The Purpose Behind the Problems & Pressure

“As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB)

There’s nothing in my life that I can’t learn from if I'll just respond with the right attitude.

Instead of saying, “God, why is this happening to me?’ I need to learn to say, “God, what do you want me to learn from this?” Every situation in life will either make me bitter or better. It’s my choice—because I can choose how I respond to it.

Every problem has a purpose, and the purpose is to help me grow up spiritually and become more like Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:5 says, “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (ICB). If one of God’s purposes for my life is to grow up spiritually and to become like Jesus, then what is Jesus like?

The Bible calls Jesus’ character the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 GW). These are the qualities God wants to build in my life. He wants my life to be overflowing with love, joy, peace, and all of these things.

God often produces these qualities in my life by putting me in the exact opposite situation.

He teaches me how to love by putting me around unloving people. It’s easy to love people who are cool, people who are like me, people I get along with. But God will put me around seemingly unlovable people to show me what his unconditional love looks like.

He’ll teach me joy not by giving me everything I want but by showing me in adversity and grief that he is still enough.

He doesn’t teach me peace when I'm out fishing by the lake or wherever I choose to rest and relax. God teaches me real peace in the middle of chaos, when everything in my life is falling apart and I learn to trust him more.

God teaches us patience in traffic jams and waiting rooms and the thousand different ways we have to wait in life.

Becoming like Christ is a lifelong journey. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 in The Living Bible paraphrase, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” God’s Spirit will be working on me the rest of my life to help me grow up spiritually.

When he uses ways to help me grow up that seem uncomfortable or inconvenient, remember that they are producing in me God’s best fruit.

Why does adversity often teach us better than prosperity? For me, it sticks better because I have to overcome something and rely on God to provide.

What do I think God wants me to do when I'm faced with adversity and I can’t see how God is using it for good in my life? For me, he wants me to trust him with the outcome. This doesn't mean I sit by idly, but I take the next step ahead of me, and not look for the entire road map.

In Summary:

This text focuses on spiritual growth as an intentional process of character transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ, specifically through the cultivation of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Rather than viewing life's hardships, uncomfortable situations, or difficult people as meaningless obstacles, the passage re-frames adversity as God's deliberate classroom for developing love, patience, peace, and self-control. True spiritual maturity is formed precisely when circumstances demand the opposite of those virtues, shifting the fundamental posture of faith from asking "Why is this happening to me?" to "What do you want me to learn from this?" Real transformation is a lifelong journey carried out by the Holy Spirit as I choose active trust and obedience over bitterness.

Bottom Line:

Adversity is not an interruption to my growth, but the primary environment God uses to shape Christlike character when you choose obedience and trust over bitterness.

Next Step:

When I encounter my next point of friction, delay, or difficult interaction today, pause immediately before reacting and replace the question "Why is this happening?" with "What virtue is this circumstance calling me to practice?" Take the single immediate, disciplined action that reflects Christlike character in that exact moment, trusting God with the broader outcome rather than waiting for the entire road map.

Created for Relationship, Not Performance

“I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.” Hosea 6:6 (TLB)

The Bible says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NLT). It doesn’t say he has love. It says he is love. It is the essence of his character. It is the nature of his being. God is love.

I could think I'm a loving person and go around saying, “I’m so full of love.” But unless I bestow my love on a person, it doesn’t do a whole lot of good.

The Bible says that I was created as an object of God’s love. The very reason I'm taking a breath right now is this: God made me simply to love me. He thought me up and created me as the object of his love because he is love.

God didn’t need me. He wasn’t lonely. But he wanted me! The number one reason I was made was simply to be loved by God.

When I grasp this truth and let it shape my identity and purpose, I will never again have a problem with low self-esteem. Because when I realize how valuable I am—that God created the entire universe just so he could create the conditions so that human beings could exist so he could create me and love me—it will take away all those feelings of insecurity.

Unlike animals, we’re made in God’s image. That gives us the capacity to know and love God back.

One day Jesus was walking down the street when someone asked him, “Lord, what’s the most important command in Scripture?” And Jesus says, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV). The most important thing in life is to know and to love God.

God says in Hosea 6:6 in The Living Bible paraphrase, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.”

The most important thing I can know in life is that God created me to love me. And the most important thing I can do in life is to know and love him back.

When I get up in the morning, before I do anything else, sit on the edge of the bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I want to get to know you better and I want to love you more.”

That’s the start of living with purpose.

How do you love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NIV)? For me, I like to acknowledge him as I walk early in the morning, reminding myself that He created me to love me and for me to love him and have a relationship with him. I do need to remind myself of his constant love for me throughout the day.

If my life were focused first on loving and knowing God, what would it change about all my other priorities? For me, I believe they would align better, for they are what he wants me to do.

Why is it important to start your day with speaking truth like the one in today’s devotional but also spending time with God and in his Word? For me this is the source of all things and my purpose.

In Summary:

This text underscores that God's intrinsic nature is love, and the foundational purpose of human existence is to be created as an object of that love. Rather than seeking religious ritual or external sacrifices, God desires relational intimacy—for me to deeply know and love Him in return. Embracing this truth grounds my personal identity in undeniable value, alleviating insecurity and reordering daily priorities so that relationship with God becomes the primary anchor for everything else I accomplish.

Bottom Line:

My primary calling in life is not religious performance, but receiving God's unconditional love and responding to Him with my whole heart.

Next Step:

Before looking at any screen or task list tomorrow morning, pause on the edge of your bed for 60 seconds, name one truth about my identity in God's love, and intentionally yield my day’s schedule to His priority order.

Every Season Has a Purpose

“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

The Bible tells us that there are seasons in life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (NIV). 

The fact that life is made up of seasons means that life also includes times of waiting. Between the “then” and the “now” (or the “now” and the “what’s coming next”), there is always a delay. This irritates most people. It can be frustrating to make a deposit, investment, or plan and not have it instantly come to fruition.

But fruit ripens slowly. Would you rather eat a vine-ripened tomato or one that has been picked green and ripened later in storage? There’s no comparison between a vine-ripened tomato, which was allowed to grow slowly, and a tomato that was picked prematurely. If you pick too soon, you miss the flavor.

In money management, I'll always reap in a different season than I sow. And, by the way, not all fruit ripens at the same time. If I grow peaches, they’re not all ripe at once. They come in little by little; I pick a few a day. When I start planting and following God’s money management principles, I'm not going to see all the results tomorrow. It’s going to come in over time. I'm going to have to wait to reap in a different season.

But while I'm waiting, God is working. When I'm waiting for the fulfillment of the efforts or money or energy that I've put into something, I may think nothing’s happening. 

But, oh, it’s happening! While that seed is hidden in the ground, it is slowly germinating. And when that seed bursts with God’s blessing on it, it will continue growing and growing. One day a little shoot will stick up out of the ground, and then I will see that it’s working.

But until then, I need to trust that God is working, even when I can’t see the fruit of my labor.

Plants take time to grow. There’s no such thing as instant maturity. No farmer goes out, plants the seed in the ground, comes back an hour later, digs it up, and expects it to have grown. I've just got to let it be, and let God grow it in his time.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (NLT).

What have I been waiting on God to bring to fruition in my life? For me, God has been slowly building my character and knowledge so that when I go begin to coach, train and mentor outside of my current organization, I'll be more mature and make a difference for others.

How have I grown spiritually as a result of having to wait for that harvest? For me, definitely. I have come to realize that times of waiting and trials is where God is building my character.

What has God taught me as I've been waiting on him? He has taught me that his timing is always the best.

Why do I think God makes me wait to reap what I sow? For me character growth, belief, and trust in his plans.

In Summary:

This passage addresses the reality of life's waiting seasons, using agricultural metaphors to illustrate that meaningful growth, maturity, and financial or spiritual yield take time. Paul's instruction in Galatians 6:9 encourages believers to resist weariness in doing good, reminding us that a harvest is guaranteed at the proper time if we persevere. While human nature demands immediate returns, spiritual and character formation mature gradually underground before visible results emerge. As I prepare to transition into coaching, training, and mentoring outside my current organization, this delay is not passive downtime—it is God actively shaping my character, deepening my trust, and refining my capacity so that my future impact is rooted in maturity rather than premature execution.

Bottom Line:

Spiritual and character maturity cannot be rushed; enduring the delay between sowing and reaping is what prepares me to sustainably carry the influence God is building in me.

Next Step:

Document my Maturity Markers. To align my current season with my identity as an external coach and mentor, commit 30 minutes this week to auditing the specific character traits, wisdom, and skills God has built in me during this waiting period. Define 2–3 core competencies or personal standards I now possess that I did not have a year ago, and outline one concrete discipline to maintain them. Framing my current waiting period as active preparation turns frustration into purpose, ensuring that when the transition occurs, I step out from a foundation of proven integrity and readiness.

 

The Seed Principle: Shifting from Waiting to Planting

“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 (NIV)

What does a farmer do when he has a barren field that’s producing no income? He doesn’t complain about it. He doesn’t even have to pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting some seed, because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. He can pray all he wants, but prayer doesn’t replace planting.

Maybe I think I'm waiting on God. I think I'm waiting on God for that job. I think I'm waiting on God for the windfall. But God might be saying to me, “You think you’re waiting on me? I’m waiting on you! I’m waiting for you to plant a seed.”

Everything in life starts as a seed: a relationship, a marriage, a business, a church. And nothing happens until the seed is planted.

Why does God require me to plant a seed? Because planting is an act of faith. I take what I’ve got, and I give it away. That takes faith, and it brings glory to God.

Jesus described this principle of sowing and reaping when he was trying to explain why he came to earth to die on the cross. In John 12:24 Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV). Jesus was saying, “People will be saved and go to heaven because of my death and resurrection. I’m going to plant a seed, and the seed is going to be my life.”

Here’s the principle of sowing and reaping: Whenever I have a need, plant a seed. Whatever I need—more time, more energy, more money, more support, more relationships, more wisdom—just plant a seed. If I need more time, give more time to my family. If I need more money, give it away to someone who needs it. If I need more wisdom, share what wisdom I have with others. Give myself away!

It may not make sense to give away something that I need more of, but that is exactly the kind of attitude that God wants to bless and that will produce fruit in my life.

What need have you been waiting on God to provide? For me, it is the opportunity to work outside my organization to help train, coach, speak and access behavior.

What do I think God might be waiting for me to do about that need?  For me, it is to change my priorities on free time at night, do the work of connecting with others, preparing for individual/group meetings. Plan and document the area's I want cover with folks.

What seed can you plant today? For me, to move forward with volunteering for an event tonight with my church, so that I can meet others and serve and be an example.

What kind of results do I see in myself and others when I plant a seed and give of myself? For me, I make a difference in someone's life, provide clarity and next steps.

How is God building my character through that? For me, he is working through me and the gifts he has given to accomplish his purpose.

In Summary:

In John 12:24, Jesus illustrates the kingdom principle of multiplication through sacrifice: a seed must be surrendered to the soil and lose its current form before it can yield a fruitful harvest. Applying this to daily life, waiting passively on God to deliver an outcome without taking active steps of faith is a misunderstanding of how divine provision operates. True faith requires voluntary investment—releasing time, resources, energy, or comfort—to initiate growth. By serving others and taking active responsibility for the gifts God has provided, personal breakthrough moves from a distant expectation to an active, faith-filled process of character development and impact.

Bottom Line:

Breakthrough requires releasing what is currently in my hand through intentional action, rather than waiting passively for God to move.

Next Steps:

Block off two dedicated hours this week to map out the foundational content for my coaching and training framework, treating my evening preparation time as a non-negotiable investment in my future calling rather than optional free time.

How to Choose Happiness Today

“If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God.” Ecclesiastes 5:19 (GNT)

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (NIV). That’s the kind of God we serve. He gave us the world for our enjoyment! But here’s the problem: I'm so busy getting more that I don’t enjoy what I've got.

The secret of contentment is to learn to enjoy what God has given me. Ecclesiastes 5:19 says, “If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God” (GNT).

Instead of grasping for more, pay attention to what I have now. Open my eyes, appreciate what God has already given me, and enjoy what I've got.

I need to ask myself, “What am I not enjoying right now?” Most of us get into what is called “when and then” thinking: “When this happens, then I’ll be happy.”

But here’s the truth: I'm as happy as I choose to be. If I'm not happy now, I'm not going to be happy later. Happiness is a choice!

I could go to some of the poorest places in the world and two people living right next door to each other. One is miserable, and one is happy. Why? Happiness has nothing to do with my circumstances and everything to do with my attitude.

If I'm not happy with what I'm living on right now, It's likely that I'm not going to be happy with more. Because no matter what I have, I'm always going to want a little bit more. 

Happiness is a choice. So I need to choose right now to enjoy what God has given me!

In Summary:

In Ecclesiastes 5:19 and 1 Timothy 6:17, Scripture emphasizes that God generously provides resources, work, and earthly blessings for our enjoyment, framing contentment as an intentional act of gratitude rather than an automatic reaction to surplus. The passage highlights a common human pitfall: becoming so consumed by the pursuit of "more" that we fail to appreciate what is already in our possession. Rejecting the trap of "when-and-then" thinking—where happiness is perpetually deferred to future milestones or improved circumstances—the text establishes that contentment is a deliberate choice driven by perspective and attitude, not external conditions.

Bottom Line:

True contentment is not unlocked by accumulating more, but by choosing to gratefully steward and enjoy what God has already placed in my hands today.

Next Steps:

Conduct a 10-minute audit of my current life and resources today. Identify three specific things I have been overlooking while striving for the next goal, write them down, and pause to actively express gratitude and enjoy them without attaching any future performance metrics.

Admire Without Acquiring

“It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.” Ecclesiastes 6:9 (GNT)

The first step to becoming a contented person is to stop comparing myself to others. But the problem is that comparison is a favorite pastime! I do it all the time. 

I walk into somebody’s house, and the first thing I do is make comparisons: “I like that floor! Look at that drapery! Wow, what a television!” I think to myself, “My house doesn’t look anything like this!” 

I'm constantly comparing, and it keeps me frustrated. I’ve got to stop it! If I'm going to learn contentment, I've got to stop comparing my life to everyone else’s.

I also have to learn to admire without having to acquire it. I need to learn to rejoice in other people’s prosperity without getting envious and feeling like I need it too.

Here’s a great principle that many people don’t understand: I don’t have to own it to enjoy it! Maybe I like to vacation in the mountains. Why do I have to buy a mountain cabin when I can just rent or even borrow a friend’s cabin the one time a year I go to the mountains? Ownership isn’t the only way to enjoy something.

Not making comparisons isn’t just a good idea; it’s a commandment from God. Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not covet . . . anything that belongs to your neighbor” (NIV).

Coveting is the uncontrolled desire to acquire. It’s such an important sin to avoid that it’s included in the Ten Commandments. The word covet in Greek means that I grasp something so tightly that I can’t let it go. If God ever gives me something and he tells me to give it away and I can’t, then I don’t own it; it owns me.

God is not saying I should never desire anything. Desires are not wrong. In fact, many of my desires come from God. But when a desire is uncontrolled, it becomes coveting; I compare myself to others and think I must have more. That uncontrolled desire for something that is not mine is sinful and leads to all kinds of problems.

But desire isn’t always negative. In fact, nothing can be accomplished unless I desire to do it. I can’t become more like Christ without desiring to become more like Christ. I can’t be a more loving person without desiring to be a more loving person. I can’t be a more generous person without desiring to be a more generous person.

This kind of Christ-like, contented life only happens when I learn not to compare. When I compare, that leads to coveting, and when I covet, I can’t be content.

The book of Ecclesiastes says it simply: “It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else” (Ecclesiastes 6:9 GNT).

• How can I change my perspective about my own possessions so that I can rejoice with others over theirs?  I do this by remembering what was said above, review my intentions and decide to rejoice in what someone has vs. covet it.

• What do I think God wants me to fill my life with instead of possessions? My desire for Him and what he cares about in the world, including my own mission.

• Christians talk a lot about God giving them the desires of their heart. What kind of desires do I think God wants to give me? Ones that help me reflect him and fulfill his purpose for me.

In Summary:

Ecclesiastes 6:9 highlights the value of being satisfied with what I currently have rather than being trapped in endless desire. True contentment begins when I intentionally stop comparing my life, home, and circumstances to others, as comparison inevitably fuels envy and frustration. By learning to admire without needing to acquire—recognizing that ownership is not a prerequisite for enjoyment—I align my heart with God's commandment against coveting. Desires themselves are neutral and can drive growth when pointed toward Christlikeness, but uncontrolled desires bind me to material things. Ultimately, shifting my focus toward God's heart and my personal mission breaks the cycle of covetousness, releasing me to genuinely celebrate the prosperity of others while walking in peace.

Bottom Line:

True freedom and lasting satisfaction are found when I trade the trap of comparison for a disciplined commitment to God's purpose.

Next Step:

Practice the discipline of intentional celebration this week: whenever I encounter someone else’s success, possessions, or achievements, consciously declare out loud or in my journal a statement of joy for them, reinforcing my identity as someone whose security and mission are defined by God, not material comparison.

Overcoming Hesitation: Bringing Peace to a Confused World

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

God has called me to represent him everywhere I go. Similar to how countries send out ambassadors, God is sending me out to tell others about his love and forgiveness.

I often lack the confidence needed to share my faith. I think it requires having a salesperson or outgoing mentality. But that simply isn’t true! I don’t have to be good at “closing the deal” to invite people into God’s family.

All humans have the same inner longings. So, when I tell others about Jesus, I'm offering them something they’re already looking for. What a confidence booster!

Another confidence booster in sharing my faith is this: Most people don’t really know what they believe. They may label themselves a certain way, but when I scratch beneath the surface, they sometimes don’t even know what that system believes.

Some people claim to think a certain way but end up contradicting themselves. For example, they’ll say, "There are no absolutes in life." But that’s nonsense because that statement contradicts itself. They may as well say, “There are absolutely no absolutes in life.” In fact, people who make that claim live by rules and beliefs based on absolutes all the time.

Sharing my hope in Christ can help bring clarity to people’s lives. It gives them the understanding they need. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (ESV). The truth of God’s Word sets people free from contradiction, confusion, and everything else that binds up their lives.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

Next time I lack the confidence to share my faith, I can relax, knowing that the message of Jesus will bring much-needed clarity to people’s lives.

Talking It Over:

Do I live life consciously that I am an ambassador or Christ everywhere I go? If not, how might that practice change my life and the lives of those around me? 

No I don't. With this ambassador mindset, I will be more conscious of my actions. I want others to see how my life has changed because of my faith. I'd like for them to see me and say I want what he has.

What confusing or conflicting beliefs did I once have? How has God’s Word brought clarity to those beliefs?

In the past it was all about me and what I could get, and living a hassle free life. God helped me to understand where I stood with God, bankrupt with no way to atone for my wrongdoings.

Who can hold me accountable to share faith while I do the same for them?

I could ask Bryce, Ramondo, or Chip.

In Summary:

In 1 Corinthians 14:33, Paul reminds believers that God operates in peace rather than confusion, a principle that applies directly to how we view sharing our faith. I reflect on my role as Christ’s ambassador, realizing that effective evangelism doesn't require a high-pressure sales pitch or an outgoing personality, but rather offering Christ to meet the universal longings of the human heart. Many people navigate life with contradictory, confused worldviews, and by simply sharing the truth of the Gospel, I offer the clarity and freedom found in John 8:32. Moving away from a self-centered past toward a clear understanding of my need for grace empowers you to live intentionally so others see the transformational impact of my faith.

Bottom Line:

Sharing my faith isn't about selling a belief system, but about bringing God's liberating clarity and peace to a confused world through a transformed life.

Next Step:

Reach out to my inner circle this week to set up a recurring accountability check-in where I can actualize encouragement and intentionally track how I are representing Christ in my daily environments.