Author: Derrick Hurst (Page 7 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.

Ignore Critics In The Cheap Seats

November 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Everyone’s got an opinion. Everyone’s got feedback. And most of it doesn’t matter.

You ever notice how the loudest critics are usually sitting in the cheap seats? They’ve never thrown a punch, never stepped into the arena, never carried the weight you’re carrying. Yet somehow, they’ve got plenty to say about how you should be doing it.

Here’s the truth: don’t take criticism from someone who isn’t in the same fight.

If they’re not sweating, bleeding, or praying their way through the same kind of battles you are, their words don’t carry the same weight. You’re not called to please the spectators. You’re called to fight faithfully in the arena God put you in.

There’s a big difference between critics and coaches. Critics point fingers. Coaches roll up their sleeves and get in the dirt with you.

So before you internalize someone’s words, ask yourself:

  • Have they ever led like I’m leading?
  • Have they ever risked like I’m risking?
  • Have they ever had to stand alone and still choose faith over fear?

If the answer is no smile, nod, and move on. Their opinion isn’t worth your peace.

But if the feedback comes from someone who’s been bloodied in the same battle, who knows the cost of stepping into the ring that’s gold. Listen to that. Learn from that. Iron sharpens iron, not cotton candy.

So keep showing up. Keep fighting your fight. And stop letting people who’ve never been in your arena tell you how to fight your battles.

You don’t need approval from the stands.
You need endurance for the ring.

Finding Joy in Everyday Battles

November 11, 2025 / / 0 Comments

I don’t know about you, but some days it feels like life is just a series of small battles I didn’t sign up for. The coffee spills. The email inbox never sleeps. The dog ate something she absolutely should not have. (Sorry for that image!)

And yet… somehow, in the middle of all that, God keeps sneaking in tiny victories.

Like finding a warm pair of socks when your feet are freezing. Or maybe the quiet moment before anyone else wakes up. Or perhaps realizing the neighbor actually mowed the lawn without needing reminded.

These aren’t earth-shattering miracles. But they’re reminders that life isn’t just about the big wins. It’s about noticing the little ones along the way.

Jesus didn’t promise a life free of chaos. He promised a life with Him in the middle of our chaos. Gratitude isn’t just an attitude. It’s a lens. It’s a way of seeing God’s hand in the everyday, messy, noisy life we actually live.

So today, try looking for the small wins:

  • The hot shower.
  • The kid who didn’t scream this morning (will miracles never cease!).
  • That one email that actually got answered. We all have that one person who takes months to give a simple answer.

Notice these moments. Thank God for them. Let them remind you that He’s working even when it’s not flashy or dramatic.

Because the life Jesus wants for us isn’t the one with zero problems.
It’s the one where we can see Him in the little things and trust Him in the big ones.

Honoring Our Heroes: A Tribute to Veterans

November 11, 2025 / / 1 Comment

Today hits different.

I’ve been sitting beside the bed of a 97-year-old World War II veteran a lot lately. A man whose hands once held a rifle on foreign soil so I could hold a pen in freedom today. His eyes are dimmer now, but the spark of courage still flickers there. The kind that stood toe to toe with evil and didn’t flinch.

And just hours ago, I hugged my son goodbye as he headed back to base after a short weekend home. Two generations bound by one sacred thread. They stand so we can sit here free.

We throw around the word “freedom” like it’s a slogan. But freedom isn’t a word. It’s a weight. It’s carried on the shoulders of men and women who have bled, wept, sacrificed, and served often with little thanks and even less understanding from the country they protect.

Veterans Day isn’t about discounts or hashtags. It’s about remembering that America still stands because they stood first.

When you see that uniform, remember the sleepless nights, the missed birthdays, the quiet bravery that never makes the news. Remember the families who hold their breath through every deployment, every call, every knock at the door.

To the veterans from the beaches of Normandy to the sands of the Middle East, from the skies to the sea thank you. You did your duty. You kept your oath. You held the line.

And to my son, and every young man and woman still serving keep standing tall. You carry the torch of a legacy written in sacrifice.

Today, as I sit between two generations of heroes, I feel the heartbeat of America steady, strong, and free because of you.

So stand up when the flag passes by. Say thank you when you see the uniform. Teach your kids what that red, white, and blue really mean.

Because freedom isn’t free but it sure is worth fighting for.

God bless our veterans. God bless those still serving. And God bless the United States of America.

Rest as Resistance

November 7, 2025 / / 1 Comment

Confession: I’m competitive. I know! Shocker!

I’m competitive with myself, with the weights, with life, with pretty much everything around me. So sometimes I skip rest days. Because who wants to take a break when there’s more to lift, more to do, more to “fix”?

But here’s the thing I’m learning in my years of experience (aka being old as my daughter would put it): skipping rest is not strength. It’s weakness dressed up in busyness.

Muscles grow when you recover, not when you grind nonstop. And muscles are a lot like other parts of our lives, including faith! Spiritual growth, emotional health, even leadership stamina all thrive in the spaces where we pause.

Rest isn’t optional. It’s resistance. It’s saying no to the things that aren’t going to move the needle.

It’s saying no to the lie that productivity equals value.

It’s telling the world (and yourself) that you trust God to keep working when you stop.

It’s bending the knee to a rhythm bigger than your to-do list.

Some of the best work I’ve ever done in the gym, in ministry, in life all started with a deliberate pause. A day off. A walk in the field. A quiet coffee without guilt. A slow evening with a one finger pour. The pause brings purpose to the process.

So take a breath. Step back. Turn off the blower, put the weights down, and let God do what only He can do. You’ll come back stronger. You’ll last longer. And you’ll probably be a lot less likely to look like a man riding a chicken.

Because rest is not laziness. Rest is resistance against burnout. And in a world that won’t stop demanding, that’s a radical act of faith.

Finding Clarity Through Coaching

November 6, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Person looking through glasses with blurry image to show lack of focus.

How pausing, reflecting, and thoughtful coaching can help you see what really matters.

Life has a way of clouding our vision. The busyness, the noise, and the constant pull of other people’s expectations can blur what once felt clear.

I know this personally. A few months ago, I found myself constantly reacting – putting out fires at church, over-committing at home, and feeling frustrated that I couldn’t see the next right step.

That’s when a coaching conversation helped me pause. Just 30 minutes of focused reflection helped me name what was really driving me, and for the first time in months, I felt a little relief.

Clarity doesn’t arrive as a sudden revelation. It comes layer by layer, in quiet moments of reflection. Coaching isn’t about giving you the answers. It’s about asking the right questions to help you see what’s already there.

Here’s a simple framework I’ve found useful for finding clarity:

  1. Pause and notice: Take 10–15 minutes to step away from your daily tasks. Even a short walk or journal session works.
  2. Ask yourself honest questions: What matters most right now? What’s getting in my way? What can I let go of?
  3. Prioritize one next step: Don’t try to solve everything at once. Pick one intentional action that aligns with what’s most important.
  4. Reflect and adjust: At the end of the day or week, check in. Did your step bring clarity or progress? What needs tweaking?
  5. Seek an outside perspective: A coach, mentor, or trusted friend can help you see blind spots and encourage you when you feel stuck.

I’ve seen these steps work in my life and in the lives of people I’ve coached. Sometimes clarity comes in a quiet “aha” moment. Sometimes it’s a gradual series of small realizations. Either way, the key is intentionality.

Take a moment today to reflect: Where do you feel foggy? What’s one step you can take this week to bring a little more clarity?

Clarity isn’t about doing more — it’s about seeing more clearly. And once you see clearly, even a small step in the right direction changes everything.

Call-to-Action (CTA)

Take 10 minutes this week to pause and reflect on what matters most. What one step can you take today to bring clarity into your life? Share your thoughts in the comments or with someone you trust.

The Discipline of Deadlifts and Devotion

November 5, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Confession time: I hate leg day. Yep. Hate it with a passion!

Give me chest, shoulders, or biceps, and I’m good to go. But leg day? No thanks. That’s the day I suddenly feel the urge to take a rest day.

It’s not that I can’t do squats or deadlifts. Actually the moves aren’t hard at all and I can handle a decent amount of weight. I just don’t want to. They’re uncomfortable. They burn. They make it hard to sit or stand the next day. Heck they make me question all my life choices.

But you know what happens when you skip leg day too often? You start to look like a man riding a chicken. You’re all big up top, tiny at the bottom, unstable when life gets heavy.

And honestly, that’s what a lot of Christians look like spiritually. Strong in the more visible areas like church attendance, Christian talk, surface-level kindness that better not interrupt my day. But all too often weak in the parts that actually carry the weight.

Because real faith, like real strength, is built from the ground up.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way.” (1 Timothy 4:7–8, ESV) He wasn’t talking about how we handle ourselves at the gym. He was talking about discipline. The kind of commitment that builds unseen strength.

It’s the same in devotion. Everybody loves the mountaintop moments! You know the powerful worship set, the answered prayer, the goosebumps of God’s presence. But not many people love the grind. The leg day of the spiritual walk. Things like showing up to Scripture when it feels dry, praying when nothing visible is happening, serving when nobody seems to notice.

That’s spiritual leg day. It’s not fun. It’s not flashy. But it’s what gives your faith stability when life drops something heavy on your shoulders.

The older I get, the more I realize: Faith that skips leg day looks good in the mirror but collapses under pressure.

So yeah, I still hate deadlifts. But I do them. Not because I like them, but because I need what they build. The endurance, humility, and strength where it counts.

The same goes for devotion. God’s not impressed by how spiritual you look up top. He’s shaping the foundation underneath.

So show up. Do the not so – glamorous work. Train your soul as much as your body.
Because when life gets heavy (and it will), you don’t want to be the spiritual guy or gal riding a chicken!

Embrace Focus Mode for Inner Peace

November 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

It was one of those mornings when the world still felt half-asleep. The sky was dark. The coffee hadn’t quite kicked in yet. And the traffic heading downtown was already thick enough to make you question your life choices.

I had my audio book just loud enough to keep me alert. Then ding . A message popped up on my CarPlay. Instinctively, my brain lit up like a Christmas tree. Pavlov’s dog had nothing on me.

“Who’s texting me this early?”
“Is it important?”
“I should probably check.”

And then the rational part of me broke through the noise. Hey dummy! You’re driving 70 miles an hour down I-71 and it’s dark outside. You’re not that important. If we’re honest we should ask is anyone really that important?

That thought hit me harder than I expected. Because it’s true, isn’t it? Somewhere deep down, we’ve convinced ourselves that every buzz, ding, and vibration demands our immediate attention. It’s as if the world can’t spin another rotation without our reply.

But what if it can?

That’s when I remembered the little Focus button on my iPhone. You know, that little half-moon icon we swipe past on our way to something “more important.” So I hit it. Silence. Peace.

Suddenly, I was just… driving. Watching the cars bounce between lanes in front of me. I wasn’t in a hurry. I wasn’t distracted. I was quiet. Breathing. Thinking. Praying.

Focus mode didn’t just block notifications. It gave me back presence.

We live in a world that glorifies busyness and constant availability. But maybe the most powerful thing we can do in our day, for our soul, our relationships, even our sanity is to silence the noise.

Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He didn’t do it because He was avoiding people. He did it to focus. He did it to tune out the crowd and tune in to His Father.

So here’s your challenge. Today, before your day dings and buzzes you into oblivion, tap that little moon icon. And turn on Focus.

Maybe just for an hour? Maybe just when you’re driving? Maybe just when you’re eating dinner with the family?

You’ll be surprised how much peace fits in the space that silence creates.

Focus because your life is worth the pause.

The Power of Truth Against Deception

November 3, 2025 / / 1 Comment

You’ve probably noticed it, people walking away. Walking away from faith. Walking away from commitments. Walking away from truth. It’s everywhere. Some quietly drift off, others announce it like a badge of honor. But 2 Thessalonians 2 reminds us that this isn’t new. Paul saw it coming. He called it “the rebellion” (literally apostasia) the great falling away from truth.

We picture rebellion as loud, messy, and obvious. But spiritual rebellion often happens in whispers. It’s subtle. It’s the slow fade when conviction becomes opinion, and truth becomes “my truth.” That’s the drift Paul warns about. It’s the kind that leads hearts away from Jesus and opens the door for deception to take root.

But here’s the powerful part: something or rather Someone is still holding the line. Paul says the “man of lawlessness” is being restrained. The enemy doesn’t get free rein. Truth still stands. God still reigns. The Word still works.

That’s not just theology, that’s real life. Because every time you hold fast to truth when it would be easier to compromise, you’re joining the resistance. When you open Scripture instead of scrolling for opinions, you’re reinforcing the barricade. When you choose to speak grace and truth, you’re standing with the One who restrains the chaos.

Here’s where it connects with coaching and leadership. Unfortunately we have to say it out loud but truth has to have a seat at the table. I see it every day in conversations: people are hungry for clarity, not noise. They don’t need another self-help mantra; they need something unshakable. That’s why real growth spiritual, personal, professional always begins with alignment to truth.

As a coach, I’m not here to hand out answers; I’m here to help people discover what’s already true. Because truth, when uncovered, still holds power. And when we live aligned with it, the enemy loses ground.

So, let’s make this practical:

  • Check your source. What’s shaping your worldview more the Word or the world?
  • Stand your ground. You don’t need to be loud to be firm. Quiet conviction changes rooms.
  • Stay connected. Apostasy starts with isolation. Stay in community. Truth sharpens best in relationship.

The rebellion is real but so is the restraint. And as long as God’s Word holds the line, we’re not powerless. We’re participants in His plan.

Truth wins. Always has. Always will.

3 Questions to Guide Your Week

  1. Where are you seeing “apostasy” or drifting from truth in your circles your workplace, family, or community?
    How are you responding with both grace and truth?
  2. What truth are you holding onto that could strengthen someone else right now?
    How can you lead others to discover and live in that truth?
  3. In what ways are you staying connected and accountable?
    Who is helping you stand firm so you can help others stand firm too?

Lessons on Grace: Mowing Through Life’s Messes

October 31, 2025 / / 1 Comment

Ok so I don’t rake leaves. I have far too many. Raking would be like trying to bail the Titanic with a coffee mug. So I use a blower. Well, that’s not even totally true because most of the time I’m just too lazy to blow that many leaves. I typically just mow them over and hope for the best. I’d need a blower the likes of a jet engine to handle the leaves properly and I’m too cheap to buy anything like that. Even though it would be fun to have!

Every fall, I spend hours in the lawn, mowing over piles of leaves and sending the clippings into a nice pile. Just to watch the next gust of wind scatter them back all over the yard.

And somewhere between the noise, the frustration, and the endless repetition, I realize: this is a picture of grace.

You see grace is a lot like blowing leaves. No matter how hard you try to get things perfectly clean, the mess keeps coming back. Then the second you think you’ve got it all under control. A mini vortex comes and messes it all up! So another pile, another reminder that this isn’t a one-time job.

I think that’s why Paul said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV) Grace isn’t about a clean yard. It’s about the constant presence of God’s strength in our endless weakness. The harder we try the more the wind of temptation or boredom tends to come in and blow us away.

And if I’m being honest, there are days I want to just quit! Not life but I want to stop fighting the leaves, stop cleaning up messes, stop trying to make life look tidy.
Then I remember. I can’t throw in the towel because grace doesn’t quit on me.

That’s what I remember every fall: Grace keeps showing up, leaf after leaf, sin after sin, failure after failure. It’s not neat. It’s not quiet. It’s not easy. But it’s real.

So now, when I hop on the mower and start another round, I don’t just see work. I see something like worship. Not the “hands raised, perfect harmony” kind. The kind that happens when you’re sweating through your hoodie. Covered in dust and leafy bits. Realizing that even in the noise and futility, God is there.

Because sometimes, the loudest reminder of grace comes with the roar of a zero turn and a cloud of leaf dust flying through the air.

Coming up next week: “The Discipline of Deadlifts and Devotion” where we’ll talk about why the gym might be one of the most honest places to learn about spiritual growth.

The Most Confusing Hour of the Year

October 30, 2025 / / 1 Comment

Only in the United States could we take an hour from the end of our day, move it to the beginning, and convince ourselves we’ve got more day. It’s the type of math that would make your third-grade teacher roll her eyes in disbelief!

But here we are again, time to “fall back” this Saturday night.

Every year, we all face the same dilemma: When do we fall back?

Maybe you’re like my mom. Growing up, she’d set the clocks back first thing in the morning. This meant the entire day felt like some twilight zone time warp. Breakfast was too early? Night activities felt late. And nobody knew what time lunch was supposed to happen!

Or maybe you’re a “last-minute before bed” person. You make the big adjustment right before you hit the pillow. The plan is that you can wake up and pretend your body magically agrees that 6 a.m. is suddenly 5 a.m.

And then there’s the real debate. What do you do with that extra hour?

  • Do you actually sleep in, basking in that glorious “bonus hour of siesta”?
  • Or are you one of those people who thinks, “Oh goody, an extra hour to stay up and binge one more episode”?

Look it really doesn’t matter you handle it. Here’s your friendly reminder: Set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.

And while you’re at it, take a deep breath. Whether it’s light or dark, early or late, God’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

So enjoy your “extra” hour… even if it’s just an illusion. And heck if your body gets you up a little early…maybe I’ll see you Sunday morning in church!

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