We've all experienced moments when everything we've worked for burns to the ground. In this powerful episode, we explore how to respond when adversity strikes with devastating force through David's story at Ziklag.

After years of running for his life, David finally found temporary stability – only to return home one day to find everything destroyed. His city burned, his family taken, and his loyal men turning against him. Rock bottom. Yet in this darkest moment, "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" before taking any action.

This ancient story reveals the profound difference between being loved and beaten up versus loved and victorious. While beloved identity forms our foundation, we must also know what God's Word says about our specific situations to stand firm when storms come. Faith isn't denial of reality but declaring God's truth over our circumstances.

We examine practical ways to encourage yourself in the Lord through adversity: worship, scripture meditation, and maintaining right confession. When you relate to God from your true identity rather than your circumstances, you position yourself to hear His voice clearly and receive direction.

Most remarkably, David's crown arrived immediately after his greatest devastation – a pattern we often see in our own lives. The adversity you face today might be the doorway to your greatest breakthrough.

Whether you're currently facing your own Ziklag moment or preparing for future challenges, this episode provides biblical wisdom for not just surviving but reigning in life as kings and queens regardless of circumstances. Your declaration matters more than you know.

Subscribe to continue exploring how beloved identity transforms not just who we are, but how we navigate life's inevitable storms.

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What if divine order isn't about restriction but freedom? What if structure is actually the container that holds God's glory? In this episode of The Resting Place Podcast, we dive deep into a fresh understanding of how God's designed order creates space for transformation rather than limitation.

The conversation begins with a profound paradox—sometimes glory follows order, but other times, order must be established to host the glory that God has already released. This counterintuitive truth invites us to loosen our grip on rigid theological frameworks while still honoring the structures God has designed for our good.

Through an examination of Exodus 24, we discover something remarkable. Before giving the Law, God invited Moses and the elders of Israel to see Him face-to-face and share a covenant meal—something supposedly impossible according to religious understanding. This powerful image reveals God's heart: even His most structured systems begin and end with intimate relationship.

The teaching addresses practical applications of divine order in family dynamics, marriage relationships, and church leadership. Rather than viewing these structures as restrictive, we're invited to see them as the framework that enables us to truly hold what God deposits within us. Without this structure, we become like colanders—unable to retain the seeds of life and transformation God plants inside us.

Perhaps most thoughtfully, the episode confronts the challenging reality of enduring through trials and unanswered prayers without creating false doctrines to explain God's ways. There's a beautiful tension between holding firmly to Jesus' promises while acknowledging the mystery of our journey toward Christlikeness.

What would happen if we dismantled the artificial separation between sacred and secular realms that evangelical Christianity has reinforced? God longs to invade every corner of our existence, bringing His glory into our ordinary routines and transforming them into sacred spaces. Join us as we explore the freedom found within divine order and the celebration that naturally flows from it.

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What happens when a worship leader experiences crushing spiritual darkness? In this profound teaching, Luke Fulcher examines Psalm 88—the only lament psalm in Scripture with no resolution or happy ending—and its mysterious author, Heman the Ezrahite.

This episode of The Resting Place podcast offers startling comfort for those navigating challenging times. Heman was no spiritual novice but a designated worship leader in David's tabernacle, described as "the king's seer," yet he wrote the Bible's darkest prayer. God not only tolerated his raw complaints but preserved them as worship for generations to come.

Luke uncovers three threads of hope woven through this psalm: Heman never renegotiated who God was, he continued crying out despite feeling unheard, and he maintained the belief that his purpose still mattered. Most remarkably, though Heman questioned if God would "work wonders for the dead," the biblical record shows he ultimately led worship when God's glory filled Solomon's temple so powerfully the priests couldn't stand.

For anyone struggling with doubt or darkness, this message brings liberating truth: your faith doesn't require perfect mental certainty to be effective. Like the father who cried, "I believe; help my unbelief," we discover that honest faith—even when mixed with questions—is still faith God honors. Your regenerated nature is inherently designed to believe, even when your mind struggles to process disappointment.

God doesn't need your religious pleasantries during difficulty—He invites your unfiltered honesty. The fastest way to breakthrough might be admitting exactly where you stand rather than where you think you should be. This message offers a spiritual roadmap for those navigating difficult seasons, showing how to stay present until glory breaks through.

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What if we've been thinking about our spiritual journey all wrong? What if, instead of stumbling from one failure to the next, we're actually being progressively transfigured into Christ's image?

In this episode of The Resting Place podcast, we challenge the standard religious narrative that keeps believers trapped in a cycle of guilt and powerlessness. Drawing from the book "Beginning to Pray," we unveil a revolutionary perspective: the whole logic behind Jesus becoming human was simply that God wanted to share divine life with us. This sharing includes the glorious transformation of believers—not a distant theological concept, but an ongoing reality where we're moving from one greater level of glory to another.

Perhaps most profound is the revelation about God's compassion as the motivating force behind divine intervention. Western Christianity has emphasized God's power while neglecting His willingness to use that power on our behalf. "Believing in the power of God is not different than what the devils believe about God," Ben notes, citing F.F. Bosworth's teaching that it's God's compassion, not just His ability, that brings supernatural breakthrough.

The Holy Spirit's ministry emerges as an extension of Jesus' compassion—not a separate mission, but a continuation of Christ's work of revealing the Father's true nature. Through examples from healing ministries and Jesus' own ministry, we see how every divine intervention stems from this wellspring of divine compassion.

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What happens when kindness seems to mock you? When prayers go unanswered and God feels distant, we often conclude He's indifferent or we're unworthy. But what if divine resistance isn't rejection but invitation?

In this episode of The Resting Place podcast we explore Mark 7 where we encounter the story of a desperate mother—known in church history as Saint Eusta—whose encounter with Jesus initially seems troubling. When she begs for her daughter's healing, Jesus first ignores her, then appears to insult her. Yet within this tension lies a profound revelation about how God draws out what's true in our hearts.

"He didn't want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn't keep it a secret." This small detail reveals something essential about God's nature—He dwells in mystery yet continually invites us into intimacy. He is unsearchable yet asks us to search Him out. These paradoxes define our divine relationship, bringing us into complete dependence on grace.

The culturally shocking interaction between Jesus and this Gentile woman challenges our understanding of humility and care. Rather than viewing ourselves as "sinners stumbling from failure to failure," we're invited to see ourselves as beloved children being progressively transfigured into Christ's image. This transformation doesn't require perfection—it requires honesty.

Most of us don't share honestly with God because we don't feel safe. We fear judgment, believing if He truly saw our darkness, He would reject us. Yet the opposite is true: "He's not silent because He's unfeeling or uncaring. He's silent because He won't deal with the imposter that stands in front of Him." When we finally open the dark corners of our hearts, saying "There's nothing hidden from you, Abba," transformation accelerates.

How might your prayer life change if you stopped trying to impress God and simply became real with Him? What honest conversation is He waiting to have with you today?

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Have you ever wondered if God pauses His plans to address your personal pain? Easter weekend offers a profound glimpse into this question through Jesus' unexpected interaction with Mary Magdalene.

In this episode of The Resting Place podcast, we explore how the care of Jesus fundamentally challenges our modern understanding of the gospel message. Looking at Holy Saturday through both Orthodox and modern perspectives, we discover how Jesus consistently chose to do things that weren't strictly necessary for salvation but revealed the Father's heart of compassion. 

The focus turns to Mary Magdalene weeping outside the empty tomb. Jesus had not yet ascended to apply His blood to heaven's mercy seat—arguably the most significant moment in history—yet He paused to comfort one grieving woman. This wasn't because Mary had worked herself into enough desperation to merit divine attention; it was simply because Jesus cared deeply about her broken heart.

We challenge the common misconception that miracles are exceptions requiring extraordinary faith. Instead, we propose they represent God's normal pattern of care. Through Jesus' self-emptying love (kenosis), He overcame the human delusion that God desires separation. The implications are revolutionary: God didn't merely reconcile us at a distance but invites us into intimate relationship.

Moving beyond mental theology to heart-level transformation, this message invites you to experience the same care Jesus showed Mary. The One who stopped to comfort a weeping woman is the same One who stops for you today—not because you've earned it, but because that's who He is.

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What does true humility look like? In this episode of The Resting Place podcast, we dismantle our cultural misunderstandings about humility. Far from self-deprecation or thinking poorly of ourselves, genuine humility means agreeing with heaven's perspective of who we are—beloved, righteous, and seated in heavenly places with Christ.

Through an intimate exploration of three powerful biblical narratives—the widow of Nain, St. Veronica (the woman with the issue of blood), and St. Fotini (the Samaritan woman at the well)—we discover a consistent pattern in Jesus's ministry. He consistently inserts himself into our most broken spaces with extraordinary kindness rather than judgment.

This revelation addresses a profound spiritual challenge many of us face: we anticipate judgment when God approaches with kindness. We withdraw when he draws near, trapped in "Adam's delusion of separation." Yet, as we learn to recognize God's true nature, we can break this cycle and experience his presence in our lowest moments.

Perhaps the most transformative insight comes through a powerful quote shared during the conversation: "Following Jesus is not doing it right, but realizing we're doing it wrong." In a world desperately seeking authenticity, there's no greater witness than a family walking in the wholeness that comes from knowing they are completely loved—not despite their brokenness, but right in the middle of it.

As always, we hope this message stirs and encourages you! If you were blessed by this message and feel led to sow financial resources into The Resting Place, you can do so at the link below. Thank you!

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The delusion of separation from God is perhaps the enemy's most effective tool against believers. When we believe Jesus is distant or disinterested in our mess, we remain trapped in shame cycles that hinder transformation. But what if the key to kingdom living isn't moving from bad to good, but from "pretty good" to the fullness Christ offers?

In this profound conversation, Ben and Logan Robin challenge us to stop settling for halfway Christianity. Using the example of the Israelite tribes who remained east of the Jordan River rather than entering the promised land fully, they illustrate how many believers camp where things are "good enough" instead of allowing Jesus to bring complete transformation.

The breakthrough insight comes through a fresh perspective on Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. While we often focus on her sinful status or theological discussion, what truly won her heart was Jesus' kindness in the face of her shame. 

Kingdom living requires us to hold spiritual tensions—like reigning with Christ while practicing profound humility. It demands that we stop pretending we're somewhere we're not and instead allow Jesus access to the parts of our hearts we typically guard from everyone. His kindness becomes the very thing that exposes and transforms these hidden places.

What piece of you still carries shame? What area of your life feels disqualified from union with Christ? The invitation is clear: allow Jesus to meet you at your well, in your place of greatest vulnerability, and discover how his kindness leads you into the fullness of kingdom life.

As always, we hope this message stirs and encourages you! If you were blessed by this message and feel led to sow financial resources into The Resting Place, you can do so at the link below. Thank you!

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In this episode of The Resting Place podcast, we explore how our relationship with Jesus transforms us when we allow Him to meet us in our present reality rather than where we think we should be. True holiness increases joy rather than restricting it creating a powerful way for us to engage in the world around us.

Through a beautiful exploration of Jesus's encounter with the woman who touched His garment, this episode reveals Christ's extraordinary ability to be present with people in their darkness. While on an urgent mission to heal Jairus's daughter, Jesus still stopped for this "unimportant" woman, answering her unspoken question: "Do you see me and do you care?"

Whether you're feeling distant from God, trapped in religious performance, or hungry for a more authentic faith, this episode offers a fresh vision of Jesus that might just change everything. Listen now and rediscover the God who is far more relational than we've made Him.

As always, we hope this message stirs and encourages you! If you were blessed by this message and feel led to sow financial resources into The Resting Place, you can do so at the link below. Thank you!

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Join us for a compelling exploration of reform within Christianity in our latest episode! We dive into the tension between identifying problems in our church communities and taking the courageous steps to build something new. Through insightful commentary, personal stories, and heartfelt reflections, we challenge the narrative of criticism without action, urging listeners to engage in meaningful change.

We also delve into the concept of the "Great Dance," a metaphor reflecting the interconnectedness of life and the divine presence that permeates our experiences. By challenging the notion that God is distant, we invite listeners to engage with the reality that He is ever-present, ready to transform our lived experiences.

As always, we hope this message stirs and encourages you! If you were blessed by this message and feel led to sow financial resources into The Resting Place, you can do so at the link below. Thank you!

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