Overcoming Life’s Hardships: A Journey of Faith and Forgiveness
Stuck in a cycle of mistakes, defeat, or bitterness? Discover the life-changing power of forgiveness, obedience, and walking daily with God—even after your lowest moments.
In this episode of Make the Word Alive, Pastor Joanne Ramsey welcomes returning guest Chaplain Jeff Cox for a powerful conversation about faith, forgiveness, obedience, restoration, and the hope that God gives us even after difficult seasons.
From Tragedy to Purpose
Chaplain Jeff Cox shares how God took a difficult experience in his own life and turned it into an opportunity to serve others. After a tragic accident while serving as a police officer, Jeff experienced severe physical injuries and a long recovery.
Although he was not able to return to his previous work as a police officer, God was not finished with him. Jeff now serves as the head chaplain in Chesapeake, Virginia, ministering to men and women in jail and helping bring hope and encouragement to people who feel that they have reached their limit.
As Jeff shares, “God can take the bad and turn it to good.”
His own experience became part of the preparation for where God has him today.
Transformative Jail Ministry
Jeff talks about the people he ministers to through jail ministry—people who have burned bridges, lost relationships, and sometimes feel that they have no hope left.
Through volunteers, Bible studies, prayer, and encouragement, the ministry gives people an opportunity to hear that God loves them and that their lives can turn around.
One example is the Nurture Block, a 12-week Bible study program that provides participants with Bibles, teaching, volunteers, and opportunities to grow in God’s Word.
Jeff shares the testimony of a woman who was preparing to graduate from the program. When she went to court, she actually asked the judge to keep her in jail so that she could graduate from the program.
Her desire to complete the Bible study became a powerful reminder of the impact that God’s Word can have when someone is willing to allow God to work in their life.
Going All In With God
Jeff emphasizes that transformation requires surrender.
“You have to be willing to go all in with God so that God can do his work in you and through you.”
It is not enough simply to hear God’s Word. We must be willing to follow Him and allow Him to work in us and through us.
Doing Things God’s Way
Joanne and Jeff discuss how easily people can become determined to do things their own way instead of following God’s direction.
Joanne shares a story about seeing a young boy playing checkers and hearing his mother ask him whether he wanted to do it his way or do it the right way.
That simple question became a reminder that we can also choose between doing things our way and doing things God’s way.
Sometimes we continue doing the same things over and over again while expecting different results. But following God means being willing to surrender our own way and follow His direction.
“You have to do things God’s way.”
Crucifying the Flesh Daily
Joanne and Jeff talk about what it means to crucify the flesh daily.
It is not simply about resisting major sins. It can also mean surrendering everyday habits, attitudes, influences, and desires to the Holy Spirit.
As Jeff explains, we must be dead to ourselves and alive through Christ, allowing Him to be in control of our lives rather than allowing the flesh to control us.
Sometimes dying to the flesh means choosing not to say something that would hurt another person. Sometimes it means walking away from things that are not good for us. Sometimes it means removing influences or relationships that continually lead us away from God’s direction.
Joanne shares how the Holy Spirit convicted her about watching television programs that were not beneficial to her spiritual life. She made the decision to remove them from her life.
She also explains how the Holy Spirit can give us that wake-up call and show us when something needs to stop. Once God reveals it to us, it is up to us to obey.
We Are Our Choices
Our choices matter.
We can choose to follow the Holy Spirit or choose to do things our own way.
We can choose what we listen to, what we watch, what influences us, and what we allow into our lives.
Following God means making choices that honor Him.
Joanne and Jeff emphasize that we cannot continually choose our own way while expecting the blessings and direction that come from obedience to God.
There Is Hope After Failure
Many people struggle with failure, shame, anxiety, depression, or the feeling that there is no hope.
Jeff shares from his own experience of dealing with anxiety, depression, and the effects of his accident. He explains how opening the Bible and listening to the teachings of Jesus brought peace, comfort, joy, and helped him get back in tune with God.
There is hope because God loves us.
Nothing you can do would keep Him from loving you.
At the same time, Joanne emphasizes the importance of obedience and walking with God. Our relationship with Him is not simply something we experience on Sunday. We are called to walk with Him every day.
A Daily Relationship With God
Walking with God means spending time with Him and developing a relationship with Him every day.
It goes beyond simply believing. It means having a relationship with Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to give us hope and encouragement.
As Joanne and Jeff discuss, the greater One is living in us, and we can trust Him to give us the strength and encouragement we need.
Listen to the Voice of the Good Shepherd
Joanne shares a prayer she has been making:
“Well, Lord, today I thank you. I know the voice of the good shepherd. I’ll not follow the voice of a stranger.”
We have to learn to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd instead of following the wrong voice.
Jeff also talks about people who return to jail because they have learned a particular lifestyle and do not know how to function differently when they leave.
But he refuses to give up on them.
“God didn’t give up on me, so I’m not going to give up on them.”
He continues planting seeds, continuing to give them the Word, and reminding them that God is for them.
Everyone Stumbles
The Bible contains many examples of people who made mistakes and yet continued in their relationship with God.
Peter denied Jesus, but Jesus did not hold that failure against him.
David also made serious mistakes, including murder and adultery, but he repented, asked for forgiveness, and got his life back right with God. The Bible describes David as a man after God’s own heart.
Failure does not have to be the end of someone’s story.
The Power of Forgiveness
Joanne and Jeff discuss how people can be quick to remember the failures of others and hold those failures against them.
But forgiveness is an important part of walking with God.
“In order for us to be forgiven, we have to forgive.”
When someone recognizes their mistake, repents, and asks God to forgive them, we should remember that God’s forgiveness is complete.
Jeff puts it simply:
“When God forgives, God forgets about it. It’s gone.”
The world may remember what happened, but God does not hold forgiven sin against us.
God Can Turn the Bad to Good
Jeff’s own testimony is an example of how God can take a difficult situation and use it for His purpose.
His accident changed the direction of his life, but God used that experience to prepare him for his ministry as a chaplain.
“God can take the bad and turn it to good.”
Even when we stumble, God is not finished with us.
God Is Not Finished With You
Joanne reminds us of the promise in Philippians 1:6:
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God continues His work in us.
Our past does not have to define our future. We can repent, ask for forgiveness, choose God’s way, walk with Him daily, and continue moving forward.
Keep Walking With God
Overcoming life’s hardships does not mean that we will never struggle. It means continuing to trust God, listen to His voice, obey His Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us.
Forgiveness brings freedom. Obedience brings us into alignment with God’s direction. And God’s grace gives us hope to keep moving forward.
Whatever your past may look like, remember that God loves you, God can restore you, and God is not finished with you.
Do things God’s way. Walk with Him every day. Forgive. Repent. Keep moving forward. And allow God to do His work in you and through you.
