Just a few days on from the tragic events at Bondi, many Australians are still experiencing shock, grief, and confronting questions. The sense of safety we often take for granted in our country has been shaken, and for many, that feels overwhelming.
Today Leah and Dan caught up with “Aussie Dave” Adamson, the Australian Director of You Version and a pastor, speaker, and trusted voice for navigating faith in moments of fear, grief, and uncertainty. They created space for listeners to process what happened, and learn how to move forward.
Dave named what so many of us are feeling right now. That sick, heavy weight when innocent lives are lost and families are left in unimaginable pain. In that moment, he reminded listeners that fear, while deeply uncomfortable, is a natural response.
“Fear isn’t weakness,” Dave said. “It’s honesty.”
Rather than letting fear take over, Dave urged us to widen our world beyond the headlines. Instead, he encouraged us to reconnect with everyday life and with each other. Go for a walk. Check in on a neighbour. Cook a meal. Play with your kids. Through these simple acts, we remember that while something terrible has happened, it is not the whole story.
“Isolation is where fear gathers strength,” he said. “But community is where courage begins to grow.”
Where Is God When It Hurts?
After tragedy, one question often rises: Where was God in all of this?
Rather than avoiding it, Dave faced the question head-on and called it fair. At the centre of his response was one word – with.
“The message of Christmas is ‘God with us’,” he explained. “Emmanuel. God didn’t stay distant from suffering. He stepped into it.”
From there, Dave pointed to where God can be found right now. In the tears of grieving families. In the shock still rippling through communities. And in moments where people sit together and refuse to let each other face the pain alone.
At the same time, he highlighted the courage seen in the aftermath. First responders running toward danger. Ordinary people stepping in to protect others. Strangers choosing compassion over self-preservation.
“That’s where God is,” Dave said. “Right there – close to the broken-hearted.”
Courage, Love, and the Australia We Know
Alongside the grief, stories of bravery have captured the nation. An unarmed man intervening. A woman injured while protecting someone else’s child. For Dave, these moments reveal something deeper.
“This is the Australia I grew up in,” he said. “People standing up for each other. Looking out for those in need. Ultimately, that’s the Australia I want for my kids.”
Even so, in the midst of darkness, these glimpses of courage and love stir hope. Not because the pain isn’t real, but because it doesn’t get the final word.
Christmas in a Time of Grief
As Christmas approaches, many feel torn. Celebration can feel inappropriate in such times of sorrow. In fact, some may even feel guilty for switching off the news, laughing, or planning time with loved ones.
In response, Dave reframed the season. Christmas, he said, is not denial, it is defiance.
“Hope doesn’t deny the darkness,” he said. “It just refuses to let it win.”
Drawing from his own experience walking with grieving communities, Dave reminded listeners that faith isn’t about having all the answers. Rather, it’s about choosing to stand with those who are hurting. It’s about saying, in our words and actions, you are not alone.
So, as Christmas draws near, Dave invited us to be light. To be present. And to keep choosing hope – even when the world feels dark. Because, in the end, hope keeps turning up. And often, it turns up through us.
You can listen to the full conversation with Aussie Dave below.