Faith (Episode 4 - Archive)Faith (Episode 4 - Archive)
Relational Recovery
Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk candidly about faith, fear and anger at God, especially in the context of recovery from unwanted behaviours. They reflect on how questioning and struggle can sit within real trust, and how faith often stands against deep fear in a broken world.
5:39•8 Jul 2026
Faith, Fear and Frustration: Honest Talk for People in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Struggling with faith, questioning God, and feeling angry do not automatically mean a loss of belief.
- Jesus’ words on the cross show that honest cries of confusion and pain can sit within genuine faith.
- Faith is described as standing against deep fears, including fear of death, self, and the universe.
- The repeated biblical phrase “Fear not” is often spoken into very difficult circumstances, not easy ones.
- People in recovery are reminded that finding faith hard is normal, and trust in a broken world will feel challenging.
“If faith is hard for you, that’s normal. Like, that’s trust in a broken world. It’s going to be challenging.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol or unwanted behaviours while still wrestling with faith, fear, and anger at God? This conversation on *Relational Recovery* sits right in that tension. Host Wes Thompson and co-host Austin Hill talk honestly about how messy faith can feel, especially for those trying to change long-standing habits in a broken world.
Austin shares moments of frustration with God, like praying, “Would you just please take care of my family for once?” and then realising that venting anger doesn’t cancel belief. It simply exposes what he’s actually trusting in – comfort, safety, money – rather than who he’s trusting. The pair reflect on Jesus’ cry on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me, God?” and challenge the idea that faith means never questioning or complaining.
Instead, they suggest that being brutally honest with God might be part of real trust. As Wes puts it, “If faith is hard for you, that’s normal. Like, that’s trust in a broken world. It’s going to be challenging.” Drawing on Joseph Healy’s words from the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, they describe faith as standing face to face with “the fear that limits the possibilities of human life” – fear of death, fear of self, fear of the universe.
They note how often the Bible repeats the command “Fear not”, usually spoken into circumstances where life is anything but easy. This episode is especially suited to those in recovery who are tired of neat religious answers and want space to admit fear, doubt and anger without giving up on faith. It gently asks: what are you actually putting your faith in, and how might that shape your healing journey?
If faith feels shaky right now, could that struggle itself be an honest step towards recovery rather than a sign you’re failing?
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