Oct 2, 2026 · 5 min · 4 segments
When you're going through a hard time, it's difficult to believe ANYTHING positive can come from it. Yet, scripture teaches that it can. That doesn't minimize the trouble, it simply says God won't…
So hear the hard truth.
I've got problems.
You've got problems.
But God will not abandon you in the midst of the storm, nor will he waste your struggle, your pain, or your hard times.
This podcast is called The 2 Greatest after the two great commandments, to love God and to love others when we're on the mountain, when we're in the valley, when we're in the desert or at the beach.
Here we ask the question, what would it look like for Jesus to live his life of love through us in the hard times and the good? When we're going through a hardship, it's hard to imagine how in the world anything good could come out of that mess.
It might be the death of a person or the death of a dream.
It might be worry or want.
It might be anything.
And yet scripture teaches that suffering is what develops our character.
It's what matures our faith.
It's what strengthens our hope and fortifies our resolve and broadens our support.
It might be a stretch to ask us to be grateful for the hurt, but it is possible to find gratitude for the fruit that comes from the pain.
He said, "I've learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages." Unfortunately, our tendency is to look only at our pain, and we rarely embrace it.
Far more often, we run from it.
We seldom even notice the victories that are born out of our trials.
But a look from a slightly different angle will serve us well.
Romans five, three through five tells us, "And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope.
And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." And James one, two through four gives us this nugget.
So hear the hard truth.
I've got problems.
You've got problems.
But God will not abandon you in the midst of the storm, nor will he waste your struggle, your pain, or your hard times.
This podcast is called The 2 Greatest after the two great commandments, to love God and to love others when we're on the mountain, when we're in the valley, when we're in the desert or at the beach.
Here we ask the question, what would it look like for Jesus to live his life of love through us in the hard times and the good? When we're going through a hardship, it's hard to imagine how in the world anything good could come out of that mess.
It might be the death of a person or the death of a dream.
It might be worry or want.
It might be anything.
And yet scripture teaches that suffering is what develops our character.
It's what matures our faith.
It's what strengthens our hope and fortifies our resolve and broadens our support.
It might be a stretch to ask us to be grateful for the hurt, but it is possible to find gratitude for the fruit that comes from the pain.
He said, "I've learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages." Unfortunately, our tendency is to look only at our pain, and we rarely embrace it.
Far more often, we run from it.
We seldom even notice the victories that are born out of our trials.
But a look from a slightly different angle will serve us well.
Romans five, three through five tells us, "And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope.
And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." And James one, two through four gives us this nugget.
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