Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

"The Value of Struggle" – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #204 for January 14, 2026

TRANSCRIPT:
Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute – Talk #204
Topic: The Value of Struggle
Greetings and welcome to another Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute.This is Talk #204, and our topic today is The Value of Struggle.
I’m going to spend a bit more time with this topic by reading from Genesis chapter 32, beginning at verse 24:
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now, when He saw that He could not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip, and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me.’ And He said to him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with man and have prevailed.’”
There are many lessons to learn from this text—not just what I’ve read, but the whole context. Today, we’re focusing on the lesson of the value of struggle.
 
Struggle as a Divine Encounter
We read that Jacob was alone with God.The text calls Him a man, but we know this was a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. This struggle was designed to take Jacob to another level.
We sometimes perceive struggle as a hindrance, but the Apostle James made it clear that when trials and tests come, we should not think it strange.
James said:
“Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.”
He compared it to gold being refined in fire.
He also said:
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
And then he tells us that patience has a work—to make us complete and entire, lacking nothing.
So there is value in your struggle, but you have to frame it that way. You have to see it that way in the grace of God.
 
Persistence in the Pain
As Jacob and this Man wrestled until the breaking of day, when the Man saw He could not prevail against him, He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip. His hip went out of joint.
But even in the midst of Jacob’s hip being out of joint, he continued to wrestle until the Man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.”
Jacob replied, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
One of the values we gain in struggle is not giving up—not quitting, not caving in, not making excuses. Because if you are in a struggle in the will of God, there is a purpose for it. God is doing something to elevate you.
Again, as James said:
“Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
So even though Jacob was in pain, even though his hip was out of joint, he kept wrestling until he prevailed.
 
Understanding Jacob’s Name
When the Man asked him, “What is your name?” he said, “My name is Jacob.”
We often think of Jacob as the supplanter and deceiver, but I believe the greater revelation is this:
When Jacob was born, he was the twin of his brother Esau. Esau came out first, and the Bible says Jacob had a hold of Esau’s heel. When they pulled Esau out, Jacob came with him, gripping his brother’s heel.
The name Jacob literally means “one who takes the heel.”
I’ve always considered this an attribute of Jacob—the tenacity,the sticking with it,the not giving up,the holding on to the heel.
So when God asked him, “What is your name?” it was as if he was saying,“I am the one who takes hold of the heel and won’t let go.”
He proved his value and his purpose in that struggle.
 
From Jacob to Israel
Then the Man said:
“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Israel means “one who struggles with God” or “God strives.”It is a name that represents the value of struggle.
The one who persevered—even sometimes to his own detriment—was elevated through struggle. God acknowledged him as one who struggles with God and prevails.
When the Bible says the Man could not overpower him, it was not that God was weak. God allowed resistance to test him and to grow him. This was not a power struggle—this was a relational struggle.
God wanted to elevate the relationship between Himself and Jacob, and that happened through struggle.
 
The Limp Was Repositioning, Not Punishment
Jacob’s limp was not punishment—it was repositioning.
He could no longer walk in self-sufficiency.He could no longer identify as the one who “takes hold of the heel and won’t let go.”That is self-sufficiency.
He had learned to trust God, to engage God, and to stay engaged with God.
One of the things about disability—or helping people with disability—is that it makes you recognize your need for help and assistance from others.
 
A Word for 2026
As we enter this new year, 2026, recognize the value of struggle—past, present, or future. Don’t look at it as something to hinder you. Realize that no matter what happens, God is elevating you, and you will not be the same after an encounter with God.
The most important lesson is this:
You will be less self-sufficient and more God-sufficient.
 
Ministry Update
As you may be aware, I am on a mini sabbatical for the month of January.
I invited Pastor Lee Robb to minister at New Covenant Church, and he brought a very important message entitled “Desires That Don’t Betray You.” Be sure to click the link in this blog to watch that message on YouTube and download the detailed summary.
I appreciate Pastor Robb for being such a blessing.
This coming Sunday, we will be blessed by the ministry of Jan Mitchell.
God bless. Have a great day, and be encouraged.

"Sharpen the Saw" – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #203 for January 7, 2026

Ecclesiastes 10:10, If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.

"Joy & Desires Of The Heart" – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #202 for December 31, 2025

Message from Sunday, December 28Joy is Delight – Bent for God
Psalm 37:3, Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Joy is Delight – Bent for God

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Psalm 37:3, Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Dr. Bryan Hudson teaches that biblical joy is not dependent on circumstances but is a deep, settled gladness rooted in God’s presence, promises, and purposes. Joy is defined as delight—being “bent” toward God in devotion, obedience, and purpose—rather than temporary happiness that comes and goes.
Drawing from Luke 2, Psalm 37, Nehemiah, and Habakkuk, the message explains that true joy develops as believers delight themselves in the Lord, abide in Him daily, and remain committed to His will even in difficulty. Using Nehemiah’s example, Dr. Hudson shows that joy is strengthened when people refuse to become comfortable in complacency, stay aligned with God’s mission, and serve others faithfully. Ultimately, “the joy of the Lord is your strength” because a life bent toward God produces enduring resilience, purpose, and spiritual power.

"Joy for You, Wherever You Are" – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #201 for December 24, 2025

Message from Sunday, December 21"Good Tidings of Great Joy"
Luke 2:8, Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Good Tidings of Great Joy

In Good Tidings of Great Joy, Pastor Bryan Hudson teaches that joy is central to God’s redemptive plan and flows from living in God’s presence. Drawing from Psalm 16:11 and Luke 2, he explains that joy is not the same as happiness—happiness is momentary, but joy is constant, like the air we breathe when we remain in God’s presence.
The angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth reveals that the gospel itself is “good tidings of great joy” meant for all people. Jesus came to create the conditions for humanity to experience God’s presence, receive new life, and live in sustained joy. Pastor Hudson emphasizes that rejoicing is the outward expression of inward joy, and believers are called not only to experience joy themselves but to share it with others through acts of love, service, and outreach—helping people encounter the lasting joy found only in Christ.

"The Last Adam Solved Our Problem" – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #200 for December 17, 2025

Listen to My Message from Sunday, December 14God's Redemption Design: More Than a Personal Savior Part Two of Designed for Destiny
TRANSCRIPT:
Greetings, and welcome to another Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute. As a matter of fact, this is talk #200! Praise God! We began this series in January of 2022. I thank God for His grace that empowers me to bring you these inspirational talks. I trust you’ve been blessed and encouraged by them.
Our topic today is “The Last Adam Solved Our Problem.”
Reading from 1 Corinthians 15:45, “And so it is written, the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.”
The problem we had was the disobedience of Adam in the Garden of Eden. He and his wife did not follow God’s instruction. When they disobeyed God, death entered the world. There was first a spiritual death, and then humanity succumbed to physical death. They were not designed to die physically, but sin always brings death—both spiritually and physically.
However, this did not take God by surprise. In that same moment, God made a promise that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent, which is a type of the devil. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. 
While neither Adam, nor Eve, nor the serpent understood what God said at the time, we know in hindsight that this Seed was preserved all the way to the coming of Jesus through the Virgin Mary.
Romans 5:15 reads: “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One.”
Jesus, the Last Adam, became a life-giving Spirit.
This text explains that by one man’s offense, Adam’s, death reigned through that one sinful seed. The Scripture goes on to say that those of us who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus, we live in the gift of righteousness, and we reign in life over sin, Satan, and defeat. Amen!
So the Last Adam, Jesus, solved our problem. Rejoice in that!
God bless. Have a great day, and be encouraged.

God's Redemption Design: More Than a "Personal Savior"- Part Two of "Designed for Destiny"

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In this message, Pastor Bryan Hudson teaches that while Jesus is indeed our personal Savior, God's redemptive design is far greater than individual salvation. From Romans 8:29 and Colossians 1:19–20, he shows that God predestined believers to be conformed to Christ, forming a collective people—His church—through whom He reconciles and influences the world. Salvation is not merely personal but part of God’s broader plan to redeem humanity and creation.
Dr. Hudson contrasts man-made design, shaped by sin and selfishness, with God-made design, in which believers are God’s workmanship created for good works. He emphasizes that destiny is expressed through service, not self-service, and warns against reducing Christianity to private spirituality or political power. God calls His people to be “salt and light,” influencing systems with righteousness—not taking them over.
Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, he explains that we do not choose our neighbors; love requires us to serve anyone in need, even those unlike us. Jesus transforms “neighbor” from a category into a calling. The sermon also traces the biblical design of redemption from Genesis, showing how Jesus—the “last Adam”—undoes the failure of the first Adam and restores humanity.
Dr. Hudson concludes that believers “reign in life” (Romans 5:17) not as earthly rulers but through the shared authority and life of Christ. Salvation is personal, but not for personal ends. God’s destiny for us is collective: a chosen, royal, holy people who fulfill His purposes together.

"Your Designer Pays Attention" – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #199 for December 10, 2025

Listen to My Message from Sunday, December 7Designed for Destiny: Created for Good Works
Romans 8:29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
As a visual communications major in college and a designer for almost 50 years, ever since high school, I appreciate God's intention as the ultimate designer. You have also been responsible for design in one way or another, whether formally or by making decisions about how your home looks and functions.
On your job, through your volunteer tasks, planning a vacation, or working with others, design is always a vital part of any fruitful task. Design is the engine of purpose, or what we also call destiny. While the concept of destiny is large, the actions of destiny are comprised of consistent small steps—something we also call process.
From the foreknowledge of God, our text states that we were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus.
That's a big concept, but it was manifested in many smaller steps. From God anticipating the fall of Adam and Eve, stating, “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel”—foretelling of Jesus’ death as a bruised heel, resulting in defeating Satan and the power of death, “a bruised, or busted, head.” From that beginning in the garden, God protected and preserved the messianic seed all the way to the virgin Mary.Here's the important thing about design: the designer is always paying attention to his or her design. Because it is an investment of time and resources, there's no way a designer will neglect the design.
I say that to remind you that because you are designed by God, He pays attention to you. In the words of the Hebrews writer (2:6), “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”
Because you and I were designed or made a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor, your Designer never stops thinking about you and adjusting His work in your life and in our lives together.
Let that thought live in your heart and mind today.

Designed for Destiny: Created for Good Works

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Romans 8:29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are His workmanship [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
SummaryPastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min. teaches that every believer is designed by God with intention and created for a purposeful destiny, which Scripture calls “good works.” Drawing from Romans 8:29, he explains that God has predestined us—not by pre-programming our choices, but by providing a divine design we must willingly discover and walk in. Destiny is not a single large event; it is the consistent, faithful, everyday actions done in alignment with God’s purpose. Pastor Hudson contrasts manmade design, which produces spiritual deadness and conformity to the world, with God’s design, which brings life, identity, and transformation through His love, grace, and mercy. Believers are God’s “workmanship”—His masterpiece—uniquely created like fingerprints, each with a distinct role that strengthens the collective body of Christ.
Emphasizing that identity in Christ is both individual and communal, he reminds the church that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special people. As such, we reject the “pandemic of self-service” and embrace a life of service to God and others. The sermon concludes by calling believers to walk in their God-given design, encourage one another, and live as salt and light in the world.