When Life Gets Hard: The Quiet Lie Christians Tell Themselves

October 23, 2026August 27, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Small green seedling growing between rugged rocks under a cloudy sky — Image generated via AI.

There’s a subtle, painful belief many Christians carry, often silently, often without even realizing it’s there:

“If things are going wrong, it must be my fault.” “If life is hard, I must not be good enough.” “If I were more faithful, more disciplined, more holy… this wouldn’t be happening.”

It’s a heavy burden, and it’s not one God ever asked His children to carry.

The Weight of “Not Enough”

Hard seasons have a way of exposing our inner narratives. When finances tighten, relationships strain, prayers seem unanswered, or grief hits out of nowhere, many believers default to self‑blame.

That voice whispers:

You should’ve prayed more.
You should’ve trusted God better.
You should’ve seen this coming.
You should’ve been stronger.

But Scripture paints a very different picture of how God relates to His people.

God Never Ties Your Worth to Your Performance

One of the clearest truths in Scripture is that God’s love is not performance‑based. Paul writes: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9. Weakness isn’t a failure. It’s the very place God chooses to work. Jesus Himself reminds us: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33. Trouble is guaranteed. Trouble is normal. Trouble is not a sign of spiritual failure.

If anything, Scripture shows that faithful people often walk through the hardest valleys. Think of:

Job, who suffered not because he lacked faith, but because he was blameless (Job 1:1).
Paul, who endured beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment — all while serving God faithfully (2 Corinthians 11:23–28).
David, who was anointed king yet spent years running for his life (1 Samuel 23–24).
Jesus, who was perfect and yet suffered more deeply than anyone.

Hardship is not evidence of spiritual deficiency. It’s evidence that we live in a broken world, and that God is still working in it.

The Enemy Loves the “Not Enough” Narrative

The accuser’s favorite lie is that you’re failing God. But Scripture counters that lie directly: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1. Condemnation is not God’s voice. Shame is not God’s voice. Self‑punishment is not God’s voice. God convicts to restore. The enemy condemns to destroy.

God Meets You in the Storm, Not After You Escape It

When life gets hard, God doesn’t stand at a distance waiting for you to “get it together.” He steps into the mess with you. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18. Notice: close to the brokenhearted, not the strong. Saves the crushed, not the confident. Your struggle doesn’t disqualify you from God’s presence — it draws Him nearer.

You Are Not Failing. You Are Growing.

Spiritual maturity isn’t proven by the absence of hardship. It’s revealed in the presence of God within hardship. James writes: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2–3. Trials don’t expose your inadequacy. They cultivate your endurance. They deepen your roots. They strengthen your faith. They refine your character. They do not define your worth.

A Better Truth to Hold Onto

When life gets hard, instead of assuming, I’m not good enough, I must have messed up, God must be disappointed in me. Try holding onto this truth instead: “God is with me, God is for me, and God is working in me — even here.” Because Scripture promises: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” — Philippians 1:6. Not you will carry it on. He will. Your story is not upheld by your perfection — it’s upheld by His faithfulness.

Knowing How God Works

October 20, 2026August 26, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Winding stone path through a lush flower garden at sunset — Image generated via AI.

Paul’s words in Colossians 1 (The Message) hit with a kind of spiritual clarity that feels both grounding and electrifying. In that chapter, he says something that every believer eventually wrestles with:

“We want you to be filled with the knowledge of how God works and how He wants you to live.” (Colossians 1:9, MSG — quoted briefly)

That line is a compass. It’s Paul praying that believers wouldn’t just believe in God, but actually understand how God operates — His patterns, His rhythms, His ways. And that’s the heart of spiritual maturity: learning to recognize God’s fingerprints in your everyday life.

God Works Through Growth, Not Instant Results

Paul continues by describing what happens when we begin to understand God’s ways: “As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.” (Colossians 1:10, MSG — quoted briefly) God rarely rushes. He grows us.

This echoes Jesus’ teaching in Mark 4:26–29, where the Kingdom of God is compared to a seed growing slowly, quietly, invisibly, and then suddenly producing a harvest. God’s work in us often feels hidden until one day it becomes undeniable. If your life feels slow, stalled, or quiet, it doesn’t mean God is absent. It may mean He’s growing roots.

God Works Through Strength You Don’t Have Yet

Paul also says: “His strength in you gives you power to endure anything.” (Colossians 1:11, MSG — quoted briefly) God doesn’t ask you to manufacture endurance. He supplies it. This mirrors Isaiah 40:29–31, where God gives strength to the weary and power to the weak. Those who wait on Him “renew their strength”, not by trying harder, but by trusting deeper. Knowing how God works means recognizing that spiritual strength is received, not achieved.

God Works Through Jesus — Always, Completely, Perfectly

Paul shifts the focus to Jesus, reminding us that everything God does is centered in Him:

Jesus reveals who God is (Colossians 1:15)
Jesus holds everything together (Colossians 1:17)
Jesus reconciles us to God (Colossians 1:20)

If you want to understand how God works, look at Jesus. His compassion shows God’s heart. His authority shows God’s power. His sacrifice shows God’s love. His resurrection shows God’s victory. Everything God does in your life will look like Jesus — restoring, healing, guiding, strengthening, and transforming.

Knowing How God Works Changes How You Live

Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1 is simple but life-altering: Know how God works. Know what God wants. Live a life that reflects that knowledge. When you understand God’s ways, you stop panicking when life shifts. You stop assuming silence means abandonment. You stop interpreting delays as denials. You begin to trust the slow work of God. You begin to see purpose in the pruning. You begin to recognize His voice in the quiet. And you begin to live with a confidence rooted not in circumstances, but in understanding.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, fill me with the knowledge of how You work. Teach me Your rhythms, Your patterns, Your ways. Help me recognize Your hand in my life, and live in a way that reflects Your wisdom, Your strength, and Your love. Amen.

The Secret

October 16, 2026August 21, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Paul says something stunning in Colossians 2:2–4 (MSG) — that God wants us “woven into a tapestry of love,” and that as we grow in Christ, we “get in on the riches of this mystery.” The Message paraphrases it as “the secret is Christ himself.” That’s the heartbeat of this passage: the more clearly we see Jesus, the more clearly we see everything else.

The Secret That Brings Peace

Paul explains that God’s desire is for us to have a mind settled by truth, not shaken by fear or confusion. In Colossians 2:3, he writes that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, meaning every answer our hearts crave is found in Him.

When we try to carry life with our own understanding, anxiety becomes normal. But when we lean into the wisdom of God, the wisdom found in Christ, our minds begin to rest. We stop scrambling for control because we realize we already have access to the One who knows everything. Jesus doesn’t just give wisdom; He is wisdom, God’s wisdom, Christ’s mystery – Spiritual peace.

Knowing Everything by Knowing Him

This doesn’t mean we become all‑knowing. It means we’re connected to the One who is. And that connection changes how we think, how we respond, and how we rest.

When we don’t know what to do, His wisdom steadies us.
When life feels uncertain, His knowledge reassures us.
When fear whispers lies, His truth anchors us.

Paul warns in Colossians 2:4 that smooth‑talking arguments will try to pull us away from this peace. But when Christ is our center, deception loses its power. We don’t panic at every new idea or cultural shift because our foundation is unshakeable.

A Mind at Peace

The wisdom of God doesn’t just inform us; it forms us. It shapes our reactions, calms our thoughts, and settles our hearts. This is the secret Paul wanted the church to grasp: peace isn’t found in knowing everything; peace is found in knowing Him. And when you know Him, you begin to see everything else with clarity.

Where Did God Find You?

October 13, 2026August 21, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Colossians 1:13–14 in The Message says something breathtaking in its simplicity:

“God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.”

Those two verses carry a question that every believer eventually has to face: Where did God find you? Not where you pretend He found you. Not the polished version. The real place. The real condition. The real mess. The real you.

Because God doesn’t rescue imaginary people from imaginary problems. He rescues you from your pit — the one you know too well. He’s The God Who Steps Into Dark Places. Colossians says God found us in dead‑end alleys and dark dungeons. That’s not poetic exaggeration; that’s spiritual reality. Some of us were found in the alley of anger. Some in the dungeon of addiction. Some in the pit of religious performance, exhausted from trying to be “good enough.” Some in the shadows of shame, hiding from what we hoped no one would ever see.

Scripture keeps reminding us that God specializes in stepping into places we thought were too dark for Him: Psalm 40:2 — “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.” Isaiah 9:2 — “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Luke 19:10 — “The Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.” God doesn’t wait for you to climb out. He climbs in.

You were rescued, not polished. One of the most dangerous lies Christians believe is that God saved us because we were “almost there.” Colossians destroys that idea. He didn’t rescue you from a detour. He rescued you from a dead end. He didn’t pull you out of a dimly lit hallway. He pulled you out of a dungeon. And He didn’t just clean you up — He transferred you. Paul says God “set us up in the kingdom of the Son He loves so much.” That’s relocation. That’s adoption. That’s identity. You didn’t just get forgiven — you got moved.

The Pit You Were In. The Message translation adds a phrase that hits hard: “The pit we were in… the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” That’s the cycle every human knows: The habit you swore you’d break. The attitude you swore you’d fix. The sin you swore you’d never commit again. And yet — there it was. Again. But God didn’t just forgive the cycle. He broke it. Romans 6:6 says: “Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life.” Where did God find you? In the cycle. In the repetition. In the pit. And He didn’t shame you for it — He saved you from it.

Your Rescue Is Your Testimony. Your rescue story isn’t the part you hide. It’s the part God uses. Paul never hid where God found him, on a road, blinded by his own pride and violence. David never hid where God found him, in a pit of despair. The woman at the well never hid where God found her, in relational wreckage.

Your rescue is the evidence of His kingdom.
Your pit is the platform for His grace.
Your dark alley is the backdrop for His light.

So… Where Did God Find You? Not where you wish He found you. Not where you pretend He found you. Where He actually found you. Because that’s the place He wants to transform, redeem, and use. If you’re still in a dark alley today, He’s still rescuing. If you feel stuck in a dungeon, He’s still lifting. If you feel trapped in a pit, He’s still breaking cycles. The God who found you then… is the God who finds you now.

AGT

October 6, 2026August 14, 2026 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Silhouetted guitarist performing beneath the Milky Way at an outdoor concert — Image generated via AI.

There’s a moment on America’s Got Talent that always hits differently, that split second when a judge leans forward, smiles, and says one word that can change everything: “Yes.”

A single “yes” can launch a singer into a career they’ve dreamed of since childhood. It can lift a dance crew out of obscurity and into global tours. It can take an ordinary person and place them on a stage where millions watch in awe. One judge. One vote. One word. And suddenly, a future opens.

But as powerful as that moment is, it’s only a faint reflection of something far greater. The way God holds our lives, our calling, and our future in His hands. On AGT, “yes” is an opportunity. With God, “yes” is transformation.

The Judge’s Yes vs. God’s Yes

On AGT, a judge sees potential, talent, creativity, courage, and decides whether it deserves a chance. Their “yes” is influential, but it’s still limited. It affects a season, a show, a moment. But God’s “yes”? It’s eternal. It’s unstoppable. It’s backed by the One who created the universe.

Scripture says:

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.” — 2 Corinthians 1:20
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” — Jeremiah 1:5
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31

A judge sees talent. God sees destiny. A judge sees a performance. God sees a purpose. A judge sees a moment. God sees your entire life.

When God Says Yes, No One Can Say No

On AGT, even a “yes” doesn’t guarantee victory. There are more rounds, more votes, more judges, more opinions. But when God says “yes” over your life, no one else gets a vote.

“What He opens, no one can shut.” — Revelation 3:7
“The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” — Romans 11:29

God’s “yes” isn’t fragile. It isn’t up for debate. It isn’t subject to human approval. His “yes” breaks chains, opens doors, restores hearts, heals wounds, and rewrites stories.

AGT: Amazing God Transforms

On television, AGT stands for America’s Got Talent. But in the Kingdom, AGT stands for something far more powerful:

A — Amazing

God’s grace, mercy, and love go beyond anything we can imagine. “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” — Psalm 145:3

G — God

The One who sees you, knows you, loves you, and calls you by name. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” — Isaiah 43:1

T — Transforms

He doesn’t just approve your life — He transforms it. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

God doesn’t just give you a chance. He gives you a new heart, a new identity, a new future.

Your Life Is on God’s Stage

Every day, you step onto a stage. Not one lit by cameras, but one lit by God’s presence. And while the world may judge your performance, God judges your heart. And here’s the truth that changes everything: God is not waiting to reject you. He is ready to redeem you.

His vote is already cast. His hand is already extended. His “yes” is already spoken over your life through Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” — John 3:16

The Judge of all creation has already hit the Golden Buzzer for you, not because of your talent, but because of His love.

Final Thought

When a judge on AGT says “yes,” a dream begins. When God says “yes,” a life is reborn. And He’s saying it over you today: Yes, you are loved. Yes, you are chosen. Yes, you are forgiven. Yes, you have a future. Because AGT — Amazing God Transforms — and His transformation is the greatest act the world will ever witness.

A Clean Heart

September 29, 2026August 3, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Open Bible on wooden table with mug and plant in bright living room — Image generated via AI.

A clean house and a clean heart have more in common than we usually notice. One is physical, the other spiritual — but both reveal what we value, what we tolerate, and what we allow to accumulate. At the core, God uses the picture of a well‑kept home to teach us about the condition of our inner life.

1. Daily maintenance — because mess always returns

A clean house doesn’t stay clean by accident. Dust settles. Dishes pile up. Floors get dirty simply because life happens. The heart works the same way. We don’t drift toward holiness — we drift toward clutter.

Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).
Paul adds, “Examine yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Just like sweeping a floor, self‑examination must be regular, not occasional.

2. Hidden corners — the places no one sees

Every home has them: the junk drawer, the back closet, the room you hope guests never open. Our hearts have hidden corners too — the attitudes, habits, and secret sins we tuck away.

David prayed, “Search me, O God… see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24).
He knew that God cleans where we pretend not to look.

3. Deep cleaning — when surface cleaning isn’t enough

Sometimes a house needs more than a quick tidy. It needs a scrub, a purge, and a reset. Spiritually, this is repentance. Not just saying “sorry,” but allowing God to remove what doesn’t belong.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Repentance is God’s deep‑cleaning service — and He never leaves streaks.

4. A welcoming home — making space for God’s presence

A clean home feels peaceful, warm, and inviting. I know I feel better, calmer when our house is clean and clutter-free. A clean heart becomes a place where God delights to dwell.

Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me… We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Holiness isn’t sterile; it’s hospitable. A clean heart is a home God fills with joy, peace, and power.

5. The testimony of cleanliness — others notice

When someone walks into a clean house, they feel it. When someone encounters a clean heart, they feel that, too.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). A pure heart becomes a witness — not by perfection, but by reflection.

Key Takeaway

A clean house blesses your environment.
A clean heart blesses your entire life.

One requires effort. The other requires surrender. Both reveal what you treasure.

Prayer for a Clean Heart

Father,
I come before You with humility, asking You to do what only You can do.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Remove anything that dulls my love, clouds my mind, or clutters my soul.
Sweep away the attitudes, habits, and hidden sins that I’ve allowed to settle in the corners of my life.

Wash me with Your mercy.
Scrub my thoughts with Your truth.
Purify my motives until they reflect Your heart.
Make my life a place where Your presence feels at home.

Fill me with Your peace, Your joy, and Your holiness.
Let my heart be a testimony of Your transforming grace.
I surrender every room of my inner life to You —
clean it, reorder it, and dwell in it.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Spiritual Practice of Making Space

September 22, 2026July 8, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Yellow diamond-shaped merging traffic sign with black arrows — Image generated via AI.

Letting someone merge into traffic is such a small moment, yet it reveals something profound about the way God invites us to live. It’s one of those everyday spiritual metaphors hiding in plain sight. A reminder that the road, the journey, and grace are meant to flow freely. When you’re driving on a busy highway in Anytown, USA, and you see a car trying to merge, you have a choice. You can speed up, close the gap, and protect “your spot,” or you can tap the brakes, create space, and let them in. That tiny decision mirrors a much bigger spiritual truth: God calls us to make room for others, even when it costs us a little comfort or convenience.

Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3). Letting someone merge is humility in motion. A lived-out version of valuing another person’s need above your own momentary hurry. Think about how chaotic traffic becomes when no one wants to let anyone in. Everyone clings to their lane, their pace, their position. The result is frustration, tension, and sometimes even danger. But when one person shows grace, the whole flow changes.

Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). On the road, a peacemaker is someone who slows down and signals, “Go ahead — I’ll make room.” In life, a peacemaker is someone who creates emotional, spiritual, or relational space for others to move forward. Grace always opens a lane.

Every day, people around you are trying to merge:

Someone new at work trying to find their place
A friend navigating a difficult season
A family member seeking forgiveness
A stranger who just needs a moment of kindness

Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Honoring others means noticing their need and easing their way, even when it slightly disrupts your rhythm. Just like traffic, life flows better when we stop guarding our “spot” and start making room.

The most beautiful part of this analogy is that God modeled it before He ever asked it of us. Ephesians 2:13 reminds us that we were once far off, but God brought us near through Christ. He didn’t speed up to block us out. He didn’t guard His lane. He slowed down, opened space, and welcomed us into His family. Letting someone merge is a tiny echo of the gospel. A reminder that we were shown mercy first, so we extend mercy freely.

A Simple Prayer for the Road

Lord, help me be someone who makes space — on the road, in my relationships, and in my heart. Teach me to slow down, to notice others, and to offer grace the way You offered it to me. Amen.

Controlling Others

September 11, 2026July 3, 2026 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Angry man shouting and gesturing in middle of heavy traffic jam with cars honking — Image generated via AI.

When You Try to Control Other Drivers… and Accidentally Preach a Sermon

Let’s be honest: nothing reveals our inner theologians quite like driving in traffic. There you are, minding your own business, listening to worship music, sipping your coffee, when suddenly the driver in front of you decides to turn into a professional snail. Not a casual snail. A motivated snail. A snail with purpose.

And instantly, you become the self‑appointed Traffic Prophet of the Lord, declaring judgment upon lane drifters, brake tappers, and people who apparently believe turn signals are optional spiritual gifts. But here’s the twist: Trying to control other drivers is exactly like trying to control people in our lives — it never works, it stresses us out, and it reveals more about our hearts than theirs.

The Illusion of Dashboard Sovereignty

We grip the wheel like we’re Moses holding the staff over the Red Sea, expecting traffic to part on command. But the truth is, we have zero control over other drivers, other people’s decisions, other people’s pace, and other people’s reactions. We only control our own steering wheel — literally and spiritually. Scripture backs this up. Paul writes: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 Translation: You handle your lane. God handles theirs.

The Spiritual Traffic Jam

Trying to control people is like yelling at the car in front of you. They can’t hear you. They don’t care. And even if they could hear you, they still wouldn’t speed up. We do the same thing in relationships. “If they would just listen…” “If they would just change…” “If they would just do it my way…” But Proverbs 19:21 reminds us: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” You can plan their lane all you want — God still holds the map.

God, the Ultimate GPS

Think of God as the only GPS that actually knows what He’s doing. We, on the other hand, are the backseat drivers of the universe. “God, turn here!” “God, they need to change now!” “God, why are You letting them merge? They don’t deserve to merge!” But Isaiah 55:8–9 gently taps us on the shoulder: “My thoughts are not your thoughts…My ways are higher than your ways.” In other words: “You don’t see the whole road, buddy.”

The Freedom of Staying in Your Lane

When we stop trying to control other people, something amazing happens. Our stress drops. Our joy rises. Our relationships breathe. And we finally let God do His job. Galatians 5:22–23 says the fruit of the Spirit includes patience and self‑control — not other‑people control. Trying to control others is exhausting. Trusting God is peaceful.

Final Thought: The Holy Turn Signal

If Jesus were physically riding shotgun with us, He wouldn’t say, “Speed up and show them who’s boss.” Or, “Lay on the horn of righteousness.” And not even, “Cut them off in the name of sanctification.” He’d probably say something like, “Follow Me… and use your turn signal.” Because spiritual maturity looks a lot like driving maturity. Stay in your lane. Keep your eyes forward. Don’t chase people who cut you off. And trust the One who sees the whole road.

I am so guilty of doing both. Trying to control other drivers and, unfortunately, people, too. I have thought a lot about “why” I even try, and not saying I’m perfect- far from it- but I try really hard to get “life” right, and honestly, I think I do a pretty good job! Especially when it comes to driving. And the other part is this: I treat people the way I want to be treated. When I’m not, I get overcome with anger or, at the least, disappointment.

I have recently started, when driving, if a driver does something I don’t approve of, I have started saying, “Boy, they need God.” And then I pray for them. It’s difficult to react wrongly when you are praying. This post ministers to me a lot! I hope it helps you as well.

“Lucy”

September 8, 2026July 1, 2026 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

There are stories of regret, disappointment, failure, and grief every day. Most of them don’t become song lyrics unless they have something to do with Taylor Swift, though. Dealing with those issues in life can be difficult or challenging to say the least. Despite the story, how it affects an individual can vary, and the length of time it affects them. Some people, at least without help of any kind, may never totally get over the event.

One young couple’s experience did turn into a song. “Lucy” by Skillet. “Lucy” is about grief, regret, and the emotional aftermath of an abortion. John Cooper, of the group Skillet, later confirmed that the song tells the story of a young couple who chose abortion, then found themselves overwhelmed with sorrow, guilt, and the longing for the child they never got to meet.

What the song means at its core

The heart of “Lucy” is regret—the kind that lingers, reshapes you, and forces you to confront what can’t be undone. Cooper originally kept the meaning vague so listeners could apply it to any kind of loss, but the emotional DNA of the song is unmistakably tied to a couple’s abortion, the grief that followed, their attempt to find closure, naming the unborn child “Lucy.” The song is written like a letter or a graveside confession, where the narrator imagines the life Lucy might have had and expresses the pain of knowing those moments will never exist.

Themes woven through the lyrics

Irreversible loss — The narrator kneels at Lucy’s grave, symbolizing the finality of the decision.
Guilt and self‑reproach — Lines like “I can’t live with myself today” reflect the emotional weight of the choice.
Longing for redemption — The hope of seeing Lucy “in another life” points to spiritual healing and the desire for forgiveness.
Imagined future — The song paints a picture of the life they could have had, intensifying the grief.

Why the song resonates with so many

Even though the specific story is about abortion, Cooper emphasized that the emotions are universal: regret, mourning, wishing you could go back and choose differently. Many listeners connect it to miscarriages, breakups, death, or any moment where life took a turn they wish they could undo.

I’ve had at least one of those kinds of moments of deep regret. And sure enough, I’m always thinking if I could go back and take a different path. But my story goes that I didn’t. Only with God’s help have I learned to accept the facts. He has healed me of the hurt to myself, and I pray for the hurt of others who were caught up in the wake of my actions. Life goes on. You can’t stay in the same month and year in which the event came to a head. Accept God’s forgiveness and forgive yourself. Learn from it, and go and sin no more, as Jesus might say.

I’ve attached the lyrics of the song “Lucy” by Skillet if you would like to read them.

[Verse 1]
Hey, Lucy, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I’m in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
Got some things I need to say

[Chorus]
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’d give up all the world to see
That little piece of Heaven lookin’ back at me
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’ve got to live with the choices I made
And I can’t live with myself today

[Verse 2]
Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday
They said it’d bring some closure to say your name
I know I’d do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can’t help me make amends!

[Chorus]
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’d give up all the world to see
That little piece of Heaven lookin’ back at me
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’ve got to live with the choices I made
And I can’t live with myself today

Her Hair, Her Glory

September 4, 2026June 30, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I don’t remember when I first started noticing women’s hair. Probably about the same time, I started noticing women in general. A woman’s hairstyle says a lot about the woman, but I don’t want women reading this and feeling bad about themselves, so I won’t say any more, and I’ll let the rest of this post speak. And yes, I love my wife April’s hair!

There’s a quiet, poetic line in scripture that has shaped generations of women, and it’s often quoted but rarely explored deeply: “A woman’s hair is her glory.” (1 Corinthians 11:15) While this verse is in the New Testament, it echoes the spirit of Proverbs, a book that celebrates wisdom, dignity, and the beauty of a woman who walks with God. When Proverbs speaks of a woman’s honor, strength, and virtue, it paints a picture of someone crowned not just with physical beauty but with spiritual radiance.

In biblical culture, hair represented identity, dignity, femininity, strength, and honor. It was a crown, not made of gold, but given by God Himself. Paul writes: “If a woman has long hair, it is her glory.” (1 Corinthians 11:15)

This isn’t about legalism or appearance standards. It’s about symbolism. Hair is one of the few parts of the body that grows naturally into a crown shape, flowing, framing, and adorning. It’s a reminder that God designed women with intentional beauty, inside and out. Proverbs echoes this theme: “Strength and dignity are her clothing” (Proverbs 31:25). A woman’s hair may be her visible crown, but her character is her invisible one.

Culture obsesses over hair. Color, length, texture, style. But God sees deeper. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) In other words, hair may be her crowning glory, but reverence for God is her eternal glory. God delights in the whole woman. Her heart, her spirit, her story, not just her appearance.

In scripture, hair often symbolizes covering. A sign of God’s protection and blessing. Just as hair covers the head, God covers the life of a woman who walks with Him: “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4)

A woman’s hair becomes a metaphor for the way God adorns her life with grace, protection, identity, and purpose. It’s not vanity; it’s value. Every woman knows what it feels like when life tries to “cut” her glory: harsh words, broken relationships, insecurity, comparison, shame, trauma, and rejection. But God restores what life tries to take. “He gives beauty for ashes.” (Isaiah 61:3)

Even when a woman feels stripped, God crowns her again, not with hair alone, but with honor, healing, and hope. Proverbs 31 describes a woman whose glory shines far beyond her appearance:

She is wise (Proverbs 31:26)
She is strong (Proverbs 31:17)
She is generous (Proverbs 31:20)
She is confident (Proverbs 31:25)
She is valued (Proverbs 31:28)

Her hair may be her crown, but her life is her testimony. Her beauty is not just worn; it’s lived.

Final Thought

A woman’s hair is her crowning glory, but it is only a reflection of the greater glory God has placed within her. Her true crown is: her faith, her wisdom, her courage, her compassion, and her identity in Christ. God sees every strand, every tear, every triumph, every scar, and He calls her glorious.