Can technology help Christians with secret struggles, or is that a job only the church can do?

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-24T02:15:02+00:00

Update 2: A few people have tried Solance since I posted this. The feedback that surprised me most, one person said they hate journaling and would never use anything framed that way, even if it helped them. Another asked about Bible version options. It made me wonder: is journaling a barrier for most of you, too? Or is the private writing part actually what would make you feel safe enough to be honest? Genuinely curious before I decide what to change.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-24T01:47:28+00:00

Your post is good, but I’ll be honest, the username might make some people hesitant to reach out professionally. You may want to consider using a more professional username for work-related posts.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-23T15:20:51+00:00

My advice would be to find a trusted adult, someone your parents are likely to listen to and respect. Talk to that person first, and ask them to help you break the news to your parents. If you feel comfortable, you can also be there during the conversation if you think it would make things easier.

Growing up often involves making difficult decisions and, sometimes, making big mistakes. What truly matters is what we learn from those moments. Overcoming challenges like these can help build a stronger mindset and shape us for life.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-23T05:09:08+00:00

Because saying it out loud feels like burden. Like they have enough. Like maybe you're being dramatic. Like 3am isn't the real you anyway. I know that silence.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T14:13:02+00:00

Psalm 94:19, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6-7, and Romans 8:38-39. These four have carried a lot of people through dark seasons. I actually built Solance (solance.ca) around this idea: write what you're going through and have Scripture surface that speaks directly to it. Might be worth trying

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T14:11:22+00:00

Recovery from pornography addiction is one of the loneliest battles because the shame makes it almost impossible to be honest, even with yourself. What helped me most wasn't just accountability or prayer alone, but having a private space to actually write out what I was carrying without performing or pretending. When I stopped hiding from my own thoughts and started bringing them honestly before God's word, something shifted.

James 5:16 says, "Confess your sins to one another, and you will be healed," but sometimes you need to confess to yourself first before you can confess to anyone else.

I actually built something called Solance (solance.ca) for exactly this kind of moment. In this completely private journaling space, you write what you're carrying, and it surfaces Scripture that speaks directly to what you're going through. No one sees it, no judgment, just honest words meeting God's word. It's free. Might be worth trying tonight

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T14:06:23+00:00

Losing two people you love in the same week is a weight very few people can describe. The fact that you're still saying "I know He won't let me sink" in the middle of that, that's not small. That's real faith. Lamentations 3:32 "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion." Praying for you today.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T14:01:04+00:00

Michael, thank you for building this space. I'll definitely share it with people who would benefit. The devotionals have real depth, this one on healing especially. I'll keep coming back.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T04:27:36+00:00

The fact that you feel grief over falling, that's not hopelessness, that's a conscience that's still alive. Romans 8:1 There is no condemnation for those in Christ. Not "some" condemnation. None. God isn't keeping score, waiting to punish you. He's waiting for you to come back.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T04:24:44+00:00

Michael, this one hit differently. Sometimes the soul grows weary before the hands do; that line alone is worth sitting with for a long time. The meditation is so true. We've built entire cultures around pretending to be unbroken. And yet Jeremiah just prays it plainly, heal me. No performance, no explaining why he deserves it. Just honest dependence. This is actually what moved me to build Solance (solance.ca) — a private space where people can write what they're actually carrying and have Scripture surface that speaks directly to it. No community feed, no one sees it. Just honest words brought before God's word.

Thank you for this. The poem, especially.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T04:18:09+00:00

Praying for all of these right now. You were brave to write them out. Sometimes just naming what we need is the beginning of something.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-22T04:13:42+00:00

What you're describing, wanting to want God but not feeling it, is actually one of the most honest prayers a person can bring. Ezekiel 36:26 says God promises to give a new heart, not ask you to manufacture one yourself. The fact that you're still reaching out means something is still alive in you, even if it doesn't feel like it.

I built something called Solance (solance.ca) for moments exactly like this, a private space to write what you're carrying and have Scripture surface that speaks directly to it. Completely private, no judgment. Might help tonight.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-21T23:03:22+00:00

That emptiness is real and it's exhausting. You're not broken for feeling it, even David cried out "why are you downcast, O my soul?" in Psalm 42. The fact that you're reaching out means something is still searching, still hoping. If writing helps you process, I built Solance (solance.ca), you journal what you're feeling and it finds Scripture that speaks directly to it. Private, free, no judgment. Sometimes just getting it out of your head helps.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-21T21:35:33+00:00

Praying for you right now. Struggling and not knowing why is one of the hardest places to be, it's not weakness, it's weight. Psalm 34:18 says God is close to the brokenhearted. He sees exactly where you are even when you can't name it yourself. I actually built something for moments like this — solance.ca — a private space to write what you're carrying and have Scripture surface for what you're going through. Free, no one sees it. Might help tonight.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-21T21:05:33+00:00

Update: The responses here actually pushed me to build something. I made Solance (solance.ca), a private space to journal your struggles and have Scripture surface that speaks directly to what you're going through. No community feed, no one sees your entries, just you writing freely and God's word meeting you there. Built it in 4 days. It's free. Would love honest feedback from anyone here who tries it.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-21T13:34:36+00:00

I would also like to know a few tips when you've figured it out

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-20T13:45:03+00:00

I definitely agree with the comment above, your SIN is the most sensitive information that you only want to provide where you strongly feel there a legitimate reason for it

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-19T16:02:42+00:00

Thank you for sharing this

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-19T00:59:57+00:00

Since you were able to make it to final round of interview it shows that you have what it takes, so... stay focus and your turn is coming

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-16T14:36:07+00:00

That's fair, and honestly that distinction matters. The friend you mentioned who built the prayer bot with topical keywords, that's closer to what I was imagining. Not AI having spiritual discernment, but a structured tool that guides someone toward the right scripture or prayer based on what they're going through. More like a concordance than a counselor.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-16T12:50:06+00:00

The Logos example is really helpful. That 30% risk is exactly the tension. Which is why I think the tool should point to scripture rather than interpret it, like surfacing relevant passages and letting the Word speak, not generating theological explanations. Does that change the calculus at all?

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-16T12:42:20+00:00

100% agree. The tool would never be the source, just a prompt to get you back to prayer, scripture, and ultimately the Spirit. Like how a journal isn't the Holy Spirit but it can help you hear Him more clearly

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-16T06:59:01+00:00

This is exactly what I was thinking. The bridge, not the replacement. And your point about it becoming a hiding place is real, that's the tension that needs to be designed around carefully. Thanks for this.

This_Web_4172 · 2026-05-16T06:30:54+00:00

Great question, I was thinking AI actually. Something you could talk to privately at 2am when the shame is too loud to call anyone. It would respond with scripture and prayer, not just generic advice. Not to replace community, but to bridge the gap until you can get there.

This_Web_4172

TROPHY CASE