The Gauntlet: Becoming the Man God Designed
Over the past three weeks, I stepped into something that stretched me more than I expected: the Men’s Gauntlet for Manhood course at StoneWater Church.
It wasn’t just another church program. It was a challenge, a daily call to grow, to lead, and to live out the kind of manhood God actually designed, not what culture tries to sell.
From the first session, I realized this was about formation, not information.
Manhood is formed, not assumed.
Week by week, the course dug deep into what it means to live with integrity, humility, and courage, starting in the heart and working outward into our homes, our relationships, and our communities. All supported through what is written in scripture. I am not going to quote any in today’s blog out of respect for the instruction of the course. Just know that everything I touch on through out this blog is clearly defined in God’s word.
Week 1: Fathered by God into Manhood
We began by looking at manhood through God’s eyes.
It’s not something you drift into, it’s something you decide to grow into.
Integrity means my actions, words, and heart line up.
Commitment means being intentional, not passive.
Accountability means being willing to be sharpened by others, not watched but supported.
This week reminded me that true manhood starts with being fathered by God, allowing Him to shape my identity and teach me how to lead from a place of grace, not pride.
Week 2: Manhood at Home
This was where it hit close to home, literally.
We talked about rejecting passivity, accepting responsibility, leading courageously, and investing eternally.
As a husband and father, I felt God pressing on the importance of being present, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally.
Godly manhood never devalues women, it helps them flourish.
And it teaches our children who they are, not by what the world says, but by what God says.
One of the most freeing lessons this week was about emotional intelligence, learning that Jesus Himself showed emotion with holy freedom. He wept, He felt, He cared deeply. As men, we’re called to lead with that same balance of strength and compassion.
Week 3: Manhood in Culture and Community
The final week challenged us to stand firm in a world that confuses strength with control and wisdom with cynicism.
We were reminded that legacy isn’t about applause, it’s about what outlives you.
We talked about standing in the gap, being the steady voice when others shrink back, the man who chooses peace over division, and the friend who lifts others instead of competing with them.
The message was simple but powerful: use your power to serve.
Every day throughout this course, I stayed in touch with two other men, texting each other daily, keeping each other accountable, praying for each other, and checking in on our action steps.
Those daily check-ins became a lifeline. It wasn’t about perfection, it was about presence. Having men in your corner who want to see you walk closer to God makes all the difference.
This course wasn’t just a study, it was a transformation.
It reminded me that manhood isn’t about control or success. It’s about service, consistency, and faithfulness, doing the small things every day that build something eternal.
If you’re a man searching for direction, brotherhood, or purpose, I can’t recommend The Gauntlet enough.
It will challenge you.
It will confront you.
And if you let it, it will change you.
Closing Reflection:
I’m walking away from these three weeks with a renewed sense of purpose, not just in what I do, but in who I’m becoming.
This journey toward godly manhood is far from over, but it’s a path I’m grateful to be walking, one step and one prayer at a time.
Standing in the gap,
Calen
