Knowing Jesus
by Tracy Hicks on July 1st, 2026
Thirteen years ago, a 100-foot tree in East Texas fell on Pastor Sam Storms' father, causing catastrophic injuries—broken ribs, exploded vertebrae, punctured lungs. But in the hospital room, despite excruciating pain, his father overflowed with unexplainable joy. "Jesus didn't even have pain medication," he kept saying, quoting Scripture through tears. In that moment, Sam witnessed a profound truth: the deepest connection with God often happens in our darkest valleys. The Apostle Paul discovered this same paradox, writing from prison that knowing Christ is worth more than any worldly achievement. His radical equation still holds true today: every gain without Christ equals loss, but every loss with Christ equals gain. This isn't about loving suffering—it's about loving the One we meet there. Read More