The Blessing or the Test: A Daily Lens of Purpose

Self-made is a cute myth.

If you watched a recent podcast I was on, you heard me speak when I truly became "A Man." The mindset that started that change was a commitment to myself, that when I wake up, I try to see life through a specific lens: That this day is a blessing. Sometimes it is obvious, sunlight warming my skin, a message from a friend, the quiet peace of a morning routine. Other times, it is subtle. A breath I barely notice. A conversation that challenges me. A delay that keeps me from rushing into something unwise. A look my beautiful wife gives me that just stops time.

But not every day feels like a blessing. Some days punch hard. The fog sets in. Plans unravel. People disappoint. A small moment spirals into rabbit holes of guilt or shame. On those days, I remind myself: if it is not a blessing, then it is a test. That reminder grounds me. It shifts the way I respond. It gives me permission to pause and ask the question that opens the door to growth: What is this moment trying to teach me?

When we treat life as a blessing, gratitude flows more freely. Our posture softens. We notice more. We appreciate more. Yes, we have our limits, and we fall short, but the bounce back will be shorter. And when we bounce back and realize life feels like a test, we begin to build something just as powerful: Resilience. Faith. Endurance. A deeper connection with God and with ourselves.

Tests do not come to punish us. They come to refine us. They help us confront what we could not see when everything felt easy. They make our faith real. They humble our pride. They show us how deeply we depend on grace. And the truth is, when we let go of control, it cultivates a climactic energy that awakens our soul and reveals this one truth: our dependence on Jesus is the answer.

One of the clearest examples of this comes from Inky Johnson, a former college football player from the University of Tennessee, who was projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick. During a game, he suffered a life-threatening injury that permanently paralyzed his right arm. Everything he had worked for, his dream of going pro, his years of dedication, was taken in a moment. But Inky did not give up. He chose to view it not as the end, but as a redirection.

In his words, “I wanted God to bless me in my plan. But He was trying to bless me with a bigger one.” That injury became a test that revealed his true purpose. Today, Inky is a renowned speaker who inspires millions—not through what he lost, but through what he found.

I am learning that the difference between bitterness and breakthrough is the lens I choose. The difference between what I have and what someone else has is the lens I choose. The difference between being prideful and letting go is the lens I choose. Are you seeing a pattern? If we assume life is unfair, we close ourselves off. If we assume we are being shaped, we open ourselves to transformation. This does not mean we fake joy. It does not mean we pretend things are fine when they are not. It simply means we anchor ourselves in a truth deeper than emotion: either God is blessing me—or He is building me.

And sometimes, He is doing both at the same time.

So today, take a moment. Ask yourself: Is this a blessing? If the answer is yes, receive it with open hands and a grateful heart. And if the answer is no, ask instead: What might this test be preparing me for?

Because one thing is certain—whether it feels like it or not, today has purpose.