Grace In Hard Times (Episode 1 - Archive)Grace In Hard Times (Episode 1 - Archive)
Relational Recovery
Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about grace during hardship, with a focus on addiction, unwanted behaviours and suffering. They reflect on Christian ideas of God’s presence in pain and how grace can become a constant posture rather than a one-off response.
6:52•3 Jun 2026
Grace in Hard Times: Wes and Austin Talk Pain, Presence and Recovery
Episode Overview
- Grace is needed most in unwanted behaviours and difficult situations, especially in addiction and attachment struggles.
- People often want grace for their own failures but demand justice and even pain for those who wrong them.
- 1 Peter 5:10 is used to show that God’s grace acknowledges suffering and promises restoration and strength.
- Grace is described as God’s presence in pain, not the removal of pain.
- Grace is framed as an ongoing posture and way of life, not a strategic tool or performance to “fix” bad behaviour.
“Grace is not the absence of pain. It’s the presence of God in pain.”
Curious about how others handle their sobriety journey? This first archive episode of *Relational Recovery* brings Wes Thompson and Austin Hill together for a warm, honest chat about grace in the middle of hardship, especially for those wrestling with addictions and unwanted behaviours. Speaking from a Christian framework, they reflect on how badly we want grace when we mess up, yet often demand justice when others hurt us.
Wes reads from 1 Peter 5:10 and unpacks how “the God of all grace… after you’ve suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast,” highlighting that suffering is expected, not a sign that something’s gone fatally wrong.
Austin adds a powerful reframing: “Grace is not the absence of pain… it’s the presence of God in pain.” For him, grace isn’t a quick fix or a tactic to get through an awkward moment; it’s meant to be a steady way of living. They push back against the idea that grace means putting up with bad behaviour or trying to fix everything, pointing instead to Jesus’ simple presence with people in their tough moments.
The tone is gentle, conversational, and aimed at anyone who feels stuck in patterns they don’t want, yet still longs for kindness and restoration. You’ll hear reflections on relationship breakdowns, repeated behaviour struggles, and more extreme losses, all held together by the belief that grace meets you exactly in that mess.
If you’re tired of harsh self-judgement, or unsure how to show kindness to yourself and others while still taking suffering seriously, this short fireside-style chat might give you language and comfort for the road. How might your recovery change if grace became a daily stance rather than a last resort?
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