Let’s be real—“repentance” isn’t a hot topic these days. In most church spaces, it’s been replaced by words like blessing, breakthrough, or abundance. Even online, you’ll find more Christian content about self-care and destiny than self-examination and discipline. But let’s be honest with ourselves: when was the last time you truly repented?

That’s the question Woe: The Reflection, Redirection, and Reassurance of God by Manervia Washington forces us to ask. And it doesn’t ask politely. It grabs you by the spirit and says, “Look again—are you really aligned with God?”

Spoiler: a lot of us aren’t.

In Christian circles, we sometimes treat repentance like a spiritual one-liner—something you say once when you “give your life to Christ.” But Woe reminds us that repentance isn’t a one-time act. It’s a lifestyle. A continual return to God when we drift. And we all drift.

Repentance isn’t just for the obviously sinful. It’s for the lukewarm. The spiritually numb. The well-behaved Christian who’s lost their hunger for holiness. And yes, it’s for people who look like they’ve got it all together but are quietly out of sync with God’s voice.

“Repentance is not condemnation—it’s clarity. It’s the reset your spirit is craving.”

Woe does something powerful: it breaks down the 7 churches of Revelation and challenges readers to see themselves in their stories. Were they real churches in ancient times? Absolutely. But they’re also mirrors for us now.

Each church had strengths. But each also had flaws—complacency, pride, tolerating sin, forgetting their first love. Sound familiar?

God’s message to every one of them was clear: Repent. Not because He was done with them, but because He loved them too much to leave them in their mess.

This isn’t just theology—it’s a personal question. Which of those churches reflects your current state? Are you enduring in faith or just existing in routine? Are you spiritually hot, cold, or… the dreaded lukewarm?

Because Woe makes it clear: God is not casual about lukewarm faith. He calls it out. And He gives a choice—repent or risk spiritual disconnection.

Here’s where things get uncomfortable. A lot of Christians are “good people.” We help others. We go to church. We quote Bible verses. But when you look closely… some of us are just spiritually busy.

We’re in ministry, but we’re not in submission.

We serve on Sunday, but we don’t seek God Monday through Saturday.

We say we love Jesus, but we tolerate secret sin and call it grace.

In Woe, Manervia shares her own awakening—how even with years of religious practice behind her, God revealed deep areas of misalignment in her life. That takes honesty. That takes humility. And that’s what repentance looks like: recognizing that our “goodness” doesn’t make us righteous. Only alignment with God does.

Let’s talk about the word reprobate. If that sounds like a heavy term—it is.

A reprobate mind is one that no longer feels conviction. It’s not just sinning—it’s sinning without remorse. People with reprobate minds don’t care if what they’re doing is wrong. Worse, they’ll defend it and lead others into the same deception.

Woe warns us: the path to a reprobate mind isn’t instant. It’s slow. It starts with excuses, justifications, cultural compromise, and silence where there should be truth. And it ends with spiritual deafness—where God is speaking, but you no longer hear.

The cure? Repentance. Before it’s too late.

But here’s the good news. And yes, Woe brings plenty of it.

God isn’t trying to trap you in guilt. He’s trying to free you through grace. Manervia’s story is one of redemption, not ruin. She didn’t write this book from a place of judgment but from a deep desire to see the body of Christ come back to spiritual alignment.

“If there is a yearning within that you can’t explain, I understand. The beginning of understanding is embedded in the Word—and in it is life.”

The offer of salvation is always on the table. God doesn’t close the door—people do. But for every sinner, every backslider, every “church kid” who secretly knows they’ve been faking it—there is still a way back. And it starts with surrender.

You don’t need a stage. You don’t need a perfect prayer. You don’t even need to have it all figured out.

Repentance can start with a whisper. A sigh. A moment alone in your car, saying, “God, I’m not right—and I want to be.”

Open your Bible. Ask God to show you where you’ve drifted. Read about the 7 churches in Revelation. Ask the Holy Spirit to cut through the noise and speak clearly. He will.

Because God isn’t avoiding you. He’s waiting for you.

Woe is more than a book. It’s a spiritual intervention. It’s the voice in the wilderness, crying out to a church that’s lost its way. If you’re ready to stop pretending and start pursuing, this is your invitation.

You can’t be a Christian without repentance.

You can’t live holy without surrender.

You can’t reach salvation without letting God realign your life.

So the question is: Are you ready to repent?