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You Don’t Need More Willpower – When Trying Harder Isn’t The Answer

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By: Simon Matthews

It’s 9pm. You’ve had a long day and you’re standing in front of your open refrigerator. You know you’re not hungry. You know you said you’d stop late-night snacking. But somehow, you watch your hand reach out for the ice cream or leftover pizza. 

Later, lying in bed, you get mad at yourself. “What is wrong with me? Why don’t I have more willpower?”

Here’s the truth that might surprise you—willpower isn’t your problem. In fact, willpower as we understand it might not even be real—or at least, not in the way we think.

The Story We Tell About Willpower

For most of us, willpower feels real. It’s the thing we’re supposed to call upon when temptation strikes—the thing that separates people who achieve their goals from those who don’t. When we succeed at something difficult, we credit our determination. When we fail, we blame our weak will.

This story is deeply embedded in Western culture. Ancient Greek philosophers talked about self-control. Medieval scholars linked willpower to moral character. Victorian thinkers saw it as the foundation of discipline and virtue. Even today, we admire people with an “iron will” and shame ourselves for lacking it.

The concept is appealing because it seems to match our subjective experience. When you don’t eat that second slice of cake, it feels like you’re flexing some internal strength. When you give in, it feels like that strength has failed. 

But what if that feeling is misleading? And what if the whole framework is wrong?

It’s Too Vague to Be Useful

Ask 10 people what willpower means, and you’ll get 10 different answers. Is it resisting temptation? Persevering through difficulty? Following through on a commitment? Possessing a good character?

This vagueness makes willpower a useless concept for change. When something can mean almost anything, it explains almost nothing.

Recent research suggests that what we call “willpower” is actually a collection of different mental processes—impulse control, persistence, emotional regulation, habit strength and more. There’s no single “willpower switch” to flip.

The “Limited Tank” Theory 

You may have heard willpower described like a muscle—it gets tired with overuse, so after a day of resisting temptations, you simply run out. This “ego depletion” theory was popular for a while, but studies have found little evidence for it.

What does seem to matter is what you believe about willpower. People who think willpower is unlimited show better self-regulation than those who think it runs out. In other words, believing your willpower is depleted can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

And the opposite is also true—believing you have bucketloads of willpower can help you. But it’s not willpower doing the heavy lifting; it’s what you believe about yourself.

The Blame Game

The thing I most dislike about the willpower story is that it places all the responsibility on you as an individual, while ignoring all the other things that influence behavioural change. 

I’ve been a psychologist for the better part of 30 years and one thing I’ve come to appreciate is how much the things around you matter—where you live, who you live with, the opportunities you have and the resources you have at your disposal. It all makes a difference.

Is it easier to avoid eating biscuits when they’re in a jar on your kitchen counter or when they’re still on the supermarket shelf? Is it easier to go to the gym when it’s two minutes from home or half an hour’s drive? Is it easier to change a habit when your friends are doing the same, or when they’re still doing what you’re trying to stop?

Your environment matters enormously. So do your skills and knowledge. So does whether the change aligns with what you truly value, not just what you think you should want.

When we frame everything as a willpower problem, we overlook these other factors. Worse, when we struggle—as we almost always do at some stage—we conclude that we’re weak or flawed, rather than recognising that the conditions for change weren’t in place.

This self-blame creates shame. And shame is one of the biggest barriers to meaningful change because it makes us less likely to seek help or be honest about our struggles.

It Doesn’t Explain How We Keep Things Going

Most successful behaviour change doesn’t feel like an act of will after a while.

When you first start exercising, it might require significant mental effort to get yourself to the gym. But after several months, it usually becomes automatic. That’s not because your willpower got stronger—it’s because you built a habit that matters to you.

Think about brushing your teeth. I’m certain you don’t use willpower for that. It’s become a stable routine, most likely paired with another routine—like what you do after breakfast or before you go to bed—and it communicates important information about who you are. Ie, I’m someone who looks after my teeth).

So if willpower isn’t the answer, what is? Modern psychology offers far more useful frameworks.

Understand Your Emotions

Many behaviours we might see as willpower failures are actually “emotional regulation” challenges. You’re not eating because you’re weak-willed; you’re eating because you’re stressed and haven’t learned other ways to comfort yourself. You’re not avoiding the gym because you’re lazy; you’re avoiding it because exercise triggers anxiety about your body, feelings of physical discomfort or because you worry about all the things you’re not doing while you’re at the gym.

When you learn to identify and work with your emotions—rather than ignoring them and trying to “will” yourself to act—change becomes much easier.

Redesign Your Environment

Make the healthy choice the easy choice. This is the principle behind “nudging”—making small changes to your environment that guide you toward better decisions.

Want to eat more vegetables? Put them at eye level in your fridge and pre-chop them so they’re ready to go. Want to read more? Put your phone in another room and leave a book on your coffee table or pillow. Want to save money? Set up automatic transfers on pay day so you just don’t see the money in your account. Small changes like this make new behaviours much easier.

Build Skill, Not Will

Sometimes what we call a willpower gap is actually a skill gap. You don’t lack the will to eat healthily—you lack the skill to cook or meal plan. You don’t lack the will to manage your money; you lack the skill to budget, or simply financial literacy.

Seeing change in this way gives you something to act on. Skills can be learned. But you can’t simply “will” yourself to have more will.

A More Compassionate Way Forward

The willpower story is seductive because it’s simple and because it aligns with a lot of societal, cultural and even religious messages we’ve been raised with. But it makes change feel like a moral test you’re always failing. It keeps you stuck in cycles of self-blame instead of solving problems.

The good news is you don’t need more willpower. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Address the emotions driving unwanted behaviours
  • Design environments that support your goals
  • Build habits that make good choices easier
  • Develop specific skills for specific challenges
  • Connect your actions to values that matter to you

This approach treats yourself as a whole person navigating complex circumstances, not as a moral failure who just needs to “try harder.”

So next next time you find yourself standing at the refrigerator at 9pm, instead of asking, “Why don’t I have more willpower?” ask, “What emotion am I trying to manage right now?”

Once you’ve answered that, then ask, “How else can I satisfy that need?”

Those questions will lead you somewhere useful—to greater understanding of yourself and your needs. The willpower question just leads to shame. And you know you deserve better than that.

Want To Know More?

If you’re interested in exploring these ideas further, here are some great books that challenge the willpower myth and offer practical alternatives to managing change in your life:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath

The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Article provided by Signs of The Times Magazine

Simon Matthews is a psychologist and leadership coach. He is a dual Fellow of both the American College and the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He is an adjunct lecturer at Avondale University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre. He loves talking about his passions of travelling and cooking. He writes from Madrid, Spain.

Feature image: Canva

Chronic Pain: Effective Practices To Support Daily Living

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By: Michelle Nortje

Chronic pain can be a debilitating and arduous experience. However, I have a few clients who have been inspirational to me, in how they have faced up to these challenges with awareness, curiosity and grace. Despite what can feel like never-ending discomfort, mental well-being and hope can still be possible.

What Do We Mean by Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for longer than three months, or beyond the usual time it takes for tissues or injuries to heal. It might begin after an injury, illness, or surgery, or sometimes with no clear starting point at all.

Importantly, chronic pain is not just a signal of tissue damage. Over time, the nervous system itself can become more sensitive, meaning the brain and body stay on “high alert,” even when there is no ongoing injury. Pain, in this sense, becomes a learned and reinforced experience within the nervous system.

This doesn’t mean the pain is “imaginary”! Chronic pain is very real, and it reflects changes in how the brain, nerves, muscles, and stress systems interact.

How Chronic Pain and Mental Health Affect Each Other

Chronic pain doesn’t exist in isolation. It often becomes tightly linked with mood, energy, sleep, and motivation.

Many people notice that over time:

  • Pain leads to reduced activity, social withdrawal, or avoidance
  • Reduced activity can contribute to low mood, frustration, or hopelessness
  • Depression and anxiety increase muscle tension, inflammation, and pain sensitivity
  • The nervous system becomes caught in a pain–stress–fatigue cycle

This creates a loop:
Pain → less movement and pleasure → lower mood → heightened pain sensitivity

The encouraging news is that this loop can be interrupted. Gently supporting the nervous system can reduce pain intensity, increase confidence in the body, and improve quality of life.

Simple, Evidence-Based Practices to Support Chronic Pain

These practices are not about “getting rid” of pain or pushing through it. Instead, they aim to calm the nervous system, reduce reactivity, and help the body relearn safety.

Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

1. Mindful Attention to the Body

Mindfulness for pain is not about ignoring pain or trying to make it disappear. It’s about noticing sensations with curiosity rather than fear.

How to practise:

  • Choose a comfortable position
  • Gently bring attention to your breath or body
  • When pain shows up, notice its qualities (pressure, heat, movement) rather than judging it
  • If the sensation feels overwhelming, shift attention to a neutral or pleasant area (e.g., hands, feet, or breath)

Why this helps:
Mindfulness reduces threat signalling in the brain and helps separate pain from suffering. Research shows it can reduce pain intensity, distress, and depressive symptoms.

2. Visualising Safety and Comfort

The brain responds to imagery in much the same way it responds to real experiences. Visualisation can be a powerful way to signal safety to the nervous system.

How to practise:

  • Close your eyes and imagine a place where you feel safe or at ease
  • Picture details: colours, textures, sounds
  • If helpful, imagine warmth, softness, or gentle support around painful areas

Why this helps:
Visualisation can reduce muscle guarding and calm the stress response, which often amplifies pain signals.

3. Gentle, Paced Movement

When pain is persistent, it’s common to either avoid movement altogether or push too hard on “good days.” Both can increase flare-ups.

How to practise:

  • Choose small, predictable amounts of movement (e.g., a short walk, stretching)
  • Keep it consistent rather than reactive to pain levels
  • Focus on what your body can do, not what it can’t

Why this helps:
Regular movement reassures the nervous system that the body is safe, reduces stiffness, and improves mood and confidence over time.

4. Compassionate Self-Talk During Pain Flares

How we speak to ourselves during pain matters. Threat-based thoughts (“This will never end,” “My body is broken”) increase nervous system arousal.

How to practise:

  • Notice critical or catastrophic thoughts
  • Gently replace them with supportive statements such as:
    • “This is difficult, and I’m doing my best”
    • “My body is trying to protect me”
    • “This sensation can change”

Why this helps:
Self-compassion reduces stress hormones, lowers emotional distress, and supports emotional resilience, all of which influence pain processing.

A Hopeful Note

Living with chronic pain can be exhausting and isolating. But pain is not fixed, and the nervous system remains changeable throughout life. Small, consistent practices that support safety, awareness, and self-kindness can gradually reduce pain intensity, improve mood, and help you reconnect with your life, even if pain is still present.

Support from a psychologist, physiotherapist, GP, or pain-informed therapist can further tailor these approaches to your unique experience. Contact the Centre for Effective Living for further support or questions. Some other helpful websites include Pain Australia and PainHealth.

Feature image: Canva

Revisiting Your New Year’s Resolutions – (Remember Those?)

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By: Bec Harris

It’s easy to start the new year full of enthusiasm for change. But by this time of year, many resolutions have fizzled.

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Overcoming The Parenting Guilt Trap

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By: Sabrina Peters

If you’ve ever gone to bed replaying the day in your head, wondering if you were too harsh, too distracted, or just not enough, you are not alone. 

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Why a Child’s First 1,000 Days Matter

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By: Bridget Hadfield

During her fourth pregnancy, Adjowa feared that she and her baby wouldn’t survive.

Her husband was unable to work after a serious accident and the family was living in extreme poverty in Togo, often only eating a meal every three or four days. 

With no income and no access to medical care, Adjowa was malnourished and desperate. As her due date approached, she feared giving birth at home, alone, with no trained support. 

“I thought my life was doomed and I would not survive,” she says. 

Everything changed when Adjowa was connected to a local Compassion centre running a Mums and Babies program. The staff stepped in immediately, providing food parcels, covering her medical costs and ensuring she had essential supplies for her baby. 

When she went into labour, the staff rushed her to the hospital. Her baby girl was born silent and unresponsive, but because the costs were covered and trained help was available, she could receive life-saving care. 

“My daughter and I would not have made it if the Compassion centre had not helped. I am sure I would be dead by this time and my baby too,” says Adjowa.

Adjowa’s story is confronting, yet sadly not rare. It reflects the challenges faced by millions of mothers living in poverty and highlights how much is at stake during pregnancy, birth and the earliest days of a child’s life. 

The first 1,000 days: a critical window

The first 1,000 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, are a time of incredible vulnerability and immense potential. During this period, rapid brain and physical development occur. A child’s survival, immune system and long-term health are shaped by the nutrition, care and support they receive. 

For mothers living in poverty, limited access to healthcare, poor nutrition, harmful cultural beliefs and a lack of support can lead to serious consequences for maternal health. 

In 2023, sub-Saharan Africa recorded 454 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with just 3 per 100,000 in Australia and New Zealand. According to UNICEF, sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for 70 per cent of global maternal deaths, mostly from preventable causes. 

The risks for babies are equally stark. Babies born in sub-Saharan Africa are 11 times more likely to die than those born in Australia, and nearly one-third of births occur without a skilled birth attendant, according to the World Health Organisation. 

Yet early intervention for babies can change everything. With the right support, a child born in poverty has a far greater chance not only to survive, but to thrive. 

Why investing in a child’s earliest years changes everything

Kate Naliaka, Compassion International’s Global Health Advisor based in Kenya, has seen the impact of early intervention firsthand. 

“We understand the importance of starting early and investing in child survival and early childhood because it is the foundation of lifelong health,” she says. “If the foundation is strong, a child is more likely to withstand stress later in life. If we don’t start early, we don’t reduce the burden of poverty and allow these children to reach their God-given potential.” 

Poverty is multidimensional, affecting far more than a family’s income. It shapes every part of life. Without enough food, mothers become malnourished and babies are born underweight. Without support, harmful beliefs can take hold. In some communities, for example, mothers are told that the first breastmilk is dirty, so they delay breastfeeding and miss a vital source of early nutrition and immunity. 

These layers of physical, emotional and social barriers combine to make pregnancy, birth and early childhood even more vulnerable for families living in poverty. 

As Kate explains, that’s why Compassion’s intervention is holistic, supporting a mother and her baby physically, socio-emotionally, cognitively and spiritually. 

“An educated mother is an empowered mother, and an empowered mother translates to an empowered family, community and society at large.” 

Children who are nurtured holistically in their earliest years can grow up believing that change is possible and that they can break the cycle of poverty. 

How Compassion supports mothers and babies holistically

Compassion’s local church partners ensure mothers receive vital support during pregnancy and beyond, offering medical care, nutritional support, emotional and spiritual guidance, and a loving community. 

Through home visits, peer group activities and community networks, new mums are not left to face the journey alone. When a mum joins the program, she receives: 

  • Home‑based care: Perinatal and postpartum support delivered in her own home, helping with health, nutrition and wellbeing. 
  • Advocacy and resources: Assistance to access skilled birth attendants, healthcare services and fair treatment. 
  • Community networks: Monthly group activities where mothers share, learn and encourage one another. 
  • Practical and life skills: Guidance in literacy, numeracy and small income-generating activities to build self-reliance. 

Following the birth of her baby, the Compassion centre continues to be a place of refuge and joy for Adjowa. She has regained confidence and her faith has grown stronger. 

“I still can’t believe the centre paid for all the medical expenses. I thought they would be tired of me as I am always in need,” Adjowa says. 

“I will never forget what they have done for me. The centre workers and other mothers of the program have become my family. I’m so grateful to have them.” 

It’s this kind of holistic support that inspires long-time Compassion supporters like Dr Virginia McPherson. A consultant radiologist based in Melbourne, Virginia has sponsored multiple children and funded entire Mums and Babies projects. 

She has visited programs in the Philippines, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, seeing firsthand how they are transforming lives.

“I saw women receiving quality healthcare during pregnancy and guidance. They could go to hospital for safe deliveries, but it was more than that—each week, they gathered to connect, learn practical skills and build a community. They were no longer alone and their babies had regular check-ups. 

“I was impressed by the care from the staff. They visited each mother regularly at home and supported them at the centre. I simply could not imagine raising my children in the conditions many of these women live in. The program provides rich, holistic care, lifting women above the poverty line while slowly healing the trauma they’ve endured. It was a privilege to see,” Virginia says. 

A brighter future starts with survival

Every child, fearfully and wonderfully made, deserves the best possible start to life. As Psalm 139 reminds us, each of us is “knit together in our mother’s womb,” a reflection of God’s love from the very beginning. 

Through the support of Compassion’s global neighbourhood, we continue to invest in the first 1,000 days, knowing how crucial they are to infant survival, early childhood development and lifelong health. 

This is the measurable impact from the 2025 financial year: 

  • 37,841 babies and mums received care during pregnancy and the first year of life 
  • 14,228 babies were welcomed safely 
  • 93.2 per cent of babies were born at a healthy birthweight 
  • 80.3 per cent of women had a skilled birth attendant 
  • 90.6 per cent of mothers were able to breastfeed, helping prevent malnutrition

Article Supplied with Thanks to Compassion

Written by Bridget Hadfield, Compassion Australia, with local reporting by Akpene, Compassion Togo.

Feature image: Supplied

Deciphering Our Dreams Could be Key to Spiritual Insight

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By: Laura Bennett

Dreams are so bizarre. Our minds have these entire experiences that are worked out while we sleep, consolidating memories, processing the day and sometimes, giving us what feels like divine insight into the challenges of our waking hours.

But how do we distinguish between regular brain function and spiritual revelation?

For most of her life, media entrepreneur and filmmaker Paige Collins thought her vivid dreams were just part of how her mind worked.

“I dream almost every night,” Paige said.

“That’s been a very normal thing for me my entire life.”

Everything shifted about eight years ago, when she woke from a dream to the sound of her own voice praying.

“I was asking God to give me an interpretation for what it was that I had just dreamed [and] that was the moment that I realised my dreams might not just be mind-clutter,” Paige said.

That moment marked the beginning of what Paige now calls being “a God dreamer.” Before then, she hadn’t considered dreams as spiritual.

“I grew up in the church, but I didn’t grow up in a church community that really emphasised the supernatural,” Paige said.

“He’s going to give people business [ideas in dreams], he’s going to give them creative works, he’s going to speak into our personal lives as well as our professional lives in this way.

“I feel very strongly about that. And if we’re not listening, we might miss some things.”

Since Paige began journalling her dreams and praying through them, “God just began to take me through a season of training in my own dream language” using scripture as an anchor.

“God speaks in dreams throughout scripture,” Paige said.

“He gives warnings [and] He gives really beautiful prophetic images.”

Having that Biblical grounding is vital, so you know it’s God shaping how you interpret the dream.

“We have to allow the Lord to bring the ultimate revelation and clarity,” Paige said.

“We don’t need to jump to conclusions.”

Over time, Paige believes God teaches each person how He communicates with them, revealing things about calling and destiny, but also personal wellbeing.

“There are very personal conversations happening between us and Him,” Paige said.

“Some of the most important dreams in my life, although they were a bit uncomfortable, brought about healing.

“They showed me unknown things I needed to deal with, and I think anything that’s going to lead me into intimacy with the Lord is something I want to say yes to.”

Paige Collins’ Awaken Dream Journal is out now.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Supplied

5 Step Parenting Lessons I Learned the Long Way

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By: Lorrene McClymont

I have been a step-parent for close to twenty years. It’s a unique journey, and no person’s experience will be the same.

No family has a recipe for successfully combining relationships with the other family, adding to the blended family, or navigating the myriad complicated circumstances that can occur with family breakdown. My husband and I both brought children into our relationship. Due to infertility, we were unable to add to our family. When we married, we both became step-parents. I am sharing from my experience things that worked in our house, as well as things we learned from our own family. 

Give the Children Some Agency

If you are starting the blended family journey, something that worked really well for us was to work with our kids on the house rules and consequences. We included our children in the conversation, then made sure we had a couple of posters with the rules up. In a situation where both of them had very little control, it meant they could gain some buy-in.  It also helped with different rules at different homes.  Because the kids had a part in discussing our house rules, it removed ‘well, I can do it at the other house’ from the conversation. 

The Kids Need Time

The kids need time to readjust when they come back from the other family’s house. Even in the most amicable of situations, there are likely to be some different rules and expectations between homes. It can be challenging, confusing, and frustrating for kids to come back, and it takes a minute to adjust. We used to find it took the kids at least a couple of days to acclimatise, which definitely led to some challenging behaviour.

Avoid Being the Disciplinarian 

It may be a controversial take, but as much as humanly possible, for us, it worked to have discipline done by the primary parent. I am not talking about situations where the step-parent was the only one present; if my husband and I were both in the room and something happened with our respective children, we would try to discipline our own. Our role as step-parents was to build relationship. We didn’t always handle this well in our house, and it can quickly lead to resentment when the non-biological parent constantly steps in to discipline unnecessarily. 

Communication Between Partners is Key 

Communicate with your partner. I did not communicate some things that happened early on in our relationship.  It was while we were adjusting to being a blended family, and I was afraid to upset everyone. I was trying to make things work, and I didn’t want to hurt my husband’s feelings. We had already both had a failed relationship, and I was terrified of messing up our marriage, so I kept quiet instead of working through things together. I carried a lot of anxiety in the early days, trying to hold it all together. My husband also struggled with this. It took a while to find a good balance, but communication is key. 

Prioritise Your Marriage

Your relationship with your spouse is primary. My daughter is married now, and we have discussed this in detail a few times over the years.  I did not put my husband first in the early days of our relationship. It had been my daughter and me against the world for a few years, and I jumped too quickly to her defense, often without hearing his side. Sometimes it was necessary, because I understood her unique perspective on life better than he did. But sometimes it wasn’t. When we blended the families, I just wanted everyone to be happy, and at times, that came at the expense of the relationship.

They Are Not Adults

We always tried to keep in mind that the children in our family were just that, children. Children hear everything, even when you don’t think they are listening. There is no place for any bad mouthing, gossip, or abuse of the other parent in front of them. Yours or your partner’s fight with the other parent is not their fight. They, as children, should be able to be children for as long as they can, and part of that is not being dragged into their parents’ adult situation. Doing this is not easy.  Family breakdown comes with all sorts of tension and pain. As a step-parent, there is nothing to be gained by saying horrible things to a child about their other parent. All that will happen is they will resent you. 

Blending a family is tricky. Not only are you bringing the scars from your previous relationship into the new one, even if you have done some healing, the kids can be deeply affected by what has happened in their home. Every situation is completely unique, and step-parenting itself is a unique journey. I have found in my own life and family, it has been a gift. I have learned things about myself that surprised me a good way, but also found some areas that really needed some work. We have developed a strong family bond over time, but it was the insights developed through the ups and downs of the journey that led to this.

Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.

About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.

Feature image: Canva

Schoolies for Jesus Offers a Life-Giving Alternative for School Leavers

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By: Ruth Lewis-Jones

What if Schoolies wasn’t something young people had to recover from – but something that set them up for life? What if it could strengthen their faith, friendships and future?

That question sits at the heart of Schoolies for Jesus, a new Christ-centred Schoolies alternative launching in 2026, pioneered by Youth for Christ Australia.

For decades, Schoolies has been marketed as freedom, yet too often it leaves young people navigating pressure, regret, anxiety, and risk. After years of on-the-ground outreach at Schoolies hotspots, Youth for Christ leaders began asking a deeper question: Isn’t there a better way to celebrate this milestone?

“We’ve seen thousands of faith conversations, salvations, and baptisms during Schoolies,” says YFC National Director PJ Bedwell. “But we’ve also seen how many young people leave feeling empty. We believe this moment deserves something life-giving, not destructive. To celebrate with purpose, not regret.”

From that conviction, Schoolies for Jesus was born.

Rather than replacing traditional outreach, Schoolies for Jesus offers a new option: a week-long, joy-filled, Christ-centred getaway where school leavers can celebrate together with Jesus at the centre.

The inaugural Schoolies for Jesus Getaway will take place in 2026 at a beach-front holiday resort in Coffs Harbour, NSW, with capacity for hundreds of Year 12 graduates. The experience blends rest, fun, worship, community, and faith formation, all in a safe and supportive environment.

Event Director Ruth Lewis-Jones explains the heart behind the event:
“We want school leavers to celebrate well. To rest, have fun, and build memories together, while discovering who they are in Christ and that God’s way is better. Our prayer is that young people leave strengthened in their faith and excited about and equipped for the future God has for them.”

Throughout the week, participants will experience worship nights, clear and relevant Bible teaching, fun adventure, beach days, optional equipping workshops, prayer spaces, and faith-filled friendships- all intentionally designed to help young people encounter Jesus and step confidently into adulthood with Him.

Schoolies for Jesus exists to lead a generation out of destructive cultural patterns and into the presence, purpose, and freedom of Jesus. At a time when many young people walk away from faith between the ages of 17 and 21, the vision is bold: to see a generation ignited to live fully alive in Christ.

Participants can choose villas or camping, come with friends or meet new ones, and be surrounded by trusted leaders and ministries committed to championing the next generation.

Tickets for the 2026 Schoolies for Jesus Getaway are now available at schooliesforjesus.com.

Come away. Come alive. Come back changed and called in Christ.

Article Supplied with thanks to Youth for Christ

Feature image: Supplied

If the Spirit led the Church, the Law wouldn’t have to

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By: Tania Harris

Many of us have a solid theological understanding of the difference between living “by law” and living “by the Spirit.” We know Paul’s words to the Galatians: “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18, NIV).

But what does that look like in practice? Research suggests we are not entirely sure. From the perspective of those outside the church, Christian communities are often described as judgmental, shame-filled, and legalistic. For a faith that champions grace and the finished work of Christ, we need to be honest: we are not always doing this well.

So where do we get it wrong? And how do we cultivate churches that are genuinely led by the Spirit and facilitate true transformation?

To answer these questions, we start by looking more closely at the way the Spirit works in an individual’s life. Greg’s testimony provides a compelling example.

The Painful Grip of Pornography

Greg decided to follow Jesus as a young man. His life changed dramatically, yet one area remained untouched: pornography. The addiction began at thirteen, when his father left Playboy and Penthouse magazines openly around the house- on the coffee table, the kitchen bench, always within reach. Curiosity became habit, and by sixteen there was no turning back. In a pre-internet age, Greg’s home became a popular hangout for hormone-fuelled teenage friends.

After becoming a Christian, Greg resolved to stop. Each morning he tried to avert his eyes. After school he focused on textbooks instead of glossy centrefolds. But every Sunday night he found himself at the altar in shame-filled repentance. His church emphasised strict rule-keeping; one failure meant you needed to be “saved” all over again.

“I’m sorry, God. I’ll never do it again.”

Prayer brought brief relief and renewed resolve. But by midweek Greg’s willpower weakened. A “sin binge” followed, escalating toward the weekend, until he returned once more to the altar the following Sunday. Back and forth. Week after week. Greg was exhausted, saturated with guilt and shame.

After two years, Greg finally gave up. One Sunday night, he refused to go forward.

In the church carpark afterward, he erupted in anger toward God. “I can’t do this anymore! You gave me these hormones. You gave me this father. And now you’re going to condemn me because I can’t live by your rules? I’m done.”

His friend tried to calm him. “We must be missing something.”

In frustration, Greg grabbed his Bible and tossed it onto the boot of his car. It fell open to Romans. One verse caught his eye: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Greg froze. Is that what we’re missing?

But if there is no condemnation, why do I feel buried under it?

A Different Kind of Centrefold

Weeks later, God spoke again through a vivid inner vision. Greg saw a Penthouse centrefold with two women posed provocatively. As he watched, the image distorted. Their bodies became covered in filth, decay, and sores. Maggots crawled across their skin and their faces twisted in terror. In the background he heard a girl screaming.

In an instant, the image lost its appeal.

Greg was confronted with the reality of an industry that dehumanises women and profits from exploitation, often involving children. He realised that every “yes” to porn was a silent consent to that system. When he objectified women, he participated in their degradation.

From that moment on, porn lost its grip. When temptation arose, the imagery repulsed him. The lust faded, and then disappeared.

Greg was free.

Failure of the Law

Greg’s story reveals two approaches to change. Can you see the difference?

We understand where Greg’s church was coming from. We want lives transformed. We know God is holy and we are called to be holy. So we establish rules and reinforce them. We preach sermons that set the bar high and equate holiness with moral compliance.

And for a time, it appears to work. Sheer willpower motivated by law got Greg as far as Wednesday before he collapsed back into shame.

Yet Paul tells us that living by the law leads to death. Greg experienced its fruit every Sunday night.

Though well intentioned, the church had created a culture that produced the opposite effect of what they desired. Rather than setting Greg free, it bound him up more with its guilt and shame, spiralling him into a sin binge he couldn’t break free of. The only way to preserve his mental health was to walk away.

A Shift from the Inside Out

Thank God for the intervention of the Spirit!

It was the Spirit who reassured Greg that there was no condemnation. No threats. No punishment. Grace alone was on offer.

Then the Spirit led him to a higher way- the way of love. Instead of focusing on behaviour, the Spirit addressed Greg’s heart. Love became the appeal to change. There was no shaming, only revelation. Greg saw the destructive reality behind the sin and was moved to run from it. Condemnation had driven him backward; love propelled him forward.

The difference lies in the motivation. Law relies on external factors- shame and the avoidance of punishment. Fear becomes the key driver. In contrast, the Spirit relies on internal drivers- love and freedom. As Ezekiel promised, the Spirit gives us a new heart and moves us to follow God’s ways (Ezekiel 36:27). One produces behaviour modification; the other produces heart transformation.

The Spirit-Led Church

Greg’s story illustrates the difference between living under the law and living by the Spirit. The law produced striving, shame, and condemnation. The Spirit brought truth, transformation, and freedom. The law can modify behaviour for a time, but it cannot produce lasting change. The Spirit alone transforms from the inside out.

This understanding reorients our role as ministry leaders. Our task is not to police behaviour, but to facilitate the work of the Spirit in people’s lives. We create space for the Spirit to speak. We encourage people to listen and respond. We pray for conviction and guidance—and then we watch as the Spirit does the work only God can do.

Article supplied with thanks to God Conversations.

About the Author: Tania Harris is a pastor, speaker, author and the founder of God Conversations.

Feature image: Canva

Why Humanoid Robots Will Arrive Sooner Than You Think

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By: Michael McQueen

Not long ago, humanoid robots sat firmly in the category of “cool demo, wildly impractical.” They dazzled on conference stages, tripped over their own feet on YouTube, and then quietly disappeared back into research labs. That phase is ending fast.

Humanoid robots are moving from spectacle to systems. From factories and hospitals to aged care facilities and, eventually, our homes, they are inching closer to everyday life. Goldman Sachs estimates there could be more than 13 million humanoid robots in use globally by 2035. That’s less than a decade away. While most of these robots will appear in workplaces first, the ripple effects will be felt across households, cities and entire industries.

The drivers are converging rapidly. Advances in AI vision, balance and hand dexterity are accelerating. Labour shortages are intensifying as populations age and fewer people enter physically demanding roles. Cultural expectations are shifting around convenience, care and the value of time. And younger generations are far more comfortable sharing space with machines than any before them.

For leaders and professionals, the question is no longer whether humanoid robots will matter, but how quietly and quickly they will reshape expectations. 

1. From Sci‑Fi Spectacle to Quiet Utility 

The first major shift is psychological. Humanoid robots are not arriving with dramatic flair or cinematic ambition. They’re slipping in through side doors, doing the dull jobs no one wants to talk about at dinner parties.

We already live with robots, even if we don’t think of them that way. They vacuum our floors, mow our lawns and assist surgeons. In fact, more than 80 percent of prostate surgeries are now performed using robotic systems. COVID accelerated this trend, particularly in agriculture and logistics, where closed borders and labour shortages forced rapid adoption.

Humanoid robots represent the next logical step because they fit into environments built for humans. Factories, warehouses and hospitals don’t need to be redesigned when the robot has two legs, two arms and can use existing tools. That’s why companies like BMW, Hyundai and Tesla are already trialling humanoid robots on factory floors for repetitive and physically demanding tasks. Hyundai has publicly stated it plans to deploy humanoid robots in US factories from 2028.

China offers a glimpse of what early adoption looks like at scale. Humanoid robots are already working as tour guides, retail assistants, warehouse staff and service workers, with some even assisting in policing and security roles. Dedicated robot training centres allow machines to learn by observing humans rather than being painstakingly programmed line by line. 

The implication is clear. Early adoption will be quiet and practical rather than flashy. Organisations that treat humanoid robots as boring infrastructure rather than futuristic mascots will extract far more value from them. 

2. Cobots, Not Job Stealers 

It’s impossible to discuss humanoid robots without confronting workforce anxiety. Elon Musk has said Tesla aims to build up to 100,000 humanoid robots per month within five years. Numbers like that naturally raise concerns about job losses.

But the reality is more nuanced. Humanoid robots are particularly good at jobs humans increasingly struggle to fill. Dirty, dangerous and repetitive work. Heavy lifting. Night shifts. Tasks that lead to injury, burnout or high turnover.

Robots are already being used for warehouse picking, post‑surgery rehabilitation support and repetitive assembly. Deloitte predicts physical AI and humanoid robots will play a major role in addressing labour shortages, especially as populations age and healthcare demand grows. 

Rather than replacing humans, most experts expect robots to change the nature of work. This is where the idea of “cobots” becomes critical. Collaborative robots that work alongside humans, taking on physical or repetitive tasks while people move into supervision, creativity, problem‑solving and decision‑making roles.

For organisations, the real opportunity lies in redesigning jobs, not eliminating them. Professionals who focus on skills like judgement, empathy, oversight and systems thinking will become more valuable, not less.

3. Impressive, Fallible and Still Learning

The technology behind humanoid robots has advanced rapidly, particularly in vision systems, balance and hand dexterity. Some recent demonstrations have been so realistic that audiences questioned whether they were watching a robot or a human in disguise.

At the same time, viral clips of robots face‑planting, freezing mid‑task or dropping objects are not anomalies. They are part of the learning curve. This is what early‑stage intelligence looks like in physical form.

Robots perform best in controlled environments like factories and warehouses. Homes are far more challenging. Pets move unpredictably. Children run. Objects shift. Lighting changes. Most humanoid robots today still rely on some level of human supervision or remote assistance for complex tasks.

This phase closely mirrors the early days of self‑driving cars. Highly impressive in certain contexts, unreliable in others. The risk is not that robots will fail, but that humans will assume they won’t.

Organisations that succeed will design systems that assume occasional failure and build safeguards accordingly. 

4. The Home Robot Will Sell Time, Not Wow 

When humanoid robots enter homes, affordability and accessibility will dominate the conversation. Today, a humanoid robot like Neo costs around $20,000. By 2035, that figure is expected to fall closer to $10,000 as manufacturing scales and components become cheaper. 

But ownership won’t be the starting point for most people. Early home robots will be aimed at wealthy households, aged care facilities and people with mobility needs. LG has already demonstrated prototype home robots capable of folding laundry and preparing simple meals, while projects like Tombot, a robotic puppy designed to support people with dementia, show how emotionally intelligent design can support care settings. 

For most households, the first exposure will likely be shared robots in apartment buildings, hotels or assisted living environments rather than owning one outright. Leasing models and robot‑as‑a‑service offerings will play a significant role in improving accessibility.

The real appeal is not novelty. It’s time. Even saving 30 to 60 minutes a day by offloading repetitive tasks changes how people live, work and rest.

5. Trust Will Matter More Than Life-like Design

Safety, privacy and psychological trust will ultimately determine whether humanoid robots are accepted into daily life. Most are designed to be lightweight, slow and compliant, stopping when they encounter resistance.

Privacy is a genuine concern. Robots rely on cameras and sensors to navigate spaces, raising questions about data storage, access and ownership. There is also the risk of over‑trust. Robots that look human can trigger emotional responses even when people know they are machines.

Experts agree humans will remain in the loop for a long time, particularly in homes and healthcare settings. Acceptance will depend less on realism and more on whether people feel in control of the technology.

There is also a genuine fear response to consider. An estimated 20 percent of the population experiences some degree of robophobia. Ignoring that reality would be a mistake. 

What This All Adds Up To

Humanoid robots are not coming to replace us, impress us or entertain us. They’re coming to quietly reshape how work gets done, how care is delivered and how time is reclaimed.

The trends are clear. Practical utility over spectacle. Collaboration over replacement. Rapid progress with real limitations. Time as the killer feature at home. Trust as the deciding factor everywhere. 

The future won’t arrive with a dramatic unveiling. It will arrive task by task, shift by shift, home by home. The robots are learning fast. We should too.

Article supplied with thanks to Michael McQueen.

About the Author: Michael is a trends forecaster, business strategist and award-winning conference speaker. His most recent book Mindstuck explores the psychology of stubbornness and how to change minds – including your own.

Feature image: Canva