God, Why? I’ve Been Faithful to YouGod, Why? I’ve Been Faithful to You
The Call with Nancy Sabato
Nancy Sabato talks with Mark Falk as he recounts questioning God during his daughter’s severe illness and describes how that pain reshaped his faith. Their conversation focuses on wilderness seasons, God’s constant presence and learning to follow Him wholeheartedly even when prayers seem unanswered.
9:15•11 Sept 2026
Finding God in the Wilderness: Mark Falk’s Story of Doubt, Illness and Faith
Episode Overview
- Following God "wholeheartedly" means more than taking occasional assignments that fit personal plans.
- Wilderness seasons may not be removed quickly; God may instead prepare you to walk through them.
- Long-term illness can become a way to understand and stand alongside someone else in their suffering.
- Feeling far from God doesn’t mean He is far; turning back can reveal His nearness without condemnation.
- God’s voice brings clarity, love and encouragement, not fear, chaos, confusion or guilt.
“Even if you have your back turned on him, he's right here.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation between Nancy Sabato and guest Mark Falk leans into that question through a raw story of faith, doubt and costly trust. Mark shares how a simple moment "on a stump in the woods" became a turning point.
As a church deacon and businessman, he thought he was following God, until he sensed God say, "No, follow me wholeheartedly." Mark explains how that challenge exposed a life built around his own plans, businesses and future, and how slowly letting go of those plans led to a deeper, more available relationship with God. The heart of the episode centres on Mark’s daughter and her serious health diagnosis after a mission trip to Nicaragua.
You’ll hear him describe sitting by a backyard fire, furious and heartbroken: "What is going on, God? Why? … I've been serving you faithfully." Instead of quick comfort or instant healing, Mark recalls God’s quiet response: "I have prepared you for this" and "You're going to need to walk with her through this." That became his long-term calling as a father. For anyone in a "wilderness" season—chronic illness, unanswered prayer, or feeling miles away from God—Mark offers practical encouragement.
He talks about how his own lifelong illness helped him empathise with his daughter, and how God’s presence can be as close as a simple turn of the heart: "Even if you have your back turned on him, he's right here." The episode also touches on Mark’s book *Soulweather* and his ministry work, but keeps circling back to one core idea: God doesn’t shout with fear or chaos, he speaks with clarity, love and encouragement.
If you’re tired, angry with God or just unsure where you stand, this story might help you ask an honest question: what would it look like to turn around and see that God has been closer than you think?
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