The Cost of Convenience and the Power of Becoming

February finds us fully launched into 2026.

Growing up in the 1980s, I was convinced that by now we would be driving flying cars, teleporting across cities, and living something straight out of The Jetsons. While we may not have stepped into that version of the future, we have entered a world shaped by speed, ease, and instant access.

Today, technology touches nearly every part of our lives. Because of video calls, I can work with people anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice, often at no cost. Through screens and devices, I also get to see my daughter, her family, and my grandbaby regularly—even though they live 2,500 miles away. In addition, technology allows us to build businesses remotely, collaborate globally, and accomplish in minutes what once took weeks.

For all of this, I am genuinely grateful.

However, our modern conveniences have come at a cost.

What Convenience Quietly Took From Us

Somewhere along the way, something deeply important was lost.

Over time, we lost the lessons that come from planting, tending, waiting, and harvesting. Along with that, we lost the understanding that growth has an order—one that requires patience, demands effort, and develops maturity. As a result, we have grown accustomed to ease, speed, and instant access.

In the process, resilience has declined.

Today, entire generations struggle with anxiety, depression, and emotional fragility at levels never seen before. In my opinion, one of the core reasons is simple: many people have not had to know hard. When everything is instantly available—information, entertainment, validation, and distraction—there is little opportunity to develop grit.

Why Effort Still Matters

As a child, research was an event.

First, my parents had to drive me to the local library. Then, I used a card catalog—an actual wooden cabinet filled with tiny drawers. After searching card by card, I walked aisle after aisle to find the correct section, followed by shelf after shelf until I located the book with the matching code. Finally, once I had the book, I read carefully, hunted for the information I needed, and wrote notes by hand on real paper.

There was no Google.
There were no screenshots.
And there certainly was no copy and paste.

Instead, the process required work.

Because of that work, I learned something essential: if you want something, you must pursue it. You have to engage. You have to stay with it long enough for it to shape you.

That truth still holds.

Scripture, Perseverance, and Becoming

Throughout Scripture, this principle appears again and again. Through parables and lived examples, the Bible shows us the value of effort, patience, obedience, and perseverance. Rather than promising ease, Scripture promises fruit for those who endure.

“God designed us for post-traumatic growth. The enemy designed us for post-traumatic stress.”
— Michelle Schaffer

For this reason, I intentionally challenge myself each year to learn something new. Not because I enjoy discomfort, but because growth demands it. Although I will share my 2026 focus later in the year, I am not stressed about being a beginner.

After all, growth often begins there.

“There are things going on in your life right now where God is teaching you foundational techniques that will become muscle memory for your next phase.”
— Michelle Schaffer

When viewed through this lens, frustration becomes preparation, and resistance turns into refinement.

Formation Requires Structure

This year marks a significant shift.

For the first time, Kingdom Alliance is offering 43 consecutive weeks of intentional growth through our academies. Rather than offering momentary inspiration, this structure focuses on formation—growth that takes root and produces lasting fruit.

“Everything that has happened in my life, even the things I’ve hated, God has made them happen for me, not to me.”
— Michelle Schaffer

Why Kingdom Alliance Exists for This Season

Growth like this does not happen accidentally, nor does it happen alone.

Without structure, insight fades.
Without accountability, motivation collapses.
Without community, even good intentions stall out.

Because of this reality, Kingdom Alliance exists for people who are tired of starting over every year.

Inside the community, growth is intentional. Through live academies, peer accountability, and a clear developmental pathway, members are supported in growing spiritually, personally, and professionally—all rooted in faith, discipline, and obedience.

If you are serious about becoming different by the end of 2026—not merely inspired, but transformed—Kingdom Alliance provides the environment that will require you to show up and grow.