Utah's Hope

Sometimes, a simple phone call becomes more than a request for help. It becomes a picture of the body of Christ at work.

A few months ago, a listener named Renee from North Carolina called the show during a difficult season. As a widow raising her special-needs grandchildren on a fixed income, she was carrying a heavy burden. Medical bills were mounting, daily expenses were rising, and her grandchildren's needs were increasing.

Renee later described that season as a time when she felt she was “running out of options.” There was only so much money available, and the girls were beginning to need more care and intervention than she could provide on her own.

“It was disconcerting,” she said. “Things were falling apart.”

But that phone call did not end with her struggle. It became the beginning of something deeply encouraging.

After Renee shared her story on the program, another listener, Dwayne, heard her need and felt led to help.

Renee had never met him. She did not know his name at the time. But within a couple of days, she received word that someone wanted to step in and assist.

Her first response was disbelief.

“I’m still trying to process it,” she said. “There certainly had to be more people deserving than me.”

But as the situation unfolded, Renee began to see the Lord’s hand in it.

“This had to have come from God,” she said. “You don’t turn God down.”

FaithFi works with Helping Hands in situations like this to ensure needs are carefully reviewed and assistance is handled wisely. Helping Hands walks through a process that includes reviewing documents and bills, conducting interviews, and confirming the specific needs.

In Renee’s case, the ministry met with her several times, verified the situation, and then paid the bills directly.

That support helped provide relief in several areas. Renee received assistance with her mortgage, groceries, and gas. She had recently started going to a food bank, but her grandchildren’s doctor appointments often prevented her from getting there. As food and gas prices continued to rise, even practical help with daily expenses made a significant difference.

“It was just mind-boggling,” Renee said.

While the financial assistance was meaningful, Renee also wanted listeners to know that their prayers were felt.

“To the listeners, first, you can feel the prayers that go out,” she said. “It’s palpable.”

She described a series of events that followed, moments where she knew people were actively praying for her and her grandchildren. That spiritual support helped lift the burden she had been carrying.

“I’m able to smile and give genuine hugs and devote my brain to my girls,” she said. “That is God’s gift.”

When Renee finally learned Dwayne’s name, she said she could now add him to her prayers.

“To Dwayne, I am forever in your debt,” she said. “Your heart is huge. I don’t know your situation, but God bless you. Truly, God bless you, because you made a world of difference for my girls and me.”

Her gratitude was not only for the financial support but for the reminder that she had not been forgotten. God had used the generosity of one listener, the prayers of many, and the careful work of a ministry partner to bring help at just the right time.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

That is what we see in Renee’s story. One member of the body of Christ carried a heavy load. Another member saw the need and responded. Others prayed. A ministry came along

“If I had only known.” It’s a sentence filled with regret. “If I had only known that would be the last time I’d see my mom.” “If I’d only known the house wasn’t safe to live in . . . or, the water wasn’t safe to drink, or the car wasn’t safe to drive.” Many may have a similar regret when they one day stand before the Lord. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us face to face with the regret that enveloped a certain Old Testament king. It serves as a strong warning to all of us.

Harvest Crusade tickets are fully claimed—but it’s not too late to participate and witness what God does on July 11. Invite your loved ones to watch online with you and make sure you join the waitlist in case more tickets become available.

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Perfection can be a terrible leadership strategy for a home. In this honest men's panel, three dads open up about their biggest parenting regrets—from working too much to not being spiritually present—and the turning point when they stopped pretending to have it all together. They share powerful stories about balancing work and family, the importance of spiritual leadership through weakness, and how admitting struggles has deepened their family relationships. Dave Wilson leads a transparent conversation full of laughs, regrets, and practical encouragement for men.

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Many investors wonder whether the market is getting ahead of itself—especially in AI and tech. What if the better question isn’t whether we’re in a bubble, but how we should respond if we are? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Mark Biller discuss what investors should do when markets look overheated. They also explain why trying to predict the exact peak usually backfires. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—where biblical wisdom meets today’s financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Many investors are wondering whether the market is getting ahead of itself, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence and technology stocks.

But perhaps the better question is not, “Are we in a bubble?” The better question may be, “How should we respond if we are?”

That was the focus of today’s conversation with Mark Biller, Executive Editor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sound Mind Investing. With AI continuing to drive market enthusiasm, many investors are feeling both excitement and concern. The challenge is learning how to respond with wisdom rather than fear.

The AI story has been driving markets for several years. One clear example is the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which has risen sharply since the end of the 2022 bear market. More recently, many companies have reported rapid profit growth and have credited AI as a key factor.

That has encouraged investors because it shows AI is not merely hype. Companies across many industries are beginning to see real benefits from AI tools, including improved efficiency and increased profitability.

At the same time, the demand for AI computing power has caused certain sectors—especially semiconductor stocks—to soar. When any part of the market begins rising almost straight up, investors naturally become nervous. It brings to mind previous market manias that ended in painful declines.

Calling a bubble in real time is extremely difficult. Even when someone identifies one correctly, acting on that information too early can be costly.

Mark pointed to the late 1990s internet bubble as an example. Many investors suspected that Internet stocks were overheated long before the bubble actually burst. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan famously warned about “irrational exuberance,” but that warning came more than three years before the market peak. Investors who sold immediately missed significant gains before the downturn finally arrived.

That illustrates an important point: even if a bubble is forming, that does not tell investors exactly what to do or when to do it.

Markets are forward-looking. Investors are pricing companies not only on current earnings but also on what they believe those companies may earn in the future. If expectations rise dramatically, stock prices often rise with them.

So it is possible that some parts of the market, such as semiconductor stocks, may be showing bubble-like characteristics while the broader market does not look as overheated. But the practical question remains: how should investors respond?

Most investors would love to avoid downturns without missing the upside. But in practice, that kind of market timing is extremely difficult.

Investors often make one of two mistakes. Some sell too early and miss major gains. Others wait too long and sell only after stocks have already fallen, and fear has taken over.

That is why a disciplined plan matters. Instead of trying to predict the exact top of the market, wise investors focus on staying invested while managing risk thoughtfully.

Historically, some of the market’s strongest gains occur late in bull markets. That does not mean investors should ignore risk, but it does mean that fear-based decisions can be costly.

One of the most practical ways to manage risk is through diversification.

A well-balanced portfolio helps reduce the risk of becoming overly exposed to a single hot sector. Mark offered a helpful way to think abo