The Way of the Ox: Faith Through Adversity with Dr. David Stine

*****************************************************************We experienced a few audio challenges while recording this episode, but the conversation was simply too valuable not to share—thank you for listening with a little extra grace.*****************************************************************The Way of the Ox: Endurance That Thrives in the StormHard seasons can make us question our calling, our strength, and even God’s nearness. Dr. David Stine offers a different response: face the storm with honest faith, receive God’s grace, and keep moving one step at a time. Through the vivid metaphor at the heart of his new book, "The Way of the Ox: Endurance to Thrive in the Storms of Life", David shows how pressure can develop spiritual strength rather than simply deplete it. His testimony of navigating cancer reveals what these principles look like when suffering becomes deeply personal. You’ll gain practical insight for discerning whether to persevere, slow down, finish well, or let go of an assignment. This hope-filled conversation will equip you to walk through adversity without denying the pain or abandoning the purpose God is forming in you.About the GuestDr. David Stine is an author, leadership coach, strategist, consultant, and the president and founder of Advance Partners, where he helps churches and nonprofit organizations strengthen donor development, leadership, fundraising, and storytelling. He previously served as chief executive officer of Bethel Media, the media and business arm of Bethel Church in Redding, California, and was the founding pastor of Metro Church in Washington, D.C., which grew to approximately 6,000 people across three campuses during his leadership. Dr. Stine holds both master’s and doctoral degrees in Practical Theology and Leadership. He is the author of The Way of the Ox, Hearing from God, and The Whole Life, bringing together pastoral experience, organizational strategy, and hard-won lessons about resilient faith.Reasons to Listen1. Strength for Hard Seasons: David offers a memorable biblical picture for facing winter instead of spending your life running from it.2. Grit and Grace: Learn how steady obedience and God’s sustaining grace work together one step at a time.3. Wisdom for Leaders: Discover how to discern whether God is asking you to persevere, simplify, finish, or release something that once mattered.Big Takeaways1. Face the Winter: Difficulty is not always a detour. Ask what God may be forming in you as you move faithfully through it.2. Take the Next Step: You do not need the entire path today. Put one foot forward and trust God to restore your balance.3. Remember His Faithfulness: Build a record of what God has already done; yesterday’s faithfulness strengthens tomorrow’s courage.4. Grit Needs Grace: Endurance is not self-powered striving. Receive God’s strength as you practice faithful obedience.5. Release the Old: Starting something new may require finishing or laying down an old assignment. Prayerfully simplify before adding more.Missional Challenges1. Name Your Winter: Identify the difficult season you have been avoiding and ask God what faithful movement looks like within it.2. Take One Step: Choose the smallest clear act of obedience available to you and complete it within 48 hours.3. Finish Before Starting: Review your commitments and prayerfully close, delegate, or release one thing before beginning another.Chapters00:12 — Welcome and The Way of the Ox03:00 — Why We Want Instant Deliverance07:00 — What the Musk Ox Teaches About Adversity10:00 — Qiviut: What Grows in the Cold14:00 — Faith Refined Like Gold17:00 — A Cancer Story and Faith Through Suffering23:00 — Finding God’s Next Step27:00 — Remembering What God Has Done31:00 — Grit, Grace, and Moving Forward35:00 — The Trap of Endless Striving39:00 — When God Is Doing a New Thing44:00 — Finishing Well Before Starting Again49:00 — Slow Down, Scripture, and Final QuestionsGuest Website and Social MediaAdvance Partners: https://www.advancepartners.org/Author website: https://davidstine.com/The Way of the Ox: https://www.whitakerhouse.com/product/way-of-the-oxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidistine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidistine#themissionallife #themissionallifepodcast #Jesus #DavidStine #TheWayOfTheOx #ChristianLeadership #ResilientFaith #Purpose #FaithInHardTimes #ChristianPodcast