Messages of hope

“Many of us spend more waking hours with people at work, our colleagues, than we do with our family”We often separate our work from our personal life and even our spiritual lives. But with so much of our time spent at work, could our faith have a lasting impact on the job? Craig and Susan from ‘Engage Work Faith’ explore the vital role our faith has in the workplace.

What do you do when someone you love has a different opinion than yours? Do you keep quiet, aggressively push back, or just avoid ‘those’ conversations? Why do we feel awkward when someone believes something different to us? Celia and Ali discuss how we maintain relationships with people who have different values orcore beliefs.

“If I look back over my life, what would I choose to do if I could start again?  I could have been a doctor, I could have been a nurse, I could have been a teacher. But I look back and go, no, financial counselling, because I was supporting people in this complex financial system, which has become more and more complex.”Financial counsellor, Jan, shares her experience of supporting peoplegoing through financial crisis.

Bart and Anne's life was turned upside down when their son, Pascal, received a diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder at eight months old. Hear what Bart has learned from Pascal's journey, and where he finds hope in the face of constant uncertainty.  

“I had this happy life one day and the next day it had all fallen to bits. I just completely shattered. I’ve lost this little child and no-one seems to care.”Deborah’s dreams of being a mother to a happy family were shattered when she suffered a miscarriage and her relationship fell apart.Deborah struggled with all-consuming grief until one day, she was offered hope and healing.

We all have injustices that break our heart, those moments of not being able to bear standing on the sidelines to watch things that we want desperately to see changed in this world.  Kenyan refugee aid worker, Mary Obara, faces these moments every day. Hear Mary's story of bringing dignity and hope to refugees in Kenya and Somalia.

As we come to commemorating Anzac Day, conflict and violence around the world today reminds us that war isn't justsomething that happened in the past. How do we come to terms with the desire to protect ourselves and others, while facing the realities of what it means to send troops into other countries? Where is the hope for those involved in armed conflict? Hear Rev Mark Butler, a Defence Force chaplain, share his thoughts about finding hope when faced with the realities of war.

“Geoff walked past and it was just like that. I knew that was the man that God sent into my life.”“We barely said hello, barely acknowledged each other, but it was just. Something there.”Love at first sight -it's not just something that happens in the movies. Building a strong relationship that lasts beyond that first brief encounter? Now that requires a little more than just one glance! Hear Geoff and Veronica’s story of love that has strengthened through time and what has kept their love alive.

Whatis the real story behind Easter? Hear Richard, Celia and Noel reflect onwho people believe Jesus to be – is he just a person from history, or is hestill active in our lives today?

Billions of people around the world celebrate Easter. But it’s more than just eggs, chocolate and bunnies. For Christians, there is a much deeper story of suffering and salvation. Easter hope has significant power to transform lives. Hear Adrian Kitson’s message of hope this Easter.

‘Colin was a friend of mine. He drank too much. And underneath it all was a raging thirst. A thirst for love, for forgiveness, for approval.’Are you thirsty? Are you thirsting for love, forgiveness and approval? Trying to quench those thirsts can be difficult but there is a way. Listen as Noel Due shares stories that offer hope to quenchthose thirsts.

‘You would see me just curled up on my bed in a foetal position, not wanting to go anywhere or do anything.’ When life hits you hard sometimes the only thing to do is to fall to pieces. We may try to hide the anger, frustration, and grief behind it all, but what if there's a better way? Listen as Verena opens up about her journey through grief, and how learning to lament transformed her perspective and led her toward hope.

‘When I come home from work and I walk in the front door and get bombarded with questions or things that go on, it’s so easy to lose the plot. Especially after a hard day’s work and I’m tired, I just get angry.’ Listen to Celia and Richard as they share insights into the emotion of anger. Why do we get angry? Is anger a bad thing? And how do we deal with this anger?

Inclusive education classrooms are becoming an essential part of learning for children with high support needs. But what is it really like for teachers in such a highly unpredictable environment? ‘I think as a teacher you always want to do the best. You want to gohome every day knowing that you've done everything you can today to give them a good day. You certainly do go home sometimes and just think, could I have done more? Could I have done things differently? And then you have to stop and think, okay, we'll try again tomorrow.’ For decades, Leanne has had a heart and passion for teaching children with special needs. Hear how she finds joy in seeing students flourish.

Karl was a top bloke. He’d do anything for anyone. But nobody knew the dark secret that Karl was trying to hide away. Do you have a secret, something you don’t want anyone to know about? How do you live with it? Or not live with it? Richard Fox shares Karl’s story and how hefound freedom from his past.

One in Five Australians suffer chronic pain. It can be a debilitating condition, leading to personality changes and a heavy strain on relationships. How do you cope with pain that never goes away? Stephen and Therese share their journey of managing chronic pain and how it’s affected their relationships, lifestyle, and purpose in life.   

Most couples go through a stage where that original adrenaline rush of being in love gives way to little frustrations that can slowly build until suddenly you wonder where that first love went. It doesn't have to be the end though.Stella, a couples counsellor, shares about what it takes to keep a relationship strong, especially after the honeymoon period is over.

Farming is a tough job on a good year, but even harder when facing severe drought. So, what happens when your livelihood depends on rain that just doesn't come? ‘When it doesn't rain it's pretty challenging. So, in a year like this where we have, you know, about a third of our annual rainfall, you just can't grow enough feed or crop to sustain the bank.’‘There's an inherent risk that's in farming that's not in other jobs. I mean, in some ways it's like any business where there's that inherent risk. But with agriculture it's like at a whole different level.’Hear Tim Paschke and John Gladigau, farmers from rural South Australia, share about the realities of farming during serious drought, and where they find hope when year after year the rain doesn’t fall.

Have you ever wondered what it’slike for people who move to a new country?‘You have to set up life, and you're doing it in a totally foreign place. You've got no concept of what you should do, what you shouldn't do, where to go for help, and you don't have the language to be able to actually do that.’  Sarah and Liam share their story as missionaries in another country and how that shaped their view of being welcoming in Australia.

‘What I have learned through meeting different people from all over the world – they all want to be acknowledged as who they are, and they’re looking for the space where they belong.’With a third of Australia’s population born overseas, we are seeing a country rich in diversity and culture. Rika shares the challenges of coming from Japan to Australia and how a loving community broke through the loneliness and isolation.

This episode explores the hidden loneliness of single parenting. Sarah and Andrew share their honest experiences of raising children on their own — the isolation, the pressure of making every decision alone, and the longing for connection.They reflect on the stigma single parents often face and how faith, community, and compassion helped them find strength and hope when life felt overwhelming. If you’ve ever felt unseen or worn down by responsibility, this conversation is a gentle reminder that you’re not alone.

‘I had created a barrier so that people couldn't see the real me. And once you start doing that, you've got to maintain it then because there's this fear that if people see the real me, they might not like me.’ Linda Macqueen has built a reputation as a respected editor and communications professional. Yet when her pursuit of perfection began to fall apart, she discovered something far more powerful—being authentically herself, and the hope that shatters the myth of perfection.

'It is every parent's worst nightmare to receive that phone call. I miss her presence every minute of every day. I seriously wanted to go and knock on his door and say ‘do you realise what you've done to our family?’ I wanted him to know how much pain, you know, the serrated sharp, jagged edges of a mother's pain.'It's a phone call every parent dreads, and a situation that no parent should have to go through. How do you navigate your way through the unthinkable? Annette shares her journey of the darkest time in her life when her daughter was tragically killed.

‘What do you love about holidays?’For many people January is a great time for holidays. It’s good to break the routine and get away from some of the daily pressures of everyday life. Sometimes though, holidays don’t always work out how we imagine. So how do we find that rest and restoration when holidays become disasters or time and money just don’t allow us to get away?  Ali and Celia explore how to find rest and restoration as part of our normal routine during the holiday season.

As Christmas approaches, the world seems to glow just a little brighter. From fairy lights on houses to candles held at carols by candlelight, light has become a powerful symbol of the season. But beyond the sparkle and celebration, Christmas invites us to reflect more deeply on what light really means, especially in times of darkness.Listen to Bishop Paul’s message about how the light of Christ shines in the darkness and brings hope to our lives this Christmas.

Many people think of God as some mysterious force floating around the galaxy and entering into our lives via coincidence or miracles. The important message of Christmas is that God actually entered our world, physically, as the baby Jesus.  Rev Adrian Kitson explores the question “what if God was really one of us?”.

‘Sometimes I think we can be infatuated by those big faith moments, yet actually it's more the gradual hearing and growing in that relationship with God is what he wants and then him sustaining us through.’What is it really like to live a life of faith in the big and small moments of life?Hear Sarah, Richard and Jo share their experience of faith in the everyday moments of life. Find hope in knowing God walks with you and works through every situation of your life.  

‘They had already labelled her, never to do anything, never to be able to walk, talk or do anything. But I see the determination in her, I will not let the disability make her be disabled.’ Chris's daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed at age three with a rare genetic disorder. After battling against doctors who didn't believe her and even accused her of mistreating her daughter, Chris developed a fierce determination to trust her own instinct when it came to knowing what was best for Rachel. Hear how Rachel’s parents continue to experience life and joy through Rachel’s eyes.  

‘No one is immune to domestic and family violence’Professor Sarah Wendt has dedicated her life to understanding the impacts of domestic violence and hearing the stories of victims and survivors in Australia. Hear her insights from personal stories about the causes and effects and where we may find hope in such a painful topic.

Listen to Deena's powerful story of finding hope in homelessness. Watch the interview with Deena on our YouTube Channel.Read Deena's poem here - 'Mercy Mercy'

'You know you have that little voice in your head saying I should be able to manage I should be able to do this this and this all of it together. You know you feel like you should be able to do it all.'Life can be crazy and chaotic at the best of times, even more so in recent times. Celia, Noel and Richard discuss how we can live each day when the future is so uncertain.

‘How much of what happens in the spiritual world do you think impacts on your day-to-day living?’ Judging by the number of horror movies out there, our society seems to have quite the fascination with the spiritual realm. While some find it fascinating, others find it scary, thinking that perhaps we shouldn't meddle with things outside of our understanding. Christians know that there is a spiritual element to our existence, but we don't always know what to do about it. So how do we work out what is really going on without getting caught up in the speculation and horror stories? And is any of it relevant for our everyday life?Michael Dutschke is a pastor and educator who shares insights into what the bible says about the spiritual realm and what we need to know about the spiritual nature of the Christian faith.

‘Lutheran Media – Celebrating 80 years of blessings’Throughout the life of Lutheran Media ministries in Australia and New Zealand, we’ve seen advancements in technology, name changes, financial constraints and much more. Yet our vision has remained – sharing messages of hope in the world today.Hear stories from the first radio broadcast in Australia, reflections from former directors and presenters, and discover how Lutheran Media has evolved over time.

‘I think science has helped us to see how much God loves us. Because you know, he has given us the ability now to see the galaxies and things like that, the extent of the universe. But he has also given us the ability to be able to see the microorganisms and under the microscopes.’Father Peter Moore, an Anglican priest from the Gold Coast, shares his passion of creation care. Hear his reflections on what we can do as communities and how it is intrinsically linked with our loving Creator.

“We were in this little plane, caught in a thunderstorm and the pilot said – I’m sorry guys, we’re not going to make it, we’re gonna go down - and man, that makes you think about living and dying!”Death is not a topic that we tend to talk about over a BBQ. Most of us don’t talk about death until it’s on our doorstep. Celia and Richard talk with Jonathan Krause about why we don’t need to be afraid to have those conversations.

'I was yelling at the kids.  I would just start raging, "You never do anything. It's always left to me, blah, blah." I’d just go on and on until I was exhausted. Then I felt absolutely awful because now I'm the worst mother in the world.'Do you ever feel like your emotions are in charge of you rather than the other way around? Stella's anger was scaring her children, and she was stuck in a cycle of holding in the anger and then exploding. Stella shares her story of what anger looked like for her and what she did to build a path toward managing her anger.

‘When driving in the Australian bush and you see a kangaroo on the road, all the old farmers used to tell me that it’s not the one you see that will get you, it’s the one you don’t see. So, is life just a random set of coincidences? I believe that life is more than just getting by.’We don’t have to look too hard to discover disasters happening all around the world. But what about closer to home? Maybe you’ve been in a car accident, had an injury at work, or experienced the sudden death of someone you love. It‘s very difficult to get through disasters like these, sometimes it seems impossible. John Henderson shares his insights about a tragedy that was close to him, and how there can still be hope.

‘We were lying in bed one day and I’m just leaning on my elbows like this and she’s there looking up at me and talking and she just said - Who are you? It ripped me apart.’It’s hard to imagine what it would feel like when the person you’ve loved for over 50 years doesn’t know who you are. Hear John’s inspiring story of loyalty and love, in the face of Dementia.

Foster caring is something many families in Australia might consider at some point, but ultimately choose not to for many reasons. It's challenging to care for children with traumatic backgrounds. There are lots of hoops to jump through.Plus, there's the risk of developing strong bonds with children who may leave your care at any point.While few families take on the responsibility of foster care, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Hear Ben and Corinne share their story of foster care and why being the village for families in foster care is vitally important.

Every child has the right to belong, to be loved, and to have a safe place to call home. Unfortunately, we live in a world where that isn't always the case, but there are some whofeel a specific calling to step into the world of caring for children not their own in order to bring hope, where hope is often in short supply.Hear from Natalie from Lutheran Care who works in foster care family engagement as she shares her story of bringing hope back into the lives of children in foster care. Esther and Casey share their journey of being foster carers with its challenges and joyful moments.

‘Over 80% of Australians crowd together in cities and large towns yet so many feel alone. Have you ever faced such a lonely time? Do you feel there is very little to hold on to, to keep you going in life? There is a way forward, a step we can take to become connected once again.’ Do you sometimes look at the people around you and think ‘I wish I could be like them’? While social media is a great way to connect, it can also give the illusion everyone else’s lives are more exciting than our own. It can cause us to focus on what we don’t do and don’t have, and that can make us feel lonely, even if we’re surrounded by people who love us. Listen as John Henderson talks about loneliness, and how the ‘cure’ can come from outside ourselves.

‘So, I had lunch with mum and dad yesterday and I just realised how much they’ve aged, and I don’t think I’m ready, I’m not ready for the change!’We hear about the fact that we’re living in an ageing society but what about when it becomes personal and it’s your parents that are getting older?Listen as Celia and Richard explore the challenges adult children face as their parents get old.  

Have you ever heard or used the saying, ‘I remember when...’? Remembering who we are is important to us. Listen to Richard as he shares stories of his grandfather and his journey of memories. When diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the memories fade, but there is hope in remembering whose we are and the comfort it brings.     

‘I think if we really take to heart that we’re actually God’s creation ourselves and he wants to work with us, then we can make a huge difference in the way we manage the land that we’ve been granted. We’re only custodians for a short time, but we can make a difference.’Hear David as he shares his experience of regenerative farming and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

‘Every little element that I see, and I touch, and I hear, and I feel, is all part of God's creation. In what I do in my yard, in what I do on my verge on my side street, I care for God's creation. We can see it groaning at times and we need to respond.  Hear Cathryn, a passionate environmental advocate, share her knowledge and experience in sustainable practices. Discover how her faith and caring for the environment go hand in hand. Or watch the conversation with Cathryn on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VFAS1CWQb80 

‘You’re fired!’ These are not the words you want to hear – ever!Are you struggling with an uncertain future due to job insecurity? This uncertainty can cause an incredible amount of stress in your life and in the lives of others around you. Richard Fox looks at the effects of job insecurity and some things that can help you get through the uncertainty.

‘I said, that's it. Isn't it. You always get your way. And I walked out. I was really great. Wasn't it? Here am In supposed to be teaching reconciliation and you know, this is, this is humanity at its best. Isn't it? So, uh, well maybe it's at it's worst.’Paul, as someone who has worked in reconciliation, shares his own stories of conflict and what he has learned along the way. Discover insights that can help you in your relationships.

'A doctor’s job is to cure sometimes, to relieve often and to comfort always.'Do you like visiting the doctor?For some people the only way you’ll get them to go to the doctor is in the back of an ambulance! Listen as Richard talks about the impact doctors have on our lives and how Jesus is like the best doctor we could ever have.

‘You just feel so helpless. You feel that there is no way out, you feel like I am so totally stuck in this place.’How many men face mental health challenges due to work or life stressors but feel unable to talk about it? Statistics show it is a lot more than we may even realise.Jo’s interview with Chris opens up a raw and honest conversation about the mental health challenges many men today face. From working in ministry to wrestling with his own mental health, Chris shares the importance of talking and connecting with others. His advice? - ‘Don’t suffer in silence.’Listen in to Messages of hope this week to hear Chris and Jo discuss Chris’ journey, hear a story of mateship, and find out about the study Bible that brought hope.

‘The term anxiety covers a lot of fearful conditions. Things like phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders. A certain amount of nervous energy and fear is actually healthy and quite normal. But when those feelings take over and rule our life, we’ve got a problem’ Anxiety can make you feel like every minute is an eternity. You often wonder how you can keep going. And, if you believe in God, you ask the question ‘If God is there, and he's promised peace of heart and mind, then why can't I have it?’.Listen to Jenny and Steve, who have suffered from anxiety, and Julie, a psychologist, as they share their experiences of anxiety and how to find hope through managing this debilitating condition.