Episode 69: The Sacred Side of Sadness with Scott Erickson

“I’m a Christian because of the shortest verse in the Bible: Jesus wept.” Something I didn’t wake up to until after my stroke is the fact that joy and sadness can co-exist. In fact, they can do it pretty beautifully if we allow them to. My friend Scott knows how to be sad. That may sound like a backhanded compliment, but hear me out. I think learning to fully engage our sorrow is one of the healthiest rhythms we can find, especially as followers of Jesus. He was, after all, called the “man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.” So how do we befriend our sadness in the way of Christ? That’s what I’m covering on this week’s episode of The GoodHard Story Podcast, with the help of Scott Erickson. An artist, writer, and one of the most intriguing thinkers I’ve ever known, Scott has found deep camaraderie with Jesus through his sadness. And he’s inviting you and me to do the same. If you join me on this episode of the GoodHard Story Podcast, here’s what you’ll take away: Releasing yourself from being a constant sales pitch for Jesus Making the shift from getting God’s attention to awakening to where God is at work What we mean when we talk about hope A peek into Katherine’s new SOS group Scott’s hack for facing his fears Want to invite God into your sadness, but don’t know where to start? This episode is for you. Show Notes: @scottthepainter on Instagram Scott’s Substack Image Pilgrimage Scott’s story of meeting Sadness at Disneyland Inside Out Hope Heals Camp Justin McRoberts Honest Advent Art Against Despair The GoodHard Story Podcast Episode 76 with Andy Squyres Backwards Kingdom Treasures in the Dark Entry 65: A Library of Living Survival Guides Telling Secrets by Frederick Buechner Dan Allender Curt Thompson Say Yes Future Dead Artist mug Scriptures referenced in this episode: John 11:35 Isaiah 53:3 Romans 5:3 1 Peter 5:10 Psalm 139:7-10 *** There's so much more to the story: ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠ for more messages of hope, free resources, and opportunities to connect with me! Follow me in Instagram: ⁠⁠@hopeheals⁠⁠ Subscribe to The GoodHard Story Podcast! ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ Want a little hope in your inbox? Sign up for the Hope Note⁠⁠, my monthly digest of only the good stuff, like short reflections from me and a curated roundup of the Internet’s most redemptive content. Subscribe here.