“The soul holds a mirror, and in its quiet reflection, belief and behavior meet face to face.”

In Matthew 17:22–23, we witness the collision of divine purpose and human pain. Without fanfare or commotion, Jesus tells His beloved disciples, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” The weight of that statement, so personal, so piercing that it left them “greatly distressed.”

And here, we witness it: a real-life moment where belief is proved, and behavior is telling. Their sorrow reveals something we all experience, how emotion exposes the depth, strength, or fragility of our faith. What we believe, and how deeply we believe it, often shows itself most clearly under pressure. I don’t particularly care for this to be true, but I am eternally grateful that it is.

We’re not so different from the disciples, you know. We may believe in God’s sovereignty, His goodness, His promises, but then a hard and unexpected word comes. A shocking diagnosis. An overwhelming disappointment. An unwanted delay. A devastating loss. An unthinkable betrayal. And like them, we are greatly distressed. Our behavior in the distress, what we say, how we react, where we run, and to whom we run, reflects the inner man: the heart, the soul, the place where faith either holds or falters. Think on that.

This is the mirror. When belief and behavior stand face to face, we get a glimpse of whether our faith is something we carry only in theory or something that carries us in reality.

That’s what makes this passage so tender. Jesus doesn’t stop speaking after the hard news. He says more: “They will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” But the disciples seem to miss it. The hope, the promise. It’s there. But sorrow can be so loud that it drowns out resurrection.

And isn’t that true of us? We can hold belief in our minds while our behavior shows we’re only learning to trust Him with our lives.

So what do we do when our belief and behavior don’t quite mirror each other?

I’ll tell you what we must not do. We mustn’t shame ourselves, rather, we must slow down and look honestly into that mirror, the one through which Jesus sees us. We must bring our confusion, our sorrow, our distress into the presence of Jesus, just like the disciples did. He doesn’t turn away from honest hearts. He teaches them. He walks with them. And He does the same with us.

God’s purposes are never thwarted by the upsets we experience in life, and His promises are never silenced by our distress. The cross was not a detour in God’s plan; it was the very heart of it. And the resurrection is not just a happy ending, it’s the guarantee that God brings life out of death, meaning (purpose) out of suffering, and glory out of what seems lost. Our belief is not built on emotional resilience – never lose sight of this truth – but on the finished work of Christ. When we are distressed, we are not disqualified, not from His love, His purposes, or His calling. So erase that thought from your mind. Instead, remember: we are invited deeper still. Jesus didn’t just predict the third day; He accomplished it. And because of that, we live with hope that outlasts the sorrow.

So when our belief falters or our behavior misaligns, when the image seems distorted, this is our anchor: Jesus was delivered into death, and He rose again. And because of that, we know, “this light and momentary trouble is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Here are a few questions I’m learning to ask in moments when belief and behavior distort the reflection:

• What am I truly believing about God right now?
  Is it that He’s distant? Uncaring? Delaying on purpose? Or do I believe He sees, He knows, and He’s working even when I can’t see it?
• Where is my behavior leading me?
  Am I withdrawing, reacting, controlling? Or am I turning toward Him with open hands and an honest heart?
• What part of the resurrection promise am I forgetting?
  Jesus almost never speaks of the cross without speaking of the third day. Who needs to be reminded of this? I know I do. When sorrow speaks, am I listening for the whisper of hope?

There is grace here. Not the kind that excuses us, but the kind that transforms us, that takes our distressed hearts and steadies them again in the truth. Every time we choose to act from belief rather than emotion, even just a little, the mirror comes into greater clarity. We become more whole, more grounded, more like Him.

A Prayer for When Belief and Behavior Seem Distorted, Misaligned:

Lord Jesus,
You see the gap between what I believe and how I live.
You see the sorrow I carry, the things that unsettle me, the places where my reactions outpace my trust. And still, You draw near.

Thank You for speaking truth even when I don’t fully hear it, for staying close when my emotions cloud Your promises.
Help me to look honestly into the mirror, not with shame, but with a desire to grow.

Shape my heart to trust You more deeply. Train my responses to reflect Your grace. And when I forget the hope of the third day, remind me that You are always leading me toward resurrection.

Amen.