Episode Details

Why does God allow difficult seasons? When life feels uncertain, painful, or unfair, it can be easy to question God’s character and wonder if our struggles are a result of something we did wrong. But Scripture reveals a different truth: God’s heart toward us is rooted in love, grace, and mercy—not punishment or condemnation.

Vivian Bricker explores how knowing who God is helps us navigate suffering, uncertainty, and the lies we often believe about God’s intentions. Through Scripture, we are reminded that God’s love does not change based on our circumstances, and that hardship is not proof of God’s rejection or displeasure.

Highlights:

• Why the unknown can make us question God’s goodness and control
• Understanding the difference between biblical truth and the idea of karma
• Why suffering is not always a reflection of God’s punishment
• How the New Covenant through Jesus changes our understanding of blessings and curses
• The importance of knowing God’s character so we can recognize false beliefs
• How God’s love remains constant even during difficult seasons

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Full Transcript Below:

Understanding God’s Character
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). 

In my opinion, the scariest thing in the world is the unknown. Whether that be an undiagnosed illness, starting over in a new city, or thinking about the future, the unknown can be terrifying. None of us can truly know what is ahead because we are not the ones in control. 

For some of us, there will be good times ahead and for others, there will be hard times. One cannot be dogmatic and say that those who have good times are in the will of God and those who are going through tough times are not. It is never within God’s will for us to be in pain, to be depressed, or to be sick. He never intended for us to go through any of these things, and it is not right for people to beli