S4 E06 If Grace is Free, Why Keep Hungering for God? Terry Virgo on Joy, Prayer & Perseverance

If grace is truly free—why keep seeking, striving, or even hungering for God?

In this conversation, Terry Virgo reflects on nearly 70 years of following Jesus, exploring the tension between receiving grace as a gift and continuing to pursue a deep, daily relationship with God. His conclusion is both simple and challenging: grace doesn’t remove hunger—it awakens it.

At the centre of it all is a striking principle: the daily responsibility (even duty) of keeping one’s soul “happy in God.” Not as sentimentality, but as a deliberate practice—choosing gratitude, reflection, and openness to grace, even when life feels heavy. For Terry, that grace is found in Christ: not just as a belief, but as a living personal source of renewal, joy, and strength over a lifetime.

He speaks candidly about discouragement—moments where leaders fell, communities fractured, and hope seemed fragile—and what it takes to keep going when faith is tested. Rather than offering quick fixes, he points to a deeper resilience formed through prayer, perseverance, and a continued hunger for God, even in the hardest seasons.

The conversation also touches on the role of spiritual experience in shaping confidence and purpose. Terry describes how openness to the Holy Spirit transformed his life, unlocking a boldness and vitality that carried into every area of ministry and mission.

It was a genuine pleasure to sit down with Terry for this conversation—his honesty, depth, and lived conviction made it both inspiring and quietly challenging.

Honest and thought-provoking, this episode invites you to consider what truly sustains you—and whether the very things you think should satisfy might actually be stirring a deeper hunger for something more.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS