Days 1–7 of the Crucible and I wanted to share a few things that hit me.

A lot of it centered on control.

I’ve spent most of my adult life in environments where control worked. Take ownership. Drive outcomes. Execute. That mindset has produced results for me in the military, in business, in investing.

But this week exposed how easy it is to carry that same posture into faith and relationships.

I realized I often confuse clarity with responsibility. If I see a better move, I feel responsible to fix it. If I see potential, I feel urgency to optimize it. That isn’t always love. Sometimes it’s control dressed up as care.

Day 7 with Lazarus reframed everything.

If the resurrection is true, if the tomb is empty, then history is split in half and neutrality is impossible. If death lost, then the battle has already been won. We are not fighting for victory. We are fighting from victory.

That changes how we live.

It means faith can’t be inherited or cultural. It can’t just be “I was raised this way.” It has to be conviction.

The disciples ran when Jesus was arrested. Then after seeing Him resurrected, they spent the rest of their lives preaching the gospel and died for it. Men don’t die for something they know is a lie.

That reality forces the question: if this is true, what in my life becomes unnecessary? What fear loses its grip? What idols lose their power?

For me, the big takeaway has been surrender. Not surrendering drive or intensity, but surrendering control. Acting boldly, but from security. Leading, but without trying to architect everyone else’s life.

Still processing it. Grateful to be in it with you guys.

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