The Newday Podcast Season 2 | Episode 4 | Rachel Gardner - Storm-Proof Faith

·31 min·3 clips

Rachel Gardner says the storm itself isn't enough—it's what you do when it comes that determines your foundation.

The episode features hosts Larissa and Isabella interviewing Rachel Gardner, a preacher and youth worker from St Luke's Blackburn who also works with Youthscape. Rachel begins by explaining how she developed her talk on storm-proof faith after being asked to speak at New Day, connecting it to the Daniel theme through Jesus' parable of the two builders. She emphasizes that storms are guaranteed in life, and Jesus' teaching is hard because it focuses on what we do in the storm rather than stopping it. Rachel advises those facing their first storm to acknowledge it, be honest with themselves, and bring their questions to God first before seeking community. She distinguishes between the storm itself and our response, using Peter walking on water as an example of stepping out in faith. The discussion turns to obedience, with Rachel noting the Holy Spirit helps us take practical steps and that church community is essential. She explains how to discern if you're building on sand versus rock, linking it to bearing fruit and progressive sanctification. Rachel warns against shame isolating believers and encourages finding older mentors. She critiques victim mentality in Western culture, cautioning against seeing God as an oppressor when storms come. Rachel acknowledges some storms result from human brokenness while others may have divine purpose, but emphasizes God meets us in them. She suggests worship and prayer, even when difficult, can bring unexpected joy, sharing her personal experience of driving to a tough town. The episode concludes with Rachel asserting that knowing Jesus is worth any storm, as he brings life in fullness and eternal security.

As heard by us

Rachel Gardner connects resilient faith to the daily habits that show where identity and security are taking root.

Rachel Gardner's reading of Jesus' house-on-rock parable frames resilient faith as something shaped by the habits that carry a life day by day.

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Why you'd press play

When your morning scroll starts carrying your identity, Rachel Gardner invites you to test what is actually holding you up.

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