We have a tendency to see black and white in our stories. We believe we’re doing the right things because we don’t seem to be encountering many problems. We think we’re loving others well because we don’t see any evidence that says otherwise. But the truth is that no matter how hard we try, we will face hard problems and tough situations. We will face division and anger. But God will equip us with the tools we need to navigate life with profound faith and great love. Pastor and author Scott Sauls asks us to think about what our world would be like if we approached others with compassion and gentleness like Jesus, to try and heal a hurting world. Advocates Jay and Katherine Wolf faced the unimaginable when Katherine, a twenty-six-year-old mother of a six-month-old son, suffered a brain stem stroke that turned their world upside down. Now a full-time caregiver, Jay shares how God brought them closer to Him through each other, and how sometimes healing and despair go hand in hand. 

Links, Products and Resources Mentioned:

Sarah Young

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling books

Jesus Calling devotional

Jesus Calling: What’s Good? (YouTube video series)Jesus Calling Podcast Episode - The Broken Road to Joy: Ann Voskamp & Emily Stroud 

Gary Sinise Foundation

Scott Sauls

A Gentle Answer: Our Secret Weapon in an Age of Us Against Them book

Christ Presbyterian Church (Nashville, Tennessee) 

BibleGateway.com (Luke 7)

Fred Rogers (Jesus Calling podcast interview with wife Joanne Rogers)

Jay and Katherine Wolf Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything Samford University (Birmingham, AL) Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Bel Air Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, CA) CaringBridge BibleGateway.com (Isaiah 45:3)

Matt Redman

 

Interview Quotes:

 

“What could it look like for followers of Christ, especially, to give ourselves to a gentleness movement or a kindness movement in a climate where kindness is so scarce?” - Scott Sauls

“Cynicism and negativity are very contagious, but so are love and kindness.” - Scott Sauls

“Every single square inch of the universe—people, places, and things—belongs to God, is created by God, and is entrusted to our care.” - Scott Sauls

“Everybody's job is an opportunity to serve God in the same way that a pastor's job is an opportunity to serve God.” - Scott Sauls

“Christians have that resource to be more difficult to offend, because Christ chose not to be offended by us. He chose instead to love us and to forgive us and to draw us into His family and adopt us.” - Scott Sauls

 

“Looking back on your story, it's important and it's profound to see some things you didn't see in the moment because it was up close, and to see how God was putting those pieces together.” - Jay Wolf

“The idea that God had spared her life was the beginning of hope for me.” - Jay Wolf

”We thought [Katherine’s being on life support] was really just a sign and a little sort of glimmer that God was saying, ‘I'm still here. I haven't abandoned you, even if I'm silent.’” - Jay Wolf

“I think we want to say it's one or the other, ‘Oh, you're in this healing mode,’ or, ‘You're in this despairing mode.’ Sometimes they're right in the same place together.” - Jay Wolf

“‘You get to put into practice everything you believe, and I'm going to supernaturally supply you. My divine power will give you everything that you need to