% of God’s will.
The rest often requires discernment, not delay.

🚶‍♂️ Faith Means Movement

Many Christians are waiting for a “green light from heaven” when God already gave them a compass in Scripture and a guide in the Holy Spirit.

  • Moses had a burning bush.
  • Gideon had a fleece.
  • We have the cross, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.

Do you really need thunder when He’s already spoken?

🛑 The Danger of Over-Spiritualizing Delay

Sometimes “waiting on God” is just:

  • Fear disguised as faith
  • Procrastination baptized in Scripture
  • Indecision hiding behind ‘spiritual sensitivity’

You don’t need a verse to apply for that job, write that book, speak up, or say no.
You need faith, wisdom, and courage.

💡 How to Walk in God’s Will Practically

Here’s a guide:

1. Ask: Is it biblical?
God won’t lead you into anything that contradicts His Word.

2. Check your motive.
Is it about God’s glory or your ego?

3. Seek counsel.
Wise believers can help you discern next steps (Proverbs 11:14).

4. Take a step.
Sometimes you won’t know it’s God’s will until you move—like Abraham, Joseph, Paul, and you.

5. Pray for peace and walk in boldness.
Colossians 3:15 speaks of peace being the “umpire” in your heart.

✋ So… Should We Ever Wait?

Yes.
But waiting should look more like worship + wisdom-building, not laziness and Netflix marathons.

Wait like a soldier waiting to be deployed—not like a tourist stuck in airport delays.

🧎‍♀️ Final Thought

God’s will is not a tightrope. It’s a wide road with guardrails.
You’re not going to “miss it” if your heart is surrendered.
Stop being paralyzed by fear of failure.

Just move—with wisdom, prayer, and obedience.