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Sometimes, life throws more at you than you think you can handle — and it’s easy to lose sight of who you are. In this episode, Mark sits down with two Heartlight teens who open up about what drove them to the edge, from battling depression and losing a brother to numbing pain with drugs and alcohol. Both share honestly about what happens when you start living for everyone else — or try to escape your hurt instead of facing it. Through stories of loss, fractured families and hard-won moments of hope, these teens talk about what it’s like to truly begin the journey back to yourself.

Want to learn more about the Heartlight residential program? Go to heartlightministries.org today.

Jesus never promised us a life without trouble. In John 16:33, He tells His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Those words remind us that difficulty is an unavoidable part of life, but we never have to face it alone. Whether we're navigating financial uncertainty, a family crisis, or an unexpected loss, God's presence and faithfulness remain constant.

Howard Dayton, author, teacher, and founder of Compass Financial Ministry, has spent decades helping Christians apply biblical wisdom to their finances. In his book Your Money Counts, he explores an important question: How should we respond when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm us?

For Howard, that question is deeply personal.

Years ago, Howard and his wife, Bev, were in the process of adopting their second child, a newborn boy named Andrew.

When Andrew was just a few months old, they began noticing problems with his eyesight. A visit to an ophthalmologist revealed that he was blind. Further examinations uncovered something far more devastating: Andrew had been born with only a brainstem.

Andrew lived for seven years, requiring extraordinary care throughout his short life. Howard and Bev loved him deeply, but the physical and emotional demands were exhausting. 

That experience taught their family something about the unpredictable nature of life's difficulties. Some crises develop gradually, giving us time to prepare. Others arrive without warning. Some resolve quickly, while others become long and painful journeys. Some result from our decisions, while others are entirely beyond our control. 

And many bring significant financial consequences.

Job loss, medical emergencies, family deaths, and unexpected expenses can place enormous pressure on our resources and relationships. When those pressures accumulate, even the strongest families can feel overwhelmed.

Howard emphasizes that one of the most important things couples can do during these seasons is communicate. Rather than allowing stress to create distance, he encourages husbands and wives to set aside time each day to talk honestly about what they're experiencing.

The goal isn't to solve every problem immediately. It's to listen, understand, and ask a simple question: How can I best support you right now?

When difficulties arise, our first instinct is often to focus on everything that's going wrong. But Howard believes the most important question isn't simply how we'll overcome the crisis. It's whether we remember who God is in the middle of it.

Scripture reminds us that God is loving, faithful, and intimately involved in our lives. His character doesn't change when our circumstances do.

That's a truth we can easily forget when hardship continues longer than expected.

Howard points to the prophet Jeremiah, who knew what it meant to experience suffering and despair. In Lamentations 3, Jeremiah describes his affliction and the bitterness weighing on his soul.

Yet in the middle of his grief, he remembers God's steadfast love and declares that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:21–23). Notice that Jeremiah's circumstances have

While writing her book The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, Shaunti Feldhahn did a massive research study involving thousands of married couples. Her follow-up interviews with hundreds of couples who had the happiest marriages revealed some simple attitudes and actions that can help your marriage today!

Get "The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages" free with your gift.

Simple Habits for Marital Happiness -- Build a happy marriage with this free video series! You'll learn four foundational "fall in love" habits, how to overcome marital complacency, how-to’s for connecting through the day, and more.

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Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!

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Did you know that October 31 holds a history far deeper than costumes and candy? In this episode, Alex looks at Reformation Day, recounting how Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517 championed biblical authority and personal conscience, and how those ideas helped shape liberty and constitutional government. Stick around to hear why this history still matters today and how you can respond with prayer and thoughtful civic engagement.

Scripture References:

Romans 1:16

Habakkuk 2:4

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Romans 4:22-25

Romans 5:1

Links: 

·      Alex McFarland

·      Ask Alex

·      The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask about Christianity by Alex McFarland

·      Exploring the Word With Bert Harper and Alex McFarland

·      TheCove.org

·      My Relationship with God Free e-book

·      United in Prayer Devotionals

·      Speaking Calendar

·      Book Alex

·      Give Online

·      Alex McFarland Ministries

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This hour, Christian counselor Joe Dallas will join us to explain how we handle the issues raised by the LGBT community. How do we respond in love while never being ashamed of the Truth? Have we gotten to the point where we think love is total acceptance of something, even if Scripture says it wrong, or does love mean loving someone enough to always speak the truth? Join us for an important conversation on a tough topic.

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How should A Christian Vote? How should we align our beliefs and views at the polls? 

Monday, November 2, 2026

For the second hour Kerby welcomes back attorney and prayer leader Phillip Jauregui. Phillip brings us an update from the Prayer event to consecrate the opening of the United States Supreme Court’s 2026-2027 term and asking for God’s mercy and justice to prevail in our Nation, and they’ll discuss the ongoing prayers for our highest court.

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A church applauds their pastor’s second wife, Chuck Swindoll shares a glimpse of enduring love, and a congregation walks out to prank its pastor. Todd examines what these moments reveal about false teaching, your marriage, and how we treat the church.

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