If we want to follow Jesus, we must go where he went—to the margins, to the suffering, to the ones the world overlooks. This is more than an invitation; it’s a command.

Jesus did not come to condemn you—He came to save you. The Holy Spirit convicts, but He does not condemn. If the voice you hear is telling you that you are hopeless, that you are beyond redemption, that is not God speaking. That is the enemy, and he wants nothing more than to keep you trapped in despair.

About six months after leaving my first wife, the full weight of what I had done came crashing down on me. The guilt and shame of my choices left me emotionally and spiritually crippled. I felt hopeless in a way I had never known before.

One thing we can safely assume is that they have encountered suffering—either personally or through the brokenness they see in the world. Pain and loss touch every human life. And while the world offers countless ways to distract or numb that pain, it can never truly heal it. Only the gospel provides real hope.

“Dust you are, and to dust you will return.”

These were the words I heard over and over again at Ash Wednesday Mass. As I walked to the front, the woman distributing the ashes traced the sign of the cross on my forehead and spoke them again.

In the face of suffering, here is the only thing I know to do: to trust that God is good, even when I don’t understand.

But pride doesn’t just manifest in self-righteousness—it can also take hold in failure. This form of pride is much harder to recognize because, on the surface, it appears to come from a place of humility. Someone acknowledges their shortcomings, yet they begin to believe that their failure uniquely qualifies them as an expert in helping others with the same struggle.

Lately, as I’ve been writing blogs and recording podcasts about my past failures, one thought has weighed heavily on my mind: How do I acknowledge the victims of my mistakes while telling my story?

Kobe was willing to teach, but not everyone was willing to learn. Don’t let pride keep you from leveling up. Seek out mentors, trust the process, and put in the work.

Many saints endured great trials, some resulting from their own sins and failures. Yet, when they turned back to the Lord, they found hope. Even in their darkest moments, God remained faithful.

One such story is that of Saint Mary of Edessa and her uncle, Saint Abraham Kidunaia.