What do you do when the ground completely falls out from under you?

In this episode, Parker and Hope sit down with David and Ciara Dierking to hear their story. What began as a Christmas trip to visit family turned into a sudden, life-threatening illness that cost Ciara her limbs and nearly cost her her life. They talk through the terrifying early days in the ICU, the four and a half months Ciara spent unable to speak, and the devastating "high and low" of finally coming home to a life neither of them recognized.

But this conversation isn't really about what was lost. It's about what suffering reveals about God's character, about marriage, about what it actually looks like to love someone well in their hardest season. David and Ciara talk honestly about doubt, about the myth of the "super sufferer," about learning to bring complaint to God without it being a failure of faith, and about choosing gratitude without glossing over grief.

If you've ever wondered whether you're suffering "the right way," or wondered how to show up for someone who is, this conversation offers something better than easy answers: a hopeful, honest look at what it means to keep trusting God when He hasn't fixed anything yet.

In this episode, Parker and Hope sit down with Barry Peterson, Executive Director of Clearly Reformed, to explore what many Christians miss when reading the Bible: meditation. Barry shares how the simple rhythm of reading, meditating and praying transformed his time with God—moving Scripture beyond information and into affection, prayer and everyday obedience.

Together, they discuss whether Christians should desire to feel something toward God, how busyness can quietly starve our spiritual lives, how creation can help direct our hearts toward Him and what meaningful time with God can practically look like.

Dry seasons are real, but we shouldn’t automatically accept spiritual dryness as all there is. If you love God but long to delight in Him more, this conversation offers a hopeful and practical place to begin.

In this episode, we explore what the Bible actually teaches about forgiveness, repentance, overlooking offenses, and restoring broken relationships.

In this episode of the God First Podcast, Hope and Parker sit down with Scott O’Malley, Executive Director of Twelve Stones, for a conversation about identity, expectations, fear, and what it means to be rooted in Christ when life does not go the way we planned.

Together, they talk through the pressure of living out different roles: parent, spouse, business owner, provider, leader, and friend. Scott helps ground the conversation in Scripture, reminding us that our identity is not found in what we do, how well we perform, how our children behave, or whether our circumstances are going the way we hoped. Our identity is found in Christ.

This conversation touches on suffering, parenting, work, fear of man, sanctification, the goodness of God, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to play cards God has not given us and start faithfully “playing the hand” in front of us.

If you have ever felt crushed by expectations, shaken by circumstances, or unsure how to live faithfully in the roles God has given you, this episode is an honest and encouraging place to start.

From Thea’s diagnosis during pregnancy to long battles with health struggles, anxiety, and unanswered questions, they share how prayer shifted from feeling like a spiritual duty into something deeply personal and relational.

They discuss:

- Whether prayer actually changes things

- Wrestling with God’s sovereignty and goodness

- How suffering reshaped their understanding of dependence

- Practical tools that helped grow their prayer life

- Prayer cards, praying Scripture, and learning to “pray and watch”

- Seeing God’s faithfulness in everyday life

Whether prayer has been life-giving for you or something you’ve struggled to understand, this conversation is an encouragement to keep coming honestly before God and trusting that He hears.

You see, I really did not understand what happened when I prayed. If God is good and in control, why does he need my begging?

Wouldn’t that be annoying to God if just keep asking him for something? Or what if I ask him for things that are so ridiculous in comparison to the atrocities at large in the world…

And more than asking God for things, how do just talk with God? Isn’t that the whole point, Prayer = talking with God? I don’t know about you guys but One way convos aren’t exactly my jam. They don’t exactly come “Natural” to me.

In this episode we dive into many nuances of “How do i pray and even how should I pray.”

Drawing from Paul Miller’s A Praying Life, they unpack how God’s sovereignty doesn’t make prayer pointless—it makes it powerful. Through real conversation and practical insight, they explore how prayer invites us into relationship, not performance; how our requests matter even in God’s perfect plan; and how dependence, not control, is where faith truly grows.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your prayers really make a difference, this episode will help you rediscover a God who listens, responds, and draws near when His children talk to Him.

Coca-Cola Consolidated’s mission begins with a bold declaration — “to honor God in all we do.” Mark unpacks how that mission shapes leadership, culture, and decision-making inside a major corporation, and how faith can transform not only individuals but entire workplaces.

Together, we wrestle with the provocative question: Is business just business, or is God at work in every part of our lives? This conversation will encourage you to see your work as more than a paycheck — it’s a calling. Whether you’re leading a team, growing a business, or showing up faithfully in your role, you’ll be inspired to invite God into every part of your work life.

In this episode of the God First Podcast, Parker and Hope sit down with counselor Scott O’Malley to uncover:

• The subtle warning signs of pride we often overlook
• Practical, everyday ways to grow in humility
• How Jesus modeled perfect humility—even on the cross

If you’ve ever wondered how to recognize pride in your own life and take real steps toward Christlike humility, this conversation will encourage and challenge you.

Pride is often called the root of all sin—yet it’s one of the hardest to recognize in ourselves. In this episode, we explore the deceptiveness of pride and ask the tough questions: If pride blinds us, how can we even know we’re proud? How dangerous is pride, really? And how do we pursue humility without falling into the trap of being proud of our own growth?

We take an honest look at why humility is one of the most elusive virtues, how pride subtly creeps into our thoughts and actions, and what Scripture and experience reveal about cultivating a humble heart. Whether you’re wrestling with pride or simply hungry for deeper self-awareness, this episode offers a challenging but grace-filled conversation on the war within.

We unpack practical ways to talk about Jesus in everyday moments, how to rely on the Holy Spirit instead of a script, and why you don’t need to have all the answers to be faithful. Whether you’re new to sharing your faith or want to grow in confidence, this conversation will encourage and equip you to step out and point others to Christ.