Messages of hope

‘You just feel so helpless. You feel that there is no way out, you feel like I am so totally stuck in this place.’ How many men face mental health challenges due to work or life stressors but feel unable to talk about it? Statistics show it is a lot more than we may even realise. Jo’s interview with Chris opens up a raw and honest conversation about the mental health challenges many men today face...

‘The term anxiety covers a lot of fearful conditions. Things like phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders. A certain amount of nervous energy and fear is actually healthy and quite normal. But when those feelings take over and rule our life, we’ve got a problem ’  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...

Financial Distress can happen to anyone. It can be caused by losing your job, prolonged sickness, a mental health issue or a relationship breakdown. When Kerry’s marriage broke down, she went from living in a comfortable house and lifestyle, to being a single mum with two young children and only 3 dollars in the bank. Kerry shares how she got through this difficult period of her life, and discover...

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 youn...

‘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 person...

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 u...

‘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 challenge...

‘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...

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...

When waters rise ‘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.’ When the levee broke, Alex’s farm was inundated. Hear Alex’s story of faith and resilience as she faced the dev...

Good grief 'I’ve had a fair bit to do with grief in my life – enough to know that one size does not fit all. My grief, and how I grieve, is not the same as yours.' How do you deal with grief? We all experience grief in different ways and for varying lengths of time. It’s not an experience we look forward to because it’s hard. But is there another side to grief that we often miss? Something that ca...

Finding hope in your grief ‘My best friend was diagnosed with cancer. We heard on a Wednesday there's nothing that can be done. He was dead by Friday. That was a bit of a smack in the head!’ Experiencing the grief of losing someone close to you can really shake you up and make you question where God is through all of this. Listen as Steve shares what sustains him amid grief and tough times. Listen...

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....

Single but not lonely 'I call it the society blueprint. You finish school, you get a job, you get a partner, you buy a house, children, retire. So, if you don't fit the blueprint, where do you fit in society?' Emma is constantly faced with questions around her single life. She's also been given plenty of unwanted advice! Listen as Emma shares how she navigates society's expectations as a single pe...

A Ladder & a Torch 'I got introduced to alcohol at 16 and I found this wonderful feeling of release. I could be somebody that I always wanted to be. It became my friend.' There are many tragic stories about the abuse of alcohol, but how does it start, and how can it change? Listen to Darryl’s story of long-term alcohol addiction and how he found transformation and hope in a higher power. Liste...

Carrying 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 cou...

Dealing with Stress Life seems to be going 100 miles an hour. People all around us seem to be suffering from burnout and stress. This isn’t something new. But what is it that causes us to feel like it’s all just getting too much? Listen to Ali and Celia chat about what gets us stressed, how we react to it, what helps us when the crisis hits and managing in the longer term. Listen to the program ht...

Enduring Love 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. Listen...

“It was kind of fun in the early years when he'd be gone for eight weeks at a time and he'd come back and it'd be like a new boyfriend every eight weeks. But it became tiring after a while and we realized that, if you actually expect the fresh and new each time that you're going to get disappointed.” Listen as Luke and Jo share their story of separation and what they’ve learned about their relatio...

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 .

Many farmers around Australia are experiencing a tough time because of drought. Even with all the best risk management and forward planning, we still can’t control the weather. You may not be a farmer but we all have things we can’t control. Losing a job, poor health, a death in the family. Listen as Richard chats with Tim, a farmer from the Mallee of South Australia. In times of drought where doe...