A new study finds young adults are increasingly interested in faith, but with little change in core beliefs.

A new report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that young people in Amercia aged 18 to 23 are moving in two spiritual directions at once, showing increased interest in faith while also drifting away from key beliefs.

On one hand, there are clear signs of growth.

More young adults are calling themselves Christian, Bible reading has increased, and a growing number say they are committed to practising their faith.

On the other hand, deeper beliefs remain largely unchanged. The study found that just 1% of this generation holds a fully developed biblical worldview.

Activity is rising, but foundations are not

The data highlights a gap between behaviour and belief. Increases in church involvement and Bible reading suggest openness and curiosity. Yet when it comes to core questions about truth, God and morality, most views have stayed the same.

Researcher George Barna described the findings as only “a lukewarm affirmation of revival”, noting that spiritual activity alone does not necessarily lead to lasting change. That distinction matters.

As the report explains, behaviour can spark interest, but without understanding, it often doesn’t take root over time.

The same pattern is emerging in Australia

While the study focuses on the United States, recent Australian research suggests a very similar trend among young people here.

The 2025 McCrindle report An Undercurrent of Faith, based on national census data and a survey of more than 3,000 Australians, found that the country’s relationship with Christianity is increasingly complex.

On one hand, many young Australians are moving away from organised religion. Between 2016 and 2021, more than one in three young people aged 15 to 24 shifted from Christianity to “no religion”.

At the same time, the report highlights a strong sense of openness and searching.

Young Australians are described as being on a “quest for meaning”, with more than half open to spiritual conversations and exploring belief for themselves.

Fewer, but more committed

Perhaps the most striking similarity is what happens among those who do engage with faith.

Even as overall identification declines, young Australians who are Christian tend to be more active than older believers.

Around 68% of Gen Z Christians attend church at least monthly, significantly higher than older generations.

This reflects a broader shift away from cultural or inherited religion, toward something more personal and intentional.

Open, but still searching

Taken together, the findings from both the US and Australia point to a generation that is not disengaged, but still exploring.

Young people today are less likely to inherit faith by default, but more likely to question, examine and search for meaning on their own terms.

That creates both a challenge and an opportunity.

Interest is there. Curiosity is real. But without deeper understanding, that interest may not translate into long-term change.

This article was researched and prepared by Hope 103.2 staff writers, with assistance from AI in its presentation. Final review and fact-checking was undertaken by our Digital Team prior to publication.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Canva

Danniebelle shares a heartfelt glimpse into holding onto a lifelong dream

It’s a dream she’s carried since she was a little girl.

Not a vague idea, but a clear picture – a family, built on love, partnership, and the kind of care she watched her own parents model so beautifully. It’s still there, still strong, unchanged in its essence.

Only now, it sits alongside another reality… It hasn’t happened yet.

“My biggest dream from when I was a little kid was that I would be a mum… and it still is.”

There’s something disorienting about dreams without timelines. We get used to milestones in life – school, work, relationships – often mapped out in neat succession. But some of the deepest desires don’t come with a calendar date. They unfold in their own time, or sometimes, feel like they’re taking longer than expected.

Uncertainty can feel like a mystery

For Danniebelle, that uncertainty can feel like a mystery she’s learning to live with.

Not solve. Not rush. Just live with.

“I don’t know the date, I don’t know the time… it all feels like a bit of a mystery.”

There are moments, she admits, where the questions get loud. Nights where she turns it over in her mind, “Why hasn’t this happened for me?” Moments sparked by something as simple as a film or a fleeting love story on screen, highlighting the absence of something she longs for deeply.

And yet, alongside the questioning sits a quiet resolve.

A choice not to get lost in the “what ifs”.

Keep trusting… even while we wait

Instead, she’s learning to place that dream gently into God’s hands; to trust that a desire so deeply rooted isn’t there by accident, or as some kind of cruel tease.

It’s a trust that isn’t always easy.

There are times when God feels silent on the subject. Times when the gap between hope and reality feels wide. Times when comparison sneaks in – when it’s tempting to look at others and think the grass might be greener somewhere else.

But almost as quickly as those thoughts come, they’re challenged.

Because with age has come perspective. A growing awareness that comparison rarely brings peace, and that even the paths that look ideal from the outside can hold their own complexity and pain.

Life, after all, rarely turns out exactly as imagined.

“I’ll immediately go, ‘oh yeah, the grass is greener over there’ but then straight away go, ‘no, I can’t think like that.’”

Danniebelle and Brendan both acknowledged that reality: the relationships they’ve seen break down, the families reshaped by loss or hardship, the unpredictability of life. It’s enough to make anyone pause and wonder what the future might hold.

Even, at times, to question the dream itself.

There are moments when Danniebelle has looked at the state of the world – the chaos, the uncertainty – and quietly wondered what it would mean to bring children into it. It’s not a loss of hope, but a reflection of how deeply she cares about the kind of world future generations will inherit.

And yet, through all of it, one anchor remains. A verse she returns to again and again: “For I know the plans I have for you…” (Jeremiah 29:11).

It’s not a quick fix or a neat answer. But it is a reminder that even when she can’t see the full picture, she’s not forgotten. That her life isn’t defined by what hasn’t happened yet, but by what’s already been given.

And that list, she realises, is full.

Family. Friends. Meaningful work. A community of listeners. A life rich with connection and purpose.

It doesn’t replace the dream but reframes it.

Rather than becoming consumed by what she doesn’t have, she’s choosing to invest in what she does. To pour her love, energy and attention into the people and opportunities already in front of her.

And to trust that the rest will come in the right time. Or in the right way. Or in a way that may look different from what she imagined.

“I don’t want to be distracted by what I don’t have when I have everything right now.”

This was a reminder that so many people can relate to as they are walking similar paths, carrying similar hopes, often quietly.

Dreams that feel delayed.

Questions without answers.

A tension between trust and longing.

And in sharing her story, Danniebelle gave language to that space, not as something to fix, but something to gently hold.

Because sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is keep trusting… even while we wait.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Supplied

Many of the toughest battles are fought quietly in the mind.

Life often has a way of presenting us with many challenges we didn’t see coming. Some of these can be external, where we have little control. But many of the toughest battles are fought quietly in the mind. We can find ourselves becoming overwhelmed, exhausted, and worn down by consuming thoughts that feed our doubts. Living the Christian life means learning the practice of overcoming doubt with God’s Word, anchoring ourselves in truth when uncertainty tries to take hold.

Joyce Meyer reminds us of the holy and living power that we have in Christ Jesus. When we truly take hold of the truth and base our identity on God’s Word, the enemy loses his influence. Joyce encourages believers to take hold of the spiritual weapons God has given them so they can live with freedom and confidence in Christ.

Using God’s Word to Overcome Doubt and Fear

How much time do you spend speaking the Word of God out loud? For many of us, it isn’t nearly enough. When the truth is not spoken consistently over our lives, it becomes easier for doubt and overwhelming thoughts to creep back in, slowly distorting our vision.

The truth is, the battle against these consuming lies has already been won. Through Christ, we have the victory. What remains now is our responsibility to boldly declare that truth and actively practise overcoming doubt with God’s Word. Joyce stresses the importance of speaking this truth, focusing on the good things that God has done for us.

“When you do this, you’re feeding your faith instead of feeding your doubts.”

Rather than falling into the enemy’s traps, we turn our hearts towards Jesus and allow the truth of who He says He is to pull us out of discouragement. Choosing God’s Word over fear strengthens our faith and renews our minds.

Praise as a Weapon in Overcoming Doubt with God’s Word

Praise also serves as a powerful spiritual weapon. When we sing, we should sing with intention and purpose, declaring God’s victories over our lives. Praise shifts our focus away from fear and helps us see ourselves through the lens of who God has called us to be.

As we praise God, we reinforce the truth of His Word in our hearts. This practice strengthens our ability to stand firm and continues the process of overcoming doubt with God’s Word, even in challenging seasons.

Developing Spiritual Strength to Stand Against Doubt

Standing against the enemy requires a holy and determined spirit. We cannot simply remain passive when lies try to take root in our minds. Joyce reminds believers that Jesus died on the cross to give us complete victory, and that victory is available to us today.

Referencing Romans 10, she explains that “whosoever will” receive God’s promises must hear the Word of God. Faith grows when we consistently expose ourselves to the message of Christ and learn to stand firm in truth when doubt arises.

Why God’s Word is Medicine for Your Soul

The Word of the Lord is not simply information to be learned, but nourishment for the soul. Just as the body cannot thrive without healthy food, the spirit cannot thrive without consistent time in Scripture.

Rather than approaching Scripture as a task or obligation, Joyce encourages believers to develop a genuine hunger for the Word. God’s truth brings life because it meets us where we are, addressing the places that need healing most.

“It has inherent power in it that will heal your life.”

Over time, reading Scripture doesn’t just inform us. It strengthens us, helping us to stand firm when challenges come and reminding us of who we are in Christ.

The Victory is Won

The challenges we face may not disappear overnight, but the way we face them can change. Joyce encourages believers to be intentional about what they feed their minds and spirits, knowing that God’s Word has the power to restore, renew, and transform.

As we choose to speak truth, praise with purpose, and hunger for Scripture, we position ourselves to walk in the freedom Christ has already secured for us. In doing so, we discover that the Word truly is medicine — bringing clarity, strength, and life in every season, and leading us continually towards overcoming doubt with God’s Word.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

Feature image: Canva

Born without arms and legs, Nick Vujicic shares the faith that’s carried him through life without limits in a new documentary.

Australian-born evangelist, author and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic is preparing to release a deeply personal documentary about his Christian journey.

In the film entitled ‘No Limbs, No Limits: The NickV Story’ audiences are invited into some of the darkest moments of Nick’s life: the childhood bullying, the crushing isolation and the moments he nearly lost his will to live after being born without arms and legs. 

But the 43-year-old shared that the documentary is not ultimately about despair.

He explained it’s about what can happen “when you don’t get a miracle, but still become one.”

Most Intimate Portrait Yet of Nick Vujicic

Through archival footage, candid family interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses into his ministry, ‘No Limbs, No Limits’ chronicles the life of a young  man who transformed profound suffering and dark moments of the soul, into a message of hope rooted in his Christian faith.

This is the most intimate portrait yet of the globally recognised Christian influencer and founder of NickV Ministries, who has spent decades preaching to millions around the world. 

For Nick, revisiting painful memories on camera was less difficult than witnessing the emotional toll those years took on the people closest to him, including his parents, his brother, Aaron, who was given that name to be a “helper” to his disabled brother, and his sister, Michelle. 

Nick Reflects on the Amazing Support of His Family

“As I speak about my story, I revisit it every time I’m on stage,” the bestselling author said.

“But as I watched my family members reflect on those years and the impact it had on them … that hit me differently.”

“We were just a normal family. We loved each other. We still fought as siblings.”

“But I think a lot of families will be touched by just acknowledging the importance of being there for one another as best as we can.”

What Nick Has Achieved in His 43 Years

Despite his international fame, the film reveals the staggering scope of his ministry work, much of which remains unknown even to long-time followers.

Over the past two decades, Nick has traveled to 87 countries, met with 37 presidents, addressed national governments and shared the Gospel with hundreds of millions of people.

According to his ministry, nearly 1.5 million people have professed faith in Jesus Christ through outreach events connected to his organisation.

“People will walk away praising God. Not because Nick is special, but because of what God can do with your broken pieces if you place them in His hands,” he mused. 

Nick Still Prays for Arms and Legs

Even after years of public ministry, Nick, who married his wife Kanae in 2012, shared that there are still prayers he continues to carry and miracles he hopes happen.

“I still have a pair of shoes in my closet. And I still pray for arms and legs.”

The film also serves as a personal legacy project for his four children, whom he hopes will come away not with pressure to replicate his ministry, but with gratitude and humility.

“My oldest is already baptised,” he revealed, sharing that his family is gearing up for mission work in Africa.

“I don’t want them to feel like they have to fill somebody’s shoes.”

“I just want them to know Jesus died for them, and that’s enough.”

The Film Stresses Themes of Humility and Surrender

Based on his experience, Nick emphasised the importance of rejecting a “transactional” faith culture, one that equates obedience with guaranteed blessing and promises of a prosperous life. 

“We address pretty strongly that we’re against the prosperity gospel. God is not a genie.”

His documentary stresses surrender, humility and perseverance — themes Nick believes are urgently needed in modern Christianity.

“There’s nothing wrong with praying for healing,” he said.

“But we also have to understand that it’s not our will, it’s God’s will. His grace is sufficient.”

“We’d like to be part of a real repentance and revival.”

That message, he added, is especially critical in a cultural moment marked by anxiety, division and spiritual confusion.

“We’d like to be part of a real repentance and a real check on our definition of revival.”

“We cannot have shallow discipleship and a lack of accountability”

Nick expressed concern about what he described as shallow discipleship and a lack of accountability among faith leaders.

Churches, he stressed, risk losing younger generations if they fail to return to “the basics” of authentic Christianity.

“If teenagers are not really being discipled, where is our nation really going?” he asked.

“God can use anyone at any age.”

‘No Limbs, No Limits: The NickV Story’ is slated for release in late September.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision Christian Media – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

Feature image: ‘No Limbs, No Limits’ Film Cover

Miranda Riddington would describe herself as ‘just an ordinary mum‘.

But those who know this year’s Mother of the Year, would consider her an extraordinary Christian woman.

Alongside her husband of 47 years, Joe, Miranda Riddington has raised ten children in southern New South Wales while serving faithfully in pastoral ministry and supporting those in need around her.

She still loves mentoring other mums on raising their children.

“Raising 10 children was hectic and amazing”.

Miranda devoted herself wholeheartedly to raising and homeschooling her children despite multiple moves around Australia, and even overseas.

Throughout that time, her home has been a place of faith, encouragement, and resilience.

Even through challenging seasons, she modelled trust in God and a commitment to building a strong and loving family.

“It was hectic. It was a very busy time,” she said.

“Honestly, it was an amazing season of having the 10 children.”

Walking With the Lord

“Without the Lord we would not have been able to do what we did”

“We were like a community and it was something that everyone loved being a part of when they came to the house.”

“There was always something happening. It was an exciting time, even though it was challenging.”

“But without the Lord, there’s no way that we would have been able to do what we did.”

Miranda’s foundation for raising a family is from Deuteronomy 6:6-7

“It says write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts, get them inside of you and then get them in inside your children.”

“Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street.”

“Talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.”

“I realised that being a Christian and raising children in a Christian home is about me knowing God first, and unless I have a vibrant strong relationship with the Lord I can’t pass that on to the children.”

Helping Others in her Pastoral Ministry

Miranda is also a grandmother to 16 grandchildren.

Her legacy is seen not only in her own family, but in the many lives she has touched through her service and example. 

For more than three decades, she has served alongside Joe in ministry, sometimes as a pastor herself, walking with people through grief, hardship, and crisis.

She has offered practical help, wise counsel, and a compassionate presence to those who needed it most.

Miranda’s ministry has extended into prisons, support for orphans, and care for women and families facing difficult circumstances.

She played a significant role in supporting the spiritual life of ‘Bali NIne’ drug smuggler Andrew Chan who gave his life to the Lord and ran a prison ministry before his execution in 2015.

Her children say their mother embodies love, humility, patience, and strength.

An unsung hero whose impact has shaped not only her own family, but countless others.

She has consistently pointed others toward the importance of strong marriages, stable homes, and faith-filled living.

Biblical Models

“I love Psalm 128:3.” she revealed.

“It says that your wife will be a fruitful vineyard, so the model I have is of a vineyard that speaks of longevity, that speaks of generation to generation and leaving a legacy and a heritage.”

“I love the fact that God sees us as a vineyard because we are the ones who manage the vineyard and create the opportunities for our children.”

“I think that the family is still the number one, it is God’s heart.”

“He created us to have relationship with Him because He wanted a family.”

“And so through us, it’s amazing to think that He uses us, just the husband and wife, to partner with him to create eternal beings so that He can have relationships.”

“I think if we can keep that thought in our mind, it takes us out of the day-to-day humdrum to see the bigger picture that we’re actually partnering and working with God in raising our children for Him to have a relationship with them.”

Miranda’s Advice to Mums

“My passion is to work with mums that are really struggling.”

“I think if there’s anything I could say to mums today it is that you are the very best person to raise your children. God chose you for that job.”

“You have everything you need within you to be the best mum for that child. And don’t lose hold of that.”

“Don’t lose sight of that and when you need help and when you need wisdom just ask God for it because He says that if you lack wisdom just ask Me and I’ll give it to you.”

“I’ve had to do that so many times and I still do.”

“I just go to God and I say: God I don’t know what to do here but You have promised me that You’ll give me the answer.”

“I want struggling mums to know today that they can do it because if He gave you the child, He has given you everything you need to be able to raise that child in the way that’s honouring to Him.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision Christian Media.

Feature image: Supplied (FamilyVoice Australia)

I can still remember the moment. I was in the schoolyard when I heard the words: ‘Don’t play with her. She’s too fat’.

Content note: This blog shares personal reflections on body image, identity, and self-worth.

Year 4. Nine years old. And in one sentence, my world shifted.

I went home, walked straight to my room, and stared into the mirror – not with my own eyes, but with the eyes of someone who had just labelled me. That was the day I learned how quickly a few careless words can reshape your value, your confidence, your sense of worth.

And the truth is… many women know that moment. Maybe you’ve been called too fat, too thin, too plain, too pale, too much, not enough. Maybe someone has commented on your thighs, your skin, your nose, your hairline, your body shape – as if your body is public property.

Those words stick. They echo. They shape the way we walk into rooms.

When I started high school, I was quiet. Invisible. Not the cool kid. I didn’t wear my hair the right way or know the cool labels. Just a girl trying to find one kind face in a world obsessed with “hot” or “not.”

But here’s something I want you to know – especially if you’ve struggled with your body like I have:

Faith in Jesus can reshape the way you see yourself. A relationship with Him can free you from the opinions of others. He can teach you to love yourself without their permission.

I know this because I’ve lived on both sides of the pendulum.

1 Samuel 16:7 “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The Words That Broke Me – and the Determination That Followed

When I was a young teen, the boy I had a crush on told my friend he wouldn’t date me unless my “butt cheeks were ten times smaller.”

Ten. Times. Smaller.

Something snapped inside me – not in a healthy way, but in a determined way. Like so many teenage girls, I started watching what I ate. Then I started exercising. Then I started exercising twice a day. Running. Sit‑ups. Push‑ups. Walking. Strict Eating.

By 15, I was a size 10 – the fittest I had ever been. And I felt great.

But what started as revenge turned into something entirely different. It became about me – about discovering my own strength and reclaiming what had been taken from me. Along the way, I found a courage I didn’t know I had, and every step of it was Christ‑led.

I’d become a Christian a year or two earlier, at thirteen, and everything began to shift – my friends, my interests, even the way I saw myself. God was growing a strength in me I had never known before.

I eventually confronted that boy – but the truth is, I had already chosen to forgive him long before that moment. It was only through God’s peace that I was able to offer friendship instead of hurt or blame. And somehow, we did become friends. We even dated for a while. But forgiveness doesn’t erase memory, and the impact of those words didn’t magically disappear.

Then came a new wave of accusations, this time because of my changing body. When you’re overweight, people assume you’re careless. When you’re thin, suddenly they think you’re harming yourself.

“She must be throwing up.” “Are you throwing up?” “Has she stopped eating?” “Let me see you finish that fruit salad.”

I was honestly stunned. It felt like I couldn’t win. Fat meant rejection, thin meant suspicion. How is any woman meant to navigate that?

But in that moment, I chose what God was whispering to me: Choose My way. Ignore them. Keep going. I knew the truth – I was healthy, fit, and loving my life, even if others questioned it.

And here’s another twist no one warns you about:

Being rejected for your body hurts. But being accepted only because of your body? That can be just as damaging.

When ‘Beautiful’ Became a Burden

Suddenly, I was the opposite of invisible. Boys noticed me. People wanted to date me. And let me tell you – that kind of attention is intoxicating.

But it came with a cost.

People judged my Christian character because of how I looked. Girls kept their distance. Men objectified me. And by the time I got to university I felt pressure – suffocating pressure – to maintain an impossible standard so people would keep liking me.

I remember preparing a uni presentation I wasn’t confident about and thinking:

“It’s fine. I’ll just look amazing, so no one notices what I say.”

That’s not confidence. That’s captivity.

Being rejected for being overweight was hurtful and lonely. But being accepted only for beauty was just as empty. Neither version was or is freedom.

The Body Battle Doesn’t End- Even as an Adult

I’ve always struggled with my weight. Even now, as a plus-size mum, it fluctuates. Up. Down. Up again. And here’s something I’ve never said publicly:

When I focus on healthy eating, it’s shocking how quickly people comment. If I have one treat, one “off‑plan” moment, suddenly it’s:

“Ohhh, I thought you weren’t eating that?” “Is that allowed?” “Should you be having that?”

Even at my strictest, I still have cheat days. I’m human. I’m allowed to enjoy food. I need those moments. But those comments? They don’t help. They don’t motivate. They don’t support.

They shame.

So let me say this clearly:

If someone you love is trying to get healthy, don’t police them. Walk with them. Check in. Ask how they’re going. Pray for and with them. Encourage them. Love them. Don’t tease them. Don’t monitor them. Don’t make their plate your business.

We don’t need food critics. We need companions. And if they do need professional help, journey with them gently to the GP.

What God Taught Me About Beauty

After years of swinging between extremes – overweight, underweight, under pressure, over‑noticed, under‑valued – God finally whispered something that changed everything:

“Your beauty is not your body. Your beauty is My Spirit in you.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

And that was my journey, God completely renewed the way I see body and my beauty no matter what size I am.

We are spiritual, supernatural beings made in the image of God – wrapped in human, fragile, imperfect bodies.

The most beautiful women I know? Their beauty has nothing to do with their appearance. It’s their kindness. Their courage. Their gentleness. Their wisdom. Their joy. Their faith.

That’s the kind of beauty that doesn’t wrinkle, stretch, sag, or fade. That’s the kind of beauty I want to be around.

1 Peter 3:3–4 “Your beauty… should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.”

So Here’s My Advice — From One Woman to Another

If you’ve been wounded by words…

If you’ve been judged by your body…

If you’ve been pressured to shrink or pressured to sparkle…

Hear me:

You are not a body with a soul. You are a soul with a body.

Your worth is not measured in kilos, calories, dress sizes, or compliments.

Your worth was set at the Cross. Unchanging. Unshakeable. Unconditional.

And if you’re on a health journey – physical, emotional, or spiritual – let people walk with you, not watch you.

Let them support you, not scrutinise you.

And above all, let Jesus define you – not the mirror, not the comments, not the culture.

Because big girls do cry. But big girls also rise. And with God, big girls overcome.

Article supplied with thanks to Rhema 99.7

About the Author: Richelle Wenhem is an announcer and content coordinator at Rhema 99.7, and mum of two children.

Feature image: Supplied

When approval becomes a trap.

I was talking with a friend the other day. She has just taken on a new role in her workplace. She knows she needs to speak up more in meetings. She knows she doesn’t because she worries what people think of her.

I thought that the opinions of other people didn’t bother me so much. How wrong I was!

I started thinking about a work context where I am more than happy to contribute my ideas. I began to realise that a lot of that desire is driven by a need to prove why I’m in the room. I worked this out from the way I respond when my shared ideas encounter feedback. I take it way too much to heart. This is because in rejecting my idea, they are also rejecting me.

Both my friend and I have fear of other people’s opinions – it just manifests itself in different ways. In some situations it keeps me talking – while for my friend, it keeps her silent.

What is FOPO?

Fear of other people’s opinions – or FOPO- is a term coined by high performance psychologist and author Michael Gervais. FOPO is having an unhealthy fixation on what other people think of us. It can be distracting, limiting or even debilitating. It can stop us putting forward new ideas (or in my case, being overly sensitive to the reception of ideas), speaking up in meetings, having difficult conversations, or trying something new.

FOPO traps us into devoting our energy, attention and focus on attempting to manage what other people think of us. Which, when you think about it, is a losing battle because we really can’t control other people’s opinions. And it’s exhausting. As another friend of mine says: “You’ll be that puppy dog constantly after the next pat on the head. And that’s quite an exhausting way to live, and it’s really unpredictable and inconsistent.” Devoting our energy, attention and focus in this way means we are less able to bring our best selves into the room.

So what’s the solution?

Do we just need to be braver? How do we become braver?

It strikes me that what we need is something to anchor ourselves for those times we can get buffeted by the opinions of others. And it’s best to work out what those anchors are when the waters are calm.

The anchor could be, for example, the opinion of a trusted friend or mentor. That can give us perspective and help us to filter or assess the opinions in the room. Or it could be something we say to ourselves in opinion-threatening situations. For me, I can remind myself that my ideas should be more about the good of others and less about others feeling good about me.

While that thought might anchor me in the moment, it comes because of an even deeper anchor it is attached to. As a follower of Jesus, there should be something even more important to me than the opinions of other people.

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:4-7

Jesus says the only one who should be feared – and rightly feared – is God himself. And yet that fear is from a place of safety and security because of how valuable Jesus’ followers are to God.

I find those words both challenging and comforting. Challenging because I need to fear God more than I fear people. Comforting because I am valuable to God – I matter to him. The way for me to become braver is to fear God more, because then the opinions of others will matter less.

Knowing that my worth comes from God means I am freer to act for the good of others, and so I can bring more of my best self into the room. Sharing my ideas becomes less about wanting others to feel good about me, and more about what is good for others. It then becomes a less opinion-threatening situation. And I can then more thoughtfully and calmly assess the feedback on my ideas.

Questions

1. Have you observed any FOPO behaviours in yourself?
2. What could your anchors be in opinion-threatening situations?
3. How could you see this making a practical difference?

Article provided with thanks to City Bible Forum.

Feature image: Canva

Ever feel like you can’t pray because you don’t feel ‘good enough’? Spoiler alert: God knows we don’t have it all together and welcomes our messy imperfection. 

I was doing my bible reading recently. The summary of the day’s reading said: “God invites us into conversation even when our prayers are unpolished, and our thoughts are in disarray.” This thought resonated with me deeply. It was in relation to Psalm 120, which is a Psalm of lament.

‘I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue. He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush. Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.’ Psalm 120

David, who wrote the Psalm, is on the run in the wilderness, the King is trying to kill him, and he is scared for his life. The Psalm is really short, and it reads as though David just blurted out his anguish at his situation. Many of the Psalms are laments, but they end with praise. However, this one doesn’t; it’s just David’s thoughts, fears and frustrations.

I was reflecting on times in my life when I have felt the need to censor myself before God. For me, this comes from two things: a need for control and wanting to have it all together. Sometimes, it feels like if I admit in prayer how much I am struggling, then I am also confirming that nagging feeling deep inside that I am not as in control as I would like to think I am. God actually knows I don’t have it all together – He made me. He invites us, in Matthew 11:28-30, to walk with him and learn from him, and to share our burdens with him, because he gives us rest.

Sometimes I almost feel like I don’t want to bother God with my problems. I say a polite prayer and go on my way, closing the door on deep pain that He invites me to share with Him in a real relationship. The Psalms are an example of what it looks like to share your heart with God: the fear, the pain, and the joy. In fact, when you don’t have the words to know what to pray for, praying through the Psalms is a great place to start.

We don’t need to wait for the perfect time or for our lives to be perfect. We don’t need to wait until we are good enough, either. The death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross gave us a direct path to a relationship with God. We can come to Him and share it all, unfiltered, messy, and just as we are. 

Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.

About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.

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What transforming conversations I’d have if I could see the world with the eyes of Jesus.

It was one of the odder conversations I’ve had. We had just moved to New Zealand and were in a temporary house while the church manse we were to stay at was being finished. Being new, I wanted to get to know our neighbors and seeing the one on our left hand side in his yard, I popped my head over the fence to say hello. He was very friendly and showed interest in who I was and where I was from. I felt welcomed and as though we could become friends. And then a  strange thing happened. “This is such a perfect country” he said. “And it would be completely perfect if it weren’t for all the **** immigrants who are flooding in. They are taking our country over. It’s an absolute disgrace.” On and on he went about how awful immigrants are.. And then he stopped, handed me his hand to shake, and said, “Lovely to meet you. I hope you will be very happy. Welcome to New Zealand. I’m so glad you are here.”

I was left feeling – “Well I don’t know what that was about. Should I feel insulted and defensive because I am one of these dreadful immigrants ruining the country, or should I accept his welcome at face value?” Slowly it dawned on me. His welcome of me was as genuine as it was warm. He was glad I was in the country, glad I was his neighbour. Even though I was an immigrant, he didn’t think of me as one. Why? I’m not sure. I had told him very clearly where I was from and he had asked me lots of questions about it. But in spite of that, he didn’t think of me as an immigrant. Perhaps it was because English is my first language and I speak it pretty well, or perhaps it was my skin colour, or perhaps it was because I had started by giving him a few lemons off our tree – I really don’t know, but whatever the reason was, he considered me part of “us” not part of “them”.

It’s lovely to belong – to feel part of something, to feel that you fit in. But so very many don’t…

Think of the astonishing account recorded in John 4, when Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman who was drawing water from a well at midday. 

If you are versed in the Jewish culture of Jesus’ time, there are enough clues to alert you that this conversation shouldn’t have been taking place.

Put them together:

• Jesus was Jewish but was passing through Samaritan territory. Jews and Samaritans hated each other in the way that only “sort of but not really” relatives could – for indeed, the Samaritans had been part of Israel until the conquest of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians in 722BC had seen their land decimated and intermarriage with the victorious Assyrians become common. While Samaritans held on to vestiges of Judaism, they had intermarried, worshiped at a different temple, understood the Torah differently, and were beyond the pale so far as the Jews were concerned. Jews and Samaritans kept their distance from each other.

• Second. Jewish males did not engage in casual conversations with women. That would be seen as deeply inappropriate. Realistically, it would have  been strange if Jesus started a conversation with a Samaritan man, but for him to do that with a Samaritan woman – well really, what was he thinking?

• Third, this was midday and the woman was drawing water alone. Big clue that. In a highly sociable society, why would she be drawing water in the heat of the day when it was a start of the day task. You didn’t have to be too smart to pick that she was an outsider. The other women wouldn’t talk to her. She was ostracized – forced to go about her life on her own. And soon the reason for that becomes clear.

• Fourth  – it wasn’t just that she was an outsider, she was a most dubious outsider. She had 5 previous marriages – seriously 5 – and what was worse, the man she was now living with was not her husband. Clearly she was bad news, not the sort of woman you would want your husband to chat to.

So why does Jesus stop and chat to her? 

It’s a good question. Clearly he wasn’t interested in appearances, because this wasn’t a “look good” moment. People would question his judgment about this. 

So why does Jesus speak to her?

Because Jesus sees her in a way no one else does. While others wrote her off as a dodgy Samaritan woman with a compromised past and an equally compromised present, Jesus sees her as a woman made in the image of God – a woman who in her own way was searching for God and the presence of God. Strip all the trivial surface details away, and you see not a compromised woman, but a wounded image bearer, longing for home, longing for God, longing to belong.

It is the deep empathy of Jesus that helps him see beyond the surface – helps Him to see the God image in her.

In a world divided by “them and us” “insiders and outsiders”, a new way of seeing is needed. There is how I see the world – and then there is how Jesus sees the world. If I could more often see the world with the eyes of Jesus, what transforming conversations I would have…

Article supplied with thanks to Brian Harris.

About the Author: Brian is a speaker, teacher, leader, writer, author and respected theologian who is founding director of the AVENIR Leadership Institute, fostering leaders who will make a positive impact on the world.

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Dear Australians, I would like to share the faith lessons I’ve learnt from leaving everything I knew behind. I hope you can also hold onto hope in these uncertain times.

I am a Ukrainian who had to relocate with my family to Australia four years ago because of the war. I was born at the time of the collapse of the communist Soviet Union, in an era marked by shortages and instability. I have lived through crisis, corruption, the pandemic, and now a war threatening to completely destabilise the world again.

As the world, including Australia, begins to feel unsettled, I have a personal story of resilience and hope to offer those who are feeling scared, defeated, anxious – or maybe can’t put a name to what you’re feeling yet. 

After four years, I am still learning to understand Australian society. It feels like a mosaic made up of different cultures and stories. To me, “Australians” are those who have lived here for a long time, who have become part of this community, who were born here generations ago.

They are open, kind, and in some ways even trusting people. Many live with a sense that Australia is its own world, a kind of island continent where life moves at a steady, calm pace. There is sunshine, the ocean, and a comforting sense of work-life balance.

At times, it feels as though all of this exists inside a kind of “glass room” with walls that are slowly, but steadily, closing in. For a long time, global events seemed distant, something happening far away in Europe or the Middle East, outside of everyday life. But recent events have shown that this is no longer the case.

The tragedy in Bondi was a sobering shock for everyone. I knew people who were personally affected by the attack. The response showed that society here was not prepared for something like this. It became a moment of realisation that global instability can reach even here.

Then came another, more everyday but equally noticeable pressure, rising fuel prices. This was a second signal that Australia is part of a globally connected world. What happens elsewhere does affect life here.

It is important to acknowledge that we do not live in isolation.

Not to become pessimistic, but so as not to live in denial; to be realistic and maintain inner stability in any circumstance, like a house built on rock.

Personal experience: loss and new beginnings

Who am I to say this? Here is my short story…

Back in 2014, when conflict began in eastern Ukraine, our family moved to Kyiv. Our familiar life, relatives, home, friends, church, the streets we grew up on, all stayed behind in memories and blurred photos. That was our first major reset.

But that experience shaped us. We lost a lot, but we gained a deeper understanding of God’s will and His love. In Kyiv, we learned to start again. Step by step, year by year. My wife served in a church campus with creative teams, and I continued building my career in marketing and communications. Our children were born there.

After that first move, we saw stability differently. Where others saw certainty, we recognised that comfortable seasons are often preparation for future challenges.

Then came 2022. A turning point not just for Ukraine, but for the world. Many Ukrainians were forced to relocate to different countries. For our family, that journey led us the furthest, to Australia.

And this move felt like a miracle. The local church community supported us in extraordinary ways. People helped with flights, accommodation, essential items, and work. It was a continuous flow of care and generosity, something that is hard to explain as anything other than God’s love in action.

I sincerely empathise with Australians who remember the weight of COVID restrictions. Life seemed to be returning to normal, and then new pressures began to emerge.

Here are three reflections that may be helpful in this season.

1. Accepting God’s will and your time are probably not the same

I used to ask God, “Why?” Now I ask, “God, what is the next step?”

Do not be afraid when things do not go according to your plan. They may not follow your plan, but they are still within God’s plan. This brings a sense of inner stability, even in unpredictable times, when unexpected events seem to gather overhead.

God cares for us. He knows every grain of sand on the beautiful Sydney beaches or the park where your children play and is every step ahead of you. You are part of His plan.

2. Rethinking what matters: letting go of attachment to things

The Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

When we arrived in Australia, our entire life fit into four suitcases. Recently, when we moved to another suburb, it took a full van to carry everything. But that is not where our treasure lies.

In reality, we do not need much to live, and even less to endure difficult seasons. Happiness is not defined by fuel prices or numbers in a bank account.

Do not be afraid of losing things. Be concerned about losing your relationship with God.

3. Do not live in false expectations; live by faith

In both 2014 and 2022, many people I know left behind their homes and belongings, holding on to the belief that everything would soon return to the way it was. But it will not.

Living in the past can prevent you from fully living in the present.

Instead of holding on to false expectations, choose faith. Faith does not expire. Faith brings the understanding that, in the end, God has already won.

There is a phrase I appreciate: “In the end, everything will be OK. If it is not OK yet, then it is not the end”.

Easter is a reminder of what truly matters

Easter is a time that brings us back to the foundations of faith.

For me, Easter has always carried more weight than Christmas. Christmas marks the beginning, the arrival of hope. But Easter reveals the outcome.

Jesus died for our sins and rose again, offering us life, eternal life, and a restored relationship with God.

If you feel the current pressures are shaking your foundation, start with something simple. Begin to pray. Begin to trust God. Open the Bible. Come to church. Reflect, share, and support one another.

It may seem simple, but this is exactly what the devil tries to take from us, especially when we are standing in line at the petrol station.

Written by a Ukrainian living in Sydney.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

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