In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 142, a prayer of David written during his time in the cave—a moment marked by fear, isolation, and deep dependence on God. As David cries out with honesty and desperation, he models a pattern we see throughout the Psalms: pouring out complaints before the Lord, acknowledging feelings of abandonment, and then slowly turning toward hope as he remembers who God is.

The conversation explores how David's circumstances were filled not only with physical danger, but also with subtle traps—temptations to take matters into his own hands rather than wait on God's timing. Drawing parallels to David's refusal to harm Saul, Curtis and Sally discuss how reliance on God often means resisting shortcuts, power grabs, or self-rescue, even when they seem justified.

This episode invites listeners to consider what it means to truly call God our refuge—not as a last resort, but as our greatest desire. Psalm 142 reminds us that even when others cannot save us, the Lord remains faithful. In hardship, loneliness, and waiting, God's goodness endures, and He alone is the One who brings us through.

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally explore 2 Kings 17:24–41, a sobering passage that follows the fall of Samaria and the resettlement of the land by foreign nations. As Assyria relocates people from across its empire into Israel, the newcomers attempt to worship the God of the land—yet they also cling tightly to their former gods and practices.

The hosts unpack the strange and unsettling moment when lions are sent among the people, examining both the historical context and the deeper symbolism of God's righteous authority, strength, and judgment. Even when a priest is sent back to teach the people how to worship the Lord, their response reveals a divided heart: God is treated as a solution to a problem, not as the center of their lives.

Curtis and Sally reflect on what it means to truly worship the Lord—not as one voice among many, but as the only voice that shapes our lives. They draw thoughtful connections between the syncretism of ancient Samaria and the modern tendency to compartmentalize faith, trusting God in some areas while relying on cultural norms, influencers, or personal strategies in others.

This conversation invites listeners to examine where competing voices may be shaping their decisions, and to consider God's consistent call to covenant faithfulness. As Scripture reminds us, the issue is not a lack of information, but a lack of wholehearted devotion—a challenge that remains just as relevant to this day.

In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally reflect on Psalm 141, a heartfelt prayer of David that invites us into a posture of humility, dependence, and trust in God. As David cries out for the Lord to "hurry" and hear his prayer, the conversation explores what it means to approach God honestly while recognizing Him as our true refuge.

Together, they unpack David's request for God to guard his words, restrain his heart from drifting toward evil, and help him receive correction as a kindness rather than a burden. The discussion highlights the subtle danger of spiritual "drift," the importance of accountability, and the willingness to invite God—and others—into the work of shaping our character.

Curtis and Sally also wrestle with the psalm's strong language toward the wicked, ultimately pointing to David's deeper desire that even his enemies would come to know truth. The episode closes with encouragement to trust God's guidance through unseen traps and snares, resting in the promise that He is faithful, near, and always attentive to the prayers of His people.