I used to think being “spiritual” meant glowing in perpetual bliss.
Like I’d wake up levitating out of bed, chanting mantras, beaming love beams out of my forehead, and seeing sparkles everywhere.
That’s what the gurus told me.
If I was suffering, they said:
And for a while, I believed them.
The Seduction of Love and Light
We love “love and light” because it feels safe.
It’s prettier than:
But here’s the truth nobody tells you:
Sometimes life really freaking sucks.
Your partner cheats.
Your body falls apart.
Your childhood memories claw back from the dark.
Your bank account empties.
Your heart breaks open until it feels like you’ll die.
And you know what?
That doesn’t mean you’re failing at being spiritual.
The Lie of Detachment
So many modern gurus say:
“Just detach from your suffering.”
But detachment is sometimes just a prettier word for avoidance.
I’ve seen people:
That’s called spiritual bypassing.
Spiritual bypassing is when we use spiritual ideas to avoid dealing with real pain.
It creates shame:
Your Pain is Real
Let me say this clearly:
Your pain is real.
It matters.
It deserves to be witnessed.
It’s not a sign you’re “less enlightened.”
When someone says:
…sometimes they mean well. But often, they’re uncomfortable with real human suffering.
Suffering as Sacred Teacher
Here’s the paradox:
Suffering is not the goal of life. But it’s often the doorway to your purpose.
Your compassion doesn’t come from your perfect days.
It comes from your heartbreak.
Your empathy was born in your sleepless nights.
Your wisdom was forged in your tears.
We’re meant to feel it all.
That’s how we become truly alive.
Jesus Felt It All
Even Jesus wept.
He felt:
He didn’t “bypass” pain. He went through it.
He didn’t judge people for hurting. He met them in it.
God never calls you to pretend your suffering doesn’t exist. He calls you to bring it to Him.
Feel It to Heal It
Spiritual enlightenment isn’t:
It’s learning to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and still know you are loved.
It’s learning to:
There’s No Shortcut
Yes—your circumstances shape your purpose.
Yes—they birth your calling.
But that doesn’t mean they weren’t devastating.
Pain is real. Abuse is real. Betrayal is real.
Glossing it over doesn’t make it spiritual. It makes it dishonest.
A New Definition of Spirituality
Here’s my definition of true spirituality:
It’s feeling every ounce of your humanity—and still choosing love.
Not bypassing. Not avoiding.
But going all the way through it—and finding God waiting for you on the other side.
Your tears are holy.
Your scars are sacred.
Your journey matters.
If this resonates with your spirit and you’re yearning to go deeper into your healing and spiritual awakening, I share much more of my personal story and the insights God has given me in my book:
I Am Not Your Villain; I Am Your Mother
May it be a light on your journey.
Together, we’re stepping into a new world—one healed heart at a time.
With grace,
Mandelynn Moses
It’s God’s world, and we are taking it back.
May it be a light on your journey.
Together, we’re stepping into a new world—one healed heart at a time.
