Dig Deeper: Invitation to a Transformative Spiritual Journey
“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” – Luke 6:48
Faith is not a static experience—it is alive, shaped by unseen forces, internal struggles, and deep-rooted convictions. Like shifting underground forces below the earth’s surface, the pressures of life move beneath our faith, sometimes strengthening it and sometimes threatening to destabilize it.
A faith that is not examined and strengthened by the grace of Christ will eventually face a moment of reckoning—a spiritual earthquake that will expose the foundation. Jesus invites us to join Him as He goes deeper into our hearts to show us our hidden struggles, and confess the things that hold us back, receive His forgiveness and pursue transformation.
This journey is summarized under the following spiritual journey framework (through the acronym D.E.E.P).
D.E.E.P. – A Spiritual Journey That Transforms You
D – Dive into the inner journey – Let God search your heart through prayer and the Word.
E – Examine the pressure points – Identify the hidden struggles and weak spots in your faith.
E – Engage in pressure releasing – Confess, repent, and release what’s weighing you down.
P – Pursue transformation – Move beyond survival to thriving in an unshakable faith.
D – Dive into the Contemplative Inner Journey
True transformation begins in the hidden places—where the noise of the world is silenced, and the soul stands before God, examined and honest. This is the contemplative journey, where faith is not just something we talk about but something we live and wrestle with in the depths of our hearts.
David understood this kind of inner searching when he prayed: “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)
To dig deep, we must set aside time to be still, to pray, to meditate on the Word, and to allow God to search our hearts. This is not about surface-level Christianity—it is about being willing to face the truths within us, the ones we often ignore. Are we living from a place of genuine faith, or are we merely going through the motions? Are we carrying fears and doubts that we’ve never confronted? The deeper we go with the help of Christ’s mercy and grace in searching our hearts, the stronger the foundation of our faith will become.
E – Examine the Pressure Points Beneath the Surface
Just as fault lines beneath the earth’s surface cause earthquakes when pressure builds, there are spiritual hidden forces in our lives that must be addressed. These forces—sin, unresolved wounds, misplaced priorities, spiritual doubts, cultural influences— shape our faith, whether we acknowledge them or not.
Paul urges us to examine ourselves, saying:
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
This step requires honest self-reflection. Where do we feel tension in our faith? What parts of our lives do not align with God’s truth? What personal struggles, habits, or doubts are shaping us in ways we haven’t acknowledged? The only way to prevent a spiritual earthquake is to identify the weak spots before they cause a collapse.
E – Engage in Pressure Releasing through Confession and Absolution
Pressure, when left unaddressed, leads to disaster. In the natural world, a fault line under too much strain will eventually break, causing an earthquake. In the spiritual life, hidden sin, unresolved guilt, and ignored struggles will eventually reach a breaking point—unless we God helping us to release them.
Scripture tells us that true freedom comes through confession and absolution:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Repentance is not just about saying sorry—it is about turning away from what weakens our faith and embracing what strengthens it. Confession leads to healing, and repentance realigns us with God’s truth. Many believers carry burdens they were never meant to bear, holding onto past mistakes, guilt, or fears that keep them from moving forward. But when we release those pressures to God, there will be space for transformation.
P – Pursue Transformation & Thrive
A building that has survived an earthquake is not left as it was—it is reinforced, strengthened, made even more secure. Likewise, once we search our hearts, examine our struggles, and God’s Spirit releasing the burdens that weigh us down, we must not stop there. Faith is not just about being stable—it is about thriving, growing, and becoming unshakable in Christ.
Paul encourages us toward constant renewal and transformation: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
To thrive spiritually means to live with purpose, walk in the Spirit, pursue holiness, and seek deeper intimacy with Christ. It means we do not simply maintain faith but allow God to keep shaping us, refining us, and making us stronger. When trials come, they no longer shake us because our faith is built on something deeper than emotions, circumstances, or human effort—it is rooted in Christ Himself.
If you need more guidance along this line, feel free to contact Yared Halche to facilitate ongoing support for you and your congregation.