Foxhole Symphony
Foxhole Symphony
When Faith Fails: From Crisis to Connection
Amidst the chaos of personal upheaval and natural disasters, have you ever wondered if your faith could endure? Join us as Sarge courageously shares his journey from New Jersey to Florida, where he faced not just the wrath of nature but a profound crisis of faith. Find out how a chance meeting with a CEO battling a mental health crisis became a pivotal moment of community and empathy, offering insights into the necessity of acknowledging our doubts and seeking support when our spiritual and emotional worlds collide.
Listen to the heartwarming tale of human connection and support as Mark discusses the transformative power of seemingly small acts of faith. With the encouragement of Sarge, a guiding light during dark times, Mark illustrates the ripple effect of kindness and companionship. Explore how stepping out of comfort zones can reveal divine interventions in our lives, emphasizing that offering presence and understanding can mirror the essence of Jesus without the need to "fix" others.
Concluding with a heartfelt prayer for our listeners, we extend an invitation to be part of a community rooted in hope and healing. We express gratitude and encourage you to share your stories, feedback, and even join us on future episodes. Connect with us on social media and visit foxholesymphony.com to keep the conversation going, fostering a network where faith and human connection thrive.
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Welcome to Foxhole Symphony, a podcast about the transformational value of men in authentic community In our foxhole.
Speaker 2:Men are equipped to build relationships that foster belonging, accountability and growth.
Speaker 1:Stop believing the lie that you can thrive in isolation and instead join us on the journey from broken to whole.
Speaker 3:Hello everyone, they call me the Maestro and we are back in the foxhole where we actively pursue belonging, accountability and growth through authentic relationships. No masks, no agendas, just iron sharpening iron. Steve and Mark are in the foxhole today talking about what happens when our faith fails. Well, gentlemen, that's going to take some heavy lifting. Remember, use your legs. All right, everybody, grab a comfy seat, open your favorite notes app and let's get started.
Speaker 1:Hey welcome back to the Foxhole Symphony Podcast. I'm Mark.
Speaker 2:And I'm Sarge.
Speaker 1:Hey, good morning bro, oh, it's good to be withhole Symphony.
Speaker 2:Podcast. I'm.
Speaker 1:Mark and I'm.
Speaker 2:Sarge. Hey, good morning bro. Oh, it's good to be with you, bro.
Speaker 1:It's really really great to see you.
Speaker 2:Good to see you too. So yeah, let me tell you a little bit about my week. As you know, I've been now in Florida for oh gosh, what's it been About? A little more than eight weeks, maybe 10 weeks, which has gone really fast, you know, a couple of hurricanes, bunch of tornadoes, just bizarre. But you know, moved down here because I, you know, really really felt called and you know for exactly what wasn't really sure and still don't have complete clarity, but I have, I have faith that, um, the calling was, uh, was clear and sure. And you know, just recently, you know, god's begun to really open some doors and you know, when he does that I just tend to step through them and say, okay, lord, what's, what's behind? Door number three you know what's over here, and so it's been beautiful. You know launched a new small group about six weeks ago. That's hitting a stride. It's very small, you know six to eight guys. Yeah, awesome.
Speaker 2:Really there's some intensity, there's some intentionality and really some beautiful heart work being done. And then this week was invited to a forum of CEOs and executives and went to that and, man, it was so beautiful, just beautifully authentic and intentional and intentional. And there was one guy there that just openly shared that he's in the midst of a mental health crisis, dealing with depression, and he's about almost a year into this now and he's just frozen. He's frozen in almost every aspect of his life and including his business, doesn't know what to do. And he's got some major decisions to make and, of course, you know, in the midst of a mental health crisis is not the best time to be making major decisions for your life and your business, but he's, they're sort of being forced on him a little bit. And so, man, I just, god, just softened my heart for him.
Speaker 2:And you know, as you know and our listeners may may not know, you know, I dealt with a deep depression a number of years ago. I was maybe, I don't know, 10 years ago, something like that. You know, long story short. Because of that, I just understood what he was sharing. I just I understood exactly where he was and I could picture it, you know, and he was just talking about how his wife looks at him and is like I don't know what's happening with you, you know, and I don't know how to help you. And you know his employees, and he's just kind of, you know, sitting and hiding, and so, anyway, I kind of reached out to him and I said, hey, I would love to connect with you and walk with you, you know, if you're open to that. And he was very open to that and and jumped all over it, and so we've been texting this week and invited him for coffee yesterday morning and spent a couple of hours having coffee and he said something to me that that really struck me and it was this he asked me when I was in the midst of my crisis and depression. He said did you question God's existence? Like, did you question the truth? I had my Bible with me and he was looking at the Bible. He said did you question, like, all of that? And I had to really stop and think about that for a second and an image came to my mind and I remember sitting on my patio looking out and and, just, you know, feeling dark and and grim and and crying out to God saying I, you know, where are you in this, like, where are you? I don't, I can't see you, I can't hear you, like, you know, are you out there? Are you real? And I it's again. It was just this very dark, myopic view at the moment and I shared that story with him, which he was, he was grateful for, I think, just the acknowledgement that he's not alone in that, and.
Speaker 2:But I wanted to bring that story up right, because you know, what do we do Like, what do we do when we have a crisis of faith Right, what do we do when you know we're unsure, right, like, and, and you know, I thought of our friend Dennis. You know our friend Dennis Summers. You know I remember him often praying like Lord, help me in my unbelief, right, and there's, we talked about this, I think, in an episode or two ago. But the difference between belief and faith, right and the, the, you know the difference is faith. Faith requires action and I shared that with him, you know, as we sat and had coffee and and and encouraged him, you know, to to, um, to do a number of things, and and so you know we can get, we can get into that, but I just wanted to open it up for a second. And you know, ask you like what? What comes to mind when we talk about, you know, uh, crises of faith, or, or when our faith fails.
Speaker 1:Well, the very first thing that popped into my head when you said it, when your friend asked a question, is the Bible verse about God Jesus saying I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. And then the end of John's gospel. I think it's the very end where Jesus says and I will be with you even to the end of the age. Those were the words, and that's just like me, because Lord knows, my faith never fails. No-transcript.
Speaker 1:Whether it's something that that binds you or restricts you or, you know, makes you cave up, is another level of depression. But I my my heart certainly goes out to that man because first of all, I want to fix him and help him. Right, I'm just being honest, as usual, but I quickly would want to connect him with someone, if not myself or you that understood the word, pardon me, understood the word and how important, like when he pointed to your Bible and said do you believe all that? And I can just see that. That moment, and knowing that you affirmed the truth in there, right, isn't that that moment where you want to be able to just flip it open and go look. It says right here.
Speaker 2:Well, I did oh, that's exactly, that's exactly what I did.
Speaker 1:And I said you mean, I could see you doing that.
Speaker 2:You, you mean this, you know, and and so, um, because I get it like and not to, not to to judge him, but just to start reading some scripture, to judge him, but just to start reading some scripture and and and sharing. You know, sharing that with him, and so, you know, in in the Psalms and some of the things that came to mind, you know were. You know, again, faith requires action, right? So if we're having a crisis of faith, the best thing we could do is take a step right is act. So, you know, one of the things I ask them is what is just one small incremental step? I mean, here's a man that's frozen and I get it, I've been there, I understand Like taking one step feels monumental, but leaving behind all the big decisions, right, and, and just looking at right here, right now, right in front of me, what's? What's one small thing I can do, and there's a number of them. It's like, take your pick. There's a litany of them and we'll get, and we'll get to that.
Speaker 2:But you know, one of the things we uncovered is that was similar was when I was having my crisis and he's in his crisis. One of the similarities that I want to mention, just in case you know. For those of you that are out there, either walking with someone who's in a similar crisis, or maybe you are yourself or you have been, but you know we both were living in the future or in the past rather than in the present. Yeah, and so you know, god obviously transcends all time, but for us, right, if I'm thinking constantly about the future and I'm in crisis, well, most likely there's overwhelming fear about the uncertainty.
Speaker 1:Something's coming, right Right.
Speaker 2:You can't control Yep Exactly, and in the past there's shame, regret, right, denial, deceit, yep, right, all of these things that happen, right I I attach or identify myself with, so I'm I'm either living out of this fear of the unknown or I'm attaching myself in my identity to these past circumstances or mistakes or, or whatever it may be, wounds that have that have stemmed from that Right, and neither is, neither is good, and, of course, when it comes to life and business, we need to look ahead and we need to reflect, and there's really healthy things there, but in this state of crisis, specifically taking an incremental step to help remain present is so critical. So what, what are you know? What are those, those things? And there's and there's, there's just so many of them and so, uh, anything come to mind for you like what it would look like to take a tiny little incremental step to be present.
Speaker 1:Sure, first thing is you're. You're singing to me because you're right in my sweet spot of breaking down a big problem into small pieces. I I use that at work, not every day, but that is my mantra Everyone's tired. I've worked with the same people a long time and they've tired of hearing it. But and I do that at home too, and it drives my family mad because you know you want to just get something done and how do I fix this? Or how do I get here, and so on. And often I'll tell my boys or I'll talk to Ria and I'll say hey, let's just, let's take this in parts.
Speaker 1:So, first off, I think we're headed down the right path and you made a great suggestion to this guy at Over Coffee. The first thing I would do in my life was be outdoors. I would get out in creation. The small step I would take is not start doing, because my nature would be to start doing stuff, just literally accomplish tasks that I could check off a list, to feel good about myself for a few minutes. But I've learned to slow down and listen and get out in creation. So the direct answer to your question is go outside, look around, look at what God did for you for me.
Speaker 1:That grounds me. I would literally take my shoes off and stand on the earth.
Speaker 2:It's a great suggestion. It's a great suggestion, one, one we talked about, and that word grounding, that's exactly what it does. That's exactly what happens. And you know, one of the things we talked about, uh, before we get to the list of many other things was that, you know, I remember a lot of people telling me I had a spiritual problem, right, that my depression was spiritual, and I understand now what they meant, but at the time it was soul crushing, because what I heard was you're not spiritual enough. Yeah, right. And so I think we need to be really, really careful about that, because we're not just spiritual beings, we're physical beings, we're psychological beings, we're emotional beings and it's all interconnected. And so that's one of the things we talked about.
Speaker 2:And so, as a physical being, to get outside and to look up, to see the wind blowing, the leaves, to take note of the senses, right, what am I smelling, what am I feeling in the breeze, is it hot, is it cold? To feel my bare feet in the sand or on the street or in the grass, and is is grounding. God gave us those senses for a reason, and one of those was to be grounded in the present and in his creation and that physical act alone draws us out of ourselves, right, and into his creation. That's it, right. Great, great, great suggestion. Um, one of the one of the other things that I shared with him as we looked at the scriptures and I said, yeah, I recall, you know, questioning and my, you know his existence and and and, or even his presence in my life, like why is this happening to me and where are you and why can I hear you and why can I see you?
Speaker 2:And you know all of these things, and, um, uh, I, you know, one of the things I brought up was just praying through the Psalms. You know, praying through the Psalms and, and you know, not just reading them but inserting my name and inserting myself, I, me, steve, in each of the Psalms, right, and praying them, because in that state it's so hard to pray for yourself, I mean you're, you're, you're, you're unbelieving, you're having a crisis of faith, you know, so, you know to, to have a guide, to to pray. And then the Psalms, of course, I mean here, you know, david, you know, I mean there's this soul crushing, crying out right, there's crises of faith, and then there's praise and there's glory, and there's all these things, these highs and lows, and it's just such a beautiful act to be able to go through that.
Speaker 1:It's just such a beautiful act to be able to go through that and as you do that, god responds and begins to restore your belief and faith and shows up. That spiritual healing that comes through the word is unmistakable. I also think if I was on the receiving end of that suggestion, that sounds like a big bite to me, a big chunk. I might suggest talk to God, like if I wish someone had taught me to pray a long time ago and just said talk to God, just talk, literally just talk. Get in your car where no one can hear you, open the windows, of crack so you don't suffocate, and talk, just be present with the Lord, yeah, in whatever words you want, yeah, and that's a good suggestion.
Speaker 2:He had been sharing with me how he's been doing that, you know, for a year, and but again, doesn't hear from him, doesn't see him, and that's where you know, and and yet doesn't crack open the word of God, which, which is powerful, Right and um, you know, so there's. There's just something about, and so what I told him is like one Psalm a day, like Psalm one started, Psalm one right Psalm a day, like Psalm one started, Psalm one right, and just go through and resonate and again, I think, given the, the, the state that the state of being in a crisis of faith and even a mental health crisis, um, the Psalms in particular, uh, are, are so appropriate.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's, it's. I know you, right, your heart is so good there and I, it wasn't a bad suggestion. You made me think of our brother, PA Pedro Aloysius Tippett right, he actually. You know his story about not hearing from God. He actually gave me a book that we talked about over coffee two weeks ago and the title of the book is God on mute. Wow, it was his way of proving to me that God on Mute. Wow, it was his way of proving to me that God wasn't talking to him and or he couldn't hear from God. But he has come to understand the value of that quiet time. And maybe a suggestion to your new friend is by the way, there are periods, there are sections of my life where the Lord has been very quiet, and he has a purpose for that as well 100%.
Speaker 2:That's exactly where we went. That's exactly the next part of the conversation that we had.
Speaker 1:And I wasn't there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and the beautiful part of that is that, again, I just want to pick up on the last part of what you said, and that is God's purposes, which are absolutely perfect. And so, even though God may feel far away and may seem quiet, god is at work. God is at work, he is doing something in this, and so we started to unpack that it wasn't a psychiatry session. He was actually going off to a new, uh therapist, and so just was wanted to give him some uh potential context to talk through with his therapist Cause I'm not a therapist, uh, but but some of that was again going back to looking out in the future, going back in the past, and you know what might God be doing through this?
Speaker 2:You know, and I talked about, you know just how, you know, leading up to my crisis, I was holding on to all these things. You know, I was burdened by feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders and gripping whatever it was, and some of those things were the safety and security of my kids. Right, they're, they're flourishing. I am solely responsible for that and absolutely have to control those outcomes and make sure that my kids never, you know, die in a horrific car accident or, you know, uh, from a drug overdose or, you know, or sexually assaulted. You know all these, all these horrors that would go through my mind Right, sure, and I would hold onto that. I've, I'm, I'm, I've got to make sure that that never happens to them, you know.
Speaker 2:And then things with other other. You know things with business, things with finance, you know all these different areas that you know. In God's quiet, somehow, some way, he was, he was showing me what I was gripping onto and just waiting for me to finally open up my grip, literally, yeah. And so I asked him what is it you're clinging to, what is what is firmly within your grasp that you may be aware of or not so aware of and perhaps unwilling to release, to surrender, to open up and lay at the foot of the cross? Is there, is there something you know? His eyes lit up and was like you know, clearly things were coming to mind and I'm like that that might be some things to work on with your therapist, you know.
Speaker 2:And so you know, that's sort of the the psychological part of this, right, and the emotional part of this is, like you know, it comes down to control, which is mostly an illusion, right, I mean, I can actually control very few things in my life.
Speaker 2:There are some things I can control, um, you know, like my choices and things of that nature. You know, like my choices and things of that nature. But beyond that, yeah, right, you know, and so I remember, many years ago, as my kids were going into their, you know, early teen years, you know, really, just, or even gosh, going 10, 11, 12, you know, 13, like, just coming to this acknowledgement that that that I can't, I can't rescue them, that God is their savior. You know, I'm not God, he is and he's their God and he loves them a million times more than I ever could, right, so all of these things that I had to, I had to come to these conclusions through the word of God, through other people in my life, right, um, and but, but having to be still long enough to, to, to come to those conclusions, to hear those things, to become aware of those things, to get out of the future and the past and to be present long enough to come to those conclusions, it's just hard to do.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness, the key word I heard you say was surrender. How do you tell a man who's frozen to surrender but that's it. The ultimate answer, when you distill it down and filter it out, is there's a surrender required, and it's not easy to do. It's easy to say that you're surrendered, but you know it's not easy to do. It's easy to say that you're surrendered, but you know it's work. I've watched you model with other men.
Speaker 1:you know about your greatest fears, what you just shared with everybody listening right About your kids and know the depth of your feeling with that, and you don't care any less that you've surrendered it to God. You still don't want your children to have any of those accidents you mentioned. Right, a matter of fact, you probably want that more. But the comfort that comes, the peace that comes from knowing that God has them, and acknowledging, coming to the conclusion of what I can and cannot control.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right, like here's how I can influence my children and some things that I can control, and the choices that I make and the things that I say to them and how I invest in that Right, and then the things that I can't, which is the outcomes Right. So, in almost every aspect of our lives.
Speaker 1:Well, we just get to the master's class right there, because you surrender it to God, and you and I are looking at each other now smiling in comfort. But there's a part of this that is well. What if something bad does happen? Yeah, did God forget what? Wait right. All of a sudden, you know, talk about a crisis of faith. Yes, that's another layer. That's not when your faith fails, it's when you have surrendered.
Speaker 2:And then in this world that is a broken, dark world something bad happens, something like situation last night right I've been encountering that conversation situation last night, right, I've been encountering that conversation weekly with you know, various people and uh, men that he's placed in my path and, um, you know, it's um, there's so much to it, there's so much to it, but, um, yes, I mean these, this crisis of faith when, uh, you know when, when we feel as though we've been abandoned, right, uh, or God has allowed something, or even even, you know, some have suggested, done something, you know, um, and so again, I don't want to get into you know all of that right now, but on the tail end of that, you know, we see it all the time in the, you know men's weekends. We're about to, you know, go serve on a weekend and we're going to hear all kinds of stories of, you know, pain and trauma and abandonment, and and you know all kinds of things that you know leave you saying God, why, how Right, and, and so, yeah, I mean, yes, we do. We live in a broken world and, you know, filled, filled with, you know, sin and trauma and hurt, and but God, but God, but God, but God, you know, and restores, steps in and, you know, brings healing and restoration and reveals who he is in that and even, and as much so, reveals who we are in that and that's the other piece I wanted to get to is that our identity right, like who is God and then who are we, who are we in him, and how much does that inform the lens through which we see things? It informs every piece of it, Every piece of our lens right of it, every piece of our lens right it is.
Speaker 2:You know, we've got to look in the mirror and say, okay, like how, how am I defined? You know, what is my identity, what is my mission, my purpose and my identity, who? Again, this, you know, who am I? Right, it's like, you know, getting into some self-help stuff, but it's not just self-help, it's biblical, it's this is, you know, we, you know as, as sons of God, you know righteous, because he is righteous, and all of these things right.
Speaker 1:Who am I in Christ? Might be the full question right, that's exactly right. Yeah.
Speaker 2:That's exactly not just who, who are we, but who are we in Christ, and so, yeah, lots here. Can you think of anything else in a practical nature? Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yes, small step. Yeah, I've been waiting to say it. Does he, does this man know I'm going to call him Sam? Does he know how blessed he was that God put Steve Sargent in his path and the Steve Sargents of the world, the men around that? What? What I would do I'd? I'd go outside and get grounded and appreciate creation. I would seek professional help and I would find men to gather around me to help. Not I've got the, you know, I've got the hammer and duct tape right here. Baby, you need fixed. I can fix you, but that's not what this is about. This is about think through the connections in your life that led you to this man. Yeah, bro, 10 weeks ago you lived in.
Speaker 2:New Jersey. Yeah, it's pretty wild, it's, it's pretty bizarre actually, and and that is the piece, like I, it is so God ordained. I don't think he sees it yet, I definitely do. I'm like, oh man, this is, this is, this is incredible, like.
Speaker 1:I don't want to be there when he does. I.
Speaker 2:I thank God that you know I have't. You want to be there when he does I. I thank God that you know I have the opportunity to come alongside this man and just just walk with him and just be there for him and just make sure I remind him. You know I'm texting him and calling him and we're, you know, connecting him and it's only been a few days but he's eating it. I'm sending him.
Speaker 2:You know God gave me a devotional for him this morning that I haven't sent him yet, but I will. Oh, great, and you know there's um, you know God's at work in this and he will. I believe that this man will come to the conclusion and and and acknowledge and see the thread, just what God did in, you know, sending me to him and him to me in this and um, me to him and him to me in this and um, and I think that'll be part of you know what pulls him out of this dark space. You know, um, and it's just part of God at work, and and. So, yes, he. Now I will say this man is strong enough, thank God, to say yes, he's not hiding, he is, he's stepping out.
Speaker 2:He's grabbing the olive a stranger he's going to these groups, he's, yeah, meeting with me, and he just totally opens and they're like what do you? What have you got? I'm law, right, like clearly desperate, you know, at the end end of his rope. But, um, but those acts of faith. It's such a beautiful thing that you brought up, because that alone him saying yes, I'll have coffee with you is an act of faith.
Speaker 2:To say I don't't, I have no, I don't even know this man, I don't trust this man, I don't, I don't know, not, I got nothing. I'm going to go sit. I'm gonna go sit and have a cup of coffee. And you know, cause, what do I got to lose? Yeah, cause God opened the door Right, and he so, so, like at the same time. You know, it's just so beautiful, right, like for us, we can see it. He's, he's clouded right now, but for us, we can see where he's just praying. God, are you real? Where are you? What do you do? Right? And here we are sitting having coffee and he's still saying the same thing and I'm just smiling.
Speaker 1:It's beautiful. Look, you're making me think of our episode called Ripples. It was episode 34, february 24th 2023. And this guy is sitting in a kayak right and there are ripples, there are waves coming at him from far away and he doesn't know, has no idea what the origin of the ripples are. And I'm reminded of the fact you and I talked about I know I said it in the episode Remember when you dropped the rock in the water, in the pond, and you think the ripples are going away from you, but they're also coming at you.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Right, and then you look away because for you, the ripple is done, but that ripple keeps going. It gets a little smaller, right, the height of the ripple gets smaller as it goes across the pond, but that ripple keeps going, and that's what's happening here. This man is blessed and you, sarge, you may play your role with this man and never know when he comes back right. This message now is for faithful believers and listeners who say I know what to do with a guy like this, which you and I are not trained to do, but in faith, we're doing what we feel in our hearts would be helpful. Right, we're not trying to fix him, no, but we are letting him know.
Speaker 1:There's one answer, there's just one, and his name is Jesus and he looks a lot like Steve Sargent On that day, for that coffee and that devotional and whatever else you do and all the other things you're going to do, you're rippling in this man's life for a moment, yeah, and then God's got the rest. That's right. That's right, actually, god's got all of it, but he's got all of it, but he's got the rest.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's again, it's just, um, you know, yeah, when those those opportunities arise, um, you know, like I, there was a thought where I was like man, I don't know this guy, he doesn't even know me, like I'm not going to bother him, the guy's depressed, he doesn't want to hear from me, right, like those thoughts went through my head and I was like what do you mean? Wait a minute, wait a minute. You know he's crying out, you know, and so, um, yeah, so I would just encourage people to ask God, you know, ask, ask God, um, and you know, I've been praying because, again, I'm new down here, don't have a lot of relationships. I've been praying God, what is it you want to do down here? What is it you want to do? What is it? And like, lead me, open the doors, put somebody in my doors, bring somebody to my doorstep that I can minister to.
Speaker 2:And it was like, boom, you know, here, and this man, and this man, this man, and there are others, are we willing? You know, when he calls us, are we willing to say, yeah, you know, send me, I'll go. They're willing to put aside whatever it is that we're working on, whatever it is we need to do, you know, can we get out of our own way. And I'm not sitting here saying like that's always me, no, like I have to be so focused and intentional about, you know, looking for that and doing that.
Speaker 2:And I, I often think, how many have I missed? How many have I missed? Cause I just was, you know, head down, I got stuff to do, I got to go, you know, and so we don't even know, right, but when we're, when we're looking, saying who can I, where can I be in the hands and feet of Jesus, today, this moment, this hour? You know, every hour, wherever we are, wherever we are, and all of a sudden, you know, um be surprised how many opportunities he really gives us. And um, and the work that he does in our own hearts through that, you know, shows us a lot about ourselves too.
Speaker 1:I have this vague recollection of a stranger showing up at my front door about 18 years ago that was in a similar position years ago that was in a similar position. Yeah, so pretty, pretty interesting. Um, just juxtaposition for me. We're thinking about what God was up to at that time and look look at the fruit of that chance meeting between you and I, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean talk about ripples.
Speaker 1:Wow, god's good, god's good.
Speaker 2:Sure is. Well, this is a great conversation and certainly we just skimmed the surface. You know of some really hard areas and so, um, you know, I will say if, if you are listening and you're, uh, dealing with depression, you're dealing with a mental health crisis, let somebody know. Let somebody know and let us know Jeez, absolutely, send us a message. We'd love to talk with you, we'd love to you know, listen to you and just come alongside you.
Speaker 2:You're not alone, You're never alone, and he, most importantly, will never leave you nor forsake you, and so, yeah, as believers, he holds us in his righteous right hand and we'll, yeah, so, hallelujah, beautiful time together. Thank you, and thanks for connecting with me this morning and, hey, thanks for listening to another episode of Foxhole Symphony Podcast, and maybe there's somebody you want to share this one with Somebody out there that maybe needs to hear this one. You know, I pray that there are most of you are not in a crisis of faith and certainly not in a mental health crisis but who needs to hear this message, and so don't just be you, but be you in Christ.
Speaker 1:Amen Peace, brother Peace.
Speaker 3:When our faith fails, what do we do? Well, the short answer is that we need more of the very thing that seemed to fail us God and His Word. He holds the answer. But how do we get back to that place? How do we overcome that chasm that seems to be between us and God?
Speaker 3:I think Mark and Steve made a compelling case for seeking out brothers in Christ, those authentic relationships, those men in our foxhole. It's there where we can speak our truth. It's definitely not easy, but, my friend, it's powerful. We reveal that brokenness and we drag it, kicking and screaming, into the light. And when we do that, we have now started the process of coming home to our loving father, that we have now started the process of coming home to our loving Father. We get to stand up with our feet on firm ground and ask God to help us move forward from that brokenness revealed. Then we commit time to God, which means reading His Word, praying and listening, not sure where to start.
Speaker 3:Well, just as Steve mentioned earlier, how about you read one psalm a day, but ask God to help you hear from him as you read? What truth do I need to hear? God? Help me to commune with you, lord, and make your message clear to me. And make your message clear to me. Keep walking, brother. You're almost home. Lord, please continue to use this podcast to impact the lives of all who listen. I ask that you would bring hope and healing to each and every one of them. Meet them right where they are and reveal yourself to them like only you can do. In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it and invite others to the Foxhole. You can find us wherever you download your favorite podcast. Be sure to subscribe so you know when new episodes drop, and please rate us and comment there too, as it'll help us get found by others who could benefit. Find, follow and like us on your go-to social media networks by searching Foxhole Symphony or visit foxholesymphonycom to make it super easy to find us. Drop us a line with feedback, questions, topic requests. Who knows, maybe you'll be a guest on a future episode. In the meantime, prepare to move, embrace discomfort and just be you.
