As we step into 2026, Ed Fernandez reflects on 2025 as a year of deep testing, hard lessons, and spiritual training. What began as ignored warnings from a mentor became refining trials that exposed areas of the soul still ruled by the flesh—and revealed the necessity of spiritual fathers, mentors, and tested leaders in our lives.

In this episode, Ed unpacks the biblical foundation of spiritual formation through mentorship, drawing from Galatians 5, James 1, and the lives of Noah, Moses, and David. He shares vulnerable insights from a 16-year relationship with a spiritual father—one marked by conflict, correction, hurt, reconciliation, and ultimately, growth. Through this process, Ed learned that greatness is not achieved in isolation, character is forged through testing, and calling always demands training.

This conversation confronts anger, insecurity, identity struggles, and the subtle deception of using defense mechanisms that actually prevent healing. Ed explains how unresolved wounds can sabotage destinies, why untested commitment is fragile, and how disappointment with leaders often becomes the proving ground for true maturity.

Most importantly, this episode is a call to restoration—a call to restore the soul through humility, mentorship, and trust in God’s design for each season of life. Ed closes by declaring 2026 as a year of breakthrough, favor, new identity, and fulfilled destiny—for those willing to bring a new version of themselves into the new year.

If you’ve felt stuck, angry, discouraged, or unsure why certain battles keep resurfacing, this episode will challenge you, encourage you, and remind you that you’re not circling the mountain—you’re climbing it.

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