--- title: The Hardest Year and the Hope That Never Fails canonical: "https://wordfirst.org/podcasts/gospelbound/the-hardest-year-and-the-hope-that-never-fails/" pubDate: "2020-12-15T00:02:32.000Z" updatedDate: "2020-12-10T20:33:25.000Z" description: "As 2020 finally ends, Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger look back on what they’ve learned and celebrate what God has done, even in the midst of one of the most difficult years." categories: [Gospelbound] --- As 2020 finally ends, it feels appropriate to look back on what we’ve learned and ultimately celebrate what God has done, even in the midst of one of the most difficult years ever collectively experienced. In this special bonus episode of Gospelbound, host Collin Hansen is joined by TGC colleague Melissa Kruger, who co-hosts the [Let’s Talk](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/lets-talk-podcast/) podcast. They discuss big trends and stories from 2020, share their hopes for 2021, and reflect on God’s faithfulness displayed through TGC and many other areas of life. --- **Books, articles, and other resources referenced in this episode:** - “[Why Is It So Hard to Read My Bible These Days?](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/hard-to-read-bible/)” by Megan Hill (article) - [“George Floyd and Me”](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/george-floyd-and-me/) by Shai Linne (article) - [*The Warmth of Other Suns*](https://www.amazon.com/Warmth-Other-Suns-Americas-Migration/dp/0679763880?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Isabel Wilkerson - [*Caste: A Brief History of Racism, Sexism, Classism, Ageism, Homophobia, Religious Intolerance, Xenophobia, and Reasons for Hope*](https://www.amazon.com/Caste-Homophobia-Religious-Intolerance-Xenophobia/dp/B08CGDMP6K?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Isabel Wilkerson - [*White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism*](https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Robin DiAngelo - [*The Color of Compromise*](https://www.amazon.com/Color-Compromise-American-Churchs-Complicity/dp/0310113601?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Jemar Tisby - [*How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice*](https://www.amazon.com/How-Fight-Racism-Courageous-Christianity/dp/0310104777?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Jemar Tisby - [*Stamped from the Beginning*](https://www.amazon.com/Stamped-Beginning-Definitive-History-National/dp/1568585985?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Ibram X. Kendi - [*Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity* *and Hope*](https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Son-Letters-Black-Identity/dp/0830832769?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Jasmine Holmes - [*Gay Girl, Good God*](https://www.amazon.com/Gay-Girl-Good-God-Always/dp/1462751229?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Jackie Hill Perry - [*Knowing God*](https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-God-J-I-Packer/dp/083081650X?tag=thegospcoal-20) by J. I. Packer - *[Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God](https://www.amazon.com/Evangelism-Sovereignty-God-J-Packer/dp/083083799X?tag=thegospcoal-20)* by J. I. Packer - [*The Pilgrim’s Progress*](https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141439718?tag=thegospcoal-20)by John Bunyan - [*Through the Gates of Splendor*](https://www.amazon.com/Through-Gates-Splendor-Elisabeth-Elliot/dp/0842371524?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Elisabeth Elliot - [*Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know*](https://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-Go-Want-Know/dp/178498535X?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Melissa Kruger - [*Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests*](https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Together-Mentoring-Coalition-Initiatives/dp/1433568012?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Melissa Kruger - [*Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age*](https://www.amazon.com/Gospelbound-Living-Resolute-Hope-Anxious/dp/0593193571?tag=thegospcoal-20) by Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra - [*Keeping the Heart*](https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Heart-English-John-Flavel/dp/B08F6QNRQ3?tag=thegospcoal-20) by John Flavel - [*The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous*](https://www.amazon.com/WEIRDest-People-World-Psychologically-Particularly/dp/0374173222?tag=thegospcoal-20)by Joseph Henrich - [*12 Faithful Men*](https://www.amazon.com/12-Faithful-Men-Collin-Hansen/dp/0801077761/?tag=thegospcoal-20) edited by Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson - [*12 Faithful Women*](https://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Women-Portraits-Steadfast-Endurance/dp/1733458522?tag=thegospcoal-20) edited by Melissa Kruger and Kristen Wetherell - [Let’s Talk: Building Friendships with People Unlike Yourself](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/lets-talk-podcast/lets-talk-building-friendships-with-people-unlike-yourself/) (podcast episode) - [Gospelbound: From Mother to Son on Race, Religion, and Relevance](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/gospelbound/from-mother-son/) (podcast episode) - [*The Social Dilemma*](https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/) (documentary film) - [TGC 2020 Book Awards](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tgc-book-awards-2020/) (article) - [TGCW21: Steadfast](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/tgcw20/) (national women’s conference) - [TGC21: Jesus Is Greater](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/new-year-new-type-of-tgc-conference/) (national conference)