Life is hard and full of trouble. In many ways, Christians face more difficulty than non-believers. Jesus told his disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We face opposition and persecution because we follow Christ, for “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter reinforced this hard reality:

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12–13).

We also endure the special attention of Satan’s attacks and temptations: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Likewise, Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The troubles of this life are not merely human in origin. We contend with forces beyond what we can see.

The Unique Furnaces of Leadership

Leaders face the normal troubles of this life and must endure the fiery furnaces unique to leadership. Shakespeare understood this, which is why he wrote, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”1 As leaders, we face many furnaces through which we must pass and lead.

I refuse to allow technology to train me to skim rather than read, to steal my ability to think and concentrate, or to control my attention and focus.

This time of year invites reflection on the past twelve months and planning for the next. We take inventory and ask what we did well and where we might improve. We resolve to be better and do better. Many make New Year's resolutions, some written, others held as mental goals. Whether recorded on paper or kept in the mind, these resolutions aim toward becoming a better version of ourselves. They seek to close the gap between who we know we ought to be and who we find ourselves to be, between what we ought to do and what we actually do. We are like Paul: "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15).

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

He made all the right decisions. He dated slowly, chose wisely, did everything I asked of him in pre-marital counseling, and despite all his wise choices, his wife left him just months into the marriage.

She made all the right decisions. Three job offers were on the table. Her knowledge and ability was recognized by everyone. She prayed, sought wise counsel, and made the best decision she knew to make. Within the year the company failed and she was without a job.

There is a common assumption regarding God’s will. It’s the belief that success is the ultimate sign of choosing correctly. It’s the belief that if you make a decision which honors God, God will honor you with success. It’s a dangerous assumption.

I hear it as people are:

Everyone desires a life marked by satisfaction and peace of mind. Contentment offers precisely this: a settled satisfaction that arises from gratitude for what God has provided and trust in what He has promised. As we prepare our Thanksgiving tables with abundance, tradition, and fellowship, it is easy to overlook the one virtue that gives meaning to it all: contentment.

Contentment is one of the keys to living a life of inner calm and lasting satisfaction.

An Open Letter to Parents:

One of my fondest memories as a father was watching my young daughters open their gifts on Christmas morning. One Christmas in particular stands out. We had hidden a ten-week-old Golden Retriever puppy and tried to keep him quiet on Christmas Eve until the big reveal. The joy on my daughters’ faces when they received that gift is something I will never forget.

As wonderful as that moment was, I want to encourage you to give your children an even greater gift—a gift that will last them a lifetime.

Bob Smithfield felt his stomach tighten as another heated email from Mrs. Johnson appeared in his inbox. He stared at the screen, his stress building with every line. What began as a routine academic issue, Emma plagiarizing an English assignment, had escalated into a series of increasingly hostile emails attacking the teacher’s character and the motives of several staff members.

In her messages, Mrs. Johnson accused the teacher of “dishonesty,” “bullying,” and “humiliating and publicly shaming” her daughter. She claimed Emma was treated unfairly compared to other students and suggested this difference was due to “race, gender, or both.” According to her, the school had systematically targeted her daughter, leading to serious anxiety.

The facts told a different story. Emma had a documented history of academic dishonesty involving multiple incidents. She was currently under a behavioral contract that specifically addressed her pattern of lying and manipulation. The plagiarism incident was not isolated. It fit a troubling pattern in which Emma created false narratives to avoid consequences for dishonest behavior and incomplete work.

Bob now faced a familiar challenge in Christian school leadership: how to uphold truth and grace in a conflict that had grown increasingly hostile, while supporting and protecting a teacher who had acted rightly and responded to personal attacks with professionalism. Mrs. Johnson’s accusations were false, yet she remained a relentless and often hostile advocate for her daughter. The documented facts pointed instead to a student struggling with persistent dishonesty, reinforced by a parent who deflected blame and failed to address the root issues.

The situation had reached a critical point. Bob knew the time had come for a difficult conversation, one that might restore a healthy partnership or result in the family’s withdrawal. The conflict before him demanded courage to speak the truth plainly, with love and wisdom.

Although he had previously emailed Mrs. Johnson to request a meeting, she had not responded. Recognizing that the matter could no longer be left unaddressed, for the sake of the teacher, the staff, and the student, Bob composed a firm but professional message: