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 :

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

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

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 

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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.

What does it really look like to care for others well – and how do you do it without becoming overwhelmed?

In this episode, Haley and Dustin unpack the biblical foundations of effective care and counsel – and why every believer is called to help in some capacity. They address common barriers that hold people back – fear, self-doubt, and feeling unqualified – and share 10 biblical principles for helping others well.

This conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone who wants to walk alongside others with confidence, reflect God’s heart, and trust Him with the outcome.

Be sure to listen through to the end because they share a special 30% discount on Hope for the Heart’s Foundations of Care course, The Care and Counsel Handbook, and their summer Called to Care training event (details in the show notes).

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 

Use code HOPETALKS30 to save 30% on the following resources:

Foundations of Care video course: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/store/foundations-of-care 

The Care and Counsel Handbook: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Called to Care training event on Saturday, June 13, 2026: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/called-to-care 

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

Isaiah 46:4 (NLT) – “I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

When you care for someone, you reflect the heart of God who “cares for you.”

When you help someone, you reflect the heart of Go,d who is called “my helper” (Psalm 54:4 NLT).

When you help someone who has fallen, you reflect the heart of God who “upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).

When you offer a gentle touch or supportive hand, you reflect the heart of God who “takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).

When you listen to someone tell their story or share a memory, you reflect the heart of God who “turns his ear to me” (Psalm 116:2 NIV), “bends down to listen” (NLT).

When you provide wise counsel to someone, you reflect the heart of God who “counsel[s] you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).

When you sympathize with someone grieving or crying in pain, you reflect the heart of God who promises to “wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4).

When you simply sit with someone and keep them company, you reflect the heart of God who says, “I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10).

Trauma. It seems like we hear about it everywhere these days. But what does the Bible say about it?

In this episode, Haley and Dustin provide a biblical and lay-level understanding of the basics of trauma – what it is, what it is not, and how it’s different from everyday stress and pain. They also explore how trauma can impact us in different ways and also highlight biblical characters and stories where trauma played a significant role—reminding us that pain and suffering are not foreign to the story of God’s people. They offer a helpful framework from Dr. Marcus Warner* on how to bring God into your pain.

Whether you’re walking through trauma yourself or seeking to better understand and support others, this episode offers a biblical perspective on making sense of our pain with encouragement to find healing through God’s Word.

*See episode 78 with Dr. Marcus Warner, “Understanding the Wounded Heart" for more helpful discussion on trauma.

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] Identity Is Not Your Trauma

[0:01:28] Trauma: A Big Cultural & Church Conversation

[0:03:45] God’s Presence in Global and Personal Crises

[0:17:28] Big T vs Little t: Defining Trauma Clearly

[0:54:57] REAL Prayer: A Simple Framework for Healing

Hope for the Heart resources

Book – Crisis & Trauma: Healing the Wounded Heart – https://www.hopefortheheart.org/store/product/crisis-truama 

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

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

Psalm 31:9-16 – “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends—those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.”

Bible characters who had traumatic experiences:

Adam & Eve – loss of fellowship with God; Cain kill Abel (their sons)

Noah – saw the whole world destroyed

Hagar -- Abused, exploited, abandoned while pregnant, fled to the wilderness

Joseph – Betrayed by family, abandoned, enslaved, falsely accused

Job – Lost everything, faced immense suffering

Naomi – Lost husband and sons, displaced

David – hunted by Saul, betrayal, and loss of family and friends, lament in the Psalms

Mary, mother of Jesus – Witnessed her son’s crucifixion

Paul – Beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked

Jesus – Rejected, abandoned, tortured, crucified 

Rebekah Lyons shares her powerful hope story of navigating a difficult childbirth and learning that her firstborn son had Down syndrome. In that tender, uncertain season, she discovered what it truly meant to surrender control and trust God with her whole heart. 

Together, we explore how adversity can strengthen our faith, why risk is an essential part of spiritual growth, and how resilience helps us face both courageously. Rebekah also shares five practical principles from her book Building a Resilient Life, offering encouragement and wisdom for anyone learning to walk boldly with God through life’s hardest moments.

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 

Rebekah Lyons Resources 

Learn more about Rebekah Lyons, her books, and her ministry – https://www.rebekahlyons.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

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 

Katherine Wolf shares her remarkable story of surviving a life-changing stroke and later navigating a high-risk pregnancy that resulted in the miraculous birth of her second son. With honesty and grace, she reflects on the “collateral blessings” God has brought from what once felt like only loss, and the unexpected ways He has redeemed her suffering. Katherine also shares how these experiences shaped her ministry, Hope Heals, and her heart to serve and advocate for the disabled community. 

This deeply meaningful conversation explores the reality of suffering, how to maintain hope, and see God’s goodness in every season.

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 

[0:03:01] The Miracle of Her Second Child

[0:06:59] Building Hope Heals Ministry Through Crisis

[0:14:40] Redefining “Good” and the Practice of Hope

[0:27:01] Gratitude and Praise as a Response to Suffering

Katherine Wolf Resources 

Learn more about Katherine Wolf and her ministry, Hope Heals – https://hopeheals.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

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/

When Bethany Murdock learned she and her husband wouldn’t be able to have children, her world felt shattered. Yet in that deep place of pain, God invited her into an even deeper relationship with Him.

In this encouraging conversation, Bethany—Christian Life Coach, author, and trainer with ICCI—shares her story of hope, healing, and spiritual growth. Drawing from her book Into the Deep, she unpacks what it means to truly know Jesus, overcome fear, and grow deeper in faith even when life doesn’t go as planned.

If you’re longing to take the next step in your walk with God, this episode will stir your heart to trust Him—no matter what season you’re in.

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 

[05:02]: Hope Through Infertility and Disappointment

[10:09]: The Role of Community, Honesty, and Reframing Expectations

[20:02]: Metaphors of Depth and Fire for Relationship with God

[40:05]: Barriers to Deeper Relationship and the Cost of Discipleship

Bethany Murdock Resources 

Learn more about Bethany Murdock, her book Into the Deep, and her coaching practice: http://www.bethanylentzmurdock.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

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 

Happy New Year!

In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with Cynthia Baker, life coach and author of Still Stuck. They discuss why we often get stuck accomplishing our goals — and how we can experience real, lasting change. 

Cynthia opens with her hope story of overcoming an eating disorder in seminary and how changing her mindset became the turning point toward healing. She walks through four key principles of changing your mindset, offering biblical wisdom and practical tools to help you approach goals and resolutions with clarity and hope. This is biblically-rich, encouraging conversation to start the New Year with fresh perspective and hope.

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 

(02:53) Digging Deeper—Mindset Change Over Behavior Change

(16:48) The Power of Small, Consistent Steps—Not All or Nothing

(21:35) Identify and Rewire Limiting Beliefs

(41:35) Four Principles to Getting Unstuck and the Role of Action

Cynthia Baker Resources 

Learn more about Cynthia Baker and her life coaching resources: https://cynthiabaker.com/ 

Hope for the Heart resources

Blog: When God’s Truth Silences the Enemy’s Lies – https://www.hopefortheheart.org/explore/blog/i-dont-even-remember

Blog: How to Control Anxious Thoughts - An Exercise from Philippians 4:8 – https://www.hopefortheheart.org/explore/blog/8-ways-to-control-anxious-thoughts 

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

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

Lamentations 3:40 – “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”

Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Merry Christmas!

In this special Christmas episode, Haley and Dustin fix their eyes on Jesus – the hope of the world. They explore solid historical and biblical evidence for His deity, reflect on His titles (Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, and more), and conclude with reflection questions to stir your heart to worship the Savior this Christmas season.

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 

(02:00) : Christmas Is About Jesus—Past, Present, and Future

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

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

Matthew 12:18-21 – after healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath … “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.”

John 14:6 – “Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Luke 24:40-43 – When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

1 Timothy 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.

Titus 2:11-13 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.