For years, Christy Osborne turned to wine to manage grief, a struggling marriage, and the pressures of motherhood, only to feel trapped in her habits. In desperation, she cried out to Jesus—and through His grace, began a journey of healing, finding new strength in Scripture and healthier ways to face life’s challenges. She shares her story as a testimony of God’s peace, redemption, and the lasting hope found in Him.

What if your confidence in Jesus didn’t have to rest on feelings alone — but on real, compelling evidence? In this episode, Kaley Olson and Meredith Brock sit down with Dr. Joel Muddamalle to explore why Christians can trust both the Bible and the historical Jesus with clarity and confidence.

Joel unpacks the surprisingly strong historical, textual, and archaeological evidence surrounding Scripture, the overwhelming support for the resurrection, and why even secular scholars take the Gospels seriously. You’ll walk away not just informed but anchored — reminded that the story of Jesus isn’t fragile, mythical, or wishful thinking. It’s trustworthy. It’s verifiable. And it changes everything.

You’ll learn:

• How the Bible’s accuracy and fulfilled prophecies point to Jesus as a real, historical person.
• Why the Gospels can be trusted — backed by archaeology, thousands of manuscripts, and even secular scholars.
• What makes the resurrection not just a belief but a well-supported historical event.
• How solid evidence can strengthen your faith and give you confidence when questions or doubts arise.

Resources From This Episode:

• Download the free First 5 app: Begin a daily rhythm of studying God’s Word with clear, trustworthy teaching that helps you grow with confidence. Perfect for starting (or restarting!) your Bible study habits this year.
• Follow Dr. Joel Muddamalle: Get accessible, thoughtful theology through his Instagram and free Substack — practical tools to help deepen your understanding of Scripture every week.
• Explore 40 Days Through the New Testament: Knowing the Savior Who Steadies Our Uncertainty:Walk through the New Testament with rich teaching — including contributions from Dr. Joel Muddamalle — designed to strengthen your confidence in who Jesus is and why His story can be trusted.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “Am I Reading My Bible Right?” — a conversation between Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Shae Hill from The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast.

God’s new mercies for a new year remind us that lasting hope isn’t found in resolutions, productivity, or perfectly planned goals, but in the daily faithfulness of the Lord. Rooted in Lamentations 3:21–27, this devotional points us to the steady truth that God’s compassion never fails, His mercy is renewed every morning, and His presence is sufficient for each ordinary day ahead.

Highlights

• Ordinary, quiet days can feel harder than busy ones, yet they are sacred gifts from God.

• Our relationship with God is not a goal to achieve but a journey to continue.

• New Year’s resolutions cannot sustain spiritual growth the way daily dependence on God can.

• God’s mercy, love, and compassion are renewed every single morning without fail.

• Hope is not found in knowing the future but in trusting the God who reigns over it.

• There is always enough mercy for each day—never more, never less.

• Living one day at a time frees us from fear and anchors us in God’s faithfulness.

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Full Transcript Below:

New Mercies for a New Year

By: Sarah Frazer

Bible Reading:
I reach up for my coffee cup in the cabinet. Silently, while my house is still quiet, I pour the steaming liquid. The morning hours are sacred, peaceful, and go by too fast. 

My children, all five of them, will wake up early. The rooms will be filled with voices, doors opening, and then the noises of food being fixed in the kitchen. Although they are older now and can make their own breakfast, I walk in with my empty coffee cup. I’m ready to help them pack their lunches and pour the orange juice. 

The morning hours will once again be quiet after getting them off to school, but facing my day means I face the truth that ordinary, mundane days are often harder than the busy ones. How do I spend my day? What is truly important? If I made a list, it would be a mile long. New days bring new to-do lists. 

Jobs, careers, family, and ministry weave together as the years go by, but how do we decide what to do with our days? Each day is a gift from God, and we don’t want to waste our time, so how do we live better? 

As the new year approaches, you and I want to make our lives better. We want our health to be better, our relationships to be better, and we want our faith to be better. Although New Year’s resolutions are great, maybe even beneficial, what we cannot resolve to do be

Dr. Stanley tells us how to make our lives available to Christ—no matter what God calls us to. And he reminds us that being committed to Christ requires deliberate action. Your name may be in the Lamb’s Book of Life, but are you still living your own way?

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When Abram could not see the way forward for the fulfilment of the plans and purposes of God, the Lord reaffirmed the covenant and taught Abraham that he—the Lord—was his shield of protection and the substance and source of his reward. The promise-making and promise-keeping God is faithful and all-sufficient for his people.

How should we view Paul's instruction about clothes and jewelry today? Can our faith grow? What's the best focus for us as believers? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? What about the many places in the book of Acts where people are filled and doing things?