Author: Derrick Hurst (Page 6 of 150)

I am husband to Carrie, dad to Matthew, Lucas, and Natalie. I have a desire to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus. My personal mission is to move people forward in their faith life.

Saying Yes Changes Everything

December 1, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Yesterday we kicked off Advent with a deep dive into Luke 1:26-38. You know the story. Mary, a teenage girl from a nowhere town called Nazareth, gets the shock of her life when an angel tells her she’s been chosen to carry the Savior of the world. Yeah, that Mary.

Here’s the kicker: Mary had zero qualifications. No royal bloodline. No political connections. No resume that screamed, “I’m ready to be a world-changer.” Just a quiet life, a lot of questions, and a giant, terrifying call.

But God didn’t pick someone likely. He picked someone available.

Why Mary’s story is a punch in the face to our excuses

How often do we sit on the sidelines because we think we’re not enough? Not skilled enough, not bold enough, not experienced enough? Mary is the ultimate “Hold my beer” moment in the Bible. She’s God’s way of saying, “Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for perfect. Just show up.”

When the angel shows up, Mary doesn’t get a detailed step-by-step plan. She doesn’t get all the answers or guarantees. She just says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Now that’s faith.

Here’s your Monday challenge

Look at your week ahead. What’s the call you’ve been pretending not to hear? What’s the opportunity that feels too big or too scary? Whatever it is, remember God’s calling doesn’t come to the “most qualified.” It comes to the available. The willing. The ready to say “yes” even when the path is uncertain.

So what’s stopping you? Fear? Doubt? That little voice telling you you’re not enough? It’s a lie. All of it! Mary was essentially just a kid. If God can work through her, He can absolutely work through you.

This week, don’t just hope for change. Step into it. Say yes to the impossible. Step out of your comfort zone. Be the unexpected hero God is calling you to be. The world doesn’t need perfect. It needs you showing up and doing what only you can do.

Get uncomfortable. Get brave. Get moving. Your ‘yes’ could be the spark that changes everything.

Ready to stop waiting and start living your calling? Share your “yes” this week in the comments. Let’s fuel each other’s courage to be the unlikely heroes God is raising up right now.

What Bourbon Teaches About Life

November 26, 2025 / / 0 Comments

There’s something almost sacred about the way a good bourbon is made. Not rushed. Not hurried. Not microwaved or sped up or forced through shortcuts. Just time, patience, the right environment, and a process that refuses to be cheated.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the best things in life take time and how often we try to rush the very moments meant to shape us.

The Unhurried Art of Bourbon

Take bourbon, for example. You can’t fake the aging process. You can’t speed-mature character into the liquid. Bourbon becomes bourbon because it rests, because it spends years in oak barrels absorbing flavor, depth, and identity from seasons of heat, cold, pressure, and change.

Life isn’t all that different.

We go through seasons of heat and seasons of chill. Moments of pressure and times of release. Chapters where everything expands and chapters where everything contracts. Every one of those seasons is meant to shape us, deepen us, and mature us into who God designed us to be.

But here’s the catch: you can’t rush maturity.

You can rush tasks. You can rush schedules. You can rush decisions. But you cannot rush character.

When we speed through the hard stuff, when we numb the pain, when we dodge the lesson, we rob ourselves of the slow aging that produces wisdom, courage, compassion, and resilience.

A Bourbon Worth Sipping: Four Roses Single Barrel

One of the bottles that reminds me of this truth is Four Roses Single Barrel. It’s a bourbon that refuses to hide its story.

Pour a glass and you’ll notice:

  • The nose: warm vanilla, hints of caramel, a gentle floral sweetness, and a little spice that almost waves hello before settling in.
  • The palate: layers of ripe fruit, honey, oak, a smidge of cinnamon, and a long, smooth finish that doesn’t hurry to leave.

It’s a bourbon with character not because someone engineered it quickly, but because it was allowed to become something worth savoring.

On a scale of 1–5, I’d give Four Roses Single Barrel a solid 4. It’s reliable, flavorful, and balanced… the kind of pour that reminds you that patience produces depth.

Slow Down and Let Life Season You

If bourbon teaches us anything, it’s this: Your life is aging into something rich and meaningful but only if you let it.

The seasons you’d rather skip? They’re the very ones adding depth.

The experiences you wish would hurry up and end? They might be shaping compassion you’ll need later.

The frustrations, the waiting, the unanswered prayers, the stretches where God feels quiet…Those are all part of your barrel time.

You are becoming. Just not at the speed you wish.

Take It Slow On Purpose

Maybe today’s invitation is simple:

  • Sit in the moment instead of sprinting past it.
  • Let the lesson settle instead of resisting it.
  • Allow God to work at the unhurried pace of transformation.

Good bourbon takes years. Good character takes a lifetime.

And both are worth the wait.

So tonight, if you pour a glass of something rich and warm, maybe pause long enough to ask:

“What is God aging in me right now?”

Because you might just find that the slowest seasons are the ones producing the deepest flavor in your life.

Cheers to patience, to growth, and to becoming who you were crafted to be.

Why Losing Focus Is Killing Your Mission

November 25, 2025 / / 0 Comments

When a person, a church, or any organization loses focus, it’s not just a minor slip-up, it’s a wrecking ball that smashes everything around them. If your goal is to help people grow and thrive in life and leadership, but all you do is shape them to fit your personal preferences, congratulations you’re not cultivating leaders, you’re making clones. Boring, lifeless copies with zero originality.

The church exists to make disciples real, passionate, life-changing disciples – not to obsess over boards, budgets, or butts in seats. When your priorities are stuck on numbers and committees instead of people’s souls, you’re not doing the work of God. You’re acting like the very religious folks Jesus called out in the New Testament who were more focused on appearances and power than on love and truth.

If you say you care about people but live like dollars rule your world, you’re sending a message louder than any sermon ever could. You don’t actually care.

So here’s the hard truth: Losing focus isn’t a small mistake. It’s spiritual malpractice. It’s a betrayal of the mission. And it’s why so many people check out not because they don’t need the church, but because the church stopped needing them.

Refocus or fold. Because discipleship is messy. It’s uncomfortable. It demands sacrifice. But anything less? It’s just cloning, and cloning is dead.

Grateful for the Little Stuff

November 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Let’s be honest how often do we catch ourselves griping about the little things? The slow Wi-Fi, the slightly burnt toast, the coffee that’s “just not quite right”? Yeah, those things. We act like the world is ending because our favorite show buffers for two seconds or because the line at Starbucks is one person too long.

But here’s the kicker: those “small” annoyances? They’re actually the stuff of life we really value.

I mean think about it. The Wi-Fi only matters because you’re connected to people you love or work you care about. That “not quite right” coffee is still warm in your hands and sometimes, that’s a miracle. And the line at Starbucks? It means you’re breathing, moving, living in a world full of people who also need their caffeine fix to survive Monday.

We take these things for granted. We complain like life is about to unravel when what’s really happening is this: we have what we need. The roof over our heads, food on the table, a phone in our pocket, and yes even imperfect coffee.

So today, let’s be bold enough to say thank you for the small stuff. For the mess, the glitches, the delays, and the little inconveniences. Because those things remind us we’re alive, we’re human, and we’re blessed in ways we often don’t even notice.

And hey if your toast burns, maybe that’s just the universe’s way of telling you to slow down and enjoy a second cup of coffee. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time to embrace the chaos with a grateful heart and a little laugh.

Gratitude isn’t about waiting for the big wins. It’s about finding joy in the crumbs.

Thankful for People Who Drive Me Crazy

November 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Gratitude comes easy when life feels calm. When the people around us make us laugh, listen when we speak, or quietly show up when we need them – it’s not hard to be thankful.

But gratitude gets complicated when people hurt us. When they misunderstand us. When they drain us.

There are people in all our lives who test our patience. Who push our buttons. And who make relationships feel more like work than blessing. And yet, if I’m honest, those people have been some of my greatest teachers.

Because the truth is, God uses difficult people to expose the rough edges in me. They shine a light on things like pride, impatience, parts of my heart that still need His grace. They show me how much I still need forgiveness. They remind me that love isn’t just a feeling. Love is a choice.

Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV) That “all circumstances” includes the messy relationships. The uncomfortable conversations. The disappointments that sting deeper than we’d like to admit.

Being thankful for difficult people doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine.
It means learning to see God’s hand at work even in the friction. It’s believing He’s forming something in me through it all.

Sometimes the people who frustrate us most are the very ones God uses to grow compassion, humility, and endurance. They remind us that grace isn’t just a word we preach. It’s a daily practice we live.

So today, I’m trying to thank God not just for the people who make life easy, but also for the ones who make me pray a little more, think a little deeper, and love a little harder.

Because they’re part of how He makes me more like Jesus.

The Power of Coaching in Personal Growth

November 20, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Diagram illustrating the difference between mentoring, counseling, and coaching for personal and spiritual growth.

Understanding where coaching fits in life and ministry — and why it uniquely unlocks potential.

When people hear the word coaching, they often confuse it with mentoring or counseling. And that’s understandable because all three involve guidance, support, and personal growth. But they’re not the same, and understanding the difference matters if you want to use each effectively in life or leadership development.

Mentoring is usually about experience. A mentor shares wisdom, often from their own journey, to help you navigate similar paths. Think of it as “Here’s what worked for me, and here’s what I’ve learned.”

Counseling is about healing. A counselor helps you work through emotional, psychological, or relational challenges. They function as guides to help you process trauma, resolve conflict, or regain mental and emotional balance.

Coaching is different. Coaching is about unlocking potential. It’s not about giving answers or telling you what to do. It’s about asking the right questions, helping you see blind spots, and empowering you to take action that aligns with your goals, values, and calling. Ultimately coaching is about what’s already in your life.

I’ve experienced this difference firsthand. Mentors have modeled wisdom for me. Counselors have helped me process life’s difficult moments. But coaching has been the space where I step back, reflect, and discover my own next steps even when they weren’t obvious.

I’ve also seen it work in ministry: helping pastors, leaders, and followers of Jesus clarify priorities, see opportunities for growth, and take responsibility for change without being “told what to do.”

Coaching works because it’s relational and intentional. It honors your agency while guiding you toward clarity and progress. It’s about asking, “What do you see? What matters most? What’s your next step?” rather than “Here’s the answer.”

That subtle shift makes all the difference because real growth happens when people own it themselves.

Understanding these distinctions also matters for ministry. Leaders who can mentor, counsel, and coach in their respective contexts provide holistic support without blurring roles. Coaching becomes a tool to help others step into their God-given potential without dependency, a discipline that fosters both accountability and transformation.

At the heart of it, coaching is an invitation: to pause, reflect, and act intentionally. It’s about creating space for insight, growth, and action not giving all the answers, but helping people discover the ones that are already inside them.

Call-to-Action (CTA)

Reflect this week: Where in your life could mentoring, counseling, or coaching help you grow? Which approach fits your current need most?

When Wisdom Comes From Unexpected Places

November 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Some of the best lessons in life don’t show up in classrooms, books, or seminars. Sometimes they arrive in the strangest places like the quiet moment when you’re slowly sipping a glass of bourbon. I know some of you will never acquire a taste. Others don’t think it’s right for a pastor to have a glass of bourbon. I understand. But there is a serious almost sacred moment that can happen when you slow down enough to enjoy a quiet sip.

There’s something about holding that glass, feeling the weight of it, watching the amber swirl in the light, and taking a slow, deliberate sip that reminds me of life’s deeper rhythms. Bourbon isn’t a quick drink. It isn’t meant to be rushed, chugged, or tossed back on the fly. It makes you slow down. It forces you to pay attention.

And honestly? Most of us need that more than we admit.

The Strength of Taste and the Potency of Life

A good bourbon has strength. Not the kind that knocks you over, but the kind that reminds you it’s alive. You taste the heat, the depth, the boldness and mixed within all of that is subtlety, sweetness, and complexity.

Life is the same way.

Some seasons hit hard. Some carry heat. Some surprise you with unexpected sweetness. Some seasons burn going down but still leave you stronger on the other side. The stronger the season, the more potent the lesson if we’re willing to take it slow enough to recognize what it’s teaching us.

But that’s the challenge, isn’t it?
We move too fast.
We power through.
We miss the flavor of the moment because we’re already sprinting toward the next thing.

The Aging Process Matters

Every bourbon worth drinking has spent years in a barrel resting, absorbing, changing, deepening. It ages through cold winters and blistering summers. The shifts in temperature expand and contract the wood, pulling flavor into the liquid that cannot come any other way.

The same is true with us.

We grow through seasons of pressure and expansion, seasons of contraction and quiet, seasons of change we didn’t ask for and seasons of blessings we didn’t see coming. You can’t cheat the process. Maturity takes time. Wisdom takes repetition. Character takes slow, deep work.

Bourbon reminds me that time isn’t the enemy. Rushing is.

Forced Slow Downs

We all know what it feels like to be forced to slow down. A health scare. A moment of exhaustion. A spiritual dry season. A relationship strain. A setback we didn’t see coming. At first those moments frustrate us, but sometimes they are exactly what we need to regain clarity. Just like bourbon forces you to pause, savor, and breathe.

Those forced slow downs often teach the lessons we were too busy to learn on our own.

A New Series: Lessons In A Glass

This post kicks off a new series: Lessons In A Glass – reflections on faith, life, leadership, and the unexpected wisdom hidden in the slow craft of a good pour.

No gimmicks. No clichés.
Just the simple reminder that God often teaches us through ordinary things including a glass of something warm and strong at the end of a long day.

So pour gently. Sip slowly. Pay attention.
There’s more inside that glass and inside your life than you think.

More to come. Cheers.

Gratitude in Difficult Relationships

November 18, 2025 / / 1 Comment

If we’re honest, it’s easy to be thankful for the people who make life fun. The friend who shows up with coffee. The spouse who still laughs at your dad jokes. The coworker who actually does their job.

But what about the ones who make your eye twitch? Who get on that last nerve?

You know the person. They’re the one who always has to be right. It’s the relative who still thinks it’s funny to bring up politics at Thanksgiving. The neighbor who somehow blows their leaves directly into your yard.

Yeah… those people.

Here’s the thing: gratitude isn’t just about warm fuzzies. It’s about seeing God’s grace in the people who test your patience the most. Because every person in your life, even the difficult ones, are part of how God shapes you.

When Paul wrote “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), he didn’t add a footnote that said, “except for the annoying ones.”

Being thankful in relationships doesn’t mean pretending everything’s perfect. It means choosing to see people the way God does. It’s seeing them as works in progress, just like you.

So maybe the person who drives you nuts isn’t your problem. Maybe they’re your reminder.

Your reminder to practice patience.
Your reminder that grace isn’t just for church. It’s for Tuesday morning emails, family dinners, and awkward conversations.
Your reminder that gratitude grows best in the dirt of real, messy relationships.

So this week, try thanking God not just for the easy people, but for the ones who stretch your grace muscles too.

Because sometimes the people who drive you crazy are the very people God’s using to make you more like Him.

Finding Gratitude in Life’s Messy Moments

November 14, 2025 / / 0 Comments

If I’m being honest not every day feels like something to be thankful for. Some days feel like a sitcom with no laugh track. You spill coffee on your shirt before the meeting. Your kiddo’s missing shoe somehow ends up in the front yard. And the leaf blower that worked fine yesterday decides today’s the day to bite the big one.

Yeah, one of those kind of days.

But here’s the thing: Gratitude isn’t just for the good days. It’s for the messy ones too. Because that’s where God does some of His best work.

Just look at the Christmas story. It wasn’t neat and polished. Jesus entered the world in a feeding trough surrounded by animals. Yeah mooove over for the messiah…

The resurrection? It came through betrayal, blood, and an empty tomb. God’s never been scared of a little mess. So he’s surely not scared of yours either!

The problem isn’t the chaos around us. It’s that we expect faith to clean it all up. Look real gratitude starts when we learn to thank God in the mess, not after it’s over. Somehow we’ve come the conclusion that following Jesus means that life will be easier or lighter in some way. But I just don’t see that.

My life isn’t smooth sailing. Not by a stretch! I still deal with family drama. I have conflict with people who I call friends. I have to deal with interpersonal communication issues on ministry teams in the church for crying out loud! Following Jesus doesn’t exclude you from the problems of life! It just changes how you see the struggles.

When the dishes pile up and life feels more exhausting than inspiring, maybe that’s the exact space where God’s trying to talk to you. Maybe that’s where He’s saying, “I’m here. I’m working. Even in this.”

My grandma gave me a paper when I was in high school that said “Something For God to Do Today.” It had a poem of sorts on it that I can’t remember completely but the gist is simple. There are things that are in your control. And there are things out of your control. When we approach life following Jesus, we’ll be able to confidently place things in the something for Jesus to do today box knowing that He has it under control.

So, maybe this weekend you don’t need to fix the mess. Maybe you just need to pause long enough to see God standing right in the middle of it with you.

Because the mess doesn’t mean He’s missing. It means He’s moving with you through it.

So for that… yeah, I’m thankful.

Unlocking Growth: The True Nature of Coaching

November 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments
A coaching conversation in progress, showing reflection and accountability in personal growth.

Coaching isn’t about advice — it’s about growth, accountability, and discovering what’s possible in your life.

When most people hear the word “coaching,” they think of someone telling them what to do.

That’s not coaching. Not really.

Coaching is about creating space. Space to reflect. Space to notice what’s holding you back. Space to explore what’s possible when you take responsibility for your own growth.

At its heart, coaching is about empowerment. It’s helping someone see clearly, think deeply, and make choices that align with who they want to be not just what someone else thinks they should be.

I’ve experienced the value of this firsthand. Coaching has helped me pause when life is moving too fast, see blind spots I didn’t notice, and stay accountable to the goals and values that matter most. I’ve also seen it transform others from people stepping into leadership, to finding focus in their faith, even taking ownership of the life God has given them.

Coaching also connects naturally with spiritual development. In both faith and personal growth, the journey is rarely about external instruction alone. It’s about reflection, discipline, accountability, and making intentional decisions in alignment with God’s will. When you take responsibility for your growth in thought, in character, and action you’re living out the spiritual principle of stewardship over your own life.

Here are a few key elements at the heart of effective coaching:

  1. Listening deeply: Understanding not just words, but motivations, fears, and hopes.
  2. Asking better questions: Encouraging reflection rather than giving answers.
  3. Holding accountability: Helping someone follow through on their own commitments.
  4. Fostering growth: Guiding toward insights that lead to intentional action.
  5. Encouraging courage: Inspiring people to step into what’s possible, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Coaching isn’t magic. It’s a disciplined, relational practice the combination of presence, clarity, and accountability that enables transformation over time.

It matters because growth rarely happens in isolation. Life, faith, and purpose all thrive when we’re willing to pause, reflect, and take ownership of the next step with someone alongside us to help us see what we might miss on our own.

Call-to-Action (CTA)

Take a moment this week to reflect: What’s one area in your life where you could benefit from reflection, accountability, or fresh perspective?

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