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Why do we try so hard to control what we were never meant to control? In this episode of Walking with Conviction in an Anxious Age, we continue our series on suffering by confronting another deeply held, but ultimately false, belief—the illusion of control. Most of us wouldn’t say we’re in control, but we live like we are. We make plans, manage outcomes, and assume we know what tomorrow will bring… until something happens that reminds us we don’t. Looking at Job 2, we see what happens when control is stripped away completely. Through Job’s response—and the contrast with his wife—we discover how suffering exposes our need for control, and how real faith is formed when we learn to trust God instead. In this episode, we explore: Why suffering is often beyond our control How the illusion of control shapes our faith What the story of Job teaches about trust in suffering Why trying to “fix” suffering often makes it worse How to support others without trying to control their pain If you’re facing something you can’t fix, can’t explain, or can’t control—this episode will help you find a steadier place to stand.  If this episode helped you, consider sharing it with someone who may be carrying more than they’re letting on.  If this ministry has helped you and you’d like to support it, you’re welcome to do so here: https://buymeacoffee.com/walking_with_conviction There’s no pressure—just an opportunity to be part of what God is doing.    

Why does doing the right thing still lead to suffering? In this episode of Walking with Conviction in an Anxious Age, we begin a new series through the Book of Job by confronting a common belief many Christians carry—that obedience to God should lead to protection, blessing, and an easier life. But what happens when that’s not true? Looking at Job 1–2, we explore what the Bible actually teaches about suffering, why righteousness doesn’t guarantee comfort, and how to trust God when life doesn’t make sense. This episode will help you move from confusion to clarity and build a faith that remains steady, even in pain. In this episode, we cover: Why doing the right thing doesn’t prevent suffering What the Book of Job teaches about pain and faith How false beliefs about God make suffering harder How to trust God without needing an explanation How to find peace in difficult seasons If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to me?”—this episode will help you think differently about suffering and trust God more deeply. If this episode helped you, share it with someone who might be quietly struggling.

The other night, I sent a message to the wrong person. Not catastrophic… but enough to remind me how quickly things can go sideways when we lose control of an outcome. And that’s the real issue. Most of us are trying to manage outcomes, protect an image, or avoid discomfort - and it’s exhausting. Because no matter how hard we try… we can’t control everything. In this final message of Ordered Love, we get to the root of it: It’s not your circumstances that need to change— it’s what your life is built on. We all: • Trust something • Give highest value to something • Shape our lives around something • Find our identity in something The question is simple—but confronting: Can it actually carry the weight of your life? Because whatever sits at the centre of your life… is already forming you.   This episode will help you: ✔ Understand why life can feel chaotic even when things look fine ✔ Identify what you’re really trusting and building your life on ✔ Recognise modern “idols” that quietly shape your direction ✔ Reorient your life toward something that won’t collapse under pressure   You don’t need a new system. You don’t need better circumstances. You need a rightly ordered love.

Love isn’t just something you feel — it’s something you practice. In this episode, we explore Faithful Love through the example of Jesus in John 13. Love when it’s hard Stay steady under pressure Move toward people instead of away This is love that is formed over time — and it changes everything. 👉 Follow for more messages on faith, formation, and living with purpose.

You don’t just wake up wanting what you want. This week in Ordered Loves, we explore what shapes our desires — and how God reshapes them. If you don’t choose what forms you, something else will.

Why do we overreact or feel overwhelmed when we know it's not warranted?   Often, it’s not just stress — we're loving good things in the wrong order.  In this episode we're exploring how the order of our loves shapes our peace, clarity, and reactions.

In a world more connected than ever, many people still feel increasingly isolated. Podcasts, online content, and digital communities can be helpful — but they can’t replace genuine, face-to-face belonging. So why does church still matter? In this episode, we explore why God designed believers to live out faith in community, not isolation. Drawing from Philippians, we look at how the local church shapes identity, produces transformation, and helps us grow through the tensions we often try to avoid. If you’ve ever wondered whether church is really necessary — or struggled with disappointment, frustration, or past hurt — this conversation offers a deeper perspective on why faith was never meant to be lived alone. If this episode encourages you, consider sharing it with someone searching for connection and purpose.

Not every tension in the Christian life is meant to be solved. Some are meant to be held. This week, we are wrestling with one of the most challenging tensions believers face: liberty and holiness.   What happens when sincere Christians love Jesus, honour Scripture, and still land differently? What if growth doesn’t come from choosing a side, but from learning to remain calm, loving, and faithful in the tension God allows?   Romans 14 reminds us that formation happens not when tension disappears, but when love governs how we live with one another.   If faith ever feels complicated, uncomfortable, or slow—this message is for you.

Ever been curious about what a pastor does during the week? This week, Pastor Chris is talking candidly about it, tying it with the tension between faithfulness and harvest that all believers wrestle with. What does success look like for a Christian? We’re often tempted to measure success by results. Scripture tells a different story. Faithfulness is obedience - Producing a harvest is God’s work. When we confuse the two, we drift into anxiety, manipulation, or discouragement. God forms people through unseen obedience before visible fruit.

Authority isn’t domination - Servanthood isn’t weakness. Jesus shows us a better way, strength used to serve and leadership willing to bleed. Gentle for the sheep. Dangerous for the wolves.

Tension isn’t something to escape. And it isn’t always something to solve. In this episode, we begin a new series exploring the tensions God intentionally holds together—tensions people keep trying to resolve, but can’t. We look at Tradition and Progress, and why nostalgia and novelty are both shortcuts that promise relief but quietly undermine formation. Scripture doesn’t call us backward or forward into anxiety—it calls us to remain present, faithful, and settled before God.   Spiritual maturity doesn’t come from eliminating tension. It grows as we learn to stay calm, grounded, and obedient within it.   God is not anxious. And neither should we be. If you’ve ever felt pressure to choose sides, fix everything, or escape discomfort, this conversation will help you recognise the difference between a problem to solve and a tension God may be using to form you.

Two sons. Two ways of living. One feast. In Luke 15, Jesus exposes how both conformity and rebellion can leave us standing outside the celebration. The difference isn’t behaviour.  This week, we’re looking at why one brother joined the feast and the other wouldn't. Learn why the Gospel isn’t just the beginning of Christian life—it’s the whole thing.

We all live with images in our minds. Images of success, nostalgia, a version of life where everything feels right. But when those images become our hope and what we serve, they become idols. And idols always disappoint. Jesus didn’t come to fulfil an imagined version of ‘home’. But to bring us to the place we truly belong.

Why does extreme religious ideology continue to fracture modern Western culture?   Jesus answered that question millennia ago by exposing the heart of the older brother.   Week 3 of The Prodigal Son Decision — The Realisation of Need

The prodigal son story isn’t just about rebellion; it’s also about the kind of obedience that can leave us just as lost. This week, we look at how doing everything right can still leave us far from God.