(And How Jesus Fixes It)

We’ve all had those seasons where it feels like the wheels are falling off our lives. Plans fail, hearts break, and we’re left staring at the wreckage, wondering, “Why is this happening?”

While every situation is unique, the Bible gives us a clear framework for why things go wrong in our world—and more importantly, a fierce, unchanging hope for how to respond.

Why Things Go Wrong in Your Life

The overarching reason for suffering is a three-letter word we often try to avoid: Sin. But sin doesn't just affect us in one way; its damage is internal, external, and universal.

1. You Sin

Sometimes, our wounds are self-inflicted. We just can’t seem to get out of our own way! When we step outside of God’s plan, there are natural, destructive consequences. Sin isn't just a legal infraction; it’s a poison that affects every part of our being:

• Physically: King David vividly described the physical toll of unconfessed sin in Psalm 32:3, saying, "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long."
• Mentally: Sin brings anxiety, guilt, and a fractured mind. In Ephesians 4:17-18, we read, "...you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
• Spiritually: Sin creates a relational rift between God and us. Isaiah 59:2 warns, "but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

2. Others Sin Against You

You can do everything right and still get caught in the wake of someone else’s brokenness. We live in a world full of free will, which means people use that will to hurt others.

• Think of Joseph in Genesis 37. He did nothing wrong, yet his brothers' envy led them to throw him in a pit and sell him into slavery.
• We also remember Cain killing Abel, David sinning against Uriah, and the ultimate example, we all sin against Jesus.

3. Sin Has Corrupted Nature

Sometimes, things go wrong and it’s nobody’s specific fault. The car breaks down, cancer strikes, or a tornado hits. When humanity fell, the entire cosmos felt the shockwave. Disease and natural disasters are the results of a corrupted world.

• Paul talks about this in Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now."  Creation itself is frustrated, waiting to be set free from its bondage to decay.

The Good News: Jesus Redeems the Broken

If the story stopped there, it would be a tragedy. But the gospel is the ultimate rescue mission. Jesus didn't stay distant; He stepped into our broken world to redeem it.

1. Jesus Died So Your Sins Will Be Forgiven

The self-inflicted wounds of your past do not get the final say. On the cross, Jesus took the physical, mental, and spiritual penalty of your sin upon Himself.

• 1 Peter 2:24 states, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

2. Jesus Sympathizes with Your Suffering

When others hurt you, Jesus isn’t looking on with cold indifference to your hurt. He was betrayed, slandered, and abandoned. He knows exactly how it feels.

• Hebrews 4:15 comforts us with this truth: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." He holds your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8).

3. Your Sickness is Temporary

Because of Jesus' resurrection, we have a guarantee that disease, decay, and death are on a timer. This broken body is not your permanent home.

• 2 Corinthians 4:17 calls our current trials "light” and “momentary" because they are achieving for us an eternal glory. One day, God " will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore" (Revelation 21:4).

Here’s How You Need to Respond

Knowing the truth is one thing; walking in it is another. When life goes sideways, God calls us to a three-step response.

1. Confess Your Sin and Repent

If your current storm is due to your own choices, stop running. Stop hiding. Turn around and run toward the Father.

• 1 John 1:9 gives a rock-solid promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

2. Forgive Others Because You Have Been Forgiven

When others hurt you, the natural response is bitterness. But bitterness is a poison we drink hoping the other person dies. We must change our posture toward them—not because they deserve it, but because we have been released from a much larger debt.

• Ephesians 4:32 commands, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

3. Trust God

When sin wreaks havoc in your life, you must anchor your soul in God's character. He is not a distant tyrant; He is a good Father.

• He is worthy of trust: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5).
• He will never leave you: Hebrews 13:5 promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
• He is with you every step: Even in the darkest valleys, you are not alone. Psalm 23:4 declares, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

The Bottom Line: Life is tough. People will fail you. You will fail yourself. But the story doesn't end in the ruins—it ends in redemption! Turn your eyes to the One who makes all things new. 

In this bonus podcast episode, Pastor D.J. speaks with his friend, Josh Powell. As lifelong Southern Baptists, they both care deeply about the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is being nominated as president of the SBC, and in this episode, he shares about his journey, his motives, and what they are both most excited about in Baptist work.

Studies from the Barna Group and Lifeway Research show that 70–75% of Christian youth disengage from their faith and church after high school. In light of this, it feels like an important question to consider whether they will attend a college that will make living a life of faith easier or more challenging. Join Pastor D.J. as he talks with Dr. Evans Whitaker, the twelfth president of Anderson University. Dr. Whitaker has a heart for Christian higher education, and he received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Henry McMaster—South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, presented to those who demonstrate extraordinary life achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance. Listen in as he shares why college is so much more than just producing graduates; it’s producing professionals of depth and great character.

Opening your home to a foster child often means embracing change, trusting God through unfamiliar rhythms, and holding emotional space for both joy and hard goodbyes that sometimes come too soon. Adam and Rebecca Wofford came to a place where they surrendered the idols of their hearts that were stopping them from being obedient to the call to foster care. They knew that the threat of discomfort was not a reason to disobey the Lord.

Rebecca said,”I believe that the people who feel that it would be too hard for the child to leave are the ones who are called to foster, because these kids deserve to be in a home where they will be loved enough to be grieved when they are gone.” She continued, “That is the ultimate picture of the gospel. You do this for the advancement of the kingdom. God adopted me into His family. The Father crushed Himself for the gospel and for His children.”

Even in their singleness, they felt the Lord working in their hearts individually to do something with foster care. Adam recalled being at the Upstate Missions Conference, before he and Rebecca met, where he heard Kay Kirby from P.S. I Love You Ministries share the need for more families who are following Jesus to foster children in our community who were without safe, loving home environments and feeling the need to take action. As a single mom, Rebecca naturally felt the need to serve children who needed a mother’s love and needed to know the Father’s love for them.

Adam and Rebecca knew when they were married that their home would be utilized for ministry in any way that the Lord called them to serve. Soon after they married, they became Small Group leaders and opened their home for couples to gather for fellowship, to pray, and to do life together. It wasn’t long before they began seeking ways to serve as a Small Group and build a missions-minded culture that followed the church's lead. 

As they sought ways to serve, they learned about the need for people to serve foster families in our church through the Foster and Adoption Care Team (FACT) and the Care Community Groups that they were working to establish. In April 2022, their Small Group began serving a foster family together by providing meals, date nights for the couple, prayer, and support through case manager visits and court dates. By being the leader of the Care Community Group, Rebecca was able to provide more direct support to the foster mom they served. Through their conversations and vulnerability, Rebecca learned more about the emotional strain of foster care, but, more importantly, she learned about the depth of love that foster children need. The Lord continued to open her eyes to the need for foster families.

In February 2023, Adam and Rebecca attended the Upstate Missions Conference and sat in a breakout session led by Dr. Rick Morton from Lifeline Services who spoke on adoption and foster care. Dr. Morton shared timely, eye-opening facts and statistics about foster care. He shared that James 1:27 calls the whole church to serve orphans and widows and that every person can be part of putting the gospel on display through caring for orphaned and vulnerable children in some way. Through that session, Adam and Rebecca equally felt led to begin moving toward opening their home to foster care.

In Fall 2024, Church at The Mill hosted guest speakers who walked through a series called “Open” where the church was challenged to open their doors, open their hearts, and open their homes. Adam and Rebecca heard one of the speakers, Jason Johnson, who spoke on foster care, reference Romans 12 and say, “We’ve all been given gifts that differ according to grace that’s been given to us; use them.” Through that affirmation, they realized that their delayed obedience was disobedience to what the Lord had been calling them to do. This ultimately led the Wofford family to make the decision to open their home to foster children.

By January 2025, they decided to ask their Small Group to pray and hold them accountable to begin the process. Soon after that, they began the paperwork to become a licensed foster family. Through the process, they encountered many questions from friends and family of why they would choose to foster when they already have three children in a blended family. Adam recalled talking to a friend and foster parent who challenged him to ask himself “why not?” This reminded him that scripture is clear that the call for the church is to care for orphans and the vulnerable, no matter the response of the world.

They finalized the process in May 2025 and welcomed their first placement the day they finished their paperwork. The moment they got their first placement, they remember getting support from the church through supplies, meals and prayer. Their first placement brought excitement for the family and quickly brought unexpected challenges. 

In foster care, you can never be fully prepared and equipped to handle the trauma that some of the children go through, because each child brings a unique set of challenges and background. Unfortunately, their first placement left her family feeling unsafe and led them to make the decision to have her placed in a different home. Rebecca remembers talking to foster parents who had been through similar situations, seeking encouragement and validation to make the best choice for her family. 

Rebecca said, “The Lord was faithful with removing our first placement from our home, because she went to a family that was able to give her the care she needed.” 

To the Woffords, this was proof that when you are obedient, God answers your prayers faithfully, no matter how difficult the decision may be. Adam recalled talking to another foster parent who challenged him by saying that he could not quit foster care because of one challenging placement. 

Adam said, “I’m not 100% sure we would do this if we were not members at Church at The Mill. It’s not extraordinary, and it takes some of the barriers away to begin the process because foster care is engrained in the culture of our church.” 

According to Fostering the Family, over 50% of foster families quit fostering after their first placement because of the lack of community and support. Adam and Rebecca received much needed support and encouragement from people who have been through similar situations and understand. 

Adam said, “There’s something about having people who can come alongside you to step into the difficult things with you. Without that, you can see it as an endless endeavor, but having community helps you feel supported in what you are called to do.”

After taking a few weeks to heal and prepare, they welcomed a second foster child into their home in July 2025. They believe that, if they would have given up after their first placement, their family would have missed the joy that their second placement brought to their family and to foster care.

Rebecca said, “We can spend all of our lives saying things to our kids, but the best way they will learn is by following your example of Christ’s love by opening your home.” 

The kids get to see what selfless love looks like. They see the gospel in action. Rebecca has seen growth and redemption in their kids. She has seen their daughter, Mila, using her struggles to connect with the foster kids, knowing their past struggles, and choosing to love the kids coming into their home. Through God’s faithfulness in their lives, Adam has seen 2 Corinthians 4:17 as a reminder that the pain and the things that you have gone through are not wasted but, instead, are used by the Lord to serve others. It’s something that cannot be taught;  it’s divine.

The gospel teaches us to do the hard things and to boldly live out our faith, because the hope of the gospel is worth it. Adam and Rebecca shared that, even though it can be emotionally challenging for families, every hard emotion is worth it for a foster child to feel the love of Christ through your family, regardless of if they are placed in your home for a two weeks or several years. The call to foster care invites families to love sacrificially. It asks for open hands and open hearts ready to care for children, even when the path includes change, disruption, and the hope of restoration.

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Stories From The Field: IGNITE (Vol. 6)
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on my hands..." -- 2 Timothy 1:6

Part 2 of our Knowing God Bible Reading Plan leads us deeper into the heart of the gospel and the life we are called to live in Christ. Together, we’ll explore the person and work of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, the reality of redemption, the purpose of the Church, and the eternal hope we have in God’s promises. Join us as we grow in knowing God more deeply so we can live faithfully, worship fully, and walk confidently in His truth. To view or download the Bible Reading Plan, click here.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." - James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭8‬

Trials have a way of exposing what is truly settled in our hearts. Not if they come, but when they come. As James makes clear, they reveal whether we actually trust God or if we are quietly placing our confidence in something else.

I have found that in those moments, I am not usually searching for more information. I am wrestling with whether I truly believe He is who He has said He is, and whether I will allow that belief to shape my response when life does not unfold as I had hoped. When circumstances press in, doubt is never far behind. 

Doubt is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it whispers: Is God really good in this? Is He aware of what this feels like? Is He actually in control? And if I am not anchored in the truth of who God is, I can quickly become, as James describes, "like a wave of the sea—driven and tossed by the wind.”

This is why what we believe about God matters so deeply.

If I do not believe He is holy, I will try to measure His ways by my understanding.
If I do not believe He is good, I will question His heart.
And if I do not believe He is sovereign, I will fear things are slipping beyond His control.

But when those truths are settled, when I know He is holy, good, and over it all, I can stand firm. Not because I understand everything, but because I trust the One who does. 

The God Who Is Set Apart

God’s holiness is not just one of His attributes; it is the defining reality of who He is.

He is completely set apart. There is no one like Him and He is without comparison (1 Samuel 2:2). He is not merely a better version of us. He is altogether different. His holiness is not something we need to shrink down to understand. It is a truth meant to steady us.

His holiness means He is not limited by our perspective, emotions, or circumstances. He is not reactive or uncertain. He is perfectly pure and completely consistent. Everything He does flows from who He is which is unchanging and entirely right.

This is where His holiness becomes deeply personal. If God were shifting or influenced by pressure as we are, we would have reason to question Him. But because He is holy, He is altogether trustworthy. His ways are not shaped by impulse or imperfection, but by a nature that cannot fail. When Isaiah encountered God’s holiness, his response was not to analyze but to surrender: “Woe is me, For I am lost…a man of unclean lips”(Isaiah 6:5). That is what God’s holiness does; it reminds us that He is God, and we are not. His holiness means that even when we do not understand His ways, we can trust His heart. And when trials come, that truth becomes an anchor for our souls. 

The God Who Is Good

If God is set apart in His holiness, He is unwavering in His goodness. This is often where our faith is tested most. When life is difficult, we are tempted to question whether God is truly good. 

But His goodness is not measured by our comfort; it is grounded in His character. 

The psalmist declares that God’s way is perfect (Psalm 18:30). He never missteps or makes a mistake. He always knows what is best, even when we cannot yet see it. 

We see this in the story of Israel. Their disobedience caused delay, but it did not derail God’s purposes. He still brought them into the land He promised. What God plans, He accomplishes.

God’s goodness is not fragile—it is steadfast. He is always at work, even in difficult circumstances, for His glory and for the good of those who trust Him (Romans 8:28). His love is both personal and purposeful. He calls us His children (1 John 3:1) and has demonstrated that love fully in Christ (John 15:13, Romans 5:8). God’s goodness is not disconnected and distant. It is active, pursuing, and transforming, motivated by perfect love. This is why we know that even in suffering, His goodness remains.

This echoes loudly in the words of Corrie Ten Boom’s sister before she died in a Nazi concentration camp: “There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.” That is the kind of goodness that meets us in the darkest of places and carries us through.

The God Who Is Over It All

Beneath both His holiness and His goodness is a truth that steadies everything: God is sovereign.

He is completely independent, the ruler of all, answering to no one. He declares the end from the beginning, and His purposes always stand (Isaiah 46:10). Nothing surprises Him or threatens His rule. Because He is sovereign, He is never reacting. He is always reigning. 

Scripture reminds us that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36), and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). What we see and what we cannot see are equally under His authority. This means our lives are never outside His care.

It also means we are not without responsibility. We live within time, making real choices for which we will give an account (Hebrews 4:13). Yet even within that, God’s sovereignty remains intact. Our obedience does not secure His control; it aligns us with it. This is where trust becomes essential. When I hesitate, it is often because I am trying to calculate outcomes only God can see. But He is not asking me to understand everything; He is asking me to trust Him in all things. And trust always precedes obedience.

When trust takes root, obedience becomes less about striving and more about surrender. I move forward not trying to secure my own outcome, but confident that I am walking within His.

Living in the Tension

As believers, we live in a sacred tension.

God draws near to us in love, yet He reigns in absolute authority. He comforts us while also refining us. This tension is not for us to fix or figure out, but something to embrace. Because when we do, we find deep assurance.

Our sorrow is never outside His sovereignty. Our trials are never without purpose. And our lives are never beyond His reach. So when difficulties come, we have a choice. We can allow them to push us toward doubt, or we can allow them to press us deeper into the truth of who He is: holy, good, and in control. When we choose the latter, something shifts. We stop pursuing comfort and begin pursuing the Comforter. We begin to trust what He allows because we trust who He is. In that place, obedience becomes simpler, not because life is easier, but because our trust is deeper.

We are held steady by the unshakable truth that we are held by an unshakable God. And there is no safer place to be than in His holy, good, and sovereign hands.