My Journey in Christ

It is understandable why some people—both inside and outside the church—begin to see Christianity through the lens of a kind of “sword and sorcery” fantasy. Popular imagery often portrays spiritual life as a dramatic battlefield filled with powerful warriors, overwhelming force, and visible dominance. That kind of imagery can feel intense and meaningful, and to be fair, it reflects something real—the existence of a spiritual struggle between good and evil. But where things go wrong is when the aesthetic of power gets mistaken for the nature of God. Scripture itself corrects that idea immediately. In Epistle to the Ephesians 6:12, it says that our struggle is “not against flesh and blood.” That single statement dismantles the idea that Christianity is about physical dominance, force, or outward displays of strength. The passage goes on to describe the “armor of God,” but that armor isn’t made of steel—it consists of truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (Ephesians ...

Faith is necessary because it is the way a person comes into a right relationship with God and receives His grace. The Bible teaches that salvation is received through faith rather than human effort. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Hebrews 11:6 also says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” Romans 1:17 adds, “The righteous shall live by faith.” These verses show that faith is essential because it is how we trust God and receive what He promises. The source of faith is ultimately God Himself. Jesus is described as the one who begins and completes faith in us. Hebrews 12:2 calls Him “the founder and perfecter of our faith.” Faith also comes through God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This shows that God produces faith through Christ and strengthens it through Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. Faith and righteousnes...

In Galatians 4:21–31, Paul makes a really interesting point about the difference between living under the Law and living under God’s promise. He’s writing to the Galatians because some of them were starting to think they needed to follow the Law—like circumcision and other rules—to be right with God. Paul pushes back on that and basically says: if you really understood the Law, you’d realize it was never meant to save you in the first place¹. To explain this, Paul goes back to Abraham. Abraham had two sons—one with Hagar, a slave woman, and one with Sarah, a free woman². Ishmael (Hagar’s son) was born the natural way—through human effort and planning. But Isaac (Sarah’s son) was born through God’s promise, even when it seemed impossible³. That’s the key difference Paul is pointing to: one represents human effort, the other represents God stepping in and doing what only He can do. Paul then says this story is more than history—it’s an allegory⁴. Hagar represents Mount Sinai and the Law,...

In a culture obsessed with success and visible results, Christians can easily feel discouraged when effort and faithfulness seem to go unrewarded. Yet the Bible teaches that discouragement is a natural part of the human experience—and how we respond defines the depth of our faith. The prophet Jeremiah, known as the “weeping prophet,” provides a striking example. Called by God to deliver a hard message to rebellious people, Jeremiah faithfully obeyed, yet he faced ridicule, imprisonment, and profound disappointment¹. He did not hide his emotions; he voiced his frustration and lament to God¹, showing that honesty before the Lord is not only permissible—it is essential. Jeremiah’s experience is far from unique. Elijah despaired and fled even after a miraculous victory on Mount Carmel². David, the man after God’s own heart, lamented betrayal by a close friend³. Peter denied Jesus in fear⁴. And the disciples, walking the road to Emmaus, were disheartened after the crucifixion, not yet under...