When most people think of “the good life,” they picture vacations, peaceful moments, or a stretch of days when everything seems to go their way. But what if I told you the good life isn’t just reserved for a few fleeting moments? What if it’s possible to live the good life every single day—even when life feels anything but good? You might say, “Impossible!” But I say, “Very possible—and even doable!” Here’s the truth: God never intended for His people to just survive from crisis to crisis. He designed us to thrive. Not only in the peaceful seasons of life, but also in the storms. Not only when the path is smooth, but even when it’s uphill and rocky. The Bible gives us a powerful picture: the palm tree. It doesn’t grow in perfect conditions. It grows in deserts. It grows near saltwater. It bends in hurricanes—but it doesn’t break. And even under pressure, it thrives. Friend, you may feel like you’re in a drought right now. You may be facing storms that no one else sees. But the same God who created the palm tree created you. And He has promised that those who are planted in Him will flourish. “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” – Psalm 92:12-13 This isn’t about pretending everything is okay. It’s about learning how to live fully and faithfully, even when life is hard. It’s about walking with God in such a way that peace, purpose, and joy become the norm—not the exception. Because no matter what season you’re in—whether still waters or scorching desert—you were made to thrive.
Pain. It's a simple word in English, but it carries the weight of the world. We use one word—pain—to describe everything from a stubbed toe to a broken heart. And while physical pain is real and often debilitating, many of us know that emotional and mental pain can run even deeper. We live with the scars of broken relationships, the ache of loss, the crushing guilt of past mistakes, and the haunting weight of regret. Pain surrounds us—seen and unseen. And when you're in pain, all you want is relief. Something, anything, to make it stop. That’s human. That’s natural. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: Where am I running to escape my pain? In May of 2017, during a quiet moment of personal prayer, the Lord impressed something deeply on my heart. It was the beginning of what would become a powerful message series called “ Painkillers .” At first, I assumed—like many of us would—that this message would center on substance abuse. After all, we are in the middle of a drug epidemic. Overdose deaths continue to rise. The crisis is so widespread that our nation has declared it a public health emergency. But God showed me something bigger. Not everyone runs to pills or alcohol to dull their pain. Many of us run to other, less obvious—but equally destructive—painkillers. We escape into isolation. We pursue toxic relationships. We numb ourselves with work, entertainment, food, or unhealthy independence. We shut down emotionally. We pretend. We self-medicate with approval, perfectionism, busyness, or control. These painkillers may look different from addiction on the outside, but they often lead to the same kind of devastation on the inside. Over time, I identified seven common but unhealthy painkillers that people use to cope. And as I talked with more people, I realized—none of us are immune. Nearly everyone I spoke with admitted they had used one or more of these in their own journey through hurt and heartache. Here's the truth: these painkillers don’t heal you. They only mask the symptoms. And eventually, they add more pain to the very wounds you're trying to escape. This isn’t about condemnation. It’s about freedom. It's not about behavior modification—it's about heart transformation. God sees you. He loves you. He has not forgotten you. Long before your pain began, God had a plan to carry you through it. Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV) reminds us, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you...” That same God is still present today. And He doesn't want to just numb your pain— He wants to take it. Jesus is not just a Painkiller. He’s your Pain Taker.