Life is hard. Life with chronic, critical, and complex health concerns is even harder. We all know someone who is struggling with health issues or disability; it might even be you. In the pain and suffering, we wonder if it is even possible to move from surviving to thriving. We often wrestle with life's greatest questions in light of deep personal pain, deep suffering, and unknowns. We struggle to hope, struggle to persevere, struggle to trust that God knows what He's doing. But in the struggle, there is real hope and it's possible to be rooted and ready to weather the storm. Let's journey together and dig into this real hope, real joy from a real God. Welcome to the Bluestem Project!
Medical hardships can leave us feeling crushed on every side. No matter where you turn, you're up against it all. Hard to catch your breath at the onslaught of challenges. What's more, maybe you're misunderstood and even wrongly accused while you endure relentless suffering. When it seems everywhere you turn is an uphill battle, you are not alone. In what looks to the world like the weakest, most pathetic culmination of events for Jesus' life, his mockery remained unrelenting. While humbly baring it all on the cross, not even recognizable, the verbal assaults persisted. Namely being accused of lacking physical strength and ability to come down from the cross and questioning his faith + trust is the Father to enable him to end it all. Yet as the insults and false claims spewed in his face persist, they were blind to see that Jesus is in fact using incredible strength fueled by love, for them even, TO STAY. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul charges us with words from the Lord that His power is made perfect in [our] weakness. The Lord and His strength is on the most magnificent display in our weakness, when we are crushed and persecuted. Listen in as Brandon unpacks this profound reality as we consider Jesus and be encouraged to press on.
No one deserved to suffer less, yet no one has suffered more.The scene is familiar. Despite familiarity, the scene is jarring. Jesus brutally mocked, mistreated, and ridiculed so that we wouldn't have to be. Jesus endured an unjust penalty so we can escape a just penalty. He was not helpless, it was with incredible strength and great restraint that Jesus willfully surrendered his life to these events as a Good Shepherd lays down his life for his helpless sheep.We should be moved by this scene. We should be rocked by this scene. We should be humbled by this scene. We should be grateful for this scene. Join Brandon as he delves deeper into the poignant details of Jesus' mockery by an entire battalion of nearly 600 men leading up to his death and how we can consider Jesus as the antidote to our own weariness {especially} in relationship to Him for energy and strength for the body while we suffer physically, emotionally, mentally, etc.
Every human heart has the same themes/fears deeply rooted that echo in our veins. We seek justice and compassion. When those things go awry, there is outcry. Jesus, the God man, perfect in every way stood before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and experienced the most severe wrongful conviction case known to mankind. Jesus endured the greatest injustice the world has ever known. Jesus suffered at the hands of a ruthlessly unjust authority after being ridiculed and handed over by those he came to seek and save. Let us consider Jesus and find comfort and strength from him, so as to not become weary and faint-hearted.
Jesus persevered throughout relentless suffering from each generation of authority in his lifetime. Hate for Jesus was passed on from father to son, and within marriages, as though it was a badge of honor to disregard and oppose Jesus. He faced constant opposition yet faithfully and fearlessly remained steadfast, even while enemies bonded over their hate for him. Jesus endured so that we might have life, and life abundant. Jesus endured so that we might have hope, and hope secure. Jesus endured so that we might have joy, and joy overflowing. Jesus endured that we might be able to look to Jesus as we also endure our own trials and tribulations. We can enjoy these truths and connection with Christ only through a personal relationship with Jesus. May we consider Jesus and all he has done for us.
From the very beginning of Jesus' life, those in high positions of authority felt threatened by him. Jesus, infant baby Jesus, born as the light of the world, had a target on his back and Herod attempted to extinguish this light while he was yet a small candle flicker before he had burst into glorious blaze. God the Father protects His beloved son through extravagant means (power over dreams, miraculous celestial occurrence and precision, and wise men). Jesus, the King, did survive. God delivered him so that he might live a remarkable life and die a heroic, planned, and purposeful death. He establishes his kingship despite the earthly kinds that wanted him dead from the very beginning of his life.While Herod acknowledged Jesus as a king, he worked to eliminate him. One day, everyone will acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and bow before him. Might we rightly consider the hostility of authority through the lens of all Jesus endured.
"Just because they carry it well, doesn't mean its' not heavy." To walk the medical journey is nothing short of hard and heavy. It is an upheaval to life physically, emotionally, and mentally. Despite how well someone appears to walk the medically challenging or special needs road the Lord has laid out of them, it is unbearable alone. As families in the throws of medical hardship and special needs, you may have a sense of constant disappointment (personally over our own lives limitations and certainly even acutely from those around us). It is hard to commit to things, hard to follow through with things, and often hard to live beyond bare minimum or just getting by due to the perpetual state of a rollercoaster life. When those closest to you, those you might assume know you best, fail to actually know you in character, understand you, or believe the best in you, the relational pain can be excruciating. Jesus is not far off. Jesus can sympathize with whatever relational strain you may be facing with your family. Jesus was the only person ALWAYS in the right, always in his right mind, yet was accused of the latter regularly, even by his own family. Being misunderstood and rejected is all too familiar to Jesus, he can relate. He knows and cares for us as we endure the same. This journey is unbearable alone. Not always will those closest to us understand. We must fix our eyes on Jesus to sustain us. We must surrender our lives to him in order that HE carries the burden that is unbearable to carry. Join Brandon as he continues in the Considering Jesus series as he delves into one of the most relatable topics.
Misunderstood. Misperceived. Mislabeled.How painful it is to fall into these camps. Jesus knows, too.Jesus had a very specific mission and the rejection in it. He came to seek, serve, and save the very people that ridiculed him and misbelieved. Might we find our hope in Christ alone. May his life, of one who endured much, be cause for our own endurance. He alone endows our suffering with transcendent meaning and purpose. Let us fix our eyes on His reward (looking through our hardship) to future joy.
There are countless times along the journey in medical hardship and special needs that can feel like we are sprinting a marathon. How are we to endure as the journey wages on?Might we find our hope in Christ alone. May his life, of one who endured much, be cause for our own endurance. He alone endows our suffering with transcendent meaning and purpose. Let us fix our eyes on His reward (looking through our hardship) to future joy. Join the conversation as Brandon delves into a series on Considering Jesus - weighing all the hardship he endured in order to put our own hardships in perspective of eternity and find comfort in the one who is acquainted with hardship himself.
Rest is one of the most neglected concepts to live out. It can seem elusive, unnecessary, or even impossible to find rest. So how can we look to God to provide this rest? Can He truly provide physical, spiritual, emotional rest for our weary souls?Join the conversation as Brandon takes us from Old Testament to New Testament to hear how God takes care of His people by graciously and generously providing for their needs, including rest. Understand how you can have access to enter eternal spiritual rest no matter what life's circumstances you find yourself in.
After the tragic loss of his son, Troy shares vulnerably and honestly about the reality of grief being a life-long process stating "we grieve deeply because we love deeply." Listen in to be encouraged as Troy takes us on a journey to see God's sweet sovereign hand in details even before his shocking loss and how he responded to a very piercing question, "Am I going to allow this pain to make me better or bitter?" Troy and his wife, Jana, have a heart for the hurting and are passionate about connecting with others through a ministry to bereaved parents - While We're Waiting. If you or someone you know has lost a child, we would encourage you to get connected to this ministry. https://whilewerewaiting.org/
Like a marathon, or even an ultra marathon, training can make things more bearable. The preparing for and certainly the aftermath of the loss of a child is a marathon. You may never be ready but possibly better prepared. A significant aspect to consider, is that God himself had a son die so he knows. He understands in His sovereignty but also experientially as a father, what it is to lose a child. He knows. He is safe to bring all of our big emotions to and He is trustworthy with all of our hearts. Join us as we talk through what can often be ambiguous, unnatural, and incredibly uncomfortable: preparing for the death of a child.
Can you ever be "ready" to endure the loss of a loved one? We would suggest not, but there are ways we can be better prepared. When we look to certain passages of scripture, such as the whole of Job's story, we can see that the authors of scripture are not far removed from this kind of heartache from loss. Job 1:21 says "...the Lord gave and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord." How can the depth of a hurting heart from death respond in praise?We believe heart work is hard work and always worth it. Join Brandon as he walks through practices to help prepare your heart for the death of a loved one.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why doesn't God stop or end evil and suffering right now? When we wrestle with these questions we are forced to wrestle with truly believing God for who He is. He is all loving. He is all powerful. He is omniscient. Join in on the philosophical argument to sift through some of these challenging questions many of us find our minds wandering to at some point in life but especially when we are faced with hard things in our own lives personally.
How you and I choose to live, how we react to situations reveals what we believe at the deepest level. Not much else in life surfaces what we believe at the deepest level than hardship. Hardship can be a crucible that often surfaces the "where is God when bad things happen?" on a personal level. Wrestling with this question can either deepen one's faith in the Lord or pull us away if we are misguided. There are several misbeliefs that we must caution against when God feels distant so as not to allow our feelings to steamroll facts and faith. We must turn to scripture a fight for the truth of who God is to engage with this real question in order to see our faith deepen.
In this emotional and pain-filled story of grief and tragedy from the unexpected loss of a child we hear about a peace that surpasses all understanding. The Junglings' story is one filled with decisions no parent ever imagines having to make, a rollercoaster of emotions that reveal themselves in times of loss, and a sure and steady hope that only makes sense in Christ. Listen in to hear how they have been able to come to the conclusions that God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves.
"Gather"A simple word that carries much weight. A word so esteemed it's everywhere in home decor and is especially desired when holidays are here. A deep, God-given longing to come together with loved ones to celebrate and feast. So what happens when you aren't able to be together? How should we handle the disappointment that holidays can't be what we long for them to be? Where do we look when holidays seem to reveal more pain than thanksgiving? As we crave connection and celebration here and now, let us remember in Christ the marriage feast of the lamb is an ultimate celebration coming.
Individuals and families caring for individuals with special needs feel the depths of loneliness to a high degree. Covid culture has surfaced this reality for even more people, exposing and exaggerating how no one is a stranger to loneliness. Jesus was no stranger to loneliness, either. He experienced and endured the deepest level of loneliness SO THAT you and I might not have to. Join the conversation as we discuss how real loneliness is and how God helps us in our loneliness.
As a Division 1 college athlete, Hunter Pinke was riding high on what the world raves as "having it all." But a skiing accident causes this D1 tight-end to suffer a severe spinal cord injury resulting in severe paralysis which ultimately leaves him wondering "why me" to "why NOT me?" Hunter's story is a story of great loss and an even greater hope. His mountaintop miracle is one that is sure to encourage you as he is faced with a sudden and drastic change to life as he knew it.
Emotions are deep and unknown, they can even be complete chaos. It can be challenging and weighty to "enter in" with those enduring heavy burdens. Yet we must get over ourselves and enter in. We must put ourselves second. But we also caution against over empathizing. How do we find the balance and what does the Bible say?
Grieving and suffering people are fragile. Even with our best intensions we have all stuck our foot in our mouths. We've said stupid things or we've been on the receiving end of stupid things said to us. So we're going there. We are jumping into the awkward for the sake of suffering people. Join us as we navigate the ditches we can all err on either side of the road of someone journeying through medical hardship, loss of a loved one, or health complications as we look to the gospel for our ultimate source of wisdom and hope along the way.
A hospital bill for thousands of dollars. A second opinion that confirms a bleak prognosis. A sudden and drastic change to life as you know it from an accident. A surgery that didn't go as planned. A loss of a loved one.How can gratitude be possible when the weight of the world seems to be crushing you? Hear from our guest, Chaplain Bruce Nelson, as he shares how grief can be a catalyst for gratitude.
What happens after death? How can we be certain? Why does out view of what happens after death matter? Christianity says we are eternal beings with the vast majority of our eternal life being spent beyond our time on earth as we know it. What we believe about this Jesus is crucial and makes all the difference for what we can anticipate for life after death.
Joy is knowing, trusting, and delighting in God. It is deep and can be sustained beyond circumstances, but how? Scripture is chalk full of passages on joy as a command and a work of His Spirit within his children. So how does this really work itself out when life feels impossible?
God is at work in all things. We live under an illusion of control, when really we control so little. God's glory and goodness is what all things point to, whether we choose to acknowledge that truth or not. In all things, our circumstances are opportunities to demonstrate His worthiness to the world. We are wired for meaning and purpose, so what is the meaning and purpose behind medical hardship and disability? How can this be beautiful? How can this bring Him glory? How can this be for my good?
"Why is this happening?" "Why me?" "Why now?"As people we are made with an intrinsic awareness that there's something bigger going on, something beyond ourselves and it often reveals itself when we are thrust into medical hardships. As we face challenges we long to use our pain in order to impact beyond ourselves. Join us as we discuss meaning and purpose in our suffering - the things we can control.
In an instant our beliefs can be challenged. Medical challenges and disability can force us to to wonder "do I really believe this?" Extensive and deep roots in the one, true God enable us to endure, sustain, and even thrive amidst life's greatest hardships. Learn more about the heart behind the Bluestem Project and meet your hosts, husband and wife, Brandon and Amy Smith.
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