Why Does God Allow Suffering? Feat. Dr. Schwabauer

Today on Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Daniel Schwabauer guides Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo on a survey of one the Bible's most difficult books: Job. The central question the book asks is "Why does God allow suffering?" But maybe we've been considering the issue the wrong way. What if God has something much greater in mind if we simply had eyes to see? Tune today and prepare to look at Job, and your own life, in an entirely new light.

What convinces a person that he will see goodness in the midst of severe opposition and suffering? In Psalm 27, David wrote, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” From shepherd boy to king, David knew what it meant to suffer. Throughout his trials, he learned to take his eyes off himself and focus on the beauty of the LORD. This one desire gave David his greatest comfort, healed his deepest hurt, and helped him rise above his adversity. Tune into today’s podcast as Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo, joined by Richard Lang, unpack this unique Psalm.

How does a young couple build a healthy marriage, homeschool their children, run a landscaping business, and raise a godly family with their hands so full? Today on Fastened Like Nails, Richard and Amber Lang share their story and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Drawing from personal experience and testimonies, they offer insight into what it takes to shape a family that follows the Lord wholeheartedly. But it’s no easy task! Tune in to hear how the power of forgiveness and the truth of God’s Word can guide a family along the path of life.

If the Lord asked you to leave behind everything you knew and follow Him to another country, would you go? This is the question that faced Jaron and Kim McFarland. Living a comfortable life in Maine with their seven children and their cow, suddenly the Lord asked them if they were willing to give up, “the way life should be” to bring the Good News of Jesus to Czechia. Almost two decades prior, Kim had taken a trip to the Czech Republic and her report stayed with Jaron—“To my knowledge, I did not come into contact with one other believer.” Jaron found himself asking, “If God were to call me, would I be willing?” Listen in to today’s podcast to hear testimonies of the Lord’s goodness, a surrendered family’s zeal to serve Him, and faith in the midst of it all. To support the McFarlands as they prepare to take the Gospel to the Czech Republic, visit bethanybaptist.cc/mcfarland.

Have you ever wondered how salt can lose its flavor? The chemical bonds between sodium and chlorine are so strong that you would have to heat salt to over 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit just to begin separating the two elements. So what did Jesus mean in Luke 14:34–35 when He talked about salt losing its saltiness? Join Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo as they unravel this mystery, using the entire chapter of Luke 14 as the key to understanding this passage. Five important lessons show us how to stay “tasty”: practicing humility, serving others, not making excuses, choosing to be all in, and purging ourselves with the water of the Word. Don’t be a saltless simpleton!

We tend to look at the Bible as 66 different books compiled together, but what if we learned to see it as one great story—the story of God’s relationship with humanity? In The God of Story, novelist and biblical scholar Dr. Daniel Schwabauer unpacks five essential elements of story—theme, context, characterization, voice, and plot—to reveal the narrative principles woven throughout Scripture. Using these elements as a lens, he traces the cosmic story arc of God’s work in creation, redemption, and restoration, helping readers engage the Bible with greater imagination and recognize God as the Master Storyteller. Stories, old as time, still have the power to transform us. They whet our appetites for truth, but sometimes the deeper meaning isn’t as obvious as we expect. Schwabauer shows how the Bible’s stories invite us to look more closely, ask questions, and search out what God is revealing beneath the surface. In doing so, he helps us connect the individual stories of Scripture to the larger story God is telling—and ultimately to know Him more intimately. Resources mentioned on the show: The God of Story

We tend to look at the Bible as 66 different books compiled together, but what if we learned to see it as one great story—the story of God’s relationship with humanity? In The God of Story, novelist and biblical scholar Dr. Daniel Schwabauer unpacks five essential elements of story—theme, context, characterization, voice, and plot—to reveal the narrative principles woven throughout Scripture. Using these elements as a lens, he traces the cosmic story arc of God’s work in creation, redemption, and restoration, helping readers engage the Bible with greater imagination and recognize God as the Master Storyteller. Stories, old as time, still have the power to transform us. They whet our appetites for truth, but sometimes the deeper meaning isn’t as obvious as we expect. Schwabauer shows how the Bible’s stories invite us to look more closely, ask questions, and search out what God is revealing beneath the surface. In doing so, he helps us connect the individual stories of Scripture to the larger story God is telling—and ultimately to know Him more intimately. Resources mentioned on the show: The God of Story

Ever had something stop working, only to find that one little thing was getting in the way? This is often the case in our spiritual lives. Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo unpack what that looks like on today’s episode of Fastened Like Nails. Examining the closing passage of 1 John, they explain how our relationship with God can be disrupted by even the smallest of idols. How do we protect ourselves from being derailed by the many temptations around us? Tune in today and discover how the power of God’s Word can be at work in your life.

Have you ever stepped into a room and thought about how many businesses are represented all around you? Hundreds of businesses are represented in just your living room—from the wood in the floor to the fabric of the couch, or even the individual technology components in your air conditioning or smartphone. Behind each of those businesses is a CEO, or chief executive officer. On today’s show, Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo are joined by Jonathan Dickinson, owner of The CEO Kid, to discuss his heart for raising up the next generation to succeed in business. On the show, the team discusses entrepreneurs in the Bible, successful business principles, and how character growth is at the heart of The CEO Kid curriculum.

Walking with your eyes closed is a challenge. How are you supposed to know where to go? Yet so many of us walk with our eyes closed spiritually, unable to see where we are headed in life. On today’s episode of Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby, Molly Mayo, and special guest Richard Lang discuss an ability that is severely lacking in our society: vision. Vision is necessary for any forward movement in our lives. So where do we get it? Tune in today to discover how our relationship with Christ provides us with just the type of vision we need.