What does grace look like when life goes terribly wrong?

In this episode of The Grace Podcast, Michael sits down with Brett Sams for a real conversation about grief, guilt, faith, and learning how to be gentler with yourself.

As a teenager, Brett went through a tragic accident that took the life of his younger brother. For a long time, he blamed himself and carried thoughts that many people wrestle with after trauma: what if I had done something differently? Could I have stopped it?

Brett shares how one conversation with a youth pastor helped him start seeing things more clearly and slowly let go of the blame he had been carrying.

This episode also moves into the bigger questions that grief can bring up. Why do awful things happen to good people? What happens to faith after loss? And how do you show yourself grace when you are trying to keep living after something devastating?

Brett now spends his working life helping other people look after themselves, shaped in many ways by the grace people showed him during the hardest season of his life.

This is an honest, emotional conversation about grief, faith, and what it can look like to keep going after deep loss.

Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we welcome back Theo, a seeker of truth with a Greek Orthodox background. 

Together, we delve into the complexities of faith, exploring questions of salvation and the challenges of understanding biblical truths beyond cultural traditions. 

Discover how the Apostle Paul's own doubts and journey can inspire us to seek deeper understanding and connection with our beliefs. Whether you're a long-time believer or new to these discussions, this episode offers insights and reflections that resonate with anyone on a spiritual journey.

In this episode, Michael chats with Stu, a friend and university lecturer who has spent years studying the Bible. They talk openly about how grace has felt at different points in their faith journey.

Stu shares how, in the early days, he thought grace meant life would always be smooth because God is good. Over time, that view shifted. He now sees grace as something deeper. Sometimes it shows up when life feels hard or when prayers go unanswered. Sometimes, grace is found in the closed doors too.

They talk about how many people struggle with the idea of God as a father, especially when their own fathers were absent or unkind. Stu explains that faith is not about ticking boxes or trying to be good enough. It's about staying close to God, building a real relationship, and learning to trust Him even when it doesn't make sense.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn God’s approval, or if you’ve worried you’ve messed up too badly, this conversation will give you space to breathe. Stu reminds us that God's grace isn't something we can lose by falling short. It's a gift we were never meant to earn.

This is a real and honest talk about faith, struggles, and the quiet strength that comes from knowing you're still loved in the middle of it all.

#grace #faith #realfaith #relationshipnotreligion #biblestudy #christianlife #trustgod #jesuslovesyou #podcastchat #faithjourney #australianchristianpodcast

What if you’re not sure what you believe, but you still care? In this episode of What the Heck is Grace?, Michael talks with Tom Hitchcock, a thoughtful agnostic who opens up about faith, doubt, and the search for something true.

They explore why religion can feel man-made, why some people seem so certain, and what Tom would say if he knew God was real. It’s an honest, unfiltered conversation about grace, judgment, and the pressure to get life right.

Tom shares how fear-based religion pushed him away, what he admires about people with faith, and how he’s still trying to figure out what it all means. This episode is not about winning an argument. It’s about listening, asking questions, and respecting each other’s stories.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt or felt unsure about what you believe, this one’s for you.

If you’ve ever wondered where you stand with God or why grace feels too good to be true- this one is for you.

In this episode, Michael chats with long-time friend Jared Lafette, who’s not just lived through dry seasons and doubt, but created a free tool to help you actually understand the Bible.

They talk about:

• What grace is and what it’s definitely not
• Why your relationship with God can’t be earned
• How to come back when you’ve stuffed it
• The difference between Old Testament rules and New Testament grace
• How a Simpsons episode gave us a broken view of God
• And why Jared built BibleStudyHelper.org to answer the hard questions

This is more than theology—it’s a personal look at what it means to walk with God even when life doesn’t make sense.

No pressure. No performance. Just grace.

“If Peter asked why he should let me in… I’d say you shouldn’t.”

In this deep, raw and very real episode, Michael chats with longtime friend Theo Broekman about the stuff most of us feel but don’t often say out loud.

They unpack how grace really works, especially when you’ve messed up more times than you can count. From addiction and guilt to parenting and peace, Theo opens up about what it looks like to trust God when you’ve run out of good behaviour to lean on.

You’ll hear stories about:

• Fig leaves, fake righteousness, and lipstick on a pig
• The danger of thinking God’s mood changes with your actions
• Why discipline doesn’t mean rejection
• How love really can drive out fear
• And what it means to walk with God even when you feel like hiding

If you’ve ever wondered if grace still applies to you or felt like you needed to earn your spot with God, this episode will help settle your heart.

It’s honest. It’s clear. It’s filled with the kind of truth that makes you breathe easier.

#WhatTheHeckIsGrace #Grace #Faith #Gospel #ChristianPodcast #GodsLove #TheoBroekman #TrustGod #Forgiveness #SavedByGrace #JesusLovesYou #ChristianStories #HonestFaith #Redemption #Hope

What if running to God during adversity could actually change your life?

In this heartfelt episode, Michael sits down with his friend Jeremy to talk about faith, failure, and finding peace in God’s acceptance - even when life feels heavy. From navigating shame to discovering what real rest looks like, Jeremy opens up about his own experiences with hardship and how his relationship with God brings strength, clarity, and peace.

They unpack:

• Why people often run from God instead of to Him
• How shame blocks us from seeing the truth
• What God’s love actually feels like
• Whether adversity means you’ve done something wrong
• How to build a life surrounded by truth and encouragement
• Why God is never the harsh judge we fear
• How it actually feels to be fully accepted by God

If you’ve ever wrestled with feeling not good enough for God - or wondered if He’s still for you - this one will lift your heart.

#WhatTheHeckIsGrace #Faith #Grace #GodsLove #ChristianEncouragement #Jesus #Acceptance #RunningToGod #ChristianPodcast #Hope #GodIsForYou

“Am I saved?” “What if I’m not?” “Why am I still scared?”

In this episode, Michael and his good mate Steve open up about fear, faith, and why so many Christians still live like they’re not enough.

This is Steve’s second time on the podcast, and this time they go deeper — tackling everything from the fear of losing your salvation to the mindset shift that comes when you actually believe God sees you as righteous.

They unpack:

• Why condemnation isn’t conviction
• What the Bible really says about security
• Why Christians need to stop living in fear
• How to read tough verses without spiralling
• Why the Old Testament feels different in light of Jesus
• What it’s like to finally rest in God’s love
• Why isolation will mess with your faith

If you’ve ever wrestled with your salvation, your worth, or how God sees you — this one is real, raw, and surprisingly encouraging.

Subscribe for more open chats that go deep into grace, scripture, and everyday faith.

#WhatTheHeckIsGrace #Faith #Christianity #Grace #Righteousness #Jesus #FearNot #GodsLove #BibleTalk #SavedByGrace #NewCovenant #ChristianPodcast #Salvation #RestInGod #ChristianEncouragement #HolySpirit #ConvictionNotCondemnation

In this episode, Michael is joined by his long-time friend Harry, who brings a thoughtful agnostic lens to a conversation about faith, meaning, and what might be behind the idea of God. They dive into everything from fatherhood and responsibility to the desire for eternal connection and what makes us feel drawn to things like prayer, even when we’re unsure who’s listening.

Harry doesn’t shy away from the big questions: What if Christianity is just a wise story? What if it's more than that? What if we’re designed for something we can't explain?

This conversation is raw, respectful, and surprisingly funny. If you’ve ever sat with doubt, wrestled with belief, or just wanted space to think out loud without judgement, this episode is for you.

This one’s real. In this episode, Michael sits down with his longtime friend Steve to unpack the journey from confident faith to overwhelming doubt - and what brought him back.

Steve shares what it was like growing up in church, feeling God’s nearness, and then hitting a wall in his early 20s that flipped everything upside down. What followed was years of fear, striving, and wondering if he’d lost it all. His story is raw, honest, and painfully familiar for anyone who’s tried to “earn” their way back to God.

Together, they talk about:

• What fear-based teaching does to your faith.
• Why repentance and striving are often misunderstood.
• How to read difficult Bible verses without spiralling.
• What it really means to rest in grace.

If you’ve ever questioned your salvation, doubted your worth, or felt like you had to work for God’s approval - this episode is for you.