by Christian International | Feb 12, 2026 | Articles
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV)
Over the years, I have learned that God rarely works the way I expect Him to.
If I am honest, much of my life has felt a little odd and unusual and not always in a comfortable way.
I did not always fit in. I was not quite the same as the rest of my family. I did not always think the same way, respond the same way, or even catch the joke when everyone else laughed. For a long time, I wondered if something was wrong with me.
Now I know better.
God uses that.
When You Feel Like You Don’t Belong
Jesus tells a parable in Luke 14:16–24 that has always spoken deeply to me. A man prepares a great feast and invites those who were first called. The honored. The religious. The respected.
But they make excuses. They decline the invitation.
So the master does something unexpected.
He sends his servants into the streets and lanes to bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. When there is still room, he sends them even farther, to the highways and hedges, compelling others to come.
The people who assumed they belonged missed the feast.
The ones who never thought they would be invited filled the table.
That parable tells me something powerful. God often welcomes those who feel out of place.
God’s Instructions Are Not Always Comfortable
We do not set out to be odd or unusual. But when God speaks, His instructions do not always make sense to the natural mind.
If a donkey speaks to you like it did to Balaam, you should probably pay attention. There may be an angel standing in front of you that you cannot see.
If God tells you to build an ark because a flood is coming, even though no one has ever seen rain, you obey. You might be saving your family and the future of the earth.
If you are blind and Jesus uses spit and mud to heal you, you do not complain about the method. You receive the miracle.
If you are running from God’s purpose and find yourself living inside a great fish for three days, you do not argue. You repent.
If God tells you not to cut your hair and you decide you know better, do not be surprised when consequences follow.
If God tells you to be silent, walk around a city for seven days, and then shout, listen carefully. Walls are about to fall.
Even Moses, a man who spoke with God face to face, suffered consequences when he allowed anger to override obedience and struck the rock instead of speaking to it.
These stories remind me that obedience matters, even when the instructions feel strange or uncomfortable.
God’s Strength Shines Through Weakness
One of the clearest examples of this is Gideon’s army.
God intentionally reduced an army of 32,000 down to just 300. In the natural, it makes no sense. In the Spirit, it makes perfect sense.
God wanted everyone to know the victory did not come from numbers, strategy, or human ability. It came from Him.
I have seen this truth play out again and again in my own life. When I felt weak, unsure, or unqualified, God showed Himself strong. It was never about what I could do. It was always about what God could do through me.
The Call to Humility
That is why Scripture repeatedly calls us to humility.
“If My people will humble themselves…”
“Humble yourselves before the Lord…”
“Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand…”
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled…”
Humility keeps us teachable. It keeps us listening. It keeps us obedient, even when God asks us to do something outside the box.
Be Who God Called You to Be
God may be asking you to do something that feels odd or unusual. Something that does not fit neatly into other people’s expectations.
When that happens, pray. Seek godly counsel. Weigh it carefully. And if it truly comes from God, be obedient.
I have learned that trying to be “normal” is overrated anyway.
God did not call me to be like everyone else.
He did not call you to be like everyone else.
He called us to be who He created us to be. Unique. Purpose-filled. Dependent on Him.
Sometimes God’s ways look odd.
Sometimes obedience feels uncomfortable.
But God is always faithful.
And He always knows exactly what He is doing.
A Prayer for the One Reading This
Jesus, I ask that whoever is reading this would know, right now, that no matter what state they are in, they are accepted by You. You love them just as they are, and You will use them for Your glory.
If they feel small like Zacchaeus and only want a glimpse of You, remind them that You see them and will meet with them personally.
If they feel like a woman hidden in the crowd, carrying weakness, frailty, or an issue that has gone on too long, let them know that if they reach out right where they are and touch You, they will be healed.
God, You do not see us as odd or unusual. You see us as the vessels You intentionally formed.
We do not have to become good enough, smart enough, good-looking enough, or spiritual enough to receive Your love and acceptance.
We receive it now.
Amen.
by Christian International | Sep 30, 2025 | Articles
Letting Go of the Past: Forgiveness and Moving Forward
You can’t always change what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond.
From the outside, my life looked polished and put together. I was married to a pastor who also traveled as a minister, smiling on the front row while my four children sat beside me, perfectly dressed for church. To those watching, I looked steady, faithful, strong—even a role model they might have admired, imagining my life as perfect. Yet the truth is, appearances can be deceiving. Even today, when you scroll through social media, you may see people—even ministers—who look like they have everything together. But behind the curated photos, there can be hidden pain and scars you’ll never see in a snapshot.
But behind that smile was a woman breaking inside. I was wounded. I was angry. I was carrying pain I didn’t feel safe to share. I don’t call that hypocrisy, because I truly longed to worship God and raise my children in His presence. I believed the Word even when the one preaching it didn’t live it. Yet there were very few—if any—people I felt I could confide in.
And that’s when I learned something sobering: people can’t help you with a burden you never tell them about. But even when no one else knows, God knows. And when you reach the end of yourself, His faithfulness becomes your lifeline.Forgiveness and Freedom
Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting. It’s about letting go so the offense no longer controls you. When you allow pain and betrayal to define you, it becomes your prison. Bitterness poisons your thoughts and even affects your body.
But Scripture makes it clear:
“See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15)
Bitterness binds you, not the one who wronged you. Forgiveness, on the other hand, frees you. It doesn’t excuse what was done, but it releases you from being chained to it.Choosing to React Differently
We can’t control how people treat us, but we can decide how we will respond. Jesus showed us another way:
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
That is not easy. It takes courage to forgive, strength to respond in love, and faith to believe that God will deal justly with every situation. But when you choose forgiveness, you take back control from the offense and place your future in God’s hands.Don’t Let the Past Define You
One of the enemy’s greatest lies is that your past is who you are. He whispers, “You are your betrayal. You are your mistake. You are your failure.” But that is not what God says.
Paul reminds us:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13–14)
Your identity is not your pain. It is not your history. It is who God says you are—redeemed, restored, chosen, and loved.Living in Peace, Not the Past
You cannot go back and change what happened. But you can choose not to live there anymore. Holding on to the past breeds depression, anxiety, and fear. Letting go opens the door to peace.
God Himself extends this promise:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18–19)
When you forgive, when you release what was, you step into what God is doing now.Conclusion: Defined by Christ, Not by Pain
You are not what happened to you. You are who Christ says you are. And He calls you victorious:
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
Today, you have a choice. You can hold on to the hurt and let it define you—or you can forgive, let go, and step into the newness and peace that God has waiting.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean the past disappears. It means the past no longer dictates your future.
by Christian International | Apr 8, 2025 | Articles
Life is filled with unexpected moments—some beautiful, others incredibly painful. As believers, we hold on to the truth that no matter what comes, God is still sovereign, and His plans are ultimately for our good. Romans 8:28 reminds us:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
What followed in my life was a season I never saw coming—but one that God used to deepen my dependence on Him.
In 2023, I experienced two life-altering events that tested my faith, patience, and physical strength.
One morning, after dropping my dad off at the airport—a routine drive I had done countless times—I turned into my neighborhood, just as I always had. But this time, a car came speeding toward me without headlights. The impact was devastating. My car spun. The other car rolled. I was left with six broken bones—my pelvis, back, and rib were fractured—and my life came to a sudden halt.
In an instant, my carefully laid plans vanished. The months ahead turned into a journey of hospitals, healing, and pain management. I had no choice but to surrender control.
Then in November, while putting up Christmas lights, another freak accident struck. I fell from a step stool and landed hard on my right ankle. The break was severe and required surgery, leaving me with a metal plate and five screws. Bedridden again. More plans canceled. More time away from everything I had hoped to enjoy with family and ministry.
Can I explain why this all happened? No.
Did I get some grand revelation in the middle of it all? Honestly, no.
But I clung to the promises of God. I leaned into His Word. I reminded myself daily that God doesn’t waste pain. Even when we don’t understand, He is working behind the scenes—bringing good out of hardship and drawing us closer to Him.
Sometimes the revelation is not in the reason, but in the result: a deeper trust, a clearer voice, a stronger spirit.
And yes—I’ve said it more than once:
“This too shall pass. It may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.”
That little bit of humor carried me through more than a few painful days.
I once heard this wisdom:
“Plan your life like you’re going to live to be 100. Live your life like Jesus is coming tomorrow.”
That stayed with me.
We all face trials—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Just as the body can be broken and slowly rebuilt, so can the soul. Healing is a process. It takes time. There are scars. There are adjustments. Even now, my back still aches if I stand too long. I walk with a slight limp.
But I’m walking. I’m serving. I’m moving forward by the grace of God.
To anyone going through their own storm: hold on. Be patient. Trust in the slow, steady work of healing that God is doing in you. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He promises never to leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
No matter how difficult things look at the moment, don’t lose hope. Keep your peace. Stay patient with long-suffering. One day, you will look back on this and either laugh or use it to help someone else walk through a similar trial. It will become part of your testimony—a teaching and maturing experience that God uses to conform you into the likeness and image of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:29).
Psalm 30:5 says:
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Worrying about something will not change it. Scripture tells us not to worry:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
Sometimes we have to take one day at a time, one hour at a time, or even one minute at a time. If you dwell too much on the future, it can become overwhelming and discouraging.
In those moments, I sing the old hymn:
“One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of You. Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.”
And I pray—continually.
There are times when all you can do is whisper prayers under your breath or in your heart. Keep your mind fixed on Christ, and resist the urge to spiral into fear or doubt.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
This too shall pass.
And when it does, you’ll emerge stronger, wiser, and more rooted in the faithfulness of your God.
You are not alone.
Keep the faith.
Keep walking.
