As Good Friday and Easter approach, we step back to talk about the most important message in the Bible – the gospel. What exactly is the “good news” of Jesus Christ, and why does it matter for every one of us?

In this episode, we explore the heart of the Christian faith: that Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again so that we could be forgiven, declared righteous in God’s sight, and restored to a relationship with God. We also talk about the deeper problem behind every struggle we face and how the cross addresses our sin, shame, and separation.

Whether you’ve heard the gospel many times or are exploring it for the first time, this conversation points to the hope found in Christ alone.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more

[0:00:00] The Gospel: Personal Salvation and Universe-Changing Hope

[0:02:56] Defining the Gospel from 1 Corinthians 15

[0:07:21] What Sin Really Is: Lawlessness, Unbelief, and Idolatry

[0:21:59] Five Separations at the Fall and How the Cross Reverses Them

[0:39:49] Our Response: Repentance, Faith, and Sharing the Good News

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

In this episode, Haley and Dustin are joined by counselor and author Darby Strickland to talk about trauma – what it is, how it affects us, and how the church can care well for those who are hurting.

Darby shares her hope story about a season of deep uncertainty after her young son received a serious diagnosis, and how that experience shaped her understanding of trusting God in the unknown. Drawing from her book When It’s Trauma, she helps us understand why painful experiences can leave a lasting impact on our lives and how Scripture gives language for our suffering.

Whether you’re walking through trauma yourself or seeking to help someone who is, this conversation offers biblical insight and encouragement that hope and healing are possible in Christ.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more

[0:01:40] Living in the Envelope of the Unknown

[0:10:00] Borrowed Hope: When Others’ Stories Carry You

[0:20:00] Jesus, Trauma, and Honest Lament

[0:28:30] When Hope Hurts and Bitterness Lurks

[0:34:30] Slow Healing, Steady Presence

Darby Strickland Resources

Get Darby’s book, When It’s Trauma: https://tinyurl.com/24sr2u3s

Learn more about Darby Strickland and her resources: https://www.darbystrickland.com/

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with author and speaker Megan Fate Marshman for a deeply honest conversation about hope, grace, and spiritual formation.

Megan shares powerful personal stories about finding our identity in Christ, the temptation to hide in shame, and the freedom that comes when we bring our pain, sin, and struggles into the light. Together, we explore why we often want quick relief while God is doing something deeper—forming us to become more like Jesus.

If you’ve ever felt weary, restless, disappointed, or stuck hiding parts of your heart, this conversation will remind you that the Holy Spirit is present even in your weakness and that real hope is found in opening your whole life to God’s grace.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more :

[0:02:22] Hope: Noun and Verb

[0:04:20] Loved Before You Swing

[0:08:20] The Coffee-Button Prayer

[0:17:42] From Shame and Hiding to Freedom

[0:24:59] Yes, No, Wait, Grow, Go

Megan Fate Marshman Resources :

Get Megan’s book, Relaxed: https://www.meganfate.com/books

Learn more about Megan Fate Marshman: https://www.meganfate.com/

Hope for the Heart resources :

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance on 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

Author and theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle joins us to talk about spiritual warfare, trusting God in uncertainty, and the deeper story Scripture tells about the unseen battle.

Joel shares two powerful “hope stories” from his own life—walking through fear when his missionary grandfather was kidnapped overseas and when his young son suffered from seizures—moments that taught him to trust the Lord when life feels out of control.

Drawing from his book The Unseen Battle, Joel offers a clear, biblical overview of spiritual warfare and how the entire story of the Bible points to a loving Father restoring His family. This is an insightful and encouraging conversation about God being our refuge and Christ's victory of dark powers.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means

everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more :

[0:03:08] Hope in Crisis: From Kidnapping and Seizures to Dependence on God

[0:07:37] Prayer as Warfare: How Heaven Responds When We Humble Ourselves

[0:13:02] The Bible’s Through Line: A Good Father Reuniting His Family

[0:25:33] Why Scripture Matters: From Ancient Myths to a God Who Comes Near

[0:38:11] The Three Rebellions: Seeing Evil, Division, and Christ’s Cosmic Victory

Dr. Joel Muddamalle Resources

Get Joel’s book, The Unseen Battle: https://www.muddamalle.com/theunseenbattle

Learn more about Dr. Joel Muddamalle: https://www.muddamalle.com/

Connect with Joel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muddamalle/

Check out Joel’s YouTube channel, Humble Theology: https://www.youtube.com/@Muddamalle

Read Joel’s Substack, Humble Theology – https://humbletheology.muddamalle.com/

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

Do you believe that God is at work in the small, ordinary moments of life?

On this episode, we’re joined by author, podcaster, and speaker Cynthia Yanof, whose life and ministry are rooted in seeing God in the daily, often messy moments of life.

From practicing law to stepping into ministry, from foster care and adoption to gas-station confessions revelations, Cynthia shares how God continually meets us in everyday moments and reframes what we call success, failure, and faithfulness. Drawing from her new book How’d I Miss That?, Cynthia invites us to slow down, pay attention, and trust that God is doing far more than we realize.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means

everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more

[0:03:45] Wanting the Status Without the Sacrifice [0:06:20] Hope in the Daily Details, Not Just Big Crises [0:08:40] Platform vs. Pump: God in the “Small” Moments [0:11:50] Parenting in a Culture Obsessed with Measurables

Cynthia Yanof Resources

Get Cynthia’s book, How’d I Miss That? https://tinyurl.com/43ecbjx4

Learn more Cynthia Yanof: https://cynthiayanof.com/

Connect with Cynthia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiayanof/?hl=en

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

In this episode, Haley and Dustin are joined by Dr. Steve Midgley, author of Understanding Trauma and Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK.

Steve shares two powerful stories of hope—from coming to faith in Christ after years of skepticism in medical school and learning vulnerability during a difficult season of caring for his special needs daughter. We explore how God meets us in our weakness and brings growth through seasons of hardship. We also reflect on the mental health crisis of our day, the opportunity for biblical counseling, and how Jesus Himself entered into suffering and trauma.

It's an insightful and encouraging conversation on the beauty of Jesus, and how we understand our weakness, and gives us hope in it.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more :

• [0:10:00] How Biblical Counseling Gripped Steve’s Soul
• [0:15:00] Weak Pastors, Strong God: Vulnerability as True Spiritual Leadership
• [0:20:00] Why Churches Need Distinctly Biblical Care
• [0:30:00] How the Cross Reframes Trauma and Suffering
• [0:38:09] Moving from Functional Prayers to Adoration

Steve Midgley Resources

Get Steve’s book, Understanding Trauma: An Introduction to Church Care: https://tinyurl.com/mvymbekr

Learn more about Biblical Counselling UK: https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance on 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

Job 1:8 – Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Psalm 27:4 – “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

We all want to change, be healed, and experience freedom … but how does that actually happen? No matter what struggle you're facing, the process of transformation often follows a similar path.

In this episode, we share six biblical concepts that go deeper than behavior and reach the heart. We begin with the foundation—the gospel of Jesus Christ—then explore seeing yourself through God’s eyes (identity), replacing lies with truth (beliefs), understanding the heart needs that drive behavior (desires and motivations), dealing with past pain through forgiveness and freedom from guilt and shame, and finally moving forward with hope by putting God’s Word into practice daily.

If you're looking to grow in your walk with the Lord, this episode offers practical steps for lasting change.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more

[0:00:00] Change Begins with a New Purpose in Christ, Not Sheer Willpower

[0:00:36] Six Biblical Keys: From Identity and Lies to Needs, Past, and Hopeful Action

[0:05:00] Don’t Camp in Your Past—Touch It, Then Run Toward Hope

[0:10:00] Real Transformation Comes from Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus, Not Your Sin

[0:15:00] Saved but Stuck: Moving from Bare Salvation to Full-Life Lordship and Joy

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

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Bible verses mentioned in this episode

2 Corinthians 5:15 – “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”

Philippians 4:9 – “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Are you overly critical of yourself? Perhaps of others? And how do you respond to negative, critical people?

In this episode, we discuss how to deal with a critical spirit – whether you are critical of yourself or others, or you have to deal with judgmental people. We discuss the misconceptions around Jesus' command "do not judge" and how a critical spirit can show up in our lives and relationships. After discussing the emotional and relational damage a critical spirit can cause in our lives, we share practical, biblical steps for breaking free from self-criticism and judgmental attitudes, and for handling negative people.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more

[00:08:06] What a “Critical Spirit” Really Is

[00:15:00] Heart, Habit, or Hurt? Three Roots of Criticism

[00:19:30] How a Critical Spirit Wrecks Relationships and Joy

[00:27:59] From Self-Hatred to Grace: Seeing Yourself as God Does

[00:40:30] Choosing Gratitude and Overlooking Offenses

Hope for the Heart resources

Book – Critical Spirit: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/store/product/critical-spirit

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Other Hope for the Heart Resources

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

Matthew 7:1–5 -- “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 19:11 -- Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

1 Corinthians 13:5 – “love keeps no record of wrongs.”

Proverbs 13:18 - If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.