The Reluctant Missionary

Authentic stories from the travels of Michael Smalley.

How to Know If Your Marriage Can Still Be Saved marriage Oct 21, 2025

How to Know If Your Marriage Can Still Be Saved

"Is it too late?"

That's the question I hear most often from couples in crisis.

The marriage has been struggling for years. Maybe decades. The distan...

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The Last-Ditch Effort That Actually Works marriage Oct 21, 2025

The Last-Ditch Effort That Actually Works (When Your Marriage Is on Life Support)

"I've tried everything. Nothing is working."

James sat across from me, defeated. His wife had moved into the guest r...

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Letting Go in Marriage: When Your Spouse Won't Change letting go marriage Oct 15, 2025

 

"How long do I have to wait for him to change?"

Sarah had been married for 23 years. Twenty-three years of hoping her husband would become more emotionally expressive. More romantic. More engaged ...

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How to Stop Your Anxiety From Destroying a Perfectly Good Sunday letting go trauma Oct 13, 2025

 

It was a perfect Sunday afternoon. NFL Redzone was on. I was relaxed. Life was good.

My son David, his wife K'leigh, and my grandson Remington had been visiting The Woodlands, TX and were supposed...

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The Difference Between Boundaries and Control (And Why You're Confusing Them) letting go Oct 08, 2025

 

"I set a boundary with my husband, but he's not respecting it!"

Maria was frustrated. She had been reading books on boundaries, attending workshops, working with a therapist. She was doing everyth...

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Why You're Addicted to Fixing People (And How to Break Free) Oct 08, 2025

 

"I don't know who I am if I'm not helping him."

Jennifer sat in my office, fidgeting with her wedding ring. Her husband had finally gotten into recovery after years of her interventions, ultimatum...

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When Helping Becomes Playing God: The Spiritual Truth About Letting Go letting go marriage Sep 30, 2025

When Helping Becomes Playing God: The Spiritual Truth About Letting Go

"But I'm supposed to help! Isn't that what Christians do?"

Lisa had been praying for her husband's transformation for fifteen y...

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Why Trying to Change People Always Backfires (And What Works Instead) letting go marriage Sep 30, 2025

 

The exhausting truth about control, and why letting go is the most powerful thing you can do


Rachel came to see me after 15 years of marriage, completely exhausted.

"I've tried everything," she...

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Why Your Willpower Keeps Failing (And What Actually Works for Lasting Change) Sep 24, 2025

 

The hidden reason you can't think your way to freedom—and why surrender is more powerful than self-effort


"I just need to try harder."

That's what Jennifer told me during our first session. She...

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Why Consistency Beats Perfection rise Sep 20, 2025

The 90-in-90 That Saved My Life (And Why Consistency Beats Perfection)

How admitting I'd never done anything for 90 straight days became the foundation for finding freedom through Christ


"Are you ...

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High-Functioning Trauma: When You Look Successful But Feel Empty Inside trauma Sep 19, 2025

 

Why being the "helper" and "expert" might be masking deeper wounds—and what to do when your success feels hollow


From the outside, Marcus had it all figured out.

Successful business owner. Beau...

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Why Your Body Remembers What Your Mind Wants to Forget trauma Sep 14, 2025

 

The hidden reason talk therapy isn't enough—and why healing trauma requires more than just changing your thoughts


"I've done years of therapy," Lisa told me during our first session. "I've proce...

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IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT

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