Author: Derrick Hurst (Page 8 of 152)

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.

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?

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!

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