‘Life doesn't stop for anything even a natural disaster. You can become pretty naive to think that it won't happen to you. And when it did actually happen, the devastation was beyond our comprehension at the time. And we've been dealing with that for the last two years.’

When the levee broke, Alex’s farm was inundated. Hear Alex’s story of faith and resilience as she faced the devastating impact of floods and unimaginable challenges.

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'I’ve had a fair bit to do with grief in my life – enough to know that one size does not fit all. My grief, and how I grieve, is not the same as yours.'

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‘My best friend was diagnosed with cancer. We heard on a Wednesday there's nothing that can be done. He was dead by Friday. That was a bit of a smack in the head!’

Experiencing the grief of losing someone close to you can really shake you up and make you question where God is through all of this. Listen as Steve shares what sustains him amid grief and tough times.

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Do you ever feel inspired to make a difference but feel too small and insignificant?

‘I sometimes find I get a bit overwhelmed when I start looking at how many different ways that we could be helping and serving.

Don't underestimate the power of being friends with someone, being a neighbour to someone, visiting someone who doesn't get out of the house very often. It might be your grandma. The needs could be closer to you than you think.  Making a difference for one person is making a difference.’

Listen as Eloise, a young person inspired to make a difference in the world, talks about the call to serve others.

'I call it the society blueprint. You finish school, you get a job, you get a partner, you buy a house, children, retire. So, if you don't fit the blueprint, where do you fit in society?'

Emma is constantly faced with questions around her single life. She's also been given plenty of unwanted advice! Listen as Emma shares how she navigates society's expectations as a single person, and the hope she discovered in embracing being single.

The post Single but not Lonely appeared first on Messages of hope.

'I got introduced to alcohol at 16 and I found this wonderful feeling of release. I could be somebody that I always wanted to be. It became my friend.'

There are many tragic stories about the abuse of alcohol, but how does it start, and how can it change? Listen to Darryl’s story of long-term alcohol addiction and how he found transformation and hope in a higher power.

The post A Ladder and a Torch appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘Us Australians are a generous bunch, often willing to support an important cause that might bring hope in a time of need. But when it comes to financial giving, we don't always get to hear the impact that our donations really have.’

Ever wondered what really happens with humanitarian aid overseas? Listen as Sophie Gebreyes, from Lutheran World Federation, shares about Ethiopia’s country program and how generous Australians are making a world of difference in the lives of people in struggling communities.

The post Carrying Hope appeared first on Messages of hope.

Life seems to be going 100 miles an hour. People all around us seem to be suffering from burnout and stress. This isn’t something new. But what is it that causes us to feel like it’s all just getting too much? Listen to Ali and Celia chat about what gets us stressed, how we react to it, what helps us when the crisis hits and managing in the longer term.

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When love is supposed to be forever, how does it survive through illness and death?

‘There'll be swings and roundabouts. You'll be, oh, you're going fine, you know, and then suddenly you won't.’

Listen to the enduring love story of Cheryl and Trevor. Hear Cheryl share the challenge of working through Trevor’s illness and how she found hope through the loss of a life-time love.

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“It was kind of fun in the early years when he'd be gone for eight weeks at a time and he'd come back and it'd be like a new boyfriend every eight weeks. But it became tiring after a while and we realized that, if you actually expect the fresh and new each time that you're going to get disappointed.” Listen as Luke and Jo share their story of separation and what they’ve learned about their relationship and keeping the family together.

The post Life Together When Apart appeared first on Messages of hope.