There’s a moment on every personal development journey when you discover a hard truth: the minute you decide to change, not everyone will welcome it. I was reminded of that recently when some unexpected voices—family, friends, and even not‑so‑friendly individuals—shared critical remarks about my efforts to repent, heal, and grow.

I used to take criticism like that as a sign that I should quiet down or hide my journey. But now I see it differently. Sometimes the loudest opposition shows up right when you’re stepping into the light.

As the Book of Mormon teaches in 2 Nephi 2:11, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” Opposition isn’t an obstacle to growth—it’s part of the path. It’s a reminder that transformation always disturbs the status quo, both inside and around us.

​And the New Testament makes something else clear. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned:

That scripture helps me remember something crucial: when we choose to heal, Satan would love to twist it, derail it, or drown it out in noise, criticism, or discouragement. He roams, he stirs, he prowls—but he does not get the final word.
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Lately I’ve been sharing openly—about my mistakes, my repentance, my desire to become the man God wants me to be, and my hope to bless someone else along the way. These posts aren’t written to justify myself or to seek sympathy. They’re written because staying silent about my growth would mean staying the same.

What many may not know is that I’ve kept an almost daily journal since 2015. My personal journal entries go much deeper than what I share publicly—raw, honest, and unfiltered. What I write here is a gentler version of that inner work, but it is still from the heart. I share it with the intent to help, to heal, and to offer hope.

It is never meant to harm or hurt anyone. If anyone reads these words and feels hurt, I am deeply sorry. That is not my purpose. My purpose is healing—even while others may still be stuck seeing me as the person I once was.

And as I share, I recognize there will always be people who misunderstand, disagree, or feel uncomfortable. Some will assume motives I don’t have. Some will prefer the older, broken version of me because it fits a familiar narrative. Some will react publicly, others quietly.

That is the nature of healing: it shakes loose what cannot stay.

But here’s what I’ve learned—none of that changes the work God is doing within me.

Real transformation begins privately, but it doesn’t stay buried forever. Healing sprouts. It surfaces. It shows. And when it does, it reveals both support and resistance.

Light, by its very nature, exposes.

​And both the kindness and the criticism are teachers—showing us how far we’ve come and who we’re becoming.

For me, these moments are tests:

I write because I am changing.
I write because someone out there might need to know that change is possible.
I write because my healing is not meant to be hidden.

If healing brings criticism, so be it.
If honesty makes others uncomfortable, so be it.
If transformation raises eyebrows, so be it.

I would rather be healed than admired. I would rather be transformed than approved. I would rather walk with Christ than blend in with the crowd.

This blog is not a place for argument, accusation, or tearing down. It’s not a place for trolling, mocking, or digging for faults.

​It is a place for:

I’m not writing to call anyone out. I’m not writing to stir conflict. I’m not writing to defend myself.

I’m writing because God is changing my heart, and I want to share what that process looks like in real life and in real time.  Some people may feel hurt by it now, but time has a way of healing hurt.

So today, I recommit to writing with:

My journey isn’t about proving anything. It’s about becoming someone new—slowly, imperfectly, and with God’s help.

I don’t expect everyone to like it.
I don’t expect everyone to understand it.

But if even one person finds healing, courage, or comfort here, then every word will have been worth it.

If you’re trying to change and others don’t like it, please remember:

Their discomfort is not your assignment. Your growth is.

Keep going.
Keep healing.
Keep choosing who God is shaping you to become.

Opposition will come—that’s part of the plan.
The adversary will roar—that’s part of mortality.
But God will lift you—that’s part of redemption.

And you never need approval to walk the path He is calling you to walk.

You only need courage to take the next step.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you got something positive from today’s blog article.

Gratefully,



Scott Alan Westhoff

Create A Great Day!

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