People sometimes think it is easier to have faith than not to. That once you believe, everything becomes clear and simple. But anyone who has really walked with God knows that faith is not easy. Faith is not a shortcut around pain. It is a decision to stand firm when everything around you is shaking.
Jesus said, “Pick up your cross and follow me.” That is not a slogan for comfort. It is an invitation to carry something heavy. Faith is not just believing when life feels light. It is trusting when life gets dark.
I remember when my wife and I found out we were having twins. It was one of the most exciting moments of our lives. Not long after, we learned that one of the twins would have Down syndrome. I will never forget that moment. The air felt heavy. The doctor’s words hung in the room. Then came the looks of concern, the quiet suggestions, the questions about our future.
But my wife and I did not flinch. We knew what God had entrusted us with. We believed this child was not a mistake but a miracle. That is the burden of faith, to believe that even when life takes a turn you did not expect, God’s hand is still guiding the story.
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The Selfless Way: Leading from Behind
When I was younger, I wanted to be everywhere. I served on every board, every committee, every community effort that needed a hand. It felt good to help. It also felt good to be seen helping. Before long, my name started showing up in the news. Interviews, photos, headlines. It seemed like people noticed every move I made.
Then one day, my boss called me into her office. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “If you end up in one more magazine or in another story, that will be a problem.”
I remember walking out thinking I understood. I told myself I would lay low for a while. Then, about a month later, a business publication I had spoken to months earlier released an issue. There I was, on the cover. I had no idea it was coming, but it came. And let’s just say, my boss never forgot.
That experience could have made me retreat, but it also became a mirror, showing me what leadership should not be, and later, what it could be.
That experience taught me a hard but important lesson. Leadership is not always about being in front. Sometimes leading from behind means understanding when your visibility becomes a distraction. It means learning that the goal is not to be the headline, but to help others rise to the moment.
Leading from behind is not passive. It requires strength, patience, and wisdom. It is the difference between pushing people to follow and guiding them to grow.
GOOD NEWS ACROSS THE NATION
1. The Bakery That Became a Blessing
In Colorado, a mom named Eileen Snyder did something beautiful in the middle of rising costs and reduced SNAP benefits. She paused her small bread business and turned her front porch into a weekly community pantry, giving away fresh loaves and groceries to families who were struggling. No big nonprofit. No spotlight. Just a woman with flour on her hands and compassion in her heart. It is a reminder that God does not need grand stages. He moves through ordinary kitchens and everyday kindness.
Source: People Magazine
2. A County That Starts With Listening
In Midland County, Michigan, a community organization launched a simple but powerful project by asking teens, adults, and seniors what helps them thrive. Not what is wrong with them, but what is strong in them. They are calling it Assets Across the Lifespan, and it is about understanding people before trying to fix them. That is a posture Jesus modeled often. Listening first. Loving first. Seeing the person before the problem.
Source: OurMidland.com
3. A New HOPE Walk for Youth Without Homes
In Jacksonville, Illinois, neighbors came together for a Star Wars themed A New HOPE walk to shine light on youth homelessness. It included costumes, community joy, and compassionate conversation as people walked side by side. At its heart, it was a community saying, You are not invisible. You are not forgotten. Faith in the everyday does not always look like a sermon. Sometimes it looks like a creative and hope filled walk down a city street.
Source: MyJournalCourier.com
4. Grassroots Family Thanksgiving for Truckers
In Grand Junction, Colorado, a family turned what would have been their own Thanksgiving dinner into a heartfelt thank you meal for truckers spending the holiday on the road. They cooked, packed, and delivered warm plates to drivers who often go unnoticed, especially during the holiday season. Faith often appears in small and generous gestures, especially when we choose to serve the people who quietly keep the world moving. This is the heart of faith in the everyday.
Source: Sunny Skyz
The Family Table: God in the Ordinary
This weekend, before everyone rushes off to their phones or the next activity, take a few minutes at the table to ask one question:
“Where did you see God this week?”
You might be surprised by what you hear.
Maybe your child saw kindness in a teacher. Maybe your spouse saw grace in a hard conversation. Maybe you will realize you saw God in your own small act of courage.
Faith grows not just in church pews but around kitchen tables, in stories shared, in gratitude spoken, and in laughter that echoes like prayer.