Walking With Christ

, ,

Practical Christianity:  Durable Souls Part 17 — The End of the Fracture — A Call to Live as a Whole Person in a Broken Age

Published by

Don

on

Practical Christianity:  Durable Souls Part 17 — The End of the Fracture — A Call to Live as a Whole Person in a Broken Age

(Part 17 of 17)

⚓ Floatie:  The Call to Wholeness Is the Call to Witness

1 Thessalonians 5:23  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(ESV)

Three key words define the entire subseries:

  • Peace:  not an emotional state, but God’s restorative work
  • Completely:  no fractured parts left unattended
  • Whole:  nothing missing, nothing divided

This is not poetic language.  It is apostolic expectation.  Wholeness is not optional for the believer.
It is not a luxury.  It is not a bonus prize.  It is not reserved for the “spiritually elite.”

Wholeness is the covenant work of God and the witness of His people in an age defined by fragmentation.

We end here because this is the entire point:  A durable soul is a living argument against the brokenness of the age.

This is the conclusion, the integration, the commission.

✒️ Forge:  What It Means to Live as a Whole Person

The healed soul doesn’t hide from the world.  It stands in the world as a contradiction to everything the world has become.  Durability is not escape.  It is confrontation — without violence, without fear, without collapse.

To live as a whole person in a fractured age means three things:

  1. You refuse to live divided internally.
  2. You refuse to participate in cultural fragmentation.
  3. You refuse to surrender the clarity Christ restored.

Let’s take the time to forge each one into steel.

1. You Refuse Internal Division

A healed believer makes a covenant with themselves — a commitment to remain unified when life tries to pull them apart.

This means:

  • no returning to old shame scripts,
  • no surrendering to fearcasting,
  • no letting trauma interpret the present,
  • no abandoning discernment under pressure,
  • no giving the enemy the microphone again,
  • no negotiating with lies,
  • no hiding wounds that need exposing,
  • no rewriting identity because of circumstance.

A durable soul walks in internal loyalty to the truth God has built.  You do not betray the work God did in you just because the world trembles around you.

2. You Refuse Cultural Fragmentation

The world is discipled by division:

  • identity politics,
  • outrage cycles,
  • fear-driven narratives,
  • faction-building,
  • tribal warfare,
  • emotional volatility,
  • shallow belonging.

Fragmented souls create fragmented societies.

A durable believer resists every pressure to:

  • pick a side at the cost of truth,
  • be discipled by news,
  • surrender peace to panic,
  • adopt cultural outrage as moral virtue,
  • demonize those who disagree,
  • live fractured by constant distraction.

You defy the age by refusing to mirror its instability.  The durable soul says:  “You cannot fracture me.  Christ has already united me.”

This is countercultural witness at its core.

3. You Refuse to Surrender the Clarity God Restored

This is the final mark.

A whole believer does not:

  • downplay their discernment,
  • ignore red flags,
  • call chaos “normal,”
  • allow manipulation,
  • confuse sentiment with truth,
  • abandon boundaries for approval,
  • let the enemy redefine familiar voices,
  • become spiritually careless.

They guard what God restored with the vigilance of a steward, not the fear of a captive.

Clarity is not a mood.
Clarity is inheritance.

And wholeness is the frame that protects it.

⚒️ Anvil:  The Manifestation of Wholeness in a Broken World

This is what it looks like — the visible, tangible life of the whole person in a fractured age:

1. You walk into chaos and don’t absorb it.

You stabilize the room instead of matching its temperature.

2. You speak truth without cruelty and without compromise.

You carry both courage and compassion in the same voice.

3. You hold conviction without arrogance and without fragility.

No insecurity.  No superiority.  Just truth held in steady hands.

4. You endure suffering without losing identity.

Pain touches you, but cannot rewrite you.

5. You love people without losing yourself.

Strength and softness become inseparable.

6. You set boundaries without apology.

Because wholeness protects calling, and calling requires clarity.

7. You persevere without relying on adrenaline or fear.

You endure because you are integrated — not because you are stubborn.

8. You carry peace that is immune to circumstance.

Peace becomes your gravity.  Others orbit it instinctively.

9. You embody the presence of Christ without forcing anything.

Nothing performative.  Nothing dramatic.  Just a steady, holy normalcy that feels like safety.

This is the fruit of the Durable Soul.
Not perfection — integration.

Not charisma — clarity.

Not spectacle — substance.

🔥 Ember:  My Witness to the End of the Fracture

There was a moment — hard to describe, impossible to forget — when I realized I was no longer living in pieces.

I wasn’t fighting myself.
I wasn’t carrying old voices.
I wasn’t interpreting life through wounds.
I wasn’t mistaking fear for prophetic insight.
I wasn’t spiraling into shame after mistakes.
I wasn’t praying from panic but from partnership.

It wasn’t dramatic.
It was quiet.
Quiet in the way only wholeness can be.

The fracture was gone.  Not because I became flawless, but because I became one person again.  The world didn’t change.  My circumstances didn’t change.
But I did.

A unified soul in a fractured age is a lighthouse built on bedrock.  That is what Christ formed in me.  And that is what He is forming in you.

🌿 Covenant Triumph:  The Whole Person Is God’s Final Answer to a Broken Age

The Durable Soul is not the end of the story.
It is the beginning of your real one.

You are not healed so you can feel better.  You are healed so you can stand.
So you can love.
So you can discern.
So you can endure.
So you can lead.
So you can carry peace into shaking places.
So you can make the kingdom visible.
So you can walk worthy of the calling you have received.

Wholeness is not a moment.  It is a commission.

You are a repaired foundation in an age of collapsing structures.

You are a unified soul in a generation discipled by fragmentation.

You are the contradiction the world does not know how to process but desperately needs to see.

The fracture ends here.
Your life is the proof.

[⚓ Floatie] [✒️ Forge] [⚒️ Anvil] [🔥 Ember] [🌿 Covenant Triumph]
This post follows the Forge Baseline Rule—layered truth for the discerning remnant.

,

7 responses to “Practical Christianity:  Durable Souls Part 17 — The End of the Fracture — A Call to Live as a Whole Person in a Broken Age”

  1. RW - Disciple of Yahshua Avatar
    RW – Disciple of Yahshua

    Still fractured, still broken, but being mended back together all at the same time. I still struggle with many of these things, but I see glimpses from time to time of the healing of the fractures in my soul and recognize the healing moments when I see them. Never the less, trusting Abba will see me through and make me whole again one day. In a word, Hope!

    I’ve just experienced one of the toughest times of my life and apart from a momentary voice of fear, I felt His peace knowing that through all of it, Abba was, is and will always be in control. So grateful for the results, but even more grateful that it wasn’t about the results.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Don Avatar
      Don

      It’s truly an odd thing to witness the end of the world while still having an underlying calmness that can’t be explained through rational thought. This weekend, for you, was one of those moments we read about or see in Hollywood as “my life flashed before my eyes”. If you take a few moments later to reflect on the path you walked in this time you will begin to see details that you might have missed before. Some things can only be seen in hindsight. In the midst of the chaos you felt His presence. I can tell you that this kind of experience comes in three flavors. The first is the one that most of the world knows. There is no calmness. There is no peace through it. There is only chaos. The second is what you described. Clinging to that peace and waiting out the storm. Then there is a third flavor that not enough people get to experience. It’s expectation. The world certainly is falling apart, but nothing gets to you because that peace is no longer just a comfort. It’s become armor that you trust. You know that even if the worst happens that the next step you take is still under His authority, His guidance, His will. This is where David was when he was tearing his clothes for his sick child only to clean himself up and move on the moment the child died. His people couldn’t understand how he could do that. David said that there was no reason to mourn because he would see the child again, but the will of God was that they walk a different path for a time (strong paraphrase).

      I’d like to say that I’m firmly on one side of that divide. I’m not. I go back and forth between clinging to the peace to carry me through and walking confidently through chaos with expectation that His will is being done. There are still things that can easily pull the rug out from under me. Those are the times when I just have to lean on grace while I’m learning the lesson.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. cleaners4seniors Avatar
    cleaners4seniors

    Agree , feel pretty much the same.

    As I continue this path , I am still choosing to avoid particular people, conventions and places that I have decided… I want no part of.

    Also, I like men on the front line. As I am still figuring out gender roles. It seems Biblical principles or Gods structure is laid out, society is always changing. I understand both. But as a single woman who has mostly been independent and developing my boundaries… I need to step back and stop seeing every task as ‘mine’ .
    Im really physically… tired.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Don Avatar
      Don

      It’s hard to carry the weight of roles that were never meant for you. This isn’t to say that you did it wrong, only that it wasn’t the original design. This fallen world demands a lot more of us. There is nothing wrong with being independent. The original design was for there to be a three part relationship. Man + wife + God. You were forced to take the strain of two of those pillars. Nothing but respect for having been able to do it.

      The life of a single parent isn’t easy. Of course mistakes were made along the way. Some out of ignorance but some were made simply due to exhaustion because of the situation. I find that most of my mistakes I make are because of being overly tired. I’m getting better at recognizing when I made such a mistake. I’m getting quicker about going back to address the mistake and admit fault. That doesn’t always fix the damage, but it does let the other (usually my wife or kids) know that I’m aware that they were not the problem. This is still a work in progress. I do see the occasion where I’m able to see that I’m about to make a mistake and prevent it.

      I think I’m tired now. I’m pretty sure I’m rambling. Back to you, my friend.

      It’s hard to ask for help. That requires trust and vulnerability. Both are hard and getting harder. It’s still something I struggle with. Even in my marriage I sometimes struggle to ask for help because I don’t want to burden my wife or kids with things that I think are my responsibility. When I’m not being prideful or stubborn I can step back to see that it isn’t me being a burden but me asking to share a load meant for more than just me. I have to remember that we are in this together. My usefulness isn’t just tied to how much I can do for people that allows them to not do anything.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. cleaners4seniors Avatar
        cleaners4seniors

        I notice I have a part if me that is able to express my thoughts and feelings clearly.
        Another part if me will never complain or express my true feelings.
        Im pretty sure this has two explanations.
        One being because in general Im private.
        I also choose not to disclose information about myself that can be used against me or harm me.
        For example talking openly with an adult family member or friend. Who in turn later bring it up into conversation where it has no place.
        Another reason being , Im a more proactive type who tries to solve problems and/or prevent them. In so doing alot of drama and complaining can be eliminated.
        Part of being independent has been just that way. Im not speaking of financial either because in that dept Im a failure. I earn I pay bills and give away or spend. But in daily situations, I see ways we can all avoid troubles. Even in health (pain), watching the way people abuse medication, I dont. So, dealing with people who are of ‘ altered’ minds and personalities.. I totally cant trust.
        I also live in a way where my problems, my pain , my mistakes are no one else’s responsibility. They are what Im reaping or consequence.
        In the art of ‘ asking for help’
        I can and cant. I will snd wont.
        In relation to ‘ past experiences’
        There has been a consistent disappointment of people not being there to follow through on my request for something. ( not money)
        So it is extremely hurtful to ask.

        Lastly,
        Control freaks. And others.
        Will take advantage of any opportunity to use ‘whatever it is’, as a tool (perhaps a dagger) to pierce my heart. In pleasure to find error with me or an opening to put there big foot in my path… to create chaos or confusion.
        Im tired if discerning , taking risks, and returning for more over again.
        Let’s just say
        Perhaps In forgiveness I always thought… it meant , I can expect s better outcome with another chance. Feels like I was wrong. And so were their ‘ adult choices’ … to continue choosing (whatever).

        In closing
        Mums the word 🤐

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Don Avatar
        Don

        The good news is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with anything you said. I’m extremely introverted and private. Trust does not come easy for me. This blog and the things I’ve exposed about myself, who I am, what I’ve done, etc. is extremely difficult for me. I’m not used to vulnerability. I’m also not asking anyone else to do what I’m doing.

        I find that trust is built over time. It’s fragile and easily broken even in my deepest relationships. Those have the benefit of shared understanding, but that understanding has to include that they truly do not intend to hurt me. Even my wife, in those rare moments when she fails me, can hurt the bond of trust, but I also truly know that I know that she does not mean to hurt me. It’s rare that I extend that to people. I typically assume that most people are living for themselves. Even other Christians.

        I’m also in an odd situation in life. I’ve only ever had my wife who I could trust so completely. I’ve had to learn the boundaries of where I can trust every person that I meet. I always assume that I can’t rely on them, but the bonds of trust can grow over time and through countless small moments where it would have been easy to violate trust but they chose not to. Trust demands testing. Trust that has been tested can become faith.

        I think the difference with my wife and other relationships is that I’ve always taken the time to address issues with her. If she says something that hurts me I ask her about it. I get clarification. If she does something that makes me wonder then I ask. I’ve learned not to assume. I don’t do that with everyone though. It just seems natural with her for some reason.

        I’ll end with this. Every person you ever meet will get a different version of you. They will have their own individual boundaries and rules. Sure, you can lump most people into groups or categories, but when you dig deeper you’ll discover that each one has a unique profile. This isn’t wrong. This is pretty normal. This is also healthy. It would be unhealthy to never allow anyone access beyond what was required for you to pay your bills. I know you’re not doing that or we couldn’t have this conversation. Other boundaries? Perfectly normal and healthy. Each person’s boundaries with you will change based on every interaction that involves them. I know people who I trust with finances but not relationships. I know people I trust with relationships but would never discuss finances. Each person and each topic has a degree of trust involved. Relationship dynamics are a lot more complicated than most people really want to admit.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. cleaners4seniors Avatar
        cleaners4seniors

        Good points.
        Funny how I usually trust people at first meeting, depending on the first impression and interaction.
        But once (something) is done to raise a flag within me…. I back way off.
        🙏

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to Don Cancel reply

Hello,

Who am I?

I’ve walked a path I didn’t ask for, guided by a God I can’t ignore. I don’t wear titles well—writer, teacher, leader—they fit like borrowed armor. But I know this: I’ve bled truth onto a page, challenged what I was told to swallow, and led only because I refused to follow where I couldn’t see Christ.

I don’t see greatness in the mirror. I see someone ordinary, shaped by pain and made resilient through it. I’m not above anyone. I’m not below anyone. I’m just trying to live what I believe and document the war inside so others know they aren’t alone.

If you’re looking for polished answers, you won’t find them here.
But if you’re looking for honesty, tension, paradox, and a relentless pursuit of truth,
you’re in the right place.

If you’re unsure of what path to follow or disillusioned with the world today and are willing to walk with me along this path I follow, you’ll never be alone. Everyone is welcome and invited to participate as much as they feel comfortable with.

Now, welcome home. I’m Don.

Let’s connect

Join the journey!

Stay updated with our latest posts by joining our newsletter.

Recent posts

Posts