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What if the hardest thing you’ve ever faced wasn’t 60 days in the wilderness, but the weight of leading your family through suffering?
In this episode, Jerrad sits down with Alone Season 5 winner, Sam Larson, whose victory on national TV was followed by a far heavier reality at home: all three of his children being diagnosed with CLN3 Batten Disease, a rare terminal illness.
With raw honesty and gospel hope, Sam shares how grief stripped away every illusion of control, what it means to father children with a limited timeline, and how Jesus became more real than ever in the middle of heartbreak.
With insight from 2 Corinthians 12, Matthew 5, and Romans 8, you’ll discover:
- Why suffering can feel like an uninvited gift that drives us closer to Christ
- The difference between choosing hardship (like Alone) and enduring pain you never asked for
- How to anchor your family in gospel hope when life feels unbearable
- Why men need brothers in Christ to speak truth when they’re drowning in lies
- What it looks like to find joy, purpose, and community even in seasons of deep suffering
Whether you’re walking through grief, feeling the crushing weight of fatherhood, or just longing for purpose in your everyday life, this episode will remind you that Jesus has conquered even the darkest parts of our story—and He is with you.
Scriptures Mentioned
2 Corinthians 12:9–10
Matthew 5:4
Romans 8:18–25
John 16:33
2 Corinthians 4:16–18
Psalm 34:18
1 Peter 1:6–7
James 1:2–4
Philippians 1:6
Resources & Links
Today’s Sponsors: World Watch News
Visit Sam’s church: Redemption Hill Bible Church – Hickman, Nebraska
Invite Jerrad To Speak At Your Church
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