The Living Waters Podcast

When depression settles over life, where should Christians turn? Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar begin by addressing the reality of depression and discouragement, acknowledging that seasons of darkness touch every believer in different ways. Rather than treating depression as evidence of weak faith, they explain that Scripture honestly portrays the sorrow of God's people while continually pointing them back to His faithfulness. Though emotions often tell a different story, believers are reminded that God is working all things together for their good and that each day is another opportunity to know Him, serve Him, and trust His promises.
The conversation then explores the biblical understanding of depression, challenging common misconceptions about mental health. The guys explain that sorrow is often multifaceted, encompassing physical, emotional, relational, moral, and spiritual realities that should not be ignored. Looking to Christ as the Man of Sorrows and to countless examples throughout Scripture, they remind listeners that seasons of grief do not necessarily indicate personal sin or a lack of faith. Rather than seeking quick fixes, believers are encouraged to anchor themselves in God's truth, knowing that while suffering is part of life in a fallen world, it will not have the final word.
From there, the discussion turns to practical ways Christians can faithfully navigate seasons of depression. The guys encourage listeners to keep moving forward, one step at a time, to seek help from the body of Christ, and to embrace the ordinary means God has provided for their care. Exercise, rest, healthy routines, purposeful work, serving others, reading Scripture, and cultivating daily habits all become practical expressions of trusting the Lord rather than surrendering to despair. They also remind listeners that true identity is found in Christ, not in feelings or circumstances, and that lasting hope comes from being fully known and fully loved by God.
Finally, the guys address the important distinction between depression and suicidal thoughts, urging believers to respond with wisdom, compassion, and urgency when someone is in crisis. They emphasize asking difficult questions, helping loved ones find safety, and seeking professional care when necessary. Throughout the conversation, the gospel remains the foundation of hope, reminding believers that Christ has entered human suffering, conquered sin and death, and promises an eternal future in which sorrow will one day be no more.

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Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!
 
Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!
Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

Being ashamed of the gospel is rarely about the gospel itself. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar examine why believers often shrink back from boldly identifying with Christ and how the fear of man quietly competes for the worship that belongs to God alone. The guys explain that shame is often rooted in idolatry, whether it is the desire for approval, the pursuit of success, or the fear
of rejection. When acceptance from others takes the throne of the heart, faithfulness to Christ becomes increasingly difficult. Yet the gospel frees believers from living for the opinions of man and calls them to treasure Christ above every earthly idol.
The guys emphasize that the world has always opposed God's truth, yet believers are still called to proclaim the gospel with compassion and courage. They reflect on faithful examples of Christians who patiently shared the gospel for years, reminding listeners that salvation belongs to the Lord and that no one is beyond His reach. Rather than letting fear silence them, believers are called to love people enough to speak the truth, trusting God to accomplish the work only He can do. Evangelism becomes an act of worship, flowing from gratitude for the grace believers have already received.
The guys also discuss how believers overcome shame by fixing their eyes on Christ rather than on themselves. When idols are removed from the heart and replaced with a greater affection for God, the fear of people begins to lose its grip. They explain that remembering the gospel, meditating on eternity, and growing in love for Christ naturally produce boldness. Just as the disciples counted it an honor to suffer for the name of Jesus, Christians today are called to see opposition as an opportunity to identify with their Savior. The more believers treasure Christ, the less intimidating the world's opinions become.
Finally, the guys offer practical encouragement to grow in confidence while sharing the gospel. Boldness develops through faithful obedience, regular study of Scripture, prayer, and consistent conversations with others. They encourage listeners not to wait until they have all the answers but to trust that God equips those who step forward faithfully. Even when believers struggle with fear or shame, Christ welcomes them with mercy and grace rather than condemnation. Ultimately, the guys remind listeners that the gospel is God's power for salvation, Christ is worthy of wholehearted devotion, and there is no greater privilege than making Him known to a world that desperately needs Him.
Send us Fan Mail
Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!
 
Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!
Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

When suffering suddenly interrupts life, where do believers find the strength to endure? Pastor Shane Idleman joins Ray and Mark to share his recent cancer diagnosis and the profound lessons God has taught him amid uncertainty, fear, and waiting. Rather than letting the diagnosis shake his faith, Shane explains how the Lord has drawn him into deeper dependence on His sovereignty, reminding him that God's grace is given one day at a time. The discussion explores how trials reveal what believers truly trust and why resting in God's character brings peace when the future feels uncertain. 
The guys discuss difficult decisions that often accompany serious illness. Shane shares how he sought the Lord while weighing treatment options, emphasizing that believers should neither act out of fear nor place their hope in medicine itself. Instead, the guys encourage listeners to pursue wisdom, remembering that healing ultimately comes from God. Throughout the discussion, Shane returns to a simple truth that carried him through the diagnosis: God's sovereignty is the believer's sanity, providing stability even when circumstances remain unresolved.
Spiritual fruit often grows from suffering. Shane tells Ray and Mark how his diagnosis has deepened his compassion, reignited his preaching, and renewed his dependence on Christ in ways comfort never could. They discuss how affliction often becomes God's instrument to awaken His people, refine their faith, and produce lasting spiritual fruit. Shane also challenges the modern church to recover preaching marked by conviction and dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than by comfort and cultural approval. Rather than viewing suffering as evidence of God's absence, they encourage believers to see it as an opportunity to know Him more deeply and trust Him more fully. 
Finally, the conversation turns to the hope found only in the gospel. The guys contrast the biblical gospel with the man-centered message often heard today, reminding listeners that Christ came first to save sinners from God's wrath before addressing life's temporary struggles. Everyone will one day face death, making repentance and faith infinitely more important than any earthly diagnosis. Whether facing cancer or any other trial, believers can rest in the promise of eternal life, while those who do not yet know Christ are urged to trust Him today. Ultimately, the episode reminds listeners that suffering may change life's circumstances, but it cannot overcome the hope found in Christ alone. 
Send us Fan Mail
Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!
 
Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!
Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

A hardened heart rarely happens all at once but develops through small compromises that dull sensitivity to God. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar examine why believers must fight daily to remain tender toward the Lord. Sin is deceptive, and the guys explain that hardened hearts often form through neglected prayer, delayed obedience, and unconfessed sin rather than through dramatic rebellion. They emphasize the importance of staying teachable, receiving correction humbly, and seeking truth. A soft heart is not automatic but cultivated through repentance, dependence on God, and a willingness to let His Word expose what lies beneath the surface.
The guys explore the link between idolatry and spiritual hardness, explaining that every sin ultimately stems from worshiping something other than God. Whether it is pleasure, bitterness, self-pity, or even legalism, misplaced worship slowly turns the heart away from Christ. The guys warn that Christians can smuggle idols into their lives, even into acts of worship, while believing they remain in control. Idolatry is never passive, and over time it shapes affections, priorities, and responses to both God and others. The conversation highlights how even good things become dangerous when they take the place reserved for the Lord alone.
The discussion turns to the urgency of confession and repentance. The guys explain that delaying action on sin only strengthens its grip. They encourage believers to look past the messenger and focus on the truth presented, seeking out the small areas where correction may be warranted rather than immediately defending themselves. Self-pity often becomes fertile ground for bitterness and hardness, especially when people believe others owe them something. Instead, the guys encourage listeners to forgive quickly, walk in the light, and cultivate gratitude even amid trials. Repentance is presented not as punishment but as a gift that leads believers back into fellowship with God.
Finally, the guys discuss practical ways believers can guard their hearts and stay sensitive to the Spirit. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Scripture, fasting, discipleship, and intentional silence help keep the heart tender before the Lord. The fear of God, regular self-examination, and continual meditation on the gospel all help protect believers from drifting. Ultimately, the guys point listeners back to Christ, whose tender heart on the cross displayed perfect forgiveness and reminds believers that every battle against hardness finds its answer in the gospel.
Send us Fan Mail
Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!
 
Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!
Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

A life shaped by abuse, abandonment, and unbelief became a testimony to God's relentless  grace. Oscar shares how the Lord met him amid a broken childhood marked by instability, trauma, and painful lies about his identity and worth. Though his grandmother planted seeds of truth, he eventually embraced atheism and grew openly hostile toward Christianity. Yet even in rebellion, God was quietly at work, using faithful prayers and providence to prepare him for a future he never could have imagined. 
The conversation traces the surprising ways God began drawing Oscar to Himself. Though convinced Christianity was false, he was deeply unsettled by a message at a baptism service and a prayer directed toward him. Over the following year, the life he had built slowly lost its appeal as conviction exposed the emptiness beneath it. Eventually, he reached out to the only Christian in his contacts and found himself surrounded by believers who patiently answered questions and faithfully walked beside him. Through discipleship and genuine Christian community, years of skepticism and anger gradually gave way to faith in Christ. One of the most meaningful moments came at his own baptism, when fellow believers stood beside him after many of his old friends had chosen not to. In that moment, God reminded him that He had given him a new family through His church. 
Oscar also reflects on the people God used to reshape his understanding of family and belonging. Mature believers modeled Christ's love through simple acts of hospitality and friendship. He shares how the Lord brought Kelly into his life and how God redeemed two painful stories through marriage and raising children in the faith. Through these relationships, the Lord continued to heal old wounds and deepen Oscar's understanding of grace. Looking back, Oscar sees God's kindness not only in dramatic moments but also in ordinary faithfulness. Finally, Oscar recounts the unexpected restoration of his relationship with his biological father after decades spent believing painful misconceptions. Rather than finding the man he had imagined, he discovered a loving family who had never forgotten him. Through that relationship, God revealed deeper truths about His own fatherly love and faithfulness. His testimony ultimately points to the truth that no wound is beyond God's power to redeem and that those who belong to Christ are fully known, fully loved, and forever secure in their heavenly Father.

Enjoy more testimonies from the Compelled Podcast on Spotify or Apple or their website.

Send us Fan Mail
Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!
 
Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!
Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro