Faith in Practice: Episode 30: Do you want to feel better or get better?

In this episode, Kurt Kessler shares a deeply personal story about navigating hurt and pride through a faith-driven lens. Moving beyond simply feeling better, he emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth, humility, and authentic accountability. It's a guide to transforming emotional pain into opportunity for spiritual refinement.Key Topics:The difference between feeling better and getting better in a spiritual contextRecognizing pride as a barrier to growth and how Satan exploits itThe importance of community and accountability in spiritual developmentHow Scripture, specifically Matthew 16:24–25, guides us to deny ourselves and embrace transformationThe role of humility and truth in sharpening one’s characterPractical steps to seek honest feedback and correction from trusted believersThe significance of aligning identity with Christ rather than self-prideTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Emotions deeply felt and the struggle with unhealthy responses00:33 - Personal story of hurt and the tendency to bury feelings01:01 - The shift toward sharing with accountability rather than hiding01:30 - The importance of seeking truth, not just validation01:57 - Gratitude for God-placed men of faith for spiritual growth02:28 - The distinction between feeling better and truly getting better02:55 - The role of community in correction and encouragement03:23 - How Satan uses pride to distort our emotions and thoughts03:53 - The biblical perspective: Matthew 16:24–25 and denying self04:23 - The power of accountability and spiritual sharpening04:52 - Recognizing pride as a spiritual attack and resisting it05:20 - Scripture as a foundation for identity and transformation in Christ05:31 - Embracing death to self as a form of spiritual refinement05:59 - Returning to Scripture as the true source of identity and growth06:27 - The value of seeking honest, sometimes tough, truth from trusted believers06:47 - Closing encouragement: humility and community are keys to true growth and transformationConnect with Kurt:Instagram