It Hurts

Dr. Mike 2026 , , ,

 “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. So, remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.” Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 NASB

Everyone will experience hurt in their lifetime. Most hurts will heal. Some will not. All hurts though will leave an imprint in our life. In some ways we are the sum total of our hurts.

These hurts come from an endless source of darts thrown in our direction. Most often from an unlimited pile of human ignorance. Some hurts are the reflection of expectations gone wrong. Others are the damage left by people deliberately or unintentionally provoking you.

Whatever the source, the result is the same. It hurts. 

We may bring hurt upon ourselves by a sinful act. We may think we are doing good when the end result is harm to another.

We hurt when the grade needed from a class falls short and we lose out on a scholarship for college.

We hurt when the person we have a crush on tells us they are not interested.

We hurt when the bills are more than the money in the checking account.

We hurt from the outcome of an auto accident.

We hurt when someone close to us suffers from a tragedy.

We hurt when we wake up the next day with a hangover from yesterday’s party.

We hurt when our close friend reveals a hidden secret to others.

We hurt when our spouse tells us they do not love us any longer and wants to go their separate way.

We hurt when rejected from the job we enjoy.

We hurt when our love ones die.

We hurt when our bodies no longer quickly recover from the workout that day realizing age is catching up to us.

The issue is not the hurt. But how we respond to it. The hurt may last a lifetime. Or only a few minutes. But the fuller we grieve; the faster we forgive others and ourselves; the healthier we become with another learned lesson toward maturity in Christ.

God wants us to dream dreams and pursue them. He wants us to chase the desires of our heart. But HE also wants us to do so within the boundaries of HIS character. Being hurt is the price of becoming more like Christ.

An athlete chooses temporary pain to grow their muscles. They push themselves until it hurts. Then they back away. They want to be the best they can be. So, hurt is part of their process.

As Christ-followers, we likewise learn to integrate faith into every area of our life. That includes our dreams and desires. We thus pursue our goals partnering with Jesus. We ask HIM to be involved in our daily walk. We offer our dreams to HIM. We ask and seek out HIS ways in the process. But we are careful our dreams are always secondary to our relationship with HIM.

Yes, in the Christian journey many darts of hurt will come our way. The pain will be real. It will hurt. But as we lean on Jesus, HE will walk with us in the pain. HE will help heal the hurt or carry us through the pain. We will learn from the situation. We will mature in the process. We will learn to trust HIM more. And always, you can be assured, HE will continue to root for you, and help you, even while it hurts.   

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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I Also Marvel

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , ,

“When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:22

One active word kept coming up this week when studying the life of Jesus. Whenever HE spoke or performed a work, people marveled. The above Scripture is only one example of HIS reply to the Pharisees who plotted to entangle him in his words. But failed again. This was the result of Jesus’ reply to ‘is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not’ question. HIS answer even made his enemies marvel!

When HE performed a miracle of healing, feeding, or commanding the weather, HE made an impact. The people around HIM left in amazement. They just witness a supernatural event. Or they experienced the mind of a genius. Or the gracious words that left them spellbound in thought. HE displayed life like no one before them. You would leave HIM being in a state of astonishment.  

HE would surprise people. He would make people wonder. Even HIS enemies would leave admiring HIM. How can one not marvel?

Yes I also marvel. I marvel at God’s creation. The order and fine-tuning of the universe. The birth of a child. HIS ability to be involved in the life of billions of people at the same time.

Then I also marvel at others for their outstanding work? Don’t you? For it allows us to grasp another side of God’s creation in full display. People expressing their natural abilities to the point of excellence. The track star practicing daily to run faster today than yesterday. The gymnast controlling their body with twists and turns in the air. The quarterback and receiver connecting on a 60-yard touchdown pass. These are only a few of the moments in sports I marvel at the actions.

There is also the excellence in business when strategy and execution meet. In the medical field, when the doctor completes an eight-hour heart or brain surgery to save the life of a patient. Or the first responders to an emergency arriving to immediately face and calm a crisis. The list is endless. We marvel at a God who made all this possible. So now, each time I marvel at an event, act, or display, it makes me see another side of our Creator. I marvel at HIS handiwork. I am also grateful to witness a Master at work in HIS everyday routine.      

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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I Do

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:3-6

A Christian marriage is life-long. Two people bound together in a covenant of love and faithfulness until death. A beautiful way of life for raising a family and learning God’s way of life in the process. The agreement is not for immature children. But two people who honor each other. Serve each other. And fight through their personal demons to become one. There are only a few Biblical reasons to end it.

On that wedding day, standing before family and friends, the couple state their vows. The minister most often will read passages from the Bible. These usually are from 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5. They may also include words like “whether richer or poorer, through health or sickness.” The aim is to acknowledge they are bound together till death. No matter what the couple faces in the future together.

A sacred and special moment for both with ideals and hopes laid before them. In many ways, in hindsight, not a clue of what is in store before them.

Are not our relationship and commitment with Jesus the same? Has HE not already proposed to us (Luke 9:23)? If we accept HIS offer to follow HIM, do we really know the path where the relationship is going to take us?

Like marriage, it is a commitment. We stand before God, others, and self with our vows, and state “I do” to each. As new babes in Christ, we have hopes and dreams of the future. But then real-world catastrophe occurs. Things don’t go according to plans. Financial challenges. Health challenges. Relationship challenges. Your demons may not even be on the list. But they know you and attack you on a regular basis.

The “I Do” is only three letters. But the power of a commitment behind it is strong. It is what separates winners from losers. Those who pursue life from those who run away. The “I Do” built on enduring love and faithfulness is a weapon for victory. These are the character traits Jesus lives by and empowers us to live by.

A healthy marriage gives us a taste of how Jesus lives with Father and Spirit. This is the relationship HE wants with you and me. Two people becoming one. In marriage two people find ways to work out the obstacles before them. Their lifelong commitment is to make the marriage work. So does Jesus do with us.

The “I DO” is only the start of a journey for life. What comes next is the process of growing in the grace, wisdom, and knowledge of our Lord unto eternity. It involves maturing as a people. It is learning to trust God with all our being. It is learning to partner with the invisible God who loves us more than we realize. He wants what is best for us for the long term. Not immediate gratification. But a future full of favor and success before HIM and those around you.


It all begins with “I Do.” Then it requires the commitment to hang in there and trust Jesus in the process.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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