Crushed? Perfect. Now You’re Dangerous.
Apr 13, 2025
Setbacks, failures, exhaustion, self-doubt—they come with the territory. But why? Why does it feel like entrepreneurs walk through more fire than anyone else?
Because that fire is the required path to becoming who you’re called to be.
Suffering Isn’t the Enemy—It’s the Advantage
Most people see suffering as something to avoid. But scripture paints a different picture. Suffering is a gift. It shapes us, strengthens us, and humbles us. If you feel overwhelmed or discouraged, you’re not broken—you’re right on track.
Let me show you why, straight from one of the most powerful scriptures I’ve ever read.
A Thorn in the Flesh: Paul’s Struggle
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 tells us something wild: Paul—the man who received direct revelation from God—was tormented by what he called a "thorn in the flesh." It wasn’t just some mild inconvenience. The Greek word implies a stake in his side. And it was delivered by a messenger of Satan—a demon.
Why? To keep him from becoming prideful. Twice in one verse Paul says it: "to keep me from exalting myself."
Even Paul the Apostle struggled with pride. So in His boundless love, God allowed suffering to keep Paul’s heart humble and dependent on Him. And that suffering became the secret to Paul’s strength.
Three times Paul asked God to take it away. Three times, the answer was no.
And then Jesus spoke to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."
The Paradox of Strength
The world says: strength comes from winning. The Gospel says: strength comes from surrender.
You win by losing.
You live by dying.
You gain by giving.
And when you’re in despair—tired, discouraged, battling dark thoughts—you are in the perfect place for God to show His strength through you.
My Morning Battle
Most mornings, I wake up feeling heavy. Dark thoughts. Despair. It’s been that way since I was a kid. And people wonder why I’m positive—it’s because I had to be. It’s survival.
Every morning is a decision: believe truth, or believe lies. That’s when strength is forged. Not when I feel strong, but when I feel weak.
Your Weakness is the Setup
If you’re building a business, you know it’s brutal sometimes. But hear me: that struggle is making you a beast.
Not when you feel confident. Not when you’re riding a win. But when you feel defeated and keep going.
Just like working out—you don’t feel strong under heavy weight. But that’s when you’re getting stronger.
What the World Gets Wrong
The world teaches us to avoid suffering. But scripture teaches us to lean into it. Like marriage: if you chase happiness, you’ll quit. If you chase growth, you’ll find joy.
Business is the same. The path to financial freedom is paved with pain. But it’s pain with purpose.
In Psalm 23, David wrote about the valley of the shadow of death for a reason. The valley is part of the path.
When it hurts, don’t panic. Don’t assume something’s wrong. Don’t change course. Go back to the last thing God made clear. Recommit. Keep walking.
Welcome to the forge
When you gave your life to Christ, He didn’t invite you to frolic through a field. He said: take up your cross. Die to self. Live by faith.
That’s not weakness. That’s power perfected in weakness.
So if you’re discouraged, tired, worn out—good. God is working. He is chiseling you into the man you were meant to be. You are not falling behind, but rather being forged into a beast of a man.
And that’s why you will outrun the competition.