Hey friends—today we’ve got an episode all about introspection—taking a long, honest look in the mirror and asking God to speak into what we see. But before you run for the hills, let me just say: I get it. Introspection can sound like one of those spiritual chores we’d rather avoid. It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward. It’s easier to keep moving, keep busy, keep distracted. But here’s the deal: comfort zones make great coffins. And a lot of us are slowly burying our spiritual growth in a grave we dug with our own avoidance.

This episode isn’t about self-help or naval-gazing or fixing yourself with a checklist. It’s about surrender. It’s about opening your heart and praying the most dangerous—and maybe the most freeing—prayer in Scripture: “Search me, O God.” That’s Psalm 139. That’s where we’re headed today.

So grab your coffee—or maybe a journal—and let’s get honest with the One who already knows everything about us… and loves us still.

Section 1: Why We Avoid Looking Inward

Scripture Anchor: Psalm 139:23–24

Let’s be real—most of us would rather do almost anything than stop and take a good, hard look at what’s going on inside. We’d rather binge another show, scroll another mile on our phones, take on another project, or even serve more at church than sit quietly and ask, “God, what’s actually going on in me?”

And honestly? That’s not just busyness—it’s a defense mechanism. Looking inward can feel like opening a closet we’ve been shoving junk into for years. What if what we find is ugly? What if we realize we’re not as spiritually healthy as we thought? What if God sees something in us we’ve been avoiding?

But here’s the twist: God already sees it. And He’s not running away.

Psalm 139 is written by David—a guy who messed up plenty, but also knew how to come back to God in full transparency. At the end of the psalm, after marveling at how deeply God knows him, he doesn’t hide. He says this:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24)

That prayer isn’t just brave—it’s vulnerable. It’s David saying, “God, shine the light wherever You want. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it hurts. Because I don’t want to stay where I am.”

And that’s the part we resist. Comfort zones feel safe, but they’re spiritually stagnant. We think we’re avoiding pain, but we’re also avoiding healing. We think we’re avoiding judgment, but we’re actually avoiding transformation. And sometimes? We’re just afraid that if we really look inward, we’ll come up short.

But let me tell you—God doesn’t call us to introspection so He can shame us. He calls us to it so He can shape us.

There’s a huge difference between self-condemnation and Spirit-led conviction. Condemnation says, “You’re broken, and you’ll always be this way.” But conviction says, “You’re loved too much to stay like this.”

And that kind of conviction? It requires space. Silence. Stillness. That’s why most of us avoid it. Not because we’re bad people—but because we’re scared people. Because reflection requires courage, and courage usually starts where comfort ends.

I’ll never forget one of those moments in my own life.

Back in my younger years, when Laura and I were dating, there was a moment that still echoes in my mind. We were having a conversation—probably one of those real, unfiltered ones—and she looked me in the eye and said, “You’re kind of a jerk.”

Now, let me tell you, that was not what I expected to hear from the woman I was dating. But she wasn’t being cruel—she was being honest. And she was right. I was a poor communicator, pretty sure of myself, and honestly not very kind in the way I spoke to others. I had no idea how much damage my words could do. But that moment—it was like a spiritual gut punch. A wake-up call. One that forced me to stop blaming others or hiding behind good intentions, and actually look at myself. Not the version I wanted people to see—but the real, rough-edged version of me that God already knew. And it started a long, slow process of change.

Because here’s the truth: you can’t grow what you won’t face.

And today, maybe you’ve got your own version of that story. Or maybe you’ve been avoiding it. But if we want to grow, if we want to go deeper with God—we’ve got to stop running from the mirror.

Section 2: A Biblical Framework for Introspection

Scripture Anchor: Psalm 139:23–24

David’s prayer in Psalm 139 isn’t just introspective—it’s invitational. He doesn’t just look inward. He asks God to look. To search. To test. To expose. And not in a cold or clinical way, but in a relational way.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24)

That’s not a tidy, polished spiritual moment. That’s a man baring his soul. And it’s not a one-time prayer—it’s a posture. One that says, “God, I trust You enough to let You see all of me. Even the things I don’t want to admit are there.”

But let’s be honest: that kind of surrender feels risky. Most of us would rather manage our image than invite inspection. We’d rather tweak behaviors than examine beliefs. We’d rather build routines than surrender control. And often, we confuse self-help with spiritual transformation.

The self-help mindset says: “I can fix this if I just try harder.”

The gospel says: “You can’t fix this—but you don’t have to. Jesus already made a way.”

That difference is huge. Because what we actually need isn’t just a new habit tracker or another YouVersion reading plan. What we need is a transformation that starts beneath the surface—where our motivations live, where our pain hides, where our pride still lingers. And that kind of change only happens when we invite God to lead the process.

I know this firsthand.

For years, I dealt with addiction issues. It was something I battled privately, with the kind of shame that tells you to keep quiet and figure it out on your own. But I had this warped logic running in the background: “I’m not really addicted. I can go months without struggling. I’m in control.” That kind of self-talk became a crutch. I told myself that because I could stop temporarily, I didn’t really have a problem.

But that’s the thing about deception—you rarely realize you’re in it until it starts costing you more than you thought it would. And I was deceived. I thought my discipline was enough. I thought my effort would carry me through. But all I was really doing was avoiding the deeper issue.

Eventually, the cracks started to show. I felt stuck, exhausted, spiritually numb. And the breakthrough didn’t come through willpower or better habits. It came when I finally surrendered.

There was a moment—and I remember it vividly—when I looked in the mirror and prayed something like, “God, I can’t fix this. I’ve tried. I’m done pretending I’m okay. If this is ever going to change, You’re going to have to do it.”

That prayer didn’t instantly change everything. But it changed me. It broke something open. It was a turning point—the moment I stopped managing my image and started letting God deal with the root.

And I’ll tell you what I’ve learned: God never exposes something to shame us—He exposes it to heal us.

That’s what David understood in Psalm 139. He wasn’t asking God to shine a spotlight just for the sake of seeing the mess. He wanted God to lead him—“in the way everlasting.” That’s the point. Not to sit in shame. Not to wallow. But to walk forward in freedom.

The apostle Paul echoes something similar in 2 Corinthians 7:10 when he says:

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

There’s a sorrow that pulls us closer to God—and one that just makes us spiral. And the difference is surrender. When we’re willing to say, “God, You lead. You reveal. You deal with what I’ve been hiding,” we create space for real change.

So how do we practice this kind of introspection?

It starts with permission. Give God permission to search you. That’s what David did. And you can, too. Not just once, but regularly. It might look like praying Psalm 139 out loud in the quiet of the morning. It might look like asking questions like:

“God, is there anything in my heart You want to talk about today?”

“What have I been trying to control instead of trusting You with?”

“Is there something in me that’s hurting me—or hurting others—that I’ve refused to acknowledge?”

And then just… listen. Don’t rush. Don’t move too quickly to the to-do list. Let the stillness be the invitation.

And if something comes up? If God brings something to the surface? Don’t shove it back down. That’s the moment to lean in—not with shame, but with hope. Because when He leads, He doesn’t lead you in circles. He doesn’t lead you back into fear. He leads you in the way everlasting.

And that path? It’s not always comfortable. But it’s always worth it.

Section 3: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Self-Examination

Scripture Anchor: 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 7:10

There’s a reason why some people hear “self-examination” and immediately shut down. It can sound like a setup for guilt, shame, and spirals of self-doubt. And honestly? That’s what unhealthy introspection does. It traps you in your head, magnifies your mistakes, and leaves you stuck in a loop of “I’m not enough.” That’s not from God.

But there’s another kind of self-examination—one that’s honest, Spirit-led, and soaked in grace. One that doesn’t leave you condemned, but cleansed. That’s what we’re after.

The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5:

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize this about yourselves—that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

That sounds intense, right? But notice what Paul is pointing to. He’s not saying, “Examine yourselves so you can decide if you’re lovable.” He’s not saying, “Figure out if you’ve earned your salvation this week.” He’s saying, Check your foundation. Look at what you’re standing on. Make sure Jesus is still the center of it all.

It’s like spiritual realignment. And just like a car out of alignment drifts off the road, a soul out of alignment slowly pulls away from the path of life. The longer you wait to adjust, the more damage it does.

But here’s the danger: if we do self-examination without the Holy Spirit, we end up either crushed by guilt or puffed up by pride. One says, “I’m too far gone.” The other says, “I’m doing just fine without help.” Both are lies. Both lead to isolation.

Healthy introspection happens when we let the Holy Spirit hold the mirror.

Unhealthy introspection says, “Look how broken I am.”

Healthy introspection says, “Look how faithful God is to keep working on me.”

Unhealthy introspection says, “Try harder.”

Healthy introspection says, “Trust deeper.”

There’s a big difference between guilt and conviction, too. Guilt is heavy and vague. It just says, “You’re bad.” But conviction is sharp and clear. It says, “That thing right there—that’s not who you are. Let’s deal with it together.”

And if you’ve ever felt that distinction, you know the difference is night and day. Guilt drives you away from God. Conviction draws you closer to Him.

One of the most freeing truths I’ve learned is this: God is never surprised by what He finds in me. I might be. Other people might be. But He never is. That means I can stop pretending. I can stop performing. I can stop managing my spiritual image like it’s a personal brand. I can just show up—as I am—and let Him do the heart work.

There’s this passage in Hebrews that always hits me:

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

(Hebrews 4:13)

That verse used to scare me. “Everything is uncovered”? That sounded like bad news. But now? I see it as comfort. God sees everything—and still invites me close. Still calls me His. Still says, “Let Me lead you in the way everlasting.”

That’s the tone of healthy self-examination: not judgment, but invitation.

And sometimes, that invitation looks like silence. Like a moment of stillness in the morning when God gently brings something to mind—an attitude you’ve excused, a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a fear you haven’t named. Sometimes it looks like conviction rising during a sermon, or a lyric in worship that hits too close to home.

Or sometimes, it looks like a breakdown. When all your spiritual strategies fail. When you hit a wall. When the mask slips and the mess comes pouring out. Even then—especially then—God is there. He’s not looking for a performance. He’s looking for honesty.

That’s what makes the Christian walk so different from every other kind of self-help system out there. The goal isn’t self-improvement—it’s self-surrender. We don’t examine ourselves to shame ourselves. We examine ourselves so that we can bring the truth into the light and be changed by grace.

And here’s the beautiful part: the more we do this, the easier it becomes. Not because it stops being uncomfortable, but because we learn to trust the process. We stop fearing what God will find, and we start longing for what He’ll transform.

So if you’ve been avoiding the mirror—if you’ve been afraid of what you might see—let me encourage you: God already sees it. And He still calls you His.

You can breathe. You don’t have to be perfect. But you do have to be honest.

And maybe today is the day you start that journey.

Section 4: How to Start a Spirit-Led Self-Evaluation Practice

Scripture Anchor: Lamentations 3:40, James 1:22–25

By now you might be thinking, “Okay, I get it. I need to stop avoiding the mirror. I need to invite God to search me. But how do I actually do that without spiraling or getting stuck?”

That’s a great question. And honestly, the answer is simple—but not easy.

The Bible gives us some powerful direction. Lamentations 3:40 says:

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

Notice the pattern there? Examine → Test → Return.

The goal of spiritual self-evaluation isn’t just insight—it’s movement. It’s not to sit around overthinking all your flaws. It’s to recognize, respond, and return to the God who is always ready to lead you home.

James 1 paints another powerful picture. It says:

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”(James 1:23–24)

The mirror isn’t the problem. Forgetting what you saw—and refusing to act—is the problem. God doesn’t reveal things to shame you. He reveals things to invite you deeper into relationship with Him.

So if you want to practice Spirit-led self-examination, here’s a simple path you can start with:

Step 1: Create Space for Stillness

We live in a noisy world. And if you don’t intentionally create space for silence, it won’t just happen by accident. Find 10–15 minutes where you can be alone and quiet—no music, no podcasts, no screens, no to-do lists.

Stillness feels awkward at first. That’s okay. Push through the discomfort. That awkward silence is often where God speaks the loudest.

Step 2: Invite God to Search You

Literally pray the words of Psalm 139:23–24:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Don’t rush it. Don’t force it. Just open the door and let Him come in. Ask Him to reveal anything He wants to work on—big or small.

Step 3: Ask Simple, Honest Questions

Sometimes it helps to guide your reflection with a few simple questions:

“God, is there anything I’m holding onto that You want me to release?”

“Is there a relationship where I need to seek forgiveness or offer it?”

“Have I been trusting You—or trying to control things myself?”

“Where am I living out of fear instead of faith?”

“Is there any part of me that needs healing, confession, or change?”

You don’t have to ask all of these every time. Just pick one or two. And then listen.

Step 4: Listen Without Defending

This is the hardest part for most of us. Our instinct is to justify, to explain, to excuse. “Well God, yeah, I was impatient—but you saw how annoying that person was.”

No. Just listen. When God brings something up, He’s not trying to condemn you. He’s trying to free you.

Trust His voice. Trust His timing. Trust that He knows the difference between pruning and punishing—and He’s always after growth, not destruction.

Here’s what that’s looked like for me lately:

Over the past year, I’ve made a commitment to start every single morning in Scripture. Every day—for over a year now—even when I’m on vacation. And I’ll be honest: not every morning has been a spiritual high. Some mornings feel more mechanical than others. But staying rooted in that rhythm has slowly transformed me.

What I’ve noticed is this: my heart is so much quicker now to lean into the fruits of the Spirit. Peace. Gentleness. Self-control. Especially when I’m dealing with my kids—who, God love ’em, are exceptionally gifted at testing those fruits sometimes.

Where frustration used to flare up fast, now there’s a steady undercurrent of peace. Where harsh words used to slip out, now there’s a reflex toward gentleness. Not because I’m trying harder—but because I’m staying closer.

And it all flows from that daily space of stillness. That quiet invitation for God to search me, shape me, and prepare me for the day ahead.

Step 5: Respond in Obedience

Once God reveals something, act on it. Don’t just “feel convicted” and move on. Confess. Repent. Take a step toward change. Make the call. Offer the apology. Forgive. Release the fear. Change the rhythm. Whatever it is—respond.

Even a small act of obedience can break spiritual inertia.

Bonus Tip: Make It a Rhythm, Not a One-Time Event

Healthy self-evaluation isn’t something you do once during a podcast series and then forget. It’s a rhythm. A way of life. Maybe it’s a weekly practice—like a “soul check” every Sunday night. Maybe it’s a daily two-minute pause at the end of the day.

The point isn’t perfection. It’s presence. Staying present with God. Staying honest with yourself.

The more you practice it, the more natural it becomes. You’ll start to notice conviction rising earlier—before sin hardens. You’ll find yourself quicker to return to grace instead of wallowing in guilt. You’ll grow a soft heart in a world that rewards hardness. And you’ll live lighter, freer, more surrendered.

Landing the Section:

You don't have to fear God's inspection. You can welcome it.

Because the hands that hold the mirror are the same hands that bear the scars of your redemption.

Section 5: Encouragement to Step Toward the Mirror

Scripture Anchor: Psalm 139:23–24, Romans 8:1

If you’ve stuck with me this far, first of all—congratulations. You’ve already done more self-reflection than most people do all year. You deserve a sticker. Or at least a second cup of coffee.

But seriously—hear this:

You don’t have to be afraid of what God will find.

When David prayed, “Search me, O God,” he wasn’t handing his heart over to a critic with a clipboard. He wasn’t about to get graded like a high school science project. He was opening his life to the God who already knew every flaw and still called him “a man after My own heart.”

You’re not inviting a stranger into your soul.

You’re inviting your Savior.

And that changes everything.

Because if you think God’s going to meet you with a heavenly spreadsheet of your failures—guess what? You’re going to hide. You’ll dodge the mirror like a teenager dodging chores.

But if you know that He’s going to meet you with grace and truth—the kind that wounds to heal, not to harm—you'll step into the light.

Romans 8:1 says:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Not "some condemnation."

Not "manageable levels of condemnation."

No condemnation.

Zero. Nada. Goose egg.

That’s the kind of foundation you can build a life on.

That’s the kind of safety you need if you’re going to let God poke around in the places you usually keep locked up tight.

Comfort Zones vs. The Way Everlasting

Here’s the honest truth:

If you want to stay spiritually comfortable, don’t pray Psalm 139.

Seriously—if you just want cozy vibes and surface-level faith, stick with Pinterest quotes and inspirational coffee mugs.

Stay busy. Stay distracted. Stay externally successful.

You can be crushing it at work, winning at life on Instagram, and still have a soul that's quietly withering.

But if you want real growth?

If you want to bear real fruit, not just build a highlight reel?

You’ve got to get uncomfortable.

You’ve got to let God open the doors you’ve been keeping padlocked.

You’ve got to let Him redecorate the rooms you thought were “good enough.”

You’ve got to let Him deal with the attitudes you’ve labeled “just my personality.”

It’s terrifying.

It’s vulnerable.

It’s so, so good.

Because God never tears down what He doesn’t intend to rebuild stronger.

He never prunes what He doesn’t intend to make more fruitful.

What If Today Was the Day?

What if today, instead of brushing off that uncomfortable feeling in your gut, you leaned into it?

What if today you stopped managing your spiritual image like it’s a social media profile, and started getting honest with God?

What if today you prayed the most dangerous, most freeing prayer in Scripture:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Not because you have something to prove.

But because you have Someone to follow.

Someone worth trusting.

Someone who already knows and loves the real you—not the Instagram-filtered version.

A Simple Challenge

Before you jump back into the whirlwind of your day—before the notifications start stacking up, the errands call your name, or the kids ask you a question while you’re clearly in the bathroom—here’s a simple challenge:

Take five minutes.

Turn off the noise.

Pray Psalm 139:23–24 out loud.

And just... listen.

You don’t need to manufacture a spiritual moment.

You don’t need to journal for 30 pages.

You don’t need to suddenly become a morning person who drinks green smoothies and memorizes Leviticus.

Just be still.

Be open.

Be willing.

If God brings something to the surface—thank Him.

If conviction stings a little—lean in.

If clarity comes—act on it.

Small ripples. Big impact.

It all starts with surrender.

Landing Sentiment:

God doesn’t want to shame you. He wants to shape you.

He doesn’t want to crush you. He wants to cleanse you.

He’s not waiting with a lightning bolt. He’s waiting with open arms.

Comfort zones make great coffins.But surrender?Surrender makes a resurrection possible.

Let’s stop settling for survival.

Let’s choose surrender.

Let’s walk in the way everlasting.

Outro: Comfort Zones Make Great Coffins

Thanks so much for spending this time with me today.

This stuff isn’t easy. It’s not flashy. It’s not comfortable.

But it’s real. It’s the kind of work—the kind of surrender—that actually leads to the life God designed you for.

I want to encourage you:

Don’t just hear this and move on.

Don’t be like the guy James talks about who looks in the mirror, sees the mess, and then immediately forgets.

Take a step today. Even a small one.

Invite God to search your heart—not just once, but as a rhythm. A relationship. A daily surrender.

Because comfort zones make great coffins.

But the way everlasting?

That’s where the good stuff happens.

That’s where growth happens.

That’s where real life is found.

If this episode stirred something in you, or if you feel like someone you know could use a gentle nudge out of their comfort zone, I’d love for you to share it.

And if you haven’t already, hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next part of this series—we're just getting started.

Listener Feedback

Before we wrap up today, I just want to share a quick note that came in from a listener. Presumably they’ve just listened to the episode a from a couple weeks ago titled “The Devil’s Favorite Place to Attack You.” They said:

"Psalm 19:14 has become a life verse for me. As I read it or say it, it reminds me that I can submit my thoughts to Him, because He is a steady foundation."

Man, I love that.

That verse says:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

And it’s such a good reminder—not just to watch what we say and think, but to offer it to God. To anchor our inner life, not just our outer actions, to something steady.

Actually... not something. Someone.

Our Rock. Our Redeemer.

Thank you for sharing this verse with us today! 

I got another message from Garth who says, “excellent podcast my friend”. 

Thanks, Garth! I really appreciate the encouragement—it means a lot. I’m so grateful to have you listening!

And as always:

Small ripples can make a big impact—go make yours.