Messages of hope

We hear a lot more about mental health these days and that it's an issue for many people. But how do you know when things like sadness or tiredness or lack of motivation has deepened into something like depression? Hear Rosemary share her story of living with depression and the hope she has found.

‘How many times have you heard the phrase ‘life is a journey'? It is true though, isn't it? We can look back atthe past that brought us to where we are today and we wonder what destination lies ahead, but what do we do during those moments where the journey doesn'tseem so fun or perhaps even painful? Where do we find the hope that life's journey will turn out ok?'Hear from a group of young people as they reflect on where they've come from, what has helped them along the way, and what gives them hope for the journey of life they are on.

‘For me, reconciliation is about how do we better ourselves as a community? How do we right that path? How do we become more inclusive? How do we become more compassionate and understanding around things, about what we see in terms of social dysfunction or social disharmony? How do we all support each other so we all have that fair go?'Shona is an Eastern Arrernte woman who has devoted her personal and professional life to the advancement and rights of aboriginal children, families, and communities. Hear her reflections on reconciliation through understanding our past and being proactive in shaping our future together.

Family life can be tricky at the best of times, let alone through a crisis. It can be a struggle, especially when you just can't get along. Things aren't always so great, and no family is perfect. Rob Schubert shares how great things can happen through imperfect families.

‘I'm always thinking about lots of different things and even reflecting back as a teenager, I worked really, really hard to make sure I did well, which caused a lot of stress and definitely anxiety. So yeah, there's kind of pros and cons to something like ADHD.'There is a growing number of Australians being diagnosed with ADHD, many of them adults. Today we explore ADHD to gain a better understanding of what it is and how itcan impact a person's life. Hear Clare's story of understanding herself, her brain and how it has affected her relationships and her faith.

‘I remember just driving around the neighbourhood, relentless, looking for Mum. This would've been seven or eight hours and by this stage; I was in tears. I'm just thinking, "Where could she be? Please, God, be with her.”'Where do you find hope when an illness like dementia changes the relationship you have with your parents?Hear Matt's story as he shares the struggles and challenges of being the child of ageing parents.

‘There is something really special when you are in a crowd and they pick you out. That to me is the most special thing. Like, they might be upset, but they'll come to you because you are Nana'. Over the decades, the role of grandparents has changed. Today, more grandparents are taking up the role of helping to raise their grandchildren in a complex and busy world. But there's also some beautiful blessings in being a grandparent. In this episode, Tania talks with Julie, an educator in parenting, about the joys and challenges of being a grandparent.

With many people now living longer, there is an ever-growing demand for aged care support. How do families negotiate the transition into aged care? Richard talks with Annette who's worked in aged care for over 30 years and shares encouraging insights for families facing the move into aged care. 

‘Some people find it hard to understand what is so good about “Good Friday” with this ugly story of an innocent man dying on a cross – but it is this completed work of the Christ and his cross that make this a good day – good for us – that we would know peace with God.'Bishop Paul Smith shares an Easter reflection on who Jesus really is and how he can offer us redemption and peace.

Hot and thirsty Do you have a past you want to forget? Trying to ignore it by covering the pain with something else sometimes seems to be the only way, but the guilt and shame stick around. Noel Due shares some stories that show there is hope and a way to find peace. Listen to the program https://www.messagesofhope.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hot-And-Thirsty-PODCAST.mp3 Read the script Order the booklet The post Hot and thirsty appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘Life doesn't stop for anything even a natural disaster. You can become pretty naive to think that it won't happen to you. And when it did actually happen, the devastation was beyond our comprehension at the time. And we've been dealing with that for the last two years.' The post When waters rise appeared first on Messages of hope.

Do you ever feel inspired to make a difference but feel too small and insignificant? ‘I sometimes find I get a bit overwhelmed when I start looking at how many different ways that we could be helping and serving. Don't underestimate the power of being friends with someone, being a neighbour to someone, visiting someone who doesn't get out of the house very often. It might be your grandma. The needs could be closer to you than you think. Making a difference for one person is making a difference.' Listen as Eloise, a young person inspired to make a difference in the world, talks about the call to serve others. The post Called to serve appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘Us Australians are a generous bunch, often willing to support an important cause that might bring hope in a time of need. But when it comes to financial giving, we don't always get to hear the impact that our donations really have.' Ever wondered what really happens with humanitarian aid overseas? Listen as Sophie Gebreyes, from Lutheran World Federation, shares about Ethiopia's country program and how generous Australians are making a world of difference in the lives of people in struggling communities. The post Carrying Hope appeared first on Messages of hope.

When love is supposed to be forever, how does it survive through illness and death? ‘There'll be swings and roundabouts. You'll be, oh, you're going fine, you know, and then suddenly you won't.' Listen to the enduring love story of Cheryl and Trevor. Hear Cheryl share the challenge of working through Trevor's illness and how she found hope through the loss of a life-time love. The post Enduring Love appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘New beginnings for me mean you're leaving something and moving to something in the future you're not quite sure about. So that can be a whole mixture of emotions.' New beginnings can be stressful. Unknown experiences of changing jobs, a medical diagnosis, moving to a new country, or a life-changing experience of another kind can impact family life and our expectations. Listen as Richard, Clare and Tania share their experiences and what helps them cope through change. The post New Beginnings appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘I take on more things, I'm so overwhelmed, I will end up sick or have some leave or take some time off. And then I have a little bit of respite and then I do the same thing again.' Choosing to spend time resting is often the last of our priorities in what, for many of us, is a dizzying, fast paced and busy life. But have you ever considered that maybe the solution to all our stress and constantly feeling overwhelmed is to intentionally put rest first? Click here to listen as Lorrene shares 7 types of rest and why it is so important to prioritise. The post Redefining Rest appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘Ah, Christmas! Peace on earth and goodwill to all! They're not very high expectations, are they? But we try so hard to get it right, to meet our expectations of what Christmas is about. We try to create the perfect Christmas.' Listen as John shares a message that maybe Christmas doesn't need to be perfect. The post Not so perfect Christmas appeared first on Messages of hope.

Professor Sarah Wendt has dedicated her life to understanding the impacts of domestic violence, and hearing the stories of victims and survivors in Australia. Listen to Sarah share her insights from personal stories about the causes and effects and where we may find hope in such a painful topic. The post Domestic Violence: Getting the Facts appeared first on Messages of hope.

Nothing Normal: 12 Years of Foster Caring Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a foster carer? ‘They say it takes a village to raise a child and it's the same in foster care. Every child that's come into our care, I know we've had a positive impact on, they've had good memories […] The post Nothing Normal: 12 Years of Foster Caring appeared first on Messages of hope.

Call Me Dad: Long Term Foster Parenting ‘It's important that it's not about you. You're doing this for the sake of someone else.' There are around 46,000 children currently in foster care around Australia. Ben and his wife Kelly became foster carers to Madi when she was seven years old. Listen as Ben shares the […] The post Call Me Dad: Long Term Foster Parenting appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘It's amazing how often we just feel afraid, and we let it just sit there and we don't challenge it. And I think that's a real waste because you actually have to confront something and face it in order to deal with it.' Sarah McCutcheon, National Relationship Manager for Global Leadership Network Australia, has extensive experience helping people to face their fears and embrace courage. Listen to Sarah share her insights into facing fear. The post Facing Fear appeared first on Messages of hope.

How do you respond when doctors tell you your unborn child has complex heart issues? And when you discover your child will have ongoing special needs, what do you need to know about giving them the best chance at life? Listen as Jo and Luke share their story of caring for a child with a disability. Hear how they found hope when faced with challenges. The post Bethany's Story appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘I didn't know anyone who had been in that same situation of being a single mom while pregnant.' ‘I was still overjoyed to be expecting but then also very nervous, and then also devastated at the loss of my marriage.' Raising kids is NOT an easy job, let alone raising a child as a single parent. But what about becoming a single parent before your child is even born?  Click here to listen to listen as Steph shares her story of resilience and faith in the through the challenges of single parenting. The post Single Parenting: A Journey of Resilience and Faith appeared first on Messages of hope.

What do teenagers really think about their place in a world of confusion and challenges? Listen as Emma chats with some teenagers about identity, and how faith shapes who they are. The post Who Am I? appeared first on Messages of hope.

Out of the Cyclone “I like to describe depression as a vortex, like a cyclone or a tornado or something like that. You've sort of got control while you're at the end of it. But as you start cycling into that tornado, you start losing control.  Sometimes you just felt like, is this going to […] The post Out of the Cyclone appeared first on Messages of hope.

Connecting our cultures “We do things when we're in communities… because we do them to remind ourselves of our own culture and where we come from. We've all got different backgrounds and we've got to respect that and appreciate that. But at the same time, we've got to get on and we've got to work […] The post Connecting our cultures appeared first on Messages of hope.

Listen as Jan, a financial counsellor, shares her experience supporting people going through financial crisis. The post Support in financial hard times appeared first on Messages of hope.

Asking for help is a sign of strength. It shows that you recognise that there's a better option for you and that your community is there to help you. Listen as Kelly, a financial counsellor and financial well-being operations manager for a leading community care organisation, shares insights on the reality of a real crisis affecting everyday Australians and how to seek help. The post There's no one face of poverty appeared first on Messages of hope.

Listen as Meagan and Nick bravely share about their experience of pain and grief, but also how they found support and hope through it all. The post Finding hope in miscarriage appeared first on Messages of hope.

Mothers play such an important role in the world, and in most of our lives. Whether we see them often, or not at all, they shape a lot of who we grow up to be. Listen as we chat to people from all walks of life about what they love about their Mum. The post If I were a mum appeared first on Messages of hope.

‘We can turn off our TV and not look at what's going on in the world and feel safe and secure. But every time we do that, we're leaving people to suffer.' Listen as Jonathan Krause shares how Australian aid organisations support people overseas and how we can be a part of the hope they provide. The post Love in action appeared first on Messages of hope.

Disagreement. It happens all the time. For many of us, as we look at our lives, there tends to be one ‘type of person' with whom we often end up in conflict (or avoid being in conflict). In this article, Rev Chris Mann from Lifelong Leaders explores the four types of people we may disagree with, what we can learn from them, and how to improve our relationships with them. The post Disagreeing Well appeared first on Messages of hope.

For many, Easter is about chocolate, bunnies and long weekends, but for Christians, it can be a time of reflection over the most significant moment in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. So how do we celebrate Easter and where is the hope in the real message of Easter? Listen as Valdis, Tania and Jo share their thoughts on a time of reflection and hope. The post Easter – Reflection and Hope appeared first on Messages of hope.

Belonging “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. Click here to […] The post Belonging appeared first on Messages of hope.

Welcoming People Have you ever wondered what it's like 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 […] The post Welcoming People appeared first on Messages of hope.

What does love look like to you? Listen to Richard this week as he chats with Chris and Julie about how simple misunderstandings, can make a strong relationship shaky, and what we can do to turn it around. The post Language of Love appeared first on Messages of hope.

We've just celebrated Australia Day and there's been lots of focus on celebrating community. Its a great time to reflect on who we are, where we've come from, and what it means to live as a community of people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. What are your Australia Day memories? The post Australia Day – What makes a community? appeared first on Messages of hope.

Do you struggle with giving gifts at Christmas? Who do I buy for, how much should I spend, will they like what I give them? This week we'll be discussing Christmas gift giving. Where did the idea begin? Why do we still do it? And perhaps the most important question -Have you been naughty or nice this year? The post Naughty Or Nice appeared first on Messages of hope.

Over 2 million people in Australia live with depression. And one in seven will experience depression in their lifetime. Listen as David shares his journey with depression and where he now finds hope. The post Overcoming Depression appeared first on Messages of hope.

A cancer patient once said, “It's like a terrorist attack. It can sneak up on you like a thief in the night.” So how do we come to terms with a diagnosis of cancer and where we can we find hope to face it? Click here to listen as Celia shares Karen's story. The post Surviving Cancer appeared first on Messages of hope.

All of us have the potential to be surrounded by people, but if we are not known, it can seem that we don't even exist. Loneliness can be that sense of not being known. How do we overcome isolation and restore connections? Listen as James Winderlich shares how God created us for community and the hope from loneliness to feeling connected. The post Feeling Lonely? appeared first on Messages of hope.

Do you struggle to understand and relate with a loved one who has Dementia? Listen to some surprising insights and encouragement for living with Dementia. Celia is talking with Gaye about some of the misunderstandings around Dementia. Gaye has worked in aged care for over 20 years and specialised in Dementia care. The post Dementia is not the end appeared first on Messages of hope.

Have you ever heard or used the saying, “I remember when...”? Remembering who we are is important to us. In Australia we have public holidays to help us remember who we are. On those days we often hear stories of freedom and the sacrifices that people made for us. Please join us this week on messages of hope as we talk more about remembering who we are. The post I Remember When… appeared first on Messages of hope.

Have you ever felt like life is ripping you off? That what you're suffering is unjust? Listen as Stephen and Therese share their story of years of suffering and how they found ways to embrace life and live in hope. The post I Want to Be Healed appeared first on Messages of hope.

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? Listen as Stephen and Therese share their journey of managing chronic pain and how it's affected their relationships, lifestyle, and purpose in life. The post Chronic Pain appeared first on Messages of hope.

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 as we talk with Jenny and Steve, who have suffered from anxiety, and Julie, a psychologist, to gain an understanding about anxiety and find hope for managing it. The post Anzac Day Special appeared first on Messages of hope.

Have you ever experienced tears of joy and sadness at the same time? Maybe it's the milestones as you children grow up and become more independent, or the wake after a funeral where you share the good times – even as you still feel the deep loss. How do you make sense of that – and keep moving forward. Listen as David Altus has encouragement for those times we feel lost in grief The post Tears In The Morning appeared first on Messages of hope.

What is the real story behind Easter? Listen as Richard, Celia and Noel have a conversation about Jesus. Is he just a person from history, or is he still active in our lives today? How do we know if he is real? The post Is Jesus Real? appeared first on Messages of hope.

When things are at their worst, is there still a place for love? What are we capable of when we are at the end of our reserves? Listen to Noel Due as he tells the true story of Geoff and his life changing experience in a Japanese prison camp. The post Endless Love appeared first on Messages of hope.

“I thought the anger in me would blow up a building. After I realized that what was done to me was so wrong. This anger just woaah! I used to break things, like get a whole lot of plates and smash them. It was eating me alive.” Listen to the story of one woman's journey of healing from childhood trauma. The post Smashing Plates – part 1 appeared first on Messages of hope.

What do you do when you're away from home and you receive a phone call that there is a bushfire in your area? Listen to Richard share how bushfires affected his family and the community he grew up in. How do you pick up the pieces after the devastation of a raging bushfire? Or any devastating tragedy? The post Comfort for Tragedy appeared first on Messages of hope.