Trading Hyper-Personalized Revelation for the Deep Magic of Scripture
Fireworks vs. The Library of God
Some of us feel like God isn’t speaking to us anymore.
I’d argue the issue isn’t His silence.
Rather, the issue is we’ve become addicted to hyper-personalized revelation.
Yes, there are moments when Jesus meets us in our mess with mystical precision.
He whispers, confirms, calls, or comforts in ways so specific, it leaves us undone.
But if you show up to Scripture every day expecting that same kind of fireworks…
you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
To quote Han Solo:
“That’s not how the Force works.”
So many of us say, “God isn’t speaking to me.”
And I imagine Jesus, brow furrowed, pointing to the 9 Bible translations on your bookshelf, saying:
“Dear one… I left you an entire book.”
A library, really.
Pages upon pages of God SPEAKING.
Stories, laments, love letters, warnings, poems, prophecies, and promises.
As Brian Zahnd puts it: Jesus IS what God has to say!
But we treat the Bible like a cosmic magic eight ball.
Shake it hard enough and maybe it’ll tell us who to date, which college to pick, what job to take, or how to “live our best life now.”
That’s not the invitation.
Deep magic begins when we stop demanding the Bible serve our story…
and start realizing we’ve been swept into His.
You’re not the main character.
He is.
And yet, somehow…miraculously & mercifully… you’ve been written in.
Loved into the plot.
You are not a side character, nor an extra in the background… but a child who bears the image of the Author.
When you lose yourself in that story, you find Him.
And in the process… you begin to find your true self.
Stop flipping pages looking for shortcuts, signs, and easy answers.
Start reading to understand Yahweh’s heart.
To trace His fingerprints across history.
To glimpse the shape of grace unfolding.
To behold the King, crucified and risen, who sees you… tiny, trembling, treasured… and says:
“Come, child. Follow Me.”
That’s when everything starts to change.
That’s when you begin to truly live.
-Aaron
For more on this, read my long-form essay:
Feast, Not Crumbs: Why Biblical Literacy Actually Matters
For a long time, I loved the Bible... but I didn’t really know how to read it.
If this work has fed you, challenged you, or pushed you closer to Jesus, then I need your help!
I’m Aaron, a former long-time church staff pastor now doing ministry out in the wild. Since 2018, I’ve been building GoodLion Ministries to help young adults follow Jesus deeply in a post-modern, post-Christian age that pulls them in a thousand directions.
On Sunday evenings, I lead the GoodLion School of Discipleship, a multi-year formation program where young adults wrestle with Scripture, ask hard questions, and build a faith that can handle doubt and chaos. Through this work, I watch students move from confusion to clarity, from fear to faithfulness, from being spiritually adrift to knowing how to walk with Jesus in real life.
I also write here on Substack, mentor young leaders, and create resources for people who want substance over hype.
Our mission is simple: We believe in Jesus, the King who is not safe but is very good. We’re here for the doubters, the deconstructors, the burnt-out ministers, the church kids haunted by legalism, and anyone tired of shallow faith.
Here’s the reality: I’m bivocational. For years, I’ve supported my family through freelance work while building this ministry in every spare hour I can find. My goal is to transition to doing this work full time so I can expand the School, write more, travel to teach, raise up more leaders, and serve every single person who need what GoodLion offers.
This is my life’s work. For nearly 20 years, I’ve been helping Gen Z learn to think deeply, wrestle honestly, and follow Jesus in a world that tries to pull them apart.
If you believe this work matters, I invite you partner with me! This is not a side hustle for me. This is a mission. Even $10/month helps me teach more, write more, and disciple more young adults who genuinely need it.
👉 Support GoodLion Ministries Here
Thank you for walking with me.
– Aaron
Links
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🎓 GoodLion School of Discipleship
This is so on target.
Love this Aaron!!!