Some stories knock the wind out of you and then hand you back your breath. On this episode of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Robert Rogers, who in one devastating moment lost his wife and four children in a sudden flash flood and yet, in the very room where he identified their bodies, chose to lift a hand and trust God. This is not a tidy arc. It is a raw, lived map through catastrophe where scripture becomes a lifeline, counseling becomes a compass, and service becomes medicine.

Robert’s story begins in a large Cincinnati family where music and faith shaped the rhythm of life. As a teen, he fell in love with the Bible and memorized verses that later became anchors in the storm. Marriage brought joy and testing, including an ectopic pregnancy that nearly claimed his wife, the birth of Zachary with Down syndrome, and a step of faith to adopt Alina from China. After a summer focused on family and simplicity, tragedy struck. While driving through Kansas, rising floodwaters surrounded their van. The family prayed Psalm 46 and sang “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.” Moments later, a wall of water swept them away.

Survival brought the hardest hours of Robert’s life and the first acts of surrender. He held on to Job 23 and Psalm 71 and built a daily rule that kept him close to God when nothing else made sense: no Bible, no breakfast; no Bible, no bed. Grief counseling helped him work through trauma, and invitations to share his story soon became a calling. He founded Mighty in the Land Ministry with a simple mission: face it, embrace it, replace it. His work now supports orphans and children with special needs while teaching others how to honor their pain without becoming defined by it.

There is restoration too. Robert later married Inga, welcomed new children, chose to homeschool, and kept family first. He poured his journey into books that weave story with scripture, including Into the Deep, Seven Steps to No Regrets, Rise Above, Stay Pure, and Father Your Family. If you are walking through fire or feel like you are being pulled under by your own storm, this conversation offers more than inspiration. It offers practical handles to hold on to. Open the Psalms. Ask for help. Serve someone. Let God meet you where your heart is heaviest.

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To learn more about Robert Rogers, his ministry, and his books, visit www.mightyintheland.com

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