FaithWear Ministry Scroll—January 23, 2026

So many of us have lived—and are still living—anchored in religious weights that we never recognized as burdens because they were handed to us wrapped in language that sounded holy. These weights do not come from Christ; they come from the systems we inherited, the expectations we absorbed, and the fears we never questioned. Jesus said, “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men,” revealing how easily tradition can overshadow truth. Without realizing it, we learned to carry pressures that were never ours to carry. We learned to measure ourselves by standards God never set. We learned to protect images God never asked us to uphold. We learned to perform for acceptance instead of resting in identity.

And in that performance, we became rigid—rigid in our thinking, rigid in our responses, rigid in our expectations of others. Scripture says, “Love is patient and kind… it is not easily angered,” yet rigidity makes us harsh and easily provoked. The Word teaches, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,” but rigidity makes us quick to react and slow to understand. When Jesus looked at the crowds, “He was moved with compassion for them,” yet rigidity blinds us to compassion. This is why Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Anything heavy, crushing, or suffocating did not come from Him. When the heart is anchored in Christ, it becomes soft, patient, gentle, and discerning. When the heart is anchored in religion, it becomes guarded, harsh, defensive, and easily offended. And the tragedy is this: religion pushes away the very people we are called to love, even though Jesus commanded, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Everything in the kingdom has a process, and our walk with Him is no different. God does not rush formation; He reveals it step by step. Scripture says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Jesus told us plainly, “In this world you will have tribulation,” yet He also said, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.” The way to overcome without being swallowed by the weight of your own troubles is to follow the map God has already laid out—the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Peter wrote, “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” His Word becomes the lamp to our feet and the light to our path. When we walk according to His pattern, we are not crushed by our burdens; we are carried through them, for the Lord says, “Fear not, for I am with you; I will strengthen you, I will help you.”

As children of God, we are commanded to live in the Spirit, by the Spirit, through His Word, and in alignment with His will. Scripture says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Paul wrote, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” The Word declares, “All Scripture is breathed out by God… that the man of God may be complete.” When His Word governs us, the flesh loses its power, the Spirit gains full expression, and Christ becomes manifest in the way we live, think, love, and walk. John wrote, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

We must learn to live our lives as children who come into the world as a blank slate—children who look up to their parents for love, survival, protection, warmth, and identity. Jesus said, “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” A child does not lead; a child follows. “The Lord is my Shepherd; He leads me beside still waters.” A child does not define themselves; they receive identity from the one who formed them. Scripture says, “We are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” In the same way, we must look to Christ for everything: for direction, for truth, for safety, for nourishment, and for identity. The Word says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make straight your paths.” When we approach God with the simplicity, humility, and dependence of a child, our hearts become teachable, our steps become aligned, and our lives become shaped by the One who knows the way.

In my own experience raising my four‑year‑old granddaughter, the Lord began to show me how easily pathways can be formed in a child’s heart—pathways that can grow far larger than we ever intended. Scripture says, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” For a moment, I caught myself building structures that demanded discipline and obedience, believing these were the pillars she needed. But children do not always follow every instruction we set before them, and the Word warns, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” Through that moment, the Lord revealed something far greater than parenting—He revealed how all hearts, young or old, are shaped. He reminded me that love transcends all things. “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” And just as He meets us where we are—“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him”—we must learn to meet others where they are. A heart, whether four years old or forty, is shaped not by pressure, but by presence. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Not by strictness, but by compassion. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Through that encounter, the Lord reminded me that transformation flows from relationship, not rigidity. “We love because He first loved us.” And this is the posture He calls each of us to carry toward every person entrusted to our lives.

And sometimes the need to be right, the need to be heard, or the need to prove our righteousness can push children and relatives away. Scripture says, “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.” When our desire to enforce rules becomes stronger than our desire to understand hearts, we create an atmosphere where people feel controlled rather than loved. Sometimes we speak too sharply, forgetting that “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Sometimes we enforce too rigidly, becoming like those of whom Jesus said, “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders.” And when we remove the space God Himself gives us, we unintentionally create the ground where division, resentment, and pain take root. Scripture warns, “See to it that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble.” Anything that operates outside true love and grace becomes a sowing ground for separation. “Let all that you do be done in love.” Love invites. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Grace guides. “The grace of God… teaches us to live self‑controlled, upright, and godly lives.” But self‑righteousness and rigidity close doors that only compassion can reopen. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?”

Throughout life, many of us unknowingly live in cycles like these—cycles where pain recycles itself and the shadows of division within the family linger unresolved. Scripture says, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder.” Patterns repeat because hearts remain unhealed, and the Word declares, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Words are spoken before they are surrendered, yet Scripture warns, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking.” Before one speaks, one must first lay the matter before Christ, for the Word says, “In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” In His presence, you discern whether the issue even needs to be addressed, because “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.” And if it must be addressed, Christ will already have given you the clarity and posture needed so that what comes out of your mouth becomes light instead of pain. Scripture says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” Much of what we call “correction” is still tradition cloaked in righteousness, just as Jesus said, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” We do not have to speak everything we see. “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise.” We do not have to correct every flaw we notice. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is lift it up in prayer and let God deal with it, for “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” And if you must speak, refine it first through Christ so that your words carry healing instead of harm. “Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Examine everything and look closely at your life: does what you do and what you say truly reflect Christ, magnifying His love and His grace? Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Examine yourself and see if Christ is fully anchored in you, for the Word says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” Do you lift up everything to Him—from the smallest irritation to the greatest crisis? Scripture says, “Pray without ceasing.” Do you praise Him even in hardship? Habakkuk declared, “Though the fig tree should not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” When something feels heavy in your heart, do you come to Him first? “Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Or do you rehearse the pain before others? “A fool gives full vent to his spirit.” Are you big on complaining about what others have done to you, or are you big on lifting them up in prayer? Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Do you gossip first, or do you come to God first in every unraveling of your day and season? Scripture says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

Question everything and lift up everything. Just because you think you saw something, or just because a thought came dawning on you, does not mean it is right. Scripture reminds us, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Develop the habit of pausing instead of releasing whatever unravels in the moment, for “Good sense makes one slow to anger.” Develop the discipline of consulting the Lord before you stand on any ground of belief, because “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make straight your paths.” Rest everything in Him so that your heart may be forged into His likeness, for “Those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” And everything about you becomes a source of light rather than reaction, for the Word says, “Shine as lights in the world.” When you pause, when you surrender, when you lift it up first, you allow Christ—not impulse, not emotion, not assumption—to shape your response. Scripture says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” This is how you become a vessel of clarity, not confusion; of grace, not judgment; of light, not shadow. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

BENEDICTION

May the Lord, who calls you into His rest, steady your heart in His unshakable peace. Scripture says, “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,” and “Whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works.” May His Spirit strengthen every weak place, refine every hidden desire, and illuminate every path before you. May you walk in the joy of belonging to Christ, just as the apostles rejoiced that “they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.” May His love be your foundation, His truth your compass, His Spirit your strength, and His presence your home. And may the new you—the Christ‑formed you—rise in fullness, authority, and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.