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Can seasons of darkness help us see more clearly than ever? Singer & author Andrew Peterson describes his path through depression to resurrection.

Show Notes and Resources

• Get to know Andrew learn about his book Resurrection Letters at andrew-peterson.com
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Approximately one in five children struggles with some form of mental illness. Dr. Nicole Wilke helps parents to create a safe, supportive space for their kids where they can develop resilience and heal from trauma. Growing up with over 70 foster siblings in her lifetime, Nicole has extensive experience with vulnerable kids. Using biblical principles and scientific research, she’ll offer practical advice for overcoming adversity to thrive in life.

Receive a copy of the books Overcoming: What Scripture and Science Say About Resilience and Caleb Koala’s Comeback Ride: A Journey to Overcoming -- plus an audio download of "Helping Children Overcome Adversity and Trauma" -- for your donation of any amount!

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‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ puts our porous pal right into the nefarious clutches of the Flying Dutchman.

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Our Savior accepted God's will—enduring the greatest trial but reaping the greatest reward for His obedience.

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To become a lawyer in California, Maxcy Filer had to pass the state’s grueling, three-day bar exam. So he took it not once, not twice, but forty-eight times before passing the tough test. His goal? To advocate for the underprivileged in Compton, his beloved city. Between his first and last attempts at passing the exam—across twenty-five years—Filer and his wife raised seven children, all who went to college. When Filer was sworn in, the judge said: “Three words about Maxcy Filer: perseverance, perseverance, perseverance.”  

His story prompts me to think of people in the Bible who persevered. The writer of Hebrews recognized some: Noah, who “by his faith . . . became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith” (11:7). Or Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (vv. 8-21), Moses (vv. 23-28), and others. Such examples inspire us.

The writer then exhorts believers in Christ: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (12:1). We then read, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (v. 1). How will we do this? By “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (v. 2). As we consider Christ’s sacrifice for us, “[we] will not grow weary and lose heart” (v. 3.)

Challenges to our faith give us opportunity to endure in His name. In His power, we persevere.

Although it was Palm Sunday, a day to celebrate the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, for Mary Edwar it became a time of deep pain. Leaving their church after the service, she and her husband, Kareem, were holding hands when a bomb went off. The device killed Kareem and injured Mary, causing her to miscarry.

While Mary recuperated, she felt furious while grieving for her husband and child. But somehow reading the Bible calmed “the volcano inside her.” In particular, when she struggled to comprehend why God allowed the atrocity, Isaiah 55:9 helped: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” As she understood that God extends grace even when He’s dishonored, she felt soothed by His Spirit.

Mary considered Isaiah’s message from God to His wayward people. While calling them back to Himself, God sought to expand their understanding of His merciful character. Even as the heavens are “higher than” the earth, so were God’s ways “higher than” theirs (v. 9). So too will God show love and grace, more than they could imagine.

While grieving deeply, Mary was stunned to receive God’s gift of peace. She welcomed Jesus’ consoling love, which He poured out in the events that we mark during Holy Week. He’s eager to give us His peace too; we need only to look to Him.